How to Find and Build a Good Relationship - Strategies for the Single Parent
While raising your children successfully is your most important responsibility as a single parent, having a good relationship with the opposite sex can be helpful both psychologically and emotionally, if it's with the right person.
Finding that type of relationship is not as difficult as it might seem, especially for someone who is relatively friendly and outgoing. Bear in mind that the opportunity to meet someone can occur in a variety of different settings. The most important thing is not to exclude any one possibility. Let it be while shopping in the supermarket, having a meal in a restaurant, enjoying yourself at a friend's birthday party, taking a class somewhere or whatever.
Learn techniques of starting and maintaining a friendly conversation by initially looking for something that you are sharing together and that you can comment upon and let it flow from there. Get rid of his shyness and the fear of rejection by just reaching out. If the individual doesn't want to engage in conversation, treat it as his loss and just move on.
Nevertheless, if you discover a connection with the other person, make a suggestion about meeting somewhere where your mutual interests overlap. Let it appear as a simple opportunity to meet again, share some experiences together, and getting to know each other better. As the relationship develops, continue to find out more about the other person's interests, character, and personality. Continue the regular conversation and the sharing of mutually enjoyable experiences. However, be careful about giving up too much of personal information in the early stages of a relationship. The more you are in the presence of the individual and the more varied experiences you share together, the more you will get to know the other person's personality, character, and interests.
Once you feel comfortable enough with the individual to allow him to pick you up at your home, then let him do it. However, if he starts early to pressure you into letting him come into your home and staying late, take a step back and reflect on it. If you feel ok with it, then do so. You may like the person, but you want the relationship to evolve at the pace with which you feel comfortable.
As you get beyond this stage, allow the relationship to be built upon your common interests and become aware of whether he is sensitive to your concerns. A person who is insensitive and selfish may need to be gradually phased out. By this time his personality and character should have been adequately revealed. However, if the qualities you desire are evident in him, then cultivate the relationship. Remember recurring events and dates that are important to him and recognize them. Call regularly just to let him know that you are thinking about him and give some occasional surprises. These acts will be reciprocated by the right person and the relationship will continue to evolve.
Finding that type of relationship is not as difficult as it might seem, especially for someone who is relatively friendly and outgoing. Bear in mind that the opportunity to meet someone can occur in a variety of different settings. The most important thing is not to exclude any one possibility. Let it be while shopping in the supermarket, having a meal in a restaurant, enjoying yourself at a friend's birthday party, taking a class somewhere or whatever.
Learn techniques of starting and maintaining a friendly conversation by initially looking for something that you are sharing together and that you can comment upon and let it flow from there. Get rid of his shyness and the fear of rejection by just reaching out. If the individual doesn't want to engage in conversation, treat it as his loss and just move on.
Nevertheless, if you discover a connection with the other person, make a suggestion about meeting somewhere where your mutual interests overlap. Let it appear as a simple opportunity to meet again, share some experiences together, and getting to know each other better. As the relationship develops, continue to find out more about the other person's interests, character, and personality. Continue the regular conversation and the sharing of mutually enjoyable experiences. However, be careful about giving up too much of personal information in the early stages of a relationship. The more you are in the presence of the individual and the more varied experiences you share together, the more you will get to know the other person's personality, character, and interests.
Once you feel comfortable enough with the individual to allow him to pick you up at your home, then let him do it. However, if he starts early to pressure you into letting him come into your home and staying late, take a step back and reflect on it. If you feel ok with it, then do so. You may like the person, but you want the relationship to evolve at the pace with which you feel comfortable.
As you get beyond this stage, allow the relationship to be built upon your common interests and become aware of whether he is sensitive to your concerns. A person who is insensitive and selfish may need to be gradually phased out. By this time his personality and character should have been adequately revealed. However, if the qualities you desire are evident in him, then cultivate the relationship. Remember recurring events and dates that are important to him and recognize them. Call regularly just to let him know that you are thinking about him and give some occasional surprises. These acts will be reciprocated by the right person and the relationship will continue to evolve.