- Introducing your new partner to your family
- Introducing your new partner to your ex
- Introducing your new partner to friends and co-workers
- If your new partner moves in
Congratulations! You’ve found a significant other who fills that hole left by your divorce.
Embarking on a new relationship is exhilarating. It’s a fresh start, a new beginning, a do-over. But you don’t live in a vacuum, and this new relationship will also be part of your extended life, i.e., kids, family, friends, and maybe even your ex. How do you connect all the dots so you can share your joy and still respect everyone in your life?
When should your new love interest meet your tribe?
You’ve been careful to keep your dating life and your family life separate. You wanted to give yourself the time and space to let things happen slowly. You didn’t want to confuse your kids, and you definitely didn’t want to tell your parents about your love life or answer invasive questions from your friends.
But now, you see the long-term possibility of this serious relationship, and everything feels optimistic. You see a future with this person, and you want everyone to meet them.
Introducing your new partner to family
While you’re over the moon about your new relationship, introducing your kids to this person requires special care.
Your kids have loyalties to both you and your ex-partner as their parents. They may have even hoped you would reconcile. Bringing someone new into the mix dashes those hopes, so don’t be surprised if you don’t get the response to your new partner you were hoping for.
Keep any introductory meeting with your kids casual and low-key.
- Plan your first meeting at a place your kids already enjoy.
- Keep this first time together short and sweet.
- Keep signs of affection between you and your new friend to a minimum.
- Focus your attention on the children’s needs.
- Allow your new partner and kids to develop their relationship on their own terms.
- Promote open communication by allowing your kids to ask any questions they need to ask afterward.
Set up the introduction by telling your kids something interesting about your new person. Do they have any fun things in common? Maybe they both like the same sports team or maybe your new partner has a unique talent that could win the kids over.
The age of your children and how long you’ve been divorced will probably factor into how receptive they are to meeting your new partner. There may not be an instant connection, and that’s okay. Check in with them, and give them the right to their opinion – but reinforce that everyone still needs to be respectful. It may take a long time for everyone to warm up. Be patient.
Introducing your new partner to your ex
Although you may feel your dating life is none of your former spouse’s business, when you have children, it’s important to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship with them. It’s common courtesy to tell a co-parent when you’re dating someone. Although it can feel awkward, introducing them can offer an additional level of comfort.
Prepare both your new partner and your ex-spouse with a bit of information about each other that might give them some common ground. Meet in a public place, perhaps for coffee or ice cream. Then, let them do the talking instead of playing referee.
You may be surprised to find that they seem to genuinely like each other. Or, there may be some residual jealousy, grief, or anger, and they may have little to say to each other. That’s okay. Remind them that it’s in the children’s best interests for them to get along.
Introducing your new partner to friends and co-workers
Maybe you wanted to dodge the inevitable dating questions and advice from your friends and co-workers and have kept your relationship to yourself until now. Take your cues from your new partner as you plan these first-time meetings.
You may feel more comfortable doing introductions one-on-one with friends over coffee or drinks. Or, if you have a large group of friends who hang out together, you could plan an activity or dinner party around the introduction. Whatever it is, it should be casual and fun and something that makes everyone feel relaxed and at ease.
Free download: Dating after Divorce worksheet
If your new partner moves in
Your relationship may already be entering the cohabitation phase. Take it slow. Moving in together means more than consolidating your stuff. It entails lots and lots of communication.
Before you move in together, take the time to understand the vision each of you has for this new phase of your relationship. Does one eventually expect marriage while the other is just fine with cohabitation as the end game? Set specific ground rules for the relationship, household duties, and personal boundaries.
When kids are involved, moving in together requires even more responsibility toward each other and your kids. Do you both have children? Do they get along? How will you handle discipline? Favoritism? Co-parents? What if you have disagreements when the kids are around? How will it impact your kids if you break up? These things should all be discussed upfront before anyone even moves a toothbrush.
When you find new love after a messy divorce, it can feel new and freeing. But there are many variables to consider, especially if you have kids. At Hello Divorce, we understand every phase of the divorce process, and we offer plans and a library of resources to help you live your best life through your divorce and beyond. Let us help.
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