Photo couresty of Craig Merrill

If there‘s one dating rule I‘ve always tried to follow, it‘s this: Never talk endlessly about your ex.

Have you ever been sitting across from a stranger as he/she goes on and on about a recent breakup? What a way to kill a first date. But since you and I aren't dating, I‘m asking you to bear with me as I tell you about my ex. Rather, my exes.

I became a single mom at age 28. My daughter, Mae, was seven months old when her father walked out the door. His whereabouts remain unknown, although last I heard, he was in Ireland.

Eventually I got over my heartbreak. When Mae started preschool, I stopped picking up her toys - and started picking up men.

Everyone complains about dating, but when you're a single mom, dating is even more difficult. First, you‘ve got to find a sitter - not an easy feat. (My friends and I found a solution, though: We swap child care.) Then, after letting go of the guilt - yes, it‘s OK to leave your little one and go out for a while - it‘s time to shower, dress and venture into the chaotic, emotionally charged world of dating.

By the time Mae entered kindergarten, I was on a dating roll. As much as I knew that we were the perfect package - she‘s my Number One - I hadn‘t given up on finding Mr. Right. Or at least Mr. Pretty Good.

A friend set us up: He was a charming building contractor, never married, who loved kids. We moved in together. But a blended family can get messy. Our "honeymoon" was short-lived, and we recently parted ways.

But I‘m not here to utter spiteful things about either of my former lovers, or hold them responsible for our splits.

I‘m here to proclaim to the world that at age 34, I‘m getting back out there.

As I take a dip into the dating world again as a single mom, I‘d love to guide you along your way too, even though that means my laundry will remain unfolded and I may never get around to bringing my car in for a tune-up.

Here‘s a taste of what I plan to cover in my upcoming columns:
  • I won‘t consider dating a man who smokes or is on the way to being divorced. What are your red flags?
  • Am I dating my child? Finding a date to go to a wedding or a grown-up birthday party can be such a hassle. So, often I take my daughter. But too much togetherness could be stunting her growth - and mine.
  • Keeping my kid out: The last thing I want to do is introduce Mr. Could-Be to my daughter, who may start to believe he'll be a permanent fixture in her life. I‘ve certainly learned this the hard way.
  • Having dated for more than four years in the same city, I‘m a little concerned about the scarcity of good, single men around here. Will I need to recycle some of these guys?

Check back soon for my next column, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them.

      Rachel Sarah is the single mom of seven-year-old Mae. Her dating memoir, "Single Mom Seeking: Playdates, Blind Dates and Other Dispatches From the Dating World," was published this year. Visit her at singlemomseeking.com.