When you are comfortable, introduce your date to your child as a "new friend." Friendship is not only the bedrock of a viable marriage, but something your youngster understands! All new friendships don't continue, but good ones evolve. You cannot know the future, so just stay with the present.
First, there is not any wizardry time-frame for an introduction. After all , it is important that your boy realises that you will need mates -- males and females that are your own age. Just as your boy has his preschool buddies, he'll understand you need adult friendships, too. It isn't a matter of competition, so envy is reduced from the start .
second, maintain suitable boundaries during the dating process so as to shield your child from first attachment to someone that might actually be passing thru. It isn't the particular amount of time, but the character of the commitment that evolves between you and a young man that should establish the link between your youngster and a partner.
Keep your dating life relatively separate from your folks life till you know someone good enough to feel they would be a good chum to your child. Begin slowly with limited activities like going to the zoo or having a picnic. Do not assign parental responsibilities to a partner. Wait until there is a clear commitment to the relationship and potential for marriage before considering deepening the inclusion with your child.
finally, answer your child's questions as truthfully as practical. For instance, one single mother had been going out with a man for six months. The relationship had become a committed boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The lover became familiar with her three-year-old child and they liked each other. They had been to the zoo and enjoyed contact around reading books and having breakfast together. One day, when her boy wanted to play his instructional PC game between bites, his mother was speaking to him about the seriousness of sitting down to dinner together. She told him that family members are special to one another and having dinner together was a special time to be together in families. He took this opportunity to ask her if her beau was part of their family. She said "no," he used to be a good family pal.
This mom's answer clarifies boundaries. She refrained from setting up fake expectancies by blurring the line separating comradeship and family, even though her son and man were obviously developing affection for each other. When, and if, her young man and she do commit to wedding, he would then be invited into the family with responsibilities and expectations for full membership!
naturally friendships are vital, but it is vital that you shield your child from getting excessively involved with guys that may appear as caring parental figures to a kid only to disappear later on. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.