How do I date after a divorce?

Dear Ron,

I am a single father who has been divorced for nine months. I'm ready to start dating, but there's just one problem: At age 26, I still have yet to go on a real date. My ex-wife was my high school girlfriend, and we married shortly after graduation. I never experienced the whole dating game, which brings me to my dilemma.

I don't drink, so the bar scene really isn't my style. I've created a profile on Match.com, but I've only received a few responses. Between work and my children, I don't have a lot of free time. Finally, after a failed marriage, my confidence is a little low, which makes me reluctant to approach women. What do I do?

Dateless and Clueless

Dear Dateless,

You may think you've never been on a real date, but you've been on thousands — just with the same woman. This, pal, is infinitely harder than going on several dates with many different women. You're a pro! Just use what you already know.

If your profile's not getting much traffic, it doesn't mean you're unattractive. But maybe your profile is. Let some women you know (non-relatives) critique it and follow their suggestions. Then quit waiting. It's easy to connect with women on Match.com. Some will banter with you, which will boost your confidence. A healthy handful will give you their phone numbers; there's more confidence. And select few will meet you for that coffee; voila! You're back in the game.

Match.com