It was a warm Thursday evening, and Mia found herself staring into her closet, battling that familiar mix of excitement and dread that only a first date can stir up. A confident, independent woman in her early forties, Mia had two grown children who were the apples of her eye. But tonight, was all about her—finding love, or at least a decent conversation over dinner. The man who’d caught her attention on the dating app seemed promising. Kevin, 48, divorced, a father of two, with a job that didn’t involve “crypto” or “influencing.” His profile picture was mercifully free of fishing trophies, bathroom selfies, and ex-girlfriends awkwardly cropped out. A unicorn, she thought. Maybe… just maybe…!

Mia arrived at the restaurant. The ambiance was perfect—dim lighting, soft jazz, the clinking of glasses mingling with laughter. She was seated at a cozy table for two, outdoors on the terrace, with a breathtaking view of the river and Manhattan skyline. Small talk about the weather, maybe something funny about her day, definitely avoid ex-talk—this could be fun.Then Kevin walked in. He was taller than she expected, with an easy smile and laugh lines that suggested he wasn’t a stranger to happiness. He greeted her with a warm hug, and they exchanged the usual pleasantries. So far, so good. This date might actually be pleasant, Mia thought, as she picked up the menu.
But just as they started talking about their mutual love for travel, Kevin’s phone lit up on the table. He glanced at it, then at her, and sheepishly grinned.
“Sorry, it’s my daughter. She’s 24, but she still needs her dad. Give me just a second.”
Mia nodded, understanding flashing across her face. She had kids, too. A quick check-in was no big deal.
But that quick check-in turned into a full-blown FaceTime session. Mia sat there, trying to look busy with the wine list, while Kevin’s phone propped up against the breadbasket, showing his daughter’s anxious face.
“Dad, what should I wear to my date tonight?” the young woman asked, holding up two dresses.
“Oh honey, the red one, definitely,” Kevin responded, oblivious to the way Mia’s eyes widened.
The wine list wasn’t enough to distract her anymore. She was now fully focused on this bizarre interaction unfolding before her. Kevin seemed entirely engrossed in advising his daughter on everything from hairdos to footwear, blissfully unaware of the woman sitting across from him.
Mia sipped her water, hoping this would end quickly—along with this incredibly annoying date. But it didn’t. In fact, the FaceTime session lasted a good five minutes, with Kevin discussing everything from dinner options to potential after-party locations.
When he finally hung up, he looked at Mia with a grin, as if to say, “Parenting, right?” But all Mia could muster was a forced smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
“That’s sweet,” she managed to say. “You’re close to your daughter.”
“Yeah,” Kevin beamed, clearly proud of his fatherly instincts. “She just can’t make a decision without me.”
Mia, on the other hand, could make a decision. She already knew she needed to find an excuse to escape this disaster of a date. Staying home with Netflix and a glass of wine suddenly seemed far more appealing.
“So, you said you enjoy hiking?” she ventured, hoping to steer the conversation into safer waters.
“Absolutely!” Kevin replied, his enthusiasm returning. But before Mia could relax, the phone lit up again. And then again. A barrage of notifications—texts, calls, and another FaceTime request.
Kevin looked apologetically at Mia. “I’m sorry, it’s just… you know, she’s like my best friend. I have to take this.”
The second FaceTime call was even more absurd. Kevin’s daughter wanted to know where they should go on their next vacation, discussing her ideas for their dad-daughter trip. Mia watched in disbelief as he provided his opinion, completely engrossed, as if he were auditioning to be the next host of What Not to Wear.
This time, Mia didn’t even pretend to be interested in the wine list. Instead, she studied Kevin. Sure, he was obviously a good dad—attentive, at least to his daughter—but what about her? Here she was, a grown woman on a date, wasting her time, practically invisible next to this father-daughter fashion advice column.
After Kevin hung up for the second time, he noticed Mia’s expression. “I’m so sorry. She just really depends on me. It’s hard, you know? Being a single dad.”
Mia nodded, but inside she was thinking, Yes, I do know. I have kids too. But when I’m on a date, they respect our boundaries.

As the evening dragged on, with every buzz of Kevin’s phone, Mia found herself searching for an exit strategy. They ordered dinner, made awkward small talk, and whatever initial ease had been there evaporated. Mia couldn’t help but chuckle to herself, wondering if she kept seeing Kevin, would every dinner be a trio, with his daughter as an honorary guest via FaceTime? Would she ever get a moment of his undivided attention?
By the time dessert was offered, Mia had made up her mind. She wasn’t going to waste any more time on this date or any future ones with men who didn’t understand boundaries. She wasn’t asking for much—just for the person she was with to actually be with her. As Kevin was about to order his dessert, his phone buzzed again. Mia looked at him and got up, preparing to leave this ridiculous date.
“You know, Kevin, I think it’s great that you’re so close to your daughter. But when you’re on a date, maybe leave the phone in your pocket. Or better yet, in the car.”
Kevin looked taken aback. “Oh… you’re right. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
“I know,” Mia said, softening a little. “But the thing is, we all have our lives, our families, our responsibilities. The key is finding someone who fits into your life, not someone who has to compete with it.”
Kevin nodded, looking a bit chastened. “I’ll remember that.”
Mia smiled, genuinely this time. “Good luck with your daughter’s date. I hope she has a great time.”
As she walked away, Mia felt a sense of relief wash over her. She wasn’t disappointed or angry—just clear. This was about finding love, yes, but love with boundaries. Love where both people respected each other’s time and space. She wasn’t looking for someone to replace her children in her heart, and she certainly didn’t want to replace someone’s children in theirs.

What she wanted was a partner, an equal, someone who would be present in the moment, just like she was. And she knew that person was out there—someone who would leave their baggage at the door, just like she did, and walk into the future with her, hands-free.
As she drove home, Mia felt hopeful. This date was a reminder of what she really wanted, and she wouldn’t settle for anything less. After all, she deserved someone who was as invested in finding love as she was—and who knew how to set boundaries with their grown children.

When Mia got home, she poured herself a glass of wine, sat on the couch, and laughed at this ridiculous date. Yes, there would be more dates, and maybe some would be just as ridiculous, but that was okay. She was on the right path, and eventually, she would find the person who fit into her life as perfectly as she would fit into theirs.
In the meantime, Mia was content. Content to know she had her own life, her own children, and her own boundaries—and she was perfectly happy to keep it that way until the right person came along. After all, being single was far better than feeling isolated in a relationship. At least this way, she was never alone with herself, and that was a relationship worth cherishing.

Elle Taylor.