We met on an online dating site, even tho he lives 2 houses down from my sister . I had just started treatment and just went on disability. I had went on quite a few dates with others but just didn't click. When I met him we just hit it off instantly. I told him my dx a few weeks in and he was a little uneasy but I guess he liked me enough to learn more. The only thing he knew about bipolar was from watching an episode of ER. So his impression was a scary. He took the time to learn and has been my biggest support. He sees more of my bipolarism than anyone else in my life, but I gather he things I'm worth it. . He also wasn't intending on dating someone with kids and I have three. But he is great to the kids also, he's the only father they have known, and they love him to bits.

His family has also been very supportive and accepting of my situation. They treat my kids and I like family. My bf and I have had some struggles, only one major fight in almost 6 years. I think we are actually doing pretty good. He also struggles with depression and a chronic illness so I think that helps him understand where I am coming from and vice versa.

We don't live together, mostly because of my disability and housing expensenses. He does own a house but it's a bit small for the five of us and it's central downtown, not a great neighborhood for my kids to play. Sometimes I think tho the not living together part has kept us stronger. We still go on dates all the time. We see each other almost every day, stay at my place or his, the kids have bedrooms at his house as well. Although it's not the typical arrangement it works for us. We never argue about money or things like that because we are independent of each other in those ways, I think that takes away alot of the stress. When I need time out alone or he does we can have that easily because of our living arrangements.