1. Be Ready for Lots of Hard Work

As mentioned in the first line of this article, dating someone with kids is tough. Really tough. There won’t be multiple dates in a week or late weeknight outings. You will always play second fiddle to your new partner’s kids and that is something you have to be prepared for. You will have to adapt to their schedule and plan your life around there’s. When you finally meet the kids, you have to do your best to bond with them without coming across like you’re trying to be their new dad. There is a good chance they won’t like you in the beginning and you will have to win them over. You need to be involved in their lives without taking over. It requires a lot of hard work, both mentally and emotionally.

You are essentially coming into an established family unit and need to be prepared to find your spot. There will be tears and plenty of fights, but if you can make it work it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. The love and warmth from a family will make all the hard times you go through worth it.

2. Prepare To Hear a Lot About the Kids When You First Start Dating

During the initial courtship, you are probably going to hear a fair bit about the kids. While some women will keep everything close to their chest until they are comfortable you will be sticking around, others will happily show you photos of their kids and engage in conversation about them. This is a great way to find out more about them and what they are like. If you are serious about this woman, then you want to take an interest in the things that matter to her, particularly when it comes to her kids. It might be a little overwhelming but it’s better you be over-prepared than under. This way when you do finally meet them you will have a good grasp of what they are like and be able to interact with them in a positive way.