Dear Diary, Hello I'm new here. I am a recently divorced mom. This was my second marriage and it crushed me. I had been with this man for 9 years and married just shy of 6 years when I made him leave. Turns out he wasn't who we thought he was. He did some horrible things right before I met him. We have been divorced for almost 3 months now and I'm debating on going on an actual date with someone new. It's scary for me because what my ex did was horrible and has scared me. I'm terrified that I will never be able to truly know a person the way I thought I knew him. He was a very good liar. I don't want what he did to stop me from living my life. But I also have to be so very careful because I have children. I went through the motions and I grieved everything that I was supposed to. It's been a year since I kicked him out and 3 months since the divorce. Should I slowly date again or just be alone for a while longer? My oldest is ok with me dating. My youngest is not. The youngest actually gets made at the thought of it. I am lonely though. Tired of sleeping by myself. Not having a warm body to curl up next to. I miss the little things that you do as a couple. Even during my marriage those things slipped away along time ago. So I have been "alone" a few years even though I was married. Anyway I will update when I have an answer. I don't know what to do. I can't ask my family because it's always turned into a fight or judgemental thing towards me. Or used against me later.