Every relationship ends differently, and getting back on the dating scene after divorce can be a challenge for several reasons. Not only will you inevitably still be fragile (even if you think you might be totally over it!) from your previous relationship, but the dating world will have changed dramatically since your last first date. Many of you, for example, will have never given online dating a go before! But by taking is easy and gradually building up your confidence, you’ll discover how much exciting being single can be as you make the most of free dating on your own terms.

Make Yourself Irresistible

Divorce can really take it out of you, and as you close that chapter of your life it’s a good opportunity to assess your current situations and goals. Maybe you want to have a bit of a makeover, get into shape, take up a new interest or simply focus on having fun. Whatever the case, making sure that you’re happy in yourself before putting yourself back on the scene for everyone else to see, will ensure that you have confidence and the best shot at success.

Join New Circles

When you’re in a long-term relationship, you inevitably get caught in the same tight circles that can make divorce especially difficult for friendship groups and moving on. So when you’re looking to get back on the dating scene, steer clear of familiar faces and make an effort to meet new people. Join a new club, class or gym, or get on the internet and dip your toe into the world of free online dating with FreeAndSingle.com, to meet local singles who will spice up your evenings and weekends.

Only Fools Rush In

Being single can be an exciting time to focus on yourself for once and enjoy the advantages of not being tied down. Dating doesn’t necessarily have to be a hunt for the next husband or wife, and especially as you get older it’s totally okay to enjoy a bit of no strings attached fun. So don’t rush into anything and put the emphasis on having fun rather than meeting the perfect match, and you’re bound to have a much better experience of being single. Make the most of flirting and being free as a bird, choose exciting plans for first dates, and hold off committing to someone unless you’re sure that you’re ready to go back down the relationship line.

Getting back on the dating scene after divorce can be a daunting prospect. It might have been decades since your last first date, or certainly a few years at the very least. But if you take it slow and put the focus on having fun and experiencing the joys of singledom, you’ll soon see why dating is a great way to bounce back from your relationship and move forward as a stronger, happier and more exciting you for the future.

Photo Credit: Nina Helmer

Finding ‘the one’ can be difficult at the best of times, but especially so if you’ve got children in tow. However that doesn’t make a quest for love impossible, you just have to change your approach a little to help you find someone that’s right for you and your family. So if you’re a single mum or dad who is looking to get back on the dating scene, here are a few tips to make your adventure fun, exciting, and hopefully fruitful.

Set Your Goals and Limit Expectations

Not every single parent is looking to find a new mum or dad for their children. If you’re simply looking for a bit of fun, or someone who also has kids, then that’s ok too. But try to work out exactly what you want from your dating journey before you set off. And don’t get your hopes up on every person who you go on a few dates with. It can be very confusing for children if they meet a lot of new lovers who keep coming and going, so try to keep your dating on neutral territory until you meet someone who you think is ‘the one’.

Be Open About Your Children

Be honest from the offset with any dates that you do meet so that they know where they stand. That doesn’t mean introducing yourself as ‘Hi I’m Jane, I have two kids and you look like awesome father material’. However don’t make the mistake of putting off telling them until further down the line. After all, if they don’t want to get involved with a family person, then you’ll have wasted your time on someone who isn’t worth it. Although if you are just looking for some no strings attached fun, then it’s not an essential talking point anyway.

Find Love in the Right Places 

We’re not saying it’s impossible, but you’re not very likely to find a family-loving, caring and reliable man on a boozy night out in town. Meeting new people can be difficult when you have kids for several reasons. Firstly, finding the time to get out and socialise when you’ve got the children to look after can be a challenge, unless you have family and friends who are willing to help out. Secondly, when you do get out there, it’s a whole different ball game seeking out someone suitable.

That’s where online dating comes in. By simply logging into your FreeAndSingle account, you can search and connect with local singles when the kids are busy playing or tucked up in bed. Find fellow single parents or exciting new faces who really give you butterflies, and arrange a date when you decide they could be a good match. With our free dating service, it’s never been easier to find love as a parent!

We know that the kids come first for any parent, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a little time and loving for yourself too, does it? Online dating is a great way to get back on the dating scene whilst keeping on top of the busy role of being a mum or dad. And the best thing about it is that at FreeAndSingle, it’s absolutely free!

Photo Credit: Jenny Downing

Remember the days when you were back at school and it was a massive controversy if you dated someone a few years below you? Even now, you probably have a few friends or relatives that make a big deal if you date someone who wasn’t at least in education at the same time as you. But what exactly does it matter? FreeAndSingle takes a look at whether age gaps really matter when it comes to online dating, to settle this question once and for all.

The Pros and Cons

It’s very easy to add up the cons when you think about big age differences in relationships. Many people assume that if you date someone a decade older or younger than you, then you’ll have nothing in common, your partner will be immature or old and boring, and one will outlive the other. But when you think about the many reasons that people get together in the first place, the fact that they are the same age doesn’t usually rank high in priorities, does it?

When looking for a partner, most people are searching for someone who makes them laugh and shares their interests – someone who excites them for a change. Online dating is a great example of this, as it shows how many people have failed to find love or friendship within the group of people than they might traditionally socialise with. With free dating online, sure you might check out their profile picture and age, but the emphasis is more on where you’re located, what hobbies you have, and if you make a connection when you start chatting. Surely you can’t put an age on chemistry?

Besides, free dating doesn’t automatically lead to marriage and kids, and the whole emphasis of meeting new people online is to refresh your love life and enjoy exciting new encounters. So giving someone older or younger than you a shot doesn’t sign your life away with them…. Unless you eventually decide they’re the one!

Celebrity Relationships With Big Age Gaps

When you look at the celebrity world, it seems that they don’t care in the slightest about this ‘age old’ problem. Bradley Cooper and Suzi Waterhouse have a 17 year age gap, and that is by no means the biggest in Hollywood. Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas are 25 years apart, having been married for a massive 12 years. Their relationship is surely testament to that fact that you don’t need to have watched the same cartoon programs as a kid to connect. Besides, you could easily argue that having a different background and outlook on life can enrich a relationship and keep you both grounded.

We’re not saying that age is irrelevant, as it does to a certain extent define who we are. But when you’re looking to meet local singles online who share your interests and give you a new outlook on life, why should a few years get in the way of your fun?

Photo Credit: Brian Walter