DATE DOCTOR’S VERDICT

Finding someone to share not just your life, but your children’s, can be a challenge. dating doctor Alana Kirk explains the best way to enjoy relationships when you have children . . .

AS WE get older, the chances of dating someone who already has children, not to mention broken relationships or a messy divorce, gets significantly higher. Juggling child-minding with adult time can add an extra layer of tension.

Don’t assume because you are a parent, you’re less desirable. Plenty of people would not be put off, especially if they have children. Others might love the idea of a ready-made family. It’s true that some people may be deterred by children, but being honest from the start means you find out quickly if they are right for you.

No matter how charming they are, they are likely to be playing second fiddle to your children, so you need to make sure they understand your responsibilities.

Dating again can be an exciting new adventure, but finding time to meet a new partner, when you can barely find time to do the dishes, is a challenge.

As well as being a parent, you are also a vibrant adult who deserves a social life. You can have both. It just means you have to be more organised than when you were footloose and fancy free.