If I could turn back time...

Dating for a single mum is an absolute minefield!  I’ve recently been doing a bit of research as to the best steps to take to get myself back on track and it is terrifying me.

I’ve also realised, like most other kiwi girls – we usually don’t date.  Relationships seem to just manifest themselves from drunken nights out, all of a sudden realising that the same man seems to be at the same parties most of the time.  If you notice he is there for the sixth time, you should change your relationship status on facebook and make noises about moving in together.

 So it has got me thinking.  What would I do if I could do it all over again, knowing what I know now.  I guarantee my life would have taken an entirely different road.  Here are my top 10 things I would do if I was 26 again:

1.        Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise and Exfoliate RELIGIOUSLY!  Only Cher can turn back time.

2.       Wear sunscreen – The battles I’ve had with the sun is bordering on ridiculous.  I am fair skinned, deal with it.  I will never go brown.  At 26 despite having 3^rd degree burns around my bikini line (very sensitive), I still thought if I continued sunbathing I would eventually look Spanish.

3.       Invest disposable income on property instead of bottles of vodka, taxi rides home and petrol station pasties at 3am.

4.       Do not seek approval – do my own thing and be strong confident and comfortable doing it.

5.       Be patient – I have a whole lifetime of experiences ahead of me; I do not have to do EVERYTHING in one weekend.

6.       Choose the guy, don’t let them choose you. I do not have to ‘date’ every guy that pays me attention or buys me the next vodka and cranberry.  Be patient and choose wisely.

7.       Use my work/job as a place to learn and get ahead instead of an extension of my social life and necessary evil to get through (mostly hungover) until 5pm drinks.

8.       Be Mysterious!  Oh I so wish I could be mysterious instead of blurting out everything that comes into my mind to anyone who will listen.

9.       Respect myself and believe in me.

10.   Have a life plan and stick to it.

Now, I know if I had managed to follow these rules, I certainly would not be the person I am today.  And although I made some horrendous mistakes, at least it was a colourful past and I now have lots of stories to tell!

What would you do differently?

I may need some new knickers

My love life has a pretty disastrous history.  I should have been able to foresee my wayward path when at the late blooming age of 20, my first ever boyfriend ditched me after a glorious six month relationship for his half sister with a walking stick awaiting her hip replacement.

Oh how I was scorned!  Since then my love interests fell into one of two categories.  Either your typical bad boy where I would swoon ridiculously if they ever looked in my eyes for more than a millisecond or out of character said something nice.   Or at the other end of the scale, those that were a little less fortunate in their relationship history (like myself) but were very keen to make amends.

As I got older, I added a string of secret work flings to my bow, which more often than not ended up in major avoidance tactics and embarrassing small talk at the coffee machine.  All forgotten after a few days of making ourselves incredibly busy around the office.  These interludes did absolute wonders for my productivity, it’s a wonder my bosses didn’t encourage it.

At around 26, I began to reach my stride and was confident, flirtatious and vivacious.  A socialite who could hold court with a room full of potential mates (or so I thought after my sixth vodka and cranberry).  Realistically I would be falling asleep on the late tube home, alone, being woken up at the end of the line by the driver whilst wiping the dribble from the corner of my mouth and wondering whether I’ll be able to make it home before peeing my pants.

So what has happened?  I feel like I am a child who has regressed in her development.  I now cower in the corner and hide behind imaginary pot plants if I have just a tiny notion that there may be a single man in the room.  Words refuse to leave my lips and I stand limp, blushed and bamboozled in front of the male sex.  I erect an almost visible wall at the mere mention of men or dating.

I am actually incredibly comfortable being single.  I'm not lonely, I really enjoy having only myself to answer to and clean up after.  My only concern is that time is not on my side.  My last date was pre children when my breasts stood up on their own and my stomach was as tight as stretched canvas. 

I can only conclude that there is so much more at stake now.  I’ve grown up and I want more.  Gone are the days of frivolous flings. I’m 10 (ahem) years older and have a much better idea of what I want and need in a relationship, emotionally and physically.  It’s a long list, I tell you.  I also want a role model for my children, an income to share, he needs to fit into my life with my children, and to coin and old work phrase, must be able to ‘add value’.  Someone we can all learn from, laugh with, cry upon and just comfortably sit next too, without talking.  Above all, he must be willing to mow my fricken lawns.

So, in my endless world of research (I like to find a new topic each day. Yesterday was the pollination of figs – please google, great dinner party conversation.),  I will find the most appropriate steps for someone in my situation, to finding a potential and fulfilling mate.  I will then post and report my progress on this blog.

If my history has anything to go by, I’m doomed!!  But goodness knows it will make good blogging material.

Wish me luck!

By the way, please don’t forward this blog to any potential mates, I will obviously deny all of my above demands and become the old fancy free frivolous flings me.  Oh yes, Easy Breezy.  That’s me.