Relationships

So let's say you've met someone, and things are going swimmingly. Your new potential significant other has met your friends – and that's going pretty well too. So well, in fact, that you've been invited on an all-new adventure – the double date.

Double dates open up a whole new world of anxiety and awkwardness. Sure, they can be a ton of fun. More often than not, however, they reveal the insecurities of a brand-new couple, and invite unflattering comparisons. If you're about to embark on a double date, keeping a few survival tips in mind could make the difference between a fun outing and a nail-biting session.

First and most importantly, remember that each relationship is unique. Maybe you've known your new flame for a few weeks, while the other couple has been together for years. Maybe you and your match are naturally a little more low-key on the PDA, but the other couple acts like teenagers with puppy love. That's okay – there's no “right way” or “better way.” And for crying out loud, don't try to make it into a competition about who's more in love. That's just silly.

It's not always the case that the other couple is a positive example; sometimes there's sniping and even flat-out arguments. It's never a pretty sight, and never a comfortable atmosphere. If you think you can successfully lighten the mood, go ahead and tell your jokes, but never, ever get involved in the argument. Don't turn it into a case where you and your partner are taking sides, or even worse, fighting about gender issues.

If the double date is clearly off in some way – whatever the reason – and you and your date are uncomfortable, take initiative. Make up an excuse, call it an early night, whatever, but get yourselves out of there. Even if the double date goes sour, you can still save the evening and have a good time with your significant other.

Sometimes double dates can be illuminating and fun – you're seeing your partner in a different light, in a situation that's social but not overwhelming. On other occasions, the situation can be toxic. Either way, if you stay alert and avoid these common issues, it's possible to make the best of any double-date scenario.

Instead of a mid-life crisis, why not focus on the dating opportunities if you're in the "middle aged" bracket? You've got half of your life behind you, which translates to a boat load of experience - it's truly nothing but upside! There's nothing wrong with being single at your age and the chance to find Mr. or Mrs. Right is still out there. The Huffington Post recently published a fun article on all the positives associated with middle aged living, so we took that information and translated it into dating terms. Enjoy!

• People are living longer - This means you have more than ample time to enjoy that partner who's ready and waiting for you in the wings! While you might think you have half of your life behind you, think about it in dating terms: you have half of your life left to spent with someone very special!
• Our brains keep evolving - The article indicates that we actually think better later in life than we did when we were younger. This means that, whether your using an online dating site or have friends fixing you up on blind dates, you can make better decisions about the people with whom you choose to spend your time.
• People are happier over 50 - Well, isn't that the best news we've heard in dating? Forget about going out on dates with people who are down in the dumps - the article states that stress levels decrease and feelings of well-being increase as we enter our fifties.
• Even divorce is a positive thing - Look at the recent Tipper/Al Gore split. Divorces later in life are increasingly common. Instead of divorce being seen as taboo, it's the opportunity to rediscover yourself and find a new lease on life.
• The stigma is gone - Even AARP is getting a makeover (they even have a Facebook fan page). You can move into your "mid-life" and still stay connected and find others who are connected (perhaps through online dating) as well.

For more information on popular dating sites for singles who have some life experience, you should read our Match.com review and our eHarmony review.

Don't forget that today is Father's Day.

Did you know that single parents make up a large percentage of online daters? On Match.com, 39 percent of male subscribers are single Dads. These single dads are also 46 percent more likely to meet someone on Match.com when compared to the average male who does not have children. This advantage increases, the older the Dad is. Single Dad's who still have children living at home also have a slight higher success rate on Match.com

For you single Moms out there, single Dads are 56 percent more likely to email you than men without children. This is probably the main reason why single Dads have more success on dating sites. The best chance to meet a single Dad online at Match.com is early in the morning (from 6am to 9am). This is when they log into the dating site the most often to browse profiles and send messages.

44 percent of single Dads on Match.com are between the ages of 35 and 45 with 30 percent being 45 to 55 years old. 68 percent of Dads also wait at least 3 months before allowing their date to meet their children.

For more on the story, read "Up To Date" and for further details about this dating site, read our Match.com review.

If you are interested in a dating site just for single parents, check out our review of Single Parent Meet.

Here's the thing: you're a great catch. You know you are, your friends and family all say you are, and well, you haven't really had much problem attracting members of the opposite sex in the past. However, due to circumstances today – the job where all your coworkers are sexagenarians, the small town that might as well be a retirement community and a daycare center rolled into one – you're just having trouble meeting eligible people, period.

Thus, you turn to the wonderful world of online dating. And what a promising world it is! With just a click of a button you can find all the eligible people within a given age range in your tri-county area – or even beyond! However, there's one problem: you know you're a great catch, but how do you get the message across to everyone else? How do you set yourself apart from every other single person like you?

This is a common problem for people new to online dating – especially if they've actually had success at dating in the past. Making yourself stand out through an online dating profile is literally a learned skill, and not everyone has it; it can be jarring for someone who's never had to try very hard before.

In trying to capture their own “essence,” the Great Catch often floods their profile with information. Not only do we learn about their job and their hobbies; we learn about their life philosophies, their thoughts on dog fighting, their theories on why other relationships hadn't worked out (and why it wasn't their fault). They don't know which facet of their wonderful personality will catch your eye – so they lay it all out there.

A good online dating profile is like the back of a paperback. You want the reader to want to learn more, but you don't want to give away the whole plot! Try to keep your profile short and sweet. Sure, you may well be a great catch – but if you don't go to great lengths to prove it, your modesty and mystery will be all the more intriguing.

Did you know that your dating preferences are often determined by strangers? While according to a new research it can be. In a Indiana University study of 80 people with half being women (and obviously the other half being men) it was found that overall if someone is considered attractive by someone else of the same sex, your attraction for that person will most likely increase. This will only happen once you find out about this attraction though. This observation was the same for both men and women.

On the flip side, interest in the person would subside if it was found that other people were not as attracted to the person. The study was conducted in part by allowing the participants to watch 8 speed dating sessions.

For more on the story, read the US News.

You've been on a few dates with a man who seems great---good-looking, kind, engaging, and interested in you. You're having a great time, until the bill comes and he doesn't reach for it, so you end up paying.

Is this a sign that he's cheap?

Maybe, but maybe not. It might be a misunderstanding rather than something more entrenched in his personality. Communication is key, so if something is bothering you, it's best to have a conversation about it sooner than later. But before you write him off for bad dating behavior, there are a few things to consider.

• Has he paid for all of your previous dates with no argument or hesitation? If he has, maybe he wants a little reciprocity so he knows you're interested. After all, paying for dates shouldn't be the sole responsibility of the man---I always advocate whoever does the asking does the paying. This way, both of you can show each other you're interested. Ask him out and treat him next time!

• Does he have difficult financial obligations? Perhaps he's divorced with large alimony or child support payments, or saddled with a mortgage because he wanted to buy a home. Instead of judging him for what he can't afford on a date, commend him for being responsible for his finances and not trying to overspend to impress. If you would rather be wined and dined, maybe this isn't the right guy for you.

• Does he treat servers with respect? This is a big indicator of what kind of person he is, despite his financial situation. If he is respectful and friendly and tips appropriately, this is a good sign of how he will treat you. Actions speak louder than words in this case.

• Is he generous with you in other ways? Perhaps he doesn't bring you flowers or jewelry, but does he remember to choose your favorite bottle of wine, or make time to pick you up from the mechanic when you need a ride? A man who shows he's paying attention in thoughtful ways is better in the long run than a man who pays for things but doesn't show up when it counts.