Today is Mother's Day and I am looking forward to having lunch with my mom later. That is one "date" that doesn't carry a lot of anxiety or baggage. Now that I am 42, visiting with my own mother about my dating life is perfectly fine--nothing like it was as a teenager or even in my 20's. She'll ask questions about who I am visiting with on apps, how my actual dates have fared, and looks at any pics I have taken along the way. She was also dating in her early 40's, but as a widow and not a divorced individual. This allows for a more candid conversation between her and I. Fortunately, her input has been a great benefit as I attempt to meet other women because frankly, women are as difficult to understand as they ever were!
So, I suppose there ought to be a few things I need to reveal. I have basically been divorced for 3 years. I say "basically" because she left me for another man 3 years ago and the divorce wasn't finalized until about 7 months later. I am LDS, aka a "Mormon" so there are specific and peculiar details about my divorce and circumstances being a divorced Mormon man that play their part as I cope with a failed marriage and being in the dating pool yet again. These details will pop up from time to time as I work on this blog. I try to avail myself every opportunity to meet women so I attend singles groups (albeit rarely at the moment), have family and friends set me up on dates, and use a variety of dating apps. I tell you, if it weren't for these apps, I doubt I would have any dates at all!
As I share my experiences, there will be rants and raves, opinions--oh goodness there will be opinions, and what I think are a good share of successes. My sincere purpose for this blog is to have it read, have its readers offer their experiences and constructive advice, and to have an open conversation about what it's like for men in their late 30's and 40's, regardless of their circumstances, to be dating.
