Dating!  My definition of the word used to be going out with an interesting man and getting to know him.  The key word was going out.

Nowadays as a single mom of one very mischievous and possessive 4 yr old boy going out alone -read without him tagging along-- is nearly impossible!!!  Going to the potty with my little man banging on the door to hurry up a minute after I go in is a daily occurrence. Several times I went out with my friends after I put my son to bed and every time  he will wake up at 11 pm and start calling me on my mobile and demand that I go home pronto!. He refuses to go back to sleep until  I come home.  So what was I going to do? It’s been 4 yrs since I have enjoyed a private conversation with an interesting guy.  I miss laughing and being flattered by a guy.  It's not enough I guess that your son adores you and thinks that you are the most beautiful woman in the world.  Part of me wants some male attention, from an adult one! 

So lately I have been hanging out in chatrooms where adults are interested in finding a chatmate that can talk about varied interests. I must admit that half of the men online in those chatrooms are “jerks” thus if you want to try it sometime my tip is never accept invitation to view their cams unless you are prepared to see something that you might not want to see. 

I have found two wonderful men who have become my regular chatmates. One is younger than me by 9 years  --am in my mid 30s so don’t worry I am no online child predator!!! Hahahaha-- and we will call him Boylet as my girlfriend calls him and the other a 48 yr old man who looks a little bit like Harrison Ford!   So now I am dating! J Seeing two men – literally speaking since I DO SEE them on webcams! – and getting to know them.  This is an unusual  way of dating I agree but it works for me. I get to have the male conversation and attention I wish to have in the convenience and security of my home.  The best part of it really is I don’t have to leave my son at night . I can chat away while he is sleeping.   Those men and I may not be actually sharing meals but we sometimes eat together only thing is he is eating on his table and I'm eating on mine.  We sometimes sleep together too!! J That is we leave our mics open and talk until we fall asleep together.. and again he in his bed and I in mine with my son beside me.

So now dating has a new meaning to me it's no longer about going out it could now also mean staying in.

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's Love."
Rebecca - age 8

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
Emily - age 8

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears iteveryday."
Noelle - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Nikka - age 6

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her oldclothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you"
Karen - age 7

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. (Now this will melt your heart.) The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."