T.F.
I was 13 when my mom started dating. I hated it. I hated the divorce because it turned my life upside down.
I felt like she was very selfish to be looking after her own "needs" and moving on instead of caring for us. She (and Dad) began to start new lives but here we were having to deal with the broken home, splitting time with 2 families, being torn on both sides. My brother and I will always feel resenrtment toward them. My goal was to get out as soon as I could. I did...I managed to get a college scholarship, I threw my life into studies, I got a good job, I moved a plane ticket away from everyone.
When my mom went out, I was put in a position to babysit with NO pay for her friends when they went out.
I think if you hide your dating, you are teaching you kids not to trust you. If you hide that,,,,,then what else are you hiding from them???
13 is an emotional age with teens dealing with all kinds of physical and hormonal changes. Throwing in divorce and mom dating is more than some kids can handle. It finalizes that there will never be mom and dad again and a home they once shared.
If anything good came out of it for me...it was my sheer determination that if I did marry, I would stick to my committment and make it work. Fortunately, my husband has they same thoughts and we communicate with each other and keep our marriage strong. We've been together 25 yrs, married 22 this year.