Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

odds are low that the new man is going to have a kumbaya
moment with a sulking, hulking, attitudinal older child. The
beauty of teenagers, though, is that they tend to make them-
selves invisible. As a result, your new man might actually be
able to focus on your relationship without the distraction of a
misbehaving kid. But a man who genuinely wants to be in your
life will try to be a part of your teenager’s life—he won’t be
deterred. He’s expecting that a teenager will be a jerk to him.
What he’ll try to determine is whether the jerkiness is an act to
be mean, or if that’s truly who this kid is.
Now, we all understand your need as a mother to protect the
emotions of your children and your reluctance to let them get
attached to someone you can’t guarantee won’t disappear and
take your kids’ hearts with him. Likewise, we understand how
important it is for you to not look like you’re fast and loose,
running men all through the house like your living room is a
bus stop. We also know this violates every single rule you’ve
had hammered into your head about such introductions. But
my goodness, I’m not talking about bringing everybody to the
house. I’m talking about the guy that you think might be seri-
ous about you. And don’t worry about whether he’s going to
think you’re trying to trap him or you’re just looking for some
sucker to take up where your kids’ daddy failed. Single moms
all over the planet have convinced themselves, with their natu-
ral instincts as nurturers and protectors in full gear, that bring-
ing men they’ve just met around the kids is unsafe. But, ladies,