The dating market is filled with so many single moms around my age.

32M here, and I can’t help but feel old seeing that most people my age who are single are moms. Nothing against single moms at all—I even tried dating one when I was 28, a 33F, thinking that was my only option at the time. But honestly, it turned into a complete disaster. The relationship was incredibly messy—so many awkward dynamics with her kid and the father. I felt like I had 100% of the responsibility but zero authority. Anytime I tried to step in or say something, I was labeled the bad guy or accused of not loving her child.

The kid also served as a constant reminder of her ex-husband, and she often compared me to him, claiming he was better—even though, by her own accounts, he was worse. It was incredibly frustrating. Also you can see the disrespect in the kid behavior. Looking back, I’m glad I walked away because, in hindsight, she just wanted someone to act as a father figure for her child and help her out, and then have another kid with her. that relationship left me pretty traumatized, it still haunts me time to time, fuckk i hate ruminating over that relationship.

I’ve realized that the single mom route just isn’t for me—it didn’t work out, and I don’t think I could go through that again.

But man, getting back into dating is rough. It feels like single moms are everywhere, and it just makes me feel even older. Yikes. Just needed to vent.