The reality of dating as a single parent

In a recent survey of the Frolo community, 86% of the single parents we spoke to admitted that they’d been made to feel ‘less than’ as a single parent on a dating app.

If you’re a single parent and have ever used one of the mainstream dating apps you’re probably nodding along right now, thinking back to all the times when you’ve read bios with lines like ‘Swipe left if you’ve got kids, I’m not looking for any baggage or drama.’

As a single parent myself I find it shocking and outdated to think that despite one in four families in the UK and Ireland being headed by single parents, we still come up against so much discrimination. It’s not okay that as single parents we’re made to feel inferior, like our children are ‘baggage’, or that we’re not worth someone’s time or respect.

If you are a single parent looking to date, we are not suggesting you ditch the dating scene before you even get started, what we’re saying is that there clearly needs to be a different dating solution for single parents, something that takes away all of that stigma that we feel on the traditional dating apps and instead makes dating a positive and empowering experience.

A whopping 91% of the Frolo community tell us that they think that being a single parent makes it harder to meet people and 90% worry that a potential partner won’t appreciate the different priorities and challenges that come with dating when you’re parenting alone - how can we turn this around and make dating as a single parent both safe and fun?

It was this clear need for a change that inspired the development of Frolo Dating, our brand new offering as part of the Frolo online hub for single parents. Frolo Dating has been created for single parents by single parents, and is the world’s first mobile dating app exclusively for single parents that has advanced technology user verification for all users.

With Frolo Dating we want to offer an alternative for the thousands of single parents who’ve ever been made to feel ‘less than’ as a single parent and who worry that they won’t be able to find a partner who respects and understands the demands of single parent life.?

By creating a dating app just for single parents, we’re ensuring that every single member GETS IT. If this sounds like something you need in your life, join the Frolo Dating waiting list now for Founding Member perks including a one month free trial.

Dating confidence as a single parent

Of course we appreciate that creating the platform is only the first step. For a lot of single parents one of the big issues is confidence. Many single parents will have been through separation, divorce or bereavement, and self-esteem and trust can have taken a knock.

As part of Frolo Dating we want to acknowledge this and be not just a single parent dating app but also a valuable resource for support and expert advice. On our Frolo Dating Instagram channel we’ve already hosted several live Q&As with well-respected dating and relationship experts and shared tips, user questions and feedback from within the community.

One of our recent Instagram lives was with Julia Kotziamani, a dating, sex and relationships coach who specialises in working with single mums. Julia had plenty of reassuring words for any single parents who are nervous about getting back into dating.?

‘Flirting, great conversation, seduction and even chemistry are all buildable skills you can learn,’ says Julia. ‘If you don't feel they come naturally to you then remember it’s the same for lots of us! Do not worry, you can learn and develop these skills with practice. Remember a date is just two people seeing if they want to see more of each other, so even if one goes wrong it's not a big deal. As with anything, the more we do it the easier it becomes.

‘There is power in knowing anyone can become great at the art of dating regardless of age, stage of life, weight, appearance, job etc etc. Charisma is something we can build and learn and we are not beholden to how "naturally talented" we are in the romantic world. Give yourself time and grace to make mistakes and learn from them, especially if it's been a while.’

Great news for single parents who might be feeling like they’ve missed the window for dating and feeling sexy! Remember too that with Frolo Dating, so many people will be in the same boat and feelling the exact same nerves and apprehension about putting themselves out there. You already have the shared experience of single parenting, so you’ll know you have at least one conversation starter up your sleeve on a first date.

Dating safely as a single parent

And of course we need to consider safety. Just as you would protect yourself and your personal information generally online, if you're embarking on a single parent dating journey then your safety is paramount.?

During our research for Frolo Dating the issue of safety came up again and again and while some dating apps do offer the option to become a verified user, Frolo Dating is taking that one step further and insisting on verification for everyone. This will be a two step process, using an advanced technology system that will check a person’s identity against a form of ID and complete a live photo verification. As a parent, you’ll have peace of mind that every single person on the app is at least who they say they are. We can’t guarantee a great date, but we can at least give you that!

When it comes to chatting with your matches, keep communications within the app in the first instance. If you do get to the point of wanting to take things further, a quick video call can be a good way to check for that elusive spark without wasting too much of your precious time. If and when you decide to meet in person - this is usually better sooner rather than later - meet in a public place rather than giving your address details, and be sure to tell someone else where you're going and how long you expect to be.?

Creating a new way to date for single parents

Dating as a single parent can be challenging, but from our research with the Frolo community we quickly discovered that a lot of single parents do want to find love again, they just don’t know how and where to safely connect with like minded people.??

With Frolo Dating we really hope that we can change this and give single parents a fun and positive platform from which they can dip their toe safely back into the world of dating, amongst people who understand what it means to be a single parent.

If you are keen to give Frolo Dating a go then join the waitlist now and be the first to hear when we go live.

Research conducted with the Frolo community through Instagram polls on @frolo_app and @frolo_datingapp