L.E.O.M wrote: A girl I work with (single mom). Told me that she is not going to get married or cohabitate with a man, or bring men around her children until her children are 18. Because she respects their relationship with their father and does not want to sow any confusion. All things aside, I think we can agree that is, at least, a nice sentiment. BUT BUT BUT. Her oldest child is 7 at the moment. The mother is 29. I almost felt bad for a second that her plan to wait will surely fell but then I remembered she already made a choice to f~~~ things up the first time around so whatever. The sheer lack of realistic expectations is staggering and sad.

I am getting hints of a few different things in your post. First, the women has multiple children with the same man. From what it sounds like she has been in a relationship with the father since she was 21, since her oldest child is 7 and she is 29.

I am getting the sense that this woman was in long term relationship with the father and their relationship fizzled. That happens. And this sounds like it is not a case of her riding the c~~~ carousel.

Also, she wants to abstain from dating other men for the sake of her children. I do not know if she can maintain her intentions. But, I will respect her on this point. And if she is serious, and she allowed the father to not be a stranger to their children, I believe the situation is salvageable for the children.