Dating Advice for Single Teenage Mothers

A single teenage mother has all the responsibilities of motherhood that any woman does. Just being a single mother adds to this load. When you put being a teenage single mother with this it can be overwhelming for a young woman. Dating is difficult to navigate as a teenager, but a teenage single mother has all these difficulties plus a child to consider.

Psychologists offer dating advice to single teenage mothers as a series of steps. First a single teenage mother must adapt to her new role as a mother. Gone are the carefree days of youth, here to stay are the responsibilities of adulthood and being responsible for another human life.

A single teenage mother has much to learn about life in general plus all the knowledge to take care of a baby. She also is still learning how to take care of herself.

Psychologists offering dating advice to teenage mothers recommend that a teenage mom has several things in place before thinking about dating. In fact dating should be far from her mind initially. Things such as the following should be occupying her time.

1. What are her plans for finishing high school if she hasn't already? If she has finished high school, what are her plans for college?
2. What are her plans for financially supporting her child? Does she have family or other financial assistance?
3. What are her living arrangements? Will she continue to live with her parents?
4. Who will care for her child while she is in school or working?
5. How is she adapting to her role as a mother? Is there self esteem or other psychological issues that need to be addressed?

As you see, there are many things that are of high priority to take care of. Dating seems a little low on that list. Once a teenage mother has gotten onto a little steadier ground, dating is not out of the question though. It is unlikely that teenage young men will be interested in seriously dating teenage single mums. They may however make advances toward the teenage mother; acting as if they are serious; when actually they are interested in sex. Teenage males may make the assumption since a young woman has a child that a sexual encounter with her will be easier.

Older young men (out of high school) may try to take advantage of a single teenage mother. Playing upon her desire to have the attention of a male, men can use a single mother and then leave her with the emotional pain of abandonment and lowered self esteem. Some men prey upon dating teenage mums, looking for easy sex. They can make advances that a young woman is not able to thwart off.

Dating advice for single teenage mothers needs to happen long before dating begins. Just because a young woman has a child it can't be assumed she has the maturity to enter the dating arena as a mother. Those close to her should be supportive and offer dating advice for single teenage mothers to learn from.