Finding Prince Charming

This is a fairy tale, but not in true Disney style! Sure, there were a lot of frogs being kissed, and there is a happily ever after, but we skip the glass slippers, white horses and singing forest animals to bring you the romantic world of online dating, blind dates and awkward set ups!


As a 30 year old mother of one, I found myself suddenly and unexpectedly single.  I was a single mom. There is a lot more to say about the circumstances surrounding that sudden change, but we will visit that another time. For now, I'd like to talk about the hilarious adventure that took place over the few years while I was "between husbands".


Suddenly single.  And the mother of an amazing two year old boy.  I bought myself a cute little condo. I worked full time. And I had every other weekend, kid free.


At first, dating didn't really seem appealing to me. I figured all the good guys were married. I spent my free time, fixing up my condo,  hanging with my girlfriends and their husbands and kids and of course feeling sorry for myself while I buried my feelings in junk food and romantic comedies.  


And then it happened. I'm not sure exactly when or how, but I opened and online dating profile.  I wrote about myself. I tried to be truthful, but I did add an inch or so to my height, and picked only the most flattering photos.  And then came the fun part. I got to browse through endless photos of men in the area who were single. I set my search to men aged 30-39 and within the area where I lived. And up popped all these smiling faces. This was so fun, like window shopping! And then came the dates.


I drank a lot of coffee during my search for prince charming.  I was looking for a very specific man. I wanted someone I was physically attracted to. Someone who could carry a conversation. Someone who enjoyed his work. Whatever his work was, was less important, but I wanted to spend time with someone who was happy.  Then there was the big must…. He must not be scared off by my two year old.


The fact that I was a mom first, usually came up in the online conversations before I ever met someone. And there were a few who blocked me as soon as it was mentioned.  That was okay with me, because why would I waste my time with someone who wasn’t interested. There was at least one who was way too excited about my child. He told me how much he loved playing with little kids and buying them gifts, I blocked him.  There was one who thought his dog was just like my child and repeatedly compared the two. Haha. I had one coffee and never saw him again. He also wore a toque in the summer time, and I just don't understand that style.


 My favorite bad online dating story was a guy I met for coffee who couldn't seem to keep his eyes open. Every time his mouth opened to talk or tell a story, his eyes would close,  and they would stay closed until he was done telling his story, and they they would POP open like “ta-da”... every single time. I remember that I sat there, holding my coffee and listening to his story and looking at the door, thinking to myself, I wonder if i can make it to the door before his eyes open? I didn’t try it.


There was an accountant, two teachers, a photographer, a banker, a salesman, and a geologist. They were all good candidates, but they were not prince charming. So, the search continued. And while I searched, I also found myself. I made new friends. I joined a baseball team. I reconnected with friends I had lost touch with.  I became stronger and more confident. I was happy. And as it turns out, that was just the thing I needed to find my prince.


On the day that I met Charming, I was feeling a bit down. It was a Sunday in mid June. I had been on so many bad dates in the weeks leading up to this day. I had almost decided that I was done with dating. I would just take my profile down and be me! But, I had already agreed to meet this guy, and I don't like to let people down. Plus my little guy was away until the next day, and how many romantic comedies can one girl watch anyway? At least I’d get a coffee out of it.


 So, I put on some jeans, and a casual top, with very little makeup and I grabbed my purse. I was going to meet this guy at the starbucks located inside a Chapters bookstore. This was good, because if it was really bad, at least I could shop and that always makes me feel better. I arrived after he did. As I was ordering my coffee, we spotted each other.

The photos he had posted online were an accurate representation of himself, thats a good sign. I like honesty. As our eyes met, he gave me one of those creepy nods, as if to say “How you doin?” , but I ignored it and joined him at his table near the window. I had already decided that this was it, after this afternoon I was taking my hat out of the dating ring, so really there was nothing to lose.


 We chatted for a long time. That's always a good sign. I began to wish I had put a little more effort into my appearance. This guy was funny. We seemed to have a lot of things in common. Not everything (that would have been creepy) but enough to leave me wanting to know more. He enjoyed his job. He had a good relationship with his family. He didn't ask too much about my son.  We sat in that coffee shop window until the sun began to set. Then we wandered the aisles of the book store, still chatting and now checking out each others butts. He was looking for a book to read on a business trip he was leaving for, and like most moms, I found something for my son, and nothing for myself.


Then there was a second date. Low key. We walked around the park in the drizzle. It was wet, but we chatted and wandered and eventually stopped to eat. He had a cooler full of food and dishes. All I had to offer was a superman umbrella. And then he asked about a third date.  On that day he took me canoeing down the river. And we talked so much more. This was the end of date three and he had still not kissed me, so I took matters into my own hands, and I kissed him.


After three or four months of dating, and talking every day, I was finally ready for this man to meet my son. I had not introduced him to any of the other contenders. This was a big deal. Being a mom was my first priority. This little dude and I are a package deal. If they didn’t hit it off, I would be back to square one.  I had a good feeling about this. When they met, I could see how nervous Charming was. My little guy on the other hand was a cool as a cucumber. Charming brought Tim Bits (doughnut holes) and that certainly helped him gain acceptance! We fished. Caught several little fish. Charming even took them off hooks for us.


From that day forward, we grew closer and closer and we became a family. In every sense of the word. A year later, Charming proposed. And on our wedding day, when he gave me a ring and promised to love me and cherish me , he also gave a ring to our son and promised to be a great dad.  Being a stepdad is not an easy job.  You’re never the real dad. But my guys have fun together. They learned to play hockey together. They built a treehouse together.  They shoot hoops together. They respect each other. They love each other.


 Here we are, all these years later. Me and my Prince Charming and our little family. We have added two more beautiful kids and a dog to the bunch. It’s a full house around here, and we are bursting at the seams with love! The only part of this fairy tale that I would change, would be those darn singing woodland creatures who do housework. I need a few of them, and maybe a fairy godmother!