Why I Changed My Mind About Dating Someone With Kids

The ultimate challenge, responsibility, honor, and privilege.

I grew up in a very traditional Italian household. My parents have been happily together for over 40 years. My grandparents were married for over 60. My mom stayed at home with us — though she also runs her own business from there.

The point is, I always saw my future playing out in a very “traditional” way, despite not at all being a traditional type of person.

As I got older, I began traveling and exploring both myself and the places around me. I moved to Los Angeles, spent a month in New York, traveled to different cities for dinner when the invitation arose.

I started to question whether or not I wanted to “settle down” at all, let alone get married, let alone have children…

Let alone…help to raise children who weren’t mine biologically.

Why would I? Life was great. I had the freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted, with whoever I wanted — and I took full advantage of it.

When the pandemic lockdowns began in March of 2020, Rachel and I casually started chatting online. We’d been Facebook friends for over 10 years so I knew she was previously married and had two children. But, our conversations…