Would You Date a Man with Kids?

Would You Date a Man with Kids?

Is his ex a nutcase? Say, “Hello BabyMama Drama!” if you choose to get involved with him.

Be Sociable, Share!

Author : Jamila Akil

Author's Website | Articles from

I’m open to dating a man with children, but that depends on the man and his particular circumstances. If he was married to the mother of his children and is now divorced I see no problem with dating him; I figure he tried to have a loving home and family but things didn’t work out. It happens. I would even date a man with one kid that was born out-of-wedlock. ( Full disclosure: I have one daughter and I have not ever been married.) But I wouldn’t date a man with more than one child that was born out-of-wedlock. What are your standards when it comes to deciding whether or not you will date a man with kids?

If I knew in my early 20′s what I know now, I would not have ever dated a man with kids until I reached the age of 30, and only then would I date him if he was a very exceptional specimen. Some young girls don’t realize it, but getting involved with a man who has kids is a major investment of your time and resources and will seriously hamstring your ability to make decisions in the future if you choose to marry a man with kids by another woman.

First of all, there is the money issue. A man who has kids has to provide financially and emotionally for his children. So if a man is doing what he should be doing for his kids that do not live in the same home as he does, then that means that any woman he dates–any future family he creates–is getting his ‘leftover’ time and money.  If he is bringing less money home–because he has to pay child support–then that means less money to purchase a home, less money to fund a retirement plan, and less money to take care of any future children he may have with his future wife.

A man who has children will have to stay close to his children. You will not be able to up and move across the country or across the world on the the drop of a dime because he has to stay close to his kids so that he can consistently spend with them.

Is his ex a nutcase? Say, “Hello BabyMama Drama!” if you choose to get involved with him.

Was he married when he had his children? If a man has more than one child and has never been married you might want to run for the hills if marriage is something that you see in the future for yourself.  If he didn’t want to marry the woman he had two or three kids with, why would he be serious about marrying and you haven’t given him any kids?

Getting involved with someone with children is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and in my humble opinion it’s a choice that no educated, ambitious young black women with no children of her own should hesitate to make.

There are obviously other factors to consider. When you don’t want any children of your own you might prefer to date a man who already has kids so that you don’t have to give him any. You might also choose to date a man with kids if you are older and/or already have kids of your own so his having kids isn’t a big issue for you.

Whatever you decide when it comes to mating and relating to a man with kids, make sure you choose wisely, thoughtfully and with an eye to your own future ambitions.

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this post? Share it!


Related Posts


Post comment as twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Elaine_afromorena1985 39 pts

I know they say never say never, but I'm going to say it: Never! I really wouldn't want a man that has a kid for various reasons, including those listed in the OP. I'm sorry there are just too many things that come with men with children (even under the BEST conditions) for me to even consider this. Even if I'm older and still single, I just couldn't do it.

AJ2011 762 pts

Pearl I saw your avatar and thought "HER ANSWER IS NO!" lolz.

AJ2011 762 pts

No but it has nothing to do with the guy. I don't want kids.

MadamCJCPA 726 pts

If (god forbid), I were single and knowing that I have children myself, I would have to judge based on a case-by-case basis. It would have to depend on the man, and his relationship with the child(ren)'s mother/ex. Then of course, there is always that precarious moment of having to merge the two blended families into one (a la "His, Mine, & Ours).

Mocha Z 1795 pts

MadamCJCPA Yes...being at the God forbid fork in the road,it's something I cant imagine doing without a lot of precarious moments. I could end up staying single because of my hang ups with the step parent/ ex and kid drama. I just loved how smooth the Brady Bunch was with no real feeling that they were a blended family(said with sarcasm).

Law Wanxi 3328 pts

Personally, I would never date a man with kids. Or without kids. I'm not into men. Boom!

I know, poor impulse control........

Mocha Z 1795 pts

law Wanxi I might follow suit! Neither with or without,lol. Too much impulse control.

Nonya 127 pts

No. Never liked the decision of having kids being automatically being made for me (by his already having them).

sparel 821 pts

Nonya I agree....well then again it depends on how much I like that guy

Nickhiesa 36 pts

Sorry but no, not for me. I am 26 years old and i haven't even dated that much........ so naah. but i love seeing dad's with their little daughters taking care of them its the sweetest thing for me to see...

Elaine_afromorena1985 39 pts

Nickhiesa I'm in the exact same position as you lol I have to agree, though, it is cute seeing a guy taking care of his children.

Mark_H 233 pts

I understand everyone's needs and history are different, you all have your own reasons for feeling the way you do and I certainly can't talk you out of it. But as a parent of adult children (which I raised as a single father) and 2 failed marriages I'd like to share my perspective.

Both parties come to a relationship with baggage. Some will have demon-ex's, others will have children or some kind of emotional baggage/scaring. Part of building a relationship is learning about these issues and deciding if you can work with them or not. Some people are worth the extra effort, others not so much so.

So please, don't discard your next potential beau just because there might be a child in his past. Have a first date, and maybe a second. Learn a bit about the situation before you jump one way or the other.

There's lots of gems out there, you just need to clear away some of the debris first.

tracyreneejones 121 pts

Been there, did that although as a rule I didn't date men with kids. After getting cursed out for my 'selfish' choice considering that I am a single mother became the norm, I backtracked and regretted doing so. However, as a young person I chose not to deal with the dramatics, the pull on income potential, and the drain on my/our personal time. The one person that I did accept with children (lowering my standards for a 'good' black man *sigh*) had a child's mother whose antics could fill a season of a reality show. She rocked hard from day one until 10 years later when I bid him farewell. I hated the way she used those kids are a bartering tool, what was worse was his non-reaction to her neglect of them. There was another shorter relationship that went the same way, she has priority for his time and money. WTF am I supposed to do with that? Parenting is hard..pardon me for not wanting to participate my time, energy and money. I didn't hold it against a man who decided that I wasn't appropriate due to my being a single mother at the time. Now that she's grown, I wish I would deal with some dude and kids. It's just so tacky (unless he's divorced or coming out of a long term perm relationship).

Babybear4104 12 pts

I do not date men with children, I have made this decision from experience. Having a child thrown into the mix takes a relationship from 0 to 100 really fast. Not only do you have to give time and attention to the relationship with your boyfriend, you have to make sure you ask about the child enough, take an interest in what the child likes/dislikes, construct dates around the child, etc. It is very tiring.

In one of the relationships when I would try to break up with my boyfriend he would use my relationship with his child to make me stay. Too much... just too much.

sparel 821 pts

Babybear4104 that seems like to much work! I don't want to get close to anyone kids like that

VintageNarcissa 925 pts

At this point in my life, I'm not open to dating a man who has kids, for any reason. It would definitely be a deal breaker for me. Especially with the way that many men feel about single women with kids, I'm sorry to say that I feel it goes both ways. I feel possibly when I am older, if I found myself single, I would consider it, but I have to agree with the author, it would have to be very special circumstances on top of knowing that the man had an exceptional character. But right now, definitely not. I still reserve the right to hold on to my based-in-reality fairy-tale life of being married and then having children and staying with the father of said children. As a child of an often absent father who went on to remarry and have his "real family," it is still extremely fresh and raw to me the reality of being in such a circumstance. I still resent my father a little for having these kids that can call him 'dad' or 'daddy' when I still psychically cannot bring myself to do so because of the dynamic of our relationship. I'm just not up for seeing what it's like on the other side of the coin. It is my goal in my life to break that cycle and have a healthy long lasting relationship with one person how it should be.

CarlaRose 86 pts

I don't have kids, not panning on having kids of my own, but I won't turn down a man if he happens to have children from a previous relationship or marriage.

It depends the circumstances: if they are very young or older (teens/adults), if there's ex-wife/baby mamma drama, if the mother is completely out of their lives though death or complete abandonment, if he's struggling to pay child support monthly, more importantly - if he's a part of their lives and love them. I once showed a guy the door who was talking disparagingly about his kids.

Patricia Kayden 543 pts

Little old boring me is married to a man who had a child. We've had no problems with that whatsoever. You are correct, however, that it does have a financial impact as my hubby just recently no longer has to pay child support.

I wouldn't rule out a man with children -- I grew up on the Brady Bunch. LOL.

Karla 2845 pts

As much as I love kids, I never wanted any of my own. Therefore, dating a man with kids was a non-starter for me. I have friends who have done it and are divorced now because they couldn't reconcile with the ex and drama was high.

Brenda55 4388 pts moderator

Karla Ditto.

Married a man with two grown kids who were already married and out on their own. See them at holidays and funerals if then. Works for me.

candielady357 84 pts

Brenda55 Karla Ditto +1. I've never wanted to be a mom, so a guy with kids is a deal breaker for me. Besides, men who have kids who are 0-15 years really need to be focusing on raising them, trying to reduce and soothe over the trauma of a divorce/death/separation that children really go through. Dating should be the last thing on their minds, and that goes for the mothers too.

Brenda55 4388 pts moderator

candielady357Karla

"Dating should be the last thing on their minds, and that goes for the mothers too."

Well I can't say I agree with that part of your statement. Dad's do not retire they "man cards" just because they become fathers. They still desire and need adult female companionship. Kids are great but there are things only a woman can bring to a man's life. Not just talking about sex here.

CarlaRose 86 pts

Brenda55candielady357Karla I agree. A person's life should not stop just because they have kids. The age of the kids do make a difference (infancy, toddler, difficult teen years, etc) and should be taken into consideration, but I don't think its right or healthy to completely end your life until the kids are adults.

sparel 821 pts

Brenda55Karla Yeah but those are not children...those are adults you won't see often

Brenda55 4388 pts moderator

sparel Exactly. That is one of the reasons he made the cut.

DidiO 294 pts

Depends.

If he is older and divorced or widowed with older kids (late teens and above) with their own lives to some extent, then..maybe.

Otherwise too complicated for me.

ForestElfQueen 2112 pts

If I was single and childless, I'd date a widower with children. ...If divorced with my own children, I'd date a divorced guy(depending on drama level with his ex) with children.

No never-married baby daddies, period.

Joyce345 910 pts

ForestElfQueen

Agree 100%. I just feel like if a man can walk away from his child once he would do it again. Absolutely NO baby daddies for me whatsoever.

I once dated a guy for a few weeks until I discovered he had two children each with a different woman. The guy was stupid enough to tell me that he didn't have much to do with them because they had each tried to 'trap' him by 'getting themselves pregnant.'

I was so shocked that I didn't even bother to dump him. I just never talked to him or saw him again.

Talk about stupid.

ClaudiaK 22 pts

My ex husband has an older child. The moment i came in his life, the baby mama drama started. At some point she couldn't ( or wouldn't ) take care of the child so we took him in, butttt she was the one who wanted to know what was going on and tell me how to take care of him. What the hell......

After a few years, i packed his bag and dropped him at her place and swore to my self NEVER again.

We got divorced after 10 years of marriage, but the relationship with the father of my kids is great. Even when i told him i was moving to life with my hubby to be 2 hours away from him. He talked about it with the kids and explain to them why i made that decision. We meet half way for the pick and drop of the kids, and nothing changed. About child support i have to say this. Every man/woman has to take care of their children buttt we woman attend to see child support as a way to make man suffer for a divorce. When we got divorced i still wanted to have a good relationship because of the kids so we agree about the amount he could pay.

I can take care of my kids, why should he be the only one to do so? Why stay home and demand support, whats wrong with taking care of the kids together as we did while married? Why should my ex take care of me, just because he was married to me???? Pieter and i love to travel so, he always take care of the kids without any problem so that is what i take advantage of LOL

Patricia Kayden 543 pts

MDNA2 Love your avatar! Cute kitty.

EliseYMason 178 pts

NO,

well, actually, maybe- if the mother was dead, otherwise your having to accept that she'll be in and out of your lives FOREVER-

and crazy or not, that is not going to be awesome.

I don't mind sharing my man (my BF is a very kind and compassionate person who is always giving to other people so I've gotten used to sharing him with his family, job, the OLD lady next door)

but I would prefer that the children we care for be my own, but even then I'd LOVE to adopt, so I could live with a previous marriage

This comment has been deleted
NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

Pearl, the ONLY thing I'll say is that there are exercises for that...

EliseYMason 178 pts

PearlNATruthstudent EXERCISES??? 0.0 what kind?

EliseYMason 178 pts

PearlNATruthstudent OOHHH LOL

I thought he meant exercises for having lotsa babies ;-P

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

Yup, them's the ones...

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

EliseYMasonPearl

You're funny, Elise! But I appreciate that! I'm smiling like a child with an ice-cream cone as I write this!

Brenda55 4388 pts moderator

EliseYMasonPearlNATruthstudent

"LOL

I thought he meant exercises for having lotsa babies ;-P"

Kegaling at the right time can have that out come. ;-P

This comment has been deleted
EliseYMason 178 pts

Pearl WHOA 10, that is AMBITIOUS my friend!!lol, I'm willing to have as many as God let me care for myself

(and I would have to respect my husbands wishes of course)

I'd want to adopt before I had my own-

10+ in age because SO many teens never get out of the system, but if that doesn't work out I'd be kinda limited to only adopting children the same age or younger than my own :-(

EliseYMason 178 pts

Pearl Well there can be alot of trauma for some of them depending on how long they'd been in and how they got there- I've heard some horrible stories- but the biggest concern with adopting older children for me is the strong chancefor sexual abuse, hence I would want them before my own or the same age, not older.

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

I used to love making breakfast for Carolyn...

EliseYMason 178 pts

Pearl LOL, when you learn how to do this, come back and teach me!!we can write a book labled "Wifely Sith Secrets; mind controll" or somthing like that :-D

EliseYMason 178 pts

PearlNATruthstudent Agreed, your just ADORABLE!! <3

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

I wouldn't go that far, Pearl. Every relationship has it's ups and downs. I was fortunate in finding a woman I understood intuitively just as she understood me. To this day, I view it as God brought us together, because neither of us was looking for any relationship.

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

Ummm.... Pearl, you know some men, by their actions and attitudes, just ask for that lot of crap. You know, the ones we call DBR...

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

I agree with your assessment of DBR's, Pearl. My father taught me as a child that when I grow up, I'll only be a man in reality when, no matter waht I do or don't do, I take full responsibility for my actions and attitudes, AND when I do what I know is right even when my emotions might say otherwise. And i tend to see other males from that perspective.

NATruthstudent 1100 pts

PearlEliseYMason

Yes, indeed, there are DBR women as well (I'm probably gonna get jumped on for saying that, but it's true). I knew one in Florida who, if she hadn'r been DBR, I maybe could have fallen for her. But if that had been so, I probalby never would have gotten together with Carolyn, and would have missed perhaps the best relationship I've ever had in this life (so far!).

As the old saying goes, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heavens."