Dear Steve,
I'm in my early 30s and a new single mom. I'm nowhere near ready to start dating again, but lately I have been thinking about the future, and what I've read about single mothers on the internet is so discouraging. When I was pregnant and my ex bailed, it never crossed my mind that I would be looked down upon for having a child alone. If anything, I thought people could see that I was a good person for taking responsibility and not running away like his father.
Instead, this is the impression I get: single mothers are single for a reason; they have loose morals; they are gold-diggers looking for a bailout; they lack character for choosing a man who would leave; kids are baggage, etc. I wish I could've seen his father for who he truly was before I was pregnant, but who hasn't dated and made this mistake? How many people will assume the worst about me? I feel like dating was already hard before all this, and when I do date again it will just be harder. Am I doomed? Maybe I should just stay off the internet.
Signed,
Destined To Be Single
Click here for my reply, as heard this morning on FIRST SPORTS!