As a single mother I have dated a lot of different men. One thing I have learned is to tap into my children for a review of the men which I have dated. I do not discount the wisdom of my children for out of the mouth of babes comes much wisdom.

First of all when my children were little I did not date men if that meant I was going to have to leave my children with a babysitter. I had a great babysitter but I enjoyed my children to such an extent that no date was more fun than hanging out with them. (Seriously children are the best. At least mine were.)

Second, I noticed that they were the ones who were constantly watching me. This was never so apparent as when I dated an alcoholic for two years. They told me that they thought I had changed since I started dating him. They said I wasn’t as nice as I used to be. That is something that really started to wake me up about the dangers of dating someone who was in a toxic grasp of addiction.

Third, even when I had broken up with my current boyfriend for over a year they constantly asked me about him. They missed him being in their lives.

After getting back in touch with my boyfriend my children were all thrilled. My daughter has told me that he has her vote as far as being the one whom I should marry.

My sons love him also. They are overjoyed that there is someone that they can talk sports with and someone that they can drag me to action movies with. (I have gone to more action movies than I ever thought was possible. UGH!)

When you are a single parent I know that it is difficult to find a mate whom your children will love as much as you do. I think it is important to include them in the decision of which suitor will walk you down the aisle of marriage.

Because you see it is not really just about you anymore it is about all of you. If they don’t care for the one you have married it can create hardship in their lives and yours also. After being a single mother for 17 years I can guarantee you that hardship is one thing I try to avoid.

I thank God in heaven for my boyfriend, who is not only a wonderful man of God but also a wonderful role model for my children. He is worthy of all of our love.