Mike and Tiffany are two middle-aged, single parents juggling the demands (and delights) of raising teenagers alone with the challenges of maintaining some semblance of personal lives. We’re both inclined to think things through in detail (read: too much) and despite having very similar core values, priorities and world views, we disagree about nearly everything when it comes to relationships and dating: how to best meet potential partners, the merits of online dating and dating services, speed dating, meeting people online, dating in the workplace, when to introduce someone to your kids…if it relates to relationships, chances are we have argued about it (or soon will).
We believe that the issues we face, the questions we debate and even the experiences that make us laugh out loud contain a common thread that many readers will recognize and identify with, and we hope that you’ll chime in and share your own views, experiences, insights and horror stories.
What a great idea for a blog. Best wishes to you. I’ll be delighted to subscribe because you two are among the most sensible people I have ever met online.
Well, they’re sensible.
But admittingly disagreeing about nearly everything? Any relationship like that, sounds like a lot of unnecessary extra work to me. And possibly a power play that drains a lot of the energy, love and fun they could both be having, by setting as healthier examples for their kids.
Parents in general are DIRECTLY telegraphing their kids how a relationship works. And kids likely react and try to emulate what they grew up with, because they see it as normal.
I’ve never had kids. I’ve been in Relationships where I was the Step Father, which thankfully isn’t the same thing.
I’ve watched many relationships fall apart, due in part, to totally differently Parenting styles. Or Partnering styles.
And don’t you hate it when the child gets pregnant, goes to jail, or cuts themself ? Yep, I’ve seen all of that.
There’s no absolutes here. Sometimes the best Parents in the world can’t prevent that from happenning.
Krakatoa, just to be clear, Mike and I aren’t IN a relationship. We’re at opposite ends of the country and have never met “in real life”, and certainly don’t have any interaction with one another’s children.
When I said that we disagreed about nearly everything, I was speaking purely in the context of this blog–Mike is a fan of online dating, for instance, whereas I think it is virtually impossible that anything positive could ever come out of it. Mike believes in fidelity from the first interaction, whereas I think that puts an artificial spin on a relationship that should be developing naturally.
We actually agree about nearly everything that counts–honesty and how other people should be treated and the importance of the quality of our work and the incontrovertible fact that Kids Come First. We’re even in almost complete agreement about what it takes to make a relationship works. But we’re a world apart on what it takes to put one together.
You two are just having way too much fun being neurotic at each other, aren’t you?
Hello Mike & Tiffany,
What a remarkable relationship and insightful blog! I have really enjoyed reading your posts.
We’re looking for a guest writer(s) to submit a five to six hundred word piece on the joys and sorrows of being a single parent. You two are exactly what we need.
At your convenience, please take a look at our magazine, Live Well For Less, to get a feel for our readers. If you think we would be a good match, please contact me to discuss the particulars.
Kindest regards,
Nikola Hartmann
http://www.livewellforless.wordpress.com
livewellforlessmag@gmail.com