Well, I did. And I married her.
Her two kids (and now one grandson) provide great entertainment. I pretty much think of them as 'ours'. Unless they screw up... then they revert to 'hers'.

Baggage is a mean term. However, as a single guy and I'm not opposed to it, entering into a commitment with someone with kids, their kids come first and you a distant second. Plus you have to adopt their lifestyle for the sake of the kids. Though their kids are probably great, its a lot to ask of someone.

I would not date anyone with kids that were not grown. Personal reasons.

Very off putting. I don't want kids, and I don't want to help someone raise their kids. You can call me selfish, picky, inconsiderate, asshole, or whatever; but it's my life. I'll choose to live it the way I want.

Don't get me wrong though. Kids can be cool and funny, but they can also be little destructive monsters. I work with kids (and their parents), so I don't want to have to come home to more kids.

Wow. As a 42 year old with a 5yo, I find these comments disheartening. Just because I waited until later for the right time to start my family, shouldn't mean I'm undateable. ?

I chose not to date when my daughter was young so that she would always be my first concern. I've seen too many kids suffer when their parents put their own emotional needs first.

I'm child free by choice to the point I've had a vasectomy; I wouldn't connect myself with someone that has kids

This has to be an "it depends" kind of situation. I don't have kids, and have never wanted them. At the point in life where I am, I'd hope that anyone I was involved with would have grown children.

I haved dated partners with kids. I noticed the more kids women have the less emotionally available they become. One or two alright to well behaved children are manageable. More than that I couldn't do unless I really, really liked the person.

I dated a girl my age who reminded me constantly that she "had to accept" or "deal with" the fact that I had a kid and a divorce under my belt. She treated it like she got "points" for "being able to do that." Which is insane. You don't get points at all for accepting someone who has kids. Sure, you get points for being great with said kids, but nobody is handing out medals for sacrificing and just dating someone with a kid. Things didn't last long with her.

I grew up religious and thought that flirtation of any kind was a sin until I got to college and became an atheist, so my social skills and whatnot are severley stunted and I’m not even sure how ready I am to date effectively let alone navigate a relationship where I have to think about someones children too.

I'm not the guy most want helping raise their kids.
My thinking seldom fits most familial expectations.
So, there'd be some big questions about having a full on relationship with someone with kids who aren't grown that would hinder any such relationship.
Sum up - probably not.

If you can't like the offspring of someone that you claim to like - then in my opinion you are just a self-serving A-hole.

This is a more complicated question than yes/no/maybe.

How many kids? What age(s)? Is the person divorced or a widow/widower? Do they have serious impulse control or attachment issues? How about debt? Do they actually have a life outside their kids or are they going to expect every date take place with kids in tow?

There's a long history of relationships falling apart after children are born because the couple starts neglecting each other in favor of spending their time/energy on their kids. It shouldn't be surprising that single people wouldn't want to jump directly into exactly that scenario

Someone with older kids like mine

"Unless you haven't lived."

That sounds a little condescending.

Yes, but I have kids. It does make any sort of a social life much more difficult. If the person you are dating has custody fun with you time and sex time won't be their priority. Its just a fact of having kids around. Of course "baggage" is a disrespectful way to refer to children, but "amazing little human beings who you would be lucky to meet" is greatly romanticizing the situation.

when I was single, I found it very difficult to date someone with children. Almost every first date I've had planned with someone who had children was canceled. I understand that their kids come first, but I always felt as though I was somewhere beyond the back burner. The few women I did date with children, I was so far away from being a priority in their lives that I started refusing to date anyone with kids. Maybe it's because I don't have kids, and I just don't understand where they're coming from.

Children under 18 has always been and will always be a deal-breaker for me.
I have never lived with children other than my younger sister when we were children.
I don't like them in the house and, from what I hear, they cost a lot of money and suck the life out of you.

I like kids but i couldnt eat a whole one

It certainly wouldnt be a deal breaker but most (not all but most) women around my age have grown up kids - like i do. Women with kids at home are probably more interested in my son than me

When I was dating, I never dated anyone who had kids who lived with them.
At this point, anyone I might consider dating would most likely have children
who are grown and out of the house.

I love kids! And I have an eternal child, so in some ways, I'll always have a kid. I'd love to meet a woman with kids

I have a daughter, cannot really judge

I put maybe as I have s 3 year old and his mum's kids made my life hell ...long story ....so not sure if I could do it again if I'm honest I'm not even sure I will date again at the moment