'AITA for walking out on a date as soon as I found out she was a single mom?'

Dating in the modern world is tough enough, but it sometimes becomes a minefield, especially when you're polyamorous or don't want children.

One man recently found himself on a spot after he walked out on a date the moment he learned his date was a single mother. Taking to Reddit’s infamous ‘Am I The A**hole’ (AITA) forum, the original poster (OP) titled his post, “AITA for ending a date immediately upon finding out that my date was a single mom?”

What could've been a wonderful date turns into a nightmare

The OP — a 37-year-old businessman — began by explaining his situation. Due to frequent out-of-state business trips, one of his employees suggested setting him up with her friend — knowing he was polyamorous and often lonely during his long stays. After some convincing, he agreed.

“She sent me her friend's number. Her friend, Emily (35) for the purpose of the post, and I started texting back and forth a little bit as a precursor to my next visit. I was upfront about being married and being polyamorous. She was okay with that barring she could confirm with my wife,” he wrote.

To ensure transparency, his wife joined a three-way call with Emily and the employee to confirm the arrangement. With that sorted, they moved on to OP’s two major requirements. “I clarified my two big requirements—must be okay with poly, and be child-free. Emily said that was reasonable,” he explained.

After trading pictures (non-risque, of course), OP couldn’t believe his luck. Emily was “breathtakingly gorgeous.” Excited about their upcoming date, he planned a fancy dinner to get to know her better.

The big day arrived, and OP’s first impression of Emily did not disappoint. “On the day of, we met at the restaurant, and my breath really was taken away at the sight of her. Her pictures didn’t do her justice,” he shared.

Things went swimmingly at first. Their conversation flowed naturally and there was undeniable chemistry. They laughed, joked, and transitioned into more serious topics without a hint of awkwardness.

But then she dropped a bombshell. “I asked her what her typical weekend looks like, and she revealed that she spends a lot of it with her kids. She had not mentioned having kids up until this point at all,” OP wrote.

Caught off guard, the OP politely but firmly decided to end the date then and there. He explained, “I told her that while I don’t have anything against her, I do not date single moms after some previous experiences. I also said I’d like to end the date there since I didn’t want to give any wrong impression.”

Though Emily initially accepted his decision, the evening was far from over. After the date, Emily sent a barrage of angry texts accusing OP of being a misogynist and dismissing the struggles of single mothers.

“About an hour later I got some nasty messages from Emily accusing me of being a misogynist and hating single mothers, not understanding the struggles of dating as a single mom, and how life is so difficult for single moms,” he shared.

OP blocked her to avoid further drama, but Emily didn’t stop there. She began texting OP’s wife with the same tirade. “I told my wife to just block her,” he added.

Upon returning home, OP shared the experience with friends. While some supported his decision, others labeled him a major a**hole for walking out. "One suggested I come here to try to get a gauge from a greater populace than my own friend circle. So, AITA for ending the date with someone as soon as I found out she's a single mom?" OP asked.

Internet backs OP as he was upfront about his conditions

Redditors had no shortage of opinions. Many defended the OP, noting that he was upfront about his boundaries and handled the situation maturely.

"NTA you were completely upfront about everything," one Redditor responded.

Another chimed in with a personal perspective, “NTA. My sister is a single mum, and she has told me she would rather not have her time wasted by people who don’t want to date single mums. She is always upfront about her kid and understands if she isn’t what someone is looking for.”

Others pointed out that Emily should have disclosed about her children earlier.

“NTA. You stated to Emily that your two big things when starting another relationship were they were okay with your lifestyle being polyamorous, and two, that they be child-free. She should have told you right then she had kids, but she didn’t. You were upfront with her from the start—she was the one who wasn’t," read a comment.

"NTA. You were upfront with her about your requirement for being child-free, and she lied when she agreed to meet you. Furthermore, it sounds as if you handled the end of the date appropriately, but she got extremely nasty with both you and your wife," someone else offered.

Another person applauded OP’s approach to ending the date respectfully, “This follows exactly what I said on another post…The information could have come up BEFORE the date, and OP wouldn’t have met up. They found out ON THE FIRST DATE and, because they aren’t interested in that situation, bowed out. Good on them. Def NTA.”

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