So im a 32y/o M and have been single for a long time now. Last relationship I was in was about 4 or so years ago. We dated for about 6 or so months and we ended it semi mutually. I initiated it but it was extremely mutual in the end. Both needed to grow up a bit and figure our lives out. She had a daughter as well so ending it was extremely difficult on my mental. Yes I know it wasn't a very long time but a few weeks before we ended out relationship, she started calling me dad which made the decision that much harder.
After that, I went back to school at 28 almost 29 at the time to basically start over. And it was the best decision in my life. I've been working really hard these past 2 years laying down the tracks for my career and now that im starting to go on an upward curve, I figured why not try dating again
This time around, I told myself I wouldn't get involved with kids because I feel like i couldn't be there enough for them and honestly, I don't think I'd be able to travel and make my dreams come true if i did date someone with a child. I dont want to say I couldn't do it still but to the standard that I want to make it happen, it would be settling imo.
Does that make me a bad/shallow person? I have always been open about adopting a child at some point in my life so that aspect doesn't bother me. I just feel like im not at a good point in my life where I can afford to help with a child on top of being in a relationship and still in the grinding stage but problem is, a lot of women my age have a child or multiple. And the longer I wait, the harder it is going to be to find someone.
Any help is appreciated. Just want to be a better man and try and get some other perspective on the matter outside my past history on the subject.