Do children influence dating lives of a single parent? New relationship survey makes startling revelations

The process of finding love after divorce or losing a spouse itself can be complicated but for single parents it also comes with dramatic dilemmas and difficult conversationsA survey by Indian matchmaking app Rebounce shows that while single parents dont necessarily find their children as an obstacle to romance their romantic choices and decisions are heavily influenced by their childrens acceptance and opinionsNearly 47 per cent of single mothers and single fathers in the survey shared that kids might not be directly involved in the matchmaking process Still their presence quietly shapes who they choose how they handle their love life and whether they allow themselves to embrace love completelyThe study was conducted among 8576 single parents seeking a second chance at love after divorce or the loss of a spouse Participants ranged in age between 28 and 50 and came from metros suburbs and smaller Indian cities The survey shows that single parents carry emotional responsibilities that are rarely discussedThe apps founder and CEO Ravi Mittal added They dont just balance love and parenting Its more like a constant emotional negotiation whether it is okay to have a personal life of their own whether their love for someone else will take away from their love for their children Every single decision goes through multiple checkpoints For single parents its not just about finding the right person for themselves its also about finding the right ecosystem thats safe stable and sustainable for their children as well as themselvesWill my happiness disrupt their stabilityOne of the most significant findings of the survey remains how single parents fear that their happiness might disrupt the stability they have worked so hard to create around their children The survey says 51 per cent of single mothers and 48 per cent of single dads revealed they have at least once given up on a promising connection because the timing was not great for their children or they were worried introducing a new person might create an imbalance in their set routine Whats more interesting is that 7 out of 10 parents disclosed that the reaction is not triggered by resistance from their children but rather a hidden fear rooted deep in themselves However 33 per cent of single parents from metros and suburbs said they also pick up on subtle cues in their kids like if they go quiet or ask more questions about their whereabouts and reconsider their romantic decisions Many also admitted that they have often overanalysed harmless reactions as wellHabit of personality editingThe study uncovered one lesserknown trend among the single parents looking for love they unintentionally edit themselves Nearly 49 per cent of the participants between 30 and 45 years of age shared that they sometimes unknowingly suppress parts of their personality from a match because they no longer see themselves as just an individual but a representative of their family Ragini 35 from Mumbai said Since I am a single mom I tend to match with single dads only because well probably understand the situation better So I have noticed that I fear coming off too spontaneous or adventurous while interacting with them in case they think that I am an irresponsible mom or that connecting with me might be bad for their child Its very unintentional and honestly I know no one will think that way but this is something that many single parents doHappiness also brings guiltThe survey says 41 per cent of single parents from Tier 1 2 and 3 cities said that guilt peaks during the happiest moments of their love lives 6 out of 10 of them said they fear their children might assume that their other parent is being deliberately substituted by this new person While 36 per cent of the participants explained that prioritising their own happiness can feel selfish as a parent and fear that their love and care for their child might be affected 4734 respondents revealed that they downplay their excitement to ensure that their kids dont feel replaced