In response to Olga,
I'm a single father. My son just started at a university to earn his teaching degree.
I have read a couple of your posts.
Being a single father is challenging. A blended family creates a huge strain on everyone. Not just the blended family but the extended ones as well. Grandparents and family events.
Before any man who has children that are younger than 18 years old needs to truly evaluate his own life.
The first major decision is how much " time " do you really have to spare?
First look at your own life very deeply.
Yes you have many experiences.
But time is not a experience.
Upon bringing in a new partner with children or not.
Take a long hard look at your personal time.
Because a lady from another country is going to need a lot of your personal time just her a lone . It's all the little things your not even going to think about that will grab you quickly.
I advise even single men to think this through.
A woman with a child / children from another country will have to be trained in customs and traditions on everything.
You need to make sure your able to tutor your wife's child . Yes I said tutor!!!
When her child goes to school in your country. You may need to sit down for 6 months and help not only your new wife with the child's studies but also the child / children themselves. School work can be easy so you think. But if you barely know the language it can be rather difficult. So your going to have to go to that school and make arrangements for your whole new family to be introduced. So the school staff and teachers can better assist the child / children in comprehension.
The best way to clearly understand this gentlemen and ladies . Is to pretend your moving to both countries. His role is if I moved there with my children . What would we all need to know, learn , and do to make this work easier.
Allergies, what bus do they ride , do they need tutors , activities and sports. Do you have or will you get all the records from the previous school transferred and will it be in your countries language so the school staff and teachers can read it effectively. What about shots , immunization records and much much more.
Your new family can be put under a lot of strain if this is not well thought out.
You may need to help the children learn the value of money there as well. So they understand the costs of everything.
You can not assume your new partner will know everything . Or it will just take time to adjust.
Now if you have children of your own? What about their scheduling. For school activities and sports.
Now stop and think about this very deeply!!!
Also if you marry a woman from Ukraine a lot of them celebrate Christmas in January 6/7 . Not December 24/25 like here in the USA or many other countries.
Then if I remember correctly there is Saint Nicks day on December 19th.
These are just a few examples of holiday celebrations to show you.
Also the Ukrainian educational system is vastly different than here in the USA.
As the children age in Ukraine they have a lot more courses than here. Basically they do it backwards from the USA. They start younger students off easier then as they age more difficulties are applied.
Here in the USA they really push children in 3rd grade unlike in Ukraine.
And as the older the student here in the USA has a lot lighter load their final year here compared to Ukraine.
Also interests in sports maybe greatly different as well.
Now for the good news.
If your new wife and family from Ukraine with your help truly think this through?
Her child / children will greatly speed up both of your communication level and understand the cultural differences so much faster. Than a lady without children. When I asked Ukrainian mothers who moved here. The children love to teach. So let them teach the both of you. Everyday have them teach you something they just learned.
Child / children adapt faster than adults do. They will learn the language faster than you would believe. The main motivation is to make friends.
The child / children can make your transformation come together in half the time.
But as any responsible parent!!!
You will have to watch them for their own safety. Where they go and with whom. Also who to contact for emergencies or anything else.
Even phone numbers in other countries are different. You might need to get them a cell phone and program all their needed contacts in. So all they have to do is go to their contacts and press the name of who they need to contact.
If they miss the bus, are sick, get lost.
Also download find my phone app.
So incase they don't come home because they stopped at a new friends home from school. You can contact them and find them. Remember they are children. So you have to think like them.
Even if they are at a activity or sporting event or play ground.
My final advice is this in order to love your partner correctly you have to love and respect their children just as much. Because they are a part of your spouse they come all together as a package deal.
Also please talk about parenting rules between the both of you. Things like time to be home, discipline or punishments.
Children need structure and guidance.
So if you believe in spanking or not? You need to talk all these issues our way before you get married.
Everyone parents differently .
Good luck on your search.
Do you see why online dating or marriage gives you the chance to truly discover all of the person faster and easier .
Leo Eagle
( Len)