[divorceddad0705]

Ive been divorced for 2 1/2 years now and I share 50% custudy of my amazing kids.I have a 8year old boy & my daughter is 5. I have been dating somone now for 1 year and our relationship is GREAT. My kids do not have any idea that I am in a relationship but lately they have asked me , why I did not have a girlfriend. when I asked them how they would feel if I had a girlfriend they both said they thoght it would be great. That made me feel good. I really want to introduce my kids to my amazing girlfriend but im alittle scared because of the possibility that if it would not work out in the future I would have to put my kids through a separation again and that would be devastating for me and my kids. I keep an open mind about it because I love my girlfriend and don't want to loose her. Latelyshe has made a comment that she feels that the day of me introducing my kids to her will never come . She has allways been very understanding of why I haven't done so yet but I feel slowly but surely she might get tired of waiting. What advice might some of u have for me on what to do ?

[healingme4me]

If you are worried about the notion of your children suffering through another separation process, is there an underlying nagging doubt about the longevity of your relationship?

If this is a serious, long term, committed relationship, that you are involved with, and you feel it's a good time, to start acclimating your children to the new woman in your life, then perhaps it's time to introduce them to your friend.

And if you are hesitant, that's also your right as a parent, to protect the feelings and emotions of your children.

Only you are the best judge of your relationship, but after a year it does sound pretty solid and it's kudos to your g/f for wanting to meet them and be a little part of their lives. I wouldn't bow to pressure from your g/f if it doesn't feel right, but I think also that to see it from her point of view is useful also.

You can't protect your children from everything all of the time, and the future is always unknown, but we shouldn't let 'what if's' rule our lives. Caution is good but it's not like you've been introducing lots of various 'special friends' along the way.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.