Would you date someone that has a child/children from a previous relationship?

Contributor: Sinfully Sinfully
Yes, but it wouldn't be ideal as I don't want any children, but I wouldn't rule it out.
06/11/2012
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
Yep don't see why not
06/12/2012
Contributor: BG529 BG529
yes I would.
06/12/2012
Contributor: WhoopieDoo WhoopieDoo
No. I don't want children in my life. Period.
06/12/2012
Contributor: ghent529 ghent529
yes i would why should that be such a big deal. if you care about them. then so what
06/12/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Interesting to see how many people are saying NO.

I never saw this as an issue. The only way I would have is if they said they didn't want children after already having children because I did. Or if they didn't care about the children from the previous relationship. Otherwise, it's not my business.
06/12/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
This is a tough one for me. I don't think I would...
06/12/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
Interesting to see how many people are saying NO.

I never saw this as an issue. The only way I would have is if they said they didn't want children after already having children because I did. Or if they didn't care about the children ... more
I wonder if it has something to do with age. My guess is when one is in their teens and 20s, finding "child free" partners is easy. As you get into your 30s and 40s, (or dating people that age, like you and I have done, when we were younger) finding "child free" people is nearly impossible.

My Man didn't have any kids when I met him, but he had been pretty careful about birth control and had been concentrating on school and then his career and saving for a house. But, we had our first kid within 4 or 5 months of getting married.

I'm willing to bet the "child free" dating pool gets smaller with age. Just guessing, because oddly, nearly all my "child free" friends now have kids. A few of them I never would have guessed it would have ever happened, either. The few hold outs, I admire, because they stick with what they really want out of life. But, most of them are in permanent relationships with people who feel as they do.

My guess is if any of them had to go back to dating, it's limiting enough in your 30s and 40s, I'm guessing a lot of people who say they'd "never" date someone with children will have to change unless they snag a similarly "child free" partner for life NOW!
06/12/2012
Contributor: authorzero authorzero
I used to say no, but I actually have a few times recently. I'd prefer they didn't have kids, but whatever.
06/12/2012
Contributor: Tork48309 Tork48309
Of course.
06/12/2012
Contributor: AlianneCimorene AlianneCimorene
Quote:
Originally posted by Kimbertrees
Would you date someone that has a child/children from a previous relationship?
I'm still in school and not really ready for that kind of relationship, but if I were older and really interested in this person, I don't see why not.
06/22/2012
Contributor: Claire-Bear Claire-Bear
No. I'm not at a point in my life where I'd be comfortable taking on any sort of parental role. Plus, it would be harder to break up with the person if I needed to, since they're not the only person involved.
06/22/2012
Contributor: Chelle Love Chelle Love
yes, single divorced mom of 3, I would hate it if i was kicked to the curb all because i had kids, i refuse to do the same to anyone else...
08/05/2012
Contributor: Voilet Voilet
I'm in my early 20's, and awhile ago I was going on dates with a guy in his late 20's that had a 4 year old son. I knew from the beginning that he had a child, and that didn't bother me. I just know it's a very careful dance of when/if I were to be introduced to the kid.
He spent time with his son multiple times a week, and I really admired that. As someone with a deadbeat dad, seeing someone so involved and so loving to their kid was really nice.

C: Things didn't work out, for other reasons. But I would most likely not care if future partners had children from previous relationships.
08/05/2012
Contributor: lesglitter lesglitter
Would I seriously date someone who had kids? No- because I don't want any. Would I flirt with them/go on a few casual dates? Possibly.
08/08/2012
Contributor: Layenna Layenna
I'm great with kids, but I don't want any of my own yet. I know that to a mother, their children come first. I don't want to date someone who I know will constantly be either flaking out or unavailable because of their kids. I'm not against the idea of it, but I'm too young to deal with it atm.
08/09/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
why would anyone care if they had been married to the other parent or not? i don't get that. the important thing is that they are not STILL married
08/15/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
i would hesitate because the kids can get hurt. (as can you) if the relationship ends, no matter how long it went on, even if u marry, u still don't get to see the kids if there is a break up.

life changing heartbreak, i speak from experience
08/15/2012
Contributor: bettle590 bettle590
I never want kids, and I feel like this would require me to fill in a parental role in the long term, so it's a big turnoff for me.
08/16/2012
Contributor: blondie blondie
No, I'm too young to be playing step mommy
08/16/2012
Contributor: *Camoprincess* *Camoprincess*
I would and right now I am! His daughter is older as in almost grown cause I am seeing an older man. Even if they were a parent of younger kids it wouldn't bother me but I wouldn't want to be around the kids til we KNEW we would be together forever. Why you might ask?! I wouldn't want the kids getting attached to me if it was just a casual thing or something that would end in a short period of time.
08/16/2012
Contributor: klyte klyte
Not right now.
08/16/2012
Contributor: violets violets
Nope, and I don't ever want children of my own either.
08/16/2012
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
Absolutely! It gives me a glimpse at whether or not he's a good father. The man I'm currently chatting up has children already and I'm completely okay with that. It's not like I can really have children without lots of fertility treatments or something.
08/16/2012
Contributor: novanilla novanilla
I would be okay with that if they were older than me (I'm 21) or at least had a decent job, but I wouldn't want to play babysitter and pay for their kid's bills when I am financially struggling myself.
08/16/2012
Contributor: sXeVegan90 sXeVegan90
Right now, at my age, no, but later on I might be able to reconsider it, if I were single. I don't see a problem with someone having kids if they're in their 30's or older. It seems more natural that someone would have kids by then.
08/16/2012
Contributor: Aisling Aisling
Personally, I wouldn't date someone if they already had kids - but I wouldn't date someone who wanted kids, either. It's something I've been dead-set on my whole life and not something I'm willing to change my mind on for a partner.

I've been on the opposite side of this, the kid of single parents when their spouses very clearly don't want kids/don't want anything to do with you, and it's not fun. So no matter how I like the hypothetical person, it's better that we find people who we'd be more compatible with.
09/04/2012
Contributor: Artishok Artishok
Yes
09/04/2012
Contributor: panthercat23 panthercat23
I wouldn't have a problem with it.
09/04/2012
Contributor: Gone (LD29) Gone (LD29)
I'm in a long term relationship, so not currently looking for anyone. But if I found myself suddenly single for some reason, I wouldn't say no to a partner just because they had kids. Particularly if they're older than the potty training/preschool age.
09/04/2012