I am not far into a separation / divorce. In Michigan it takes a long time to get a divorce when children are involve. She has had papers severed to me. We are going to court next week to establish temporary custody until the divorce is final. I don't want to really date or have any relations with another woman yet but I have been avoiding conversation with many women in fears that it will mess up my chances of getting custody of my two daughters. Any thoughts on when is the right time?

Sensitive subject alert!

There have been some flames ignited over this one. I'll give you my opinion as soon as I get on my asbestos underwear.

*swish* *snap* *zip*

Ok, here we go. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

My opinion is that it isn't appropriate to do anything that even appears to be like dating until the divorce decree is final. That would mean no lunches, dinners, movies, long phone conversations, one-on-one meetings, or anything that might look to someone else like a relationship with any member of the opposite sex. If you're not divorced, you're married, and married people who respect marriage don't do things like that.

Again, it's just my opinion.

I came back to say that it's generally considered a good idea to not date for quite a while after the divorce so as to give yourself time to heal up and finish grieving. I was told (by Jennifer @ MB) to wait a year. I followed that advice and I'm glad I did.

<small>[ July 11, 2002, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: o2bsane ]</small>

I don't know your definition of talk to woman, I have met a few that I have built a friendship with, we do things as friends and pay our own ways, nothing else, I like haveing female friends.

One year, wow. Well in Michigan it will take a year to be granted a divorce. We have been separated for months now. At a very minimum it will be six months before our divorce is final. One year, wow.

I'm thinking more on the other response. I'm not thinking realationship or anything. I just love the company of a woman. In general you're soft and you smell good, I like that, women are great. Well my wife wants the divorce and it has gotten so ugly, for her, that I'm done and ready to move on. Move on slowly, very slowly. One year, wow.