The more years you spend in the dating pool, the more likely it gets that you might snag a catch... with a kid. If you're considering a future with this guy, is the kid the catch? That all depends. If you just cannot see "step mom" in your job description, that's your — legitimate — business. But if you love this guy, dependents and all, there are ways to get a glimpse of how his single-dadness might affect your couplehood down the road. In fact, you might even find that when it comes to your partnership, the bambino is a bonus. Here's 4 things to consider when dating a single dad:

1. Do you need your space?
Perfect! Though you'll have to be integrated at some point, kid(s) and dad need their quality time... alone. You've thus got a built-in means of making sure you've got your own stuff going on. This is healthy no matter what — and it also means that your guy will likely relish his non-dad time with you even more.

2. Someone old, someone new, someone young = someone blue?
Is mom in the picture? If so, are the two of them amicable at least when it comes to (or in front of) junior? Though these situations are rarely easy or neat, watch how he handles them: Does he do his best to be patient, fair, respectful, and honorable? Or, at the other unfortunate extreme, does he allow junior to become a pawn between them? The former gives you a chance to see real strength of character; the latter is a blazing red flag you should take very seriously right now.

3. Growing pains, or gains?
The roles and responsibilities of parenthood often — though not always — forces a previously immature man or woman to grow up, fast. In a good way. So if you'd been getting tired of dating basically boys in grownup suits, here's your chance: It's very possible that this guy is, truly and finally, the GROWNUP you've been waiting for.

4. Father knows best?
People have varying parenting styles; of course that's fine in principle. And this is, primarily, his kid to raise. But if fundamental differences are coming up now, it's probably not your place to interfere, but if you're silently but vehemently disapproving, rest assured that they will not go away by themselves, if at all. If you're planning to build a future with him, you've got to at least be able to envision ways of discussing, compromising, or simply letting go of these issues now.

So maybe your fantasy was to find a fellow first timer... but even so, if your guy and his mini-him pass muster as described, it might be worth revising your fantasy and opening yourself up to some very special surprises. Or maybe you're a single mom looking for a similar match — someone who's been there, had one, before. Even so, watch for the signs (both good and warning) above. Overall, in the right crowd, three — or more — can be wonderful company.

Looking for a single dad to settle down with? Update your free profile and start looking today.