Dating, By the Book
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
Even if I had a date,
I wouldn’t know what to do.
I can’t remember the last time I had a date. I certainly remember the last time I was asked, but I don’t remember the last time I actually went out on a real date. The kind where you agonize over your outfit, take the time to do your makeup instead of just swiping on some lipgloss (if you remember), and have butterflies in your stomach over the romantic possibilities of the evening.
It’s not really that great a loss; I was a terrible date–shy, awkward, and more than a little flustered by the whole experience–even before I had kids. Now, with Diva Girl and the Shaolin Toddler in the mix, I’m really not sure how I’d negotiate those waters. How I’d even go about finding a man, let alone juggling the dual demands of dating and diapers.
Rachel Sarah, on the other hand, has this whole area down to a science. From binders filled with potential suitors to a tried and tested first date skirt, she’s boldly taken the bull by the horns and plunged into the deep end of dating while lactating. She writes about it all, the silly, the strange, the heartwarming and heartwrenching moments of juggling the dual roles of single woman and solo mom in her memoir, Single Mom Seeking.
For all of us who aren’t sure about mixing playdates with blind dates, Rachel offers us an honest, funny, occasionally hot account of one mom’s search for Mr. Right. So, for all of us whose big plans for Valentine’s Day consist of ice cream for dinner, I propose a book club meeting instead. I propose that you go out, read this book, and then meet back here next week to talk about it (it’s a quick read, I promise). As an extra incentive, Rachel Sarah herself has agreed to chat, to answer some questions for us about her experiences dating as a solo mom; I know that I for one, am looking forward to finding out how she does it.