Why One Mom Says Dating as a Single Parent Isn't a Setback, It's a Gift

For single parents re-entering the dating world, things can feel pretty daunting. The fear of rejection, the stress of balancing work and parenting with personal time and the worry of whether someone will truly accept your child can weigh heavy. But for those tired of endless scrolling or convinced they’ll never meet someone who will embrace their family, one mom has a message for you—dating as a single parent can actually be better than dating before kids.

In a popular video, TikTok comedian, influencer and single mom Kat Stickler breaks down the unexpected benefits of dating while parenting. “This is for my single parents. If you’re dating out there—you know, if you’re not that, then you can keep scrolling 'cause you’re probably gonna have something to say, and I really don’t wanna hear it,” she begins candidly.

Stickler admits she used to see her status as a single mom as a romantic liability, but over time, her perspective shifted. “I used to think ‘My god, I have a kid and I’m dating someone. They’re gonna think that’s a hindrance. They’re gonna think that’s this insane baggage, and it’s gonna make me so much less appealing.’ And it will—to the wrong person. How great is that?"

"You’re filtering out a whole other group,” she explains. “You’re gonna see through the red flags so much faster. Because you’re not just looking out for one heart, you’re looking out for two.” And if it doesn’t go right the first time, or the first 20 times, that’s just part of it she adds. “You learn. Some people get it right the first try, and some people it takes a little longer. And that’s okay. Don’t put so much stress on yourself. This is supposed to be fun. Life is full of insane challenges and obstacles. Let’s make this one thing super fun and enjoyable.”

Stickler also calls out the pressure and unsolicited advice single moms often face. “There’s no right or wrong way to date as a single mom. Don’t let society, or your in-laws, or whoever tell you what you should or should not do," she says. "Trust your gut. You know yourself, you know your kid. You’ve been through your own life.”

“We are here to understand ourselves, not to be understood by other people," she says in a powerful reminder. "You got your back. Trust that. I love you. And good luck out there. It’s not great, but you’re great, so that’s all that matters.”

The comments section quickly filled with support from fellow single parents and those who’ve dated them. “And then there comes the person who not only doesn’t see your kids as a burden, but as a blessing and bonus souls to love,” one mom wrote. Another added, “I dated a single parent with a daughter. It was the best relationship I’ve ever had—she was the most encouraging and fun and thoughtful woman. Seeing her be a mom made me love her MORE. So I married her. Now we have two kids.”

Other single parents echoed Stickler’s point about clarity and standards. “I also value my time WAY more than I did childless and single, which makes my standards higher 'cause I’m not wasting time on someone who isn’t treating me well,” shared another mom. “Being a single mom was probably my favorite season of life,” added another. “Just a whole new experience. I was way more confident in myself and what I was looking for and cut the BS so quick.”

While dating with a kid in tow might not be the easiest, there’s light in knowing that it can but be more intentional, more honest and ultimately, more rewarding.