IDK who needs to hear this but single people over 40, especially those with children, are not and should not be playing by the same dating rules as those looking to start a family.

My biological clock isn’t ticking. I’m not counting on a partnership to provide me a nice life. I’m looking for a partner, not to adopt another dependent.

At this point, you need to be adding more than you’re taking or what you’re taking from is my child, whether that be energy, money, emotional capacity…

Don’t feel bad about yourself for not having the same playbook as someone else. In fact, feel good about it. There’s no one size fits all path to happiness or success.

If you’re going to take relationship advice from anyone, take it from someone who’s been in a successful marriage for 10 to 20 years. Don’t take parenting advice from someone who has no kids, etc.

There are certainly things to learn from these people, but when you are in a different era of life you’re playing a very different game.

It’s not a feminist take to want *at least* an equal at this point. It’s an ROI calculation as head of household and the person truly responsible for another life.

You know best what is good enough for you and yours.