A First Date Guide: 6 Things New Daters Need to Know
Once upon a time dating was easy, said no one ever…..
Here are a few tips that might guide you if you are new to the experience and haven’t been on a first date in a while.
You are newly single, a virtual kid in a candy store. There are so many possibilities and being alone sucks. If you are just out of a relationship, you are not ready to date. Wait – and then when you think you are ready wait some more. Get to know you as you are and not part of a couple. (Watch the egg scene in Runaway Bride for a movie illustration of deciding what you like without your partner’s influence – it’s towards the end – and makes more sense if you watch the whole movie. Do this on a Friday or Saturday night instead of being tempted to go out.)
When you are ready, go to an online dating site and start a profile. Be really careful about the name you choose and who you want to attract. (Gentlemen – please avoid references to snakes and other sexual cliches, we are not impressed. Ladies – don’t hawk your physical attributes in your screen name – unless you want every creeper sending you messages.) Do a month’s trial to see how you like the site. I guarantee they will offer you a better deal at the end of the month.
Don’t give out your last name, phone number, email, place of work – until after the first date. Most of the online sites have a messaging system – stay there – even if the other person wants to text or yahoo chat. That way, if your first date is a disaster, you don’t have to worry about further contact.
Meet in a public place – and get yourself there.Safety tip – tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting. Have your safe person text you to see how things are going – and be sure to respond. (This text can also help you dash out the door, if things are really bad.)
A date is not a job interview. Avoid interrogating your date. Instead, google “first date questions/conversations”and pick out 3 to 5 standard questions.
Leave your politics, religion and family/life drama out of your first date. Please don’t be that person who has to confess all their trespasses or all the reasons why their last relationship ended.
Remember, it’s just dating, you aren’t making any promises. Just have fun!