Dating has highlighted the areas of my life that I must work on and heal before I am ready to commit to a healthy relationship. Dating has been an important learning process for me, but I am not ready for a relationship. I have decided to put a pause on the dating game for now.
I have spent time dating during the first year post-divorce. I had seriously considered the possibility of a partner, or at least I thought I did.
I have yet to find a man, however, I have found 7 brutally honest reasons why I’m too much of a hot mess to be in a relationship in spite of thinking I was ready for a new partner.
1. I do not believe a word men say.
I have recently acknowledged the fact that I have been dating with the lens of a cynic. I do not believe 95% of the content that any man tells me. My mind automatically contradicts him or insists that he isn’t being completely truthful.
God himself could appear before me with my amazing “Mr. Right” on a silver platter and I would be lifting God’s cloak looking for the hidden harness and suspension wire.
I am too much of a hot mess.
2. I miss my cat.
Yes, really.
On my nights sans kiddos I would willingly get dressed and ready, hair done, lips on, and head out to meet a man after a long day of work. I immediately began to miss my kitty Piper, my quiet house, and my queen-sized comfy bed.
I suppose that I appreciate my solitude a bit too much to be in a relationship. I like my comfort zones and a man does not fit into them right now. I want to enjoy my aloneness.
Season 1 of “Friends” on Netflix again, Pipes? Let’s cuddle.
3. Schedules suck.
Dating post-divorce now requires the review of three or more personal schedules. Here’s why…
If one is a divorced mama who shares custody of the children, the parenting schedule is formed between mom and dad for the sake of the children. Throw in a third party, a suitor. Well is he divorced? Does he share custody of his children with his ex?
Now we ultimately have four schedules to work around. FML.
Kiddos. Work. Cat. New House. Oil change. Laundry. I am exhausted. Now I have to make time for a dude, a man who mistakes “your” for “you’re”?
I quit. This hot mess is staying home.
4. I much prefer to block him than work out an issue.
Relationships require compromise, communication, give and take. I know this. I don’t care.
The act of bailing on a man or permanently blocking him from contacting me is just so much easier than actually working out an issue.
Oh, we disagree? Say hello to silence because now when you text me, you will not be getting an answer.
Don’t hold your breath, either. I am Irish and stubborn as hell. I am taking a sabbatical.
“Toodles, sir. From, the Hot Mess.”
5. I must clean out the lint filter every time I use the dryer and I don’t want to.
Not kidding. One more thing I have to do and I am already on overload.
Can you do me a favor and tell my offspring to stop climbing up my leg every 5 seconds?
At this point in my life, the poor guy would be my punching bag and that’s not fair.
I am too much of a hot mess to share my time with a partner right now.
6. My living room furniture is on layaway.
I purchased a new house one month ago, a huge feat in itself as a single, divorced, working mama of three kids.
I learned last week where the water shut off is located and of course, I can’t reach it unless I am in platform heels. I recently discovered that I must change the furnace filter twice a year. My dining room table, chairs, couch, and chaise lounge are still on layaway.
I am doing my best.
So you would like to stop over and have a cup of coffee? Mm, can’t. Nowhere to sit.
You probably just want sex anyway. Refer to #1.
7. I pretend to have it all together, but I don’t.
Until I get honest with myself, any relationship that I attempt will not be based on truth.
I am terrified of heartbreak. I am constantly waiting and preparing myself for the next dating disappointment. I am fearful of choosing a man like my ex. I am certain that no man will ever care enough to make me a priority in his life. I am tired of dating.
I finally realized that I will continue to attract men all wrong for me unless I repair the heart of the lady in the mirror.
Dating has highlighted the areas of my life that I must work on and heal before I am ready to commit to a healthy relationship. Dating has been an important learning process for me, but I am not ready for a relationship. I have decided to put a pause on the dating game for now.
The truth is, I have not given up on the idea of love and partnership. I am not embarrassed by my mess. I do hope to share a relationship with a kind and loving man one day.
As I identify my weaknesses and continue to heal, eventually the “mess” will fade away. Then I will just be “hot”.
Until then, hot mess it is!
Redeemed Mama says
From one hot mess to another, I totally get this!!!! Sitting on the couch in my yoga pants watching a Netflix marathon sounds much more appealing than getting all dolled up for a date with someone who more than likely won’t be Mr. Right.
Kk Harry says
Amen to that!!!!
Alone and happy says
I loved your story. I have no litte kids mine are all grown but my fears are the same. I truly have zoned out of wanting any drama. Ex’s, baby mommas or lying men in my life. I am right there with ya sista!
I watched Britney Spears on a clip and she said it beautifully. I no longer believe in marriage and I am not interested in dating.
I too just bought an 1800 square foot house by myself and me and my two dogs are enjoying it with pleasure and pride.
The builder gave me a tool box as gift when I moved in. I love it! I have become independent as hell and I love the new me!
Deborah says
Laughing out loud. I feel the same as you, trying to stand up again after my husband walked out of our marriage 3 years ago. At age 59 years now it’s difficult in itself to figure out how to begin your life again expecially since I gave my entire heart and soul to someone else for decades, ignoring my needs, wants and desires for him.
After my husband left, I reached out to several dating sites and put in my age range between 48- 65. Wow, these men look horrible, unkept, fat with bulging bellies, and phontos of themselves with fish, or a motorcycle (I”m firmly planted on the ground after breaking my jaw in 3 places years ago). Plus, these men are rude to boot, disresptful of women in general with so many issues, I don’t want or need them.
Healing from the damage of abondonment takes years and trying to work on what I want from life now. Soon, within a few months, I too plan on buying my first home, plant gardens, paint it whatever color I want to, grind my coffee for a fresh cappuccino and invite new friends to come over.
Hindsight is always 20/20 but you cannot change the past, it’s just figuring out the future
Walter says
Hi Debbie, just finished reading your response over here. do you mind getting to know me?
Just having my cappuccino now and thinking too. Lol.
thought we can be friends. i had few dull pasts too just like you too but we can be friends, sorry i know this is not the place to say this too.
If you ignore me too, i will understand and respect that.
cheers.
Walter says
Hi Debbie, just finished reading your response over here. do you mind getting to know me?
Just having my cappuccino now and thinking too. Lol.
thought we can be friends. i had few dull pasts too just like you too but we can be friends, sorry i know this is not the place to say this too.
If you ignore me too, i will understand and respect that.
cheers.
Walter says
Hi Debbie, just finished reading your response over here. do you mind getting to know me?
Just having my cappuccino now and thinking too. Lol.
thought we can be friends. i had few dull pasts too just like you too but we can be friends, sorry i know this is not the place to say this too.
If you ignore me too, i will understand and respect that.
cheers.
Kelly says
omg… So funny and relatable.. All of it!!!