In BM's world, one should start dating while one is still married. Then that person should move in to the marital home as soon as you separate.

In my case I waited 3.5 years after Polly's bio.

Well my ex would tell you that you should have a girlfriend and declare yourself her love slave on facebook after being arrested for DV and kicked out of the house for 5 weeks.

As soon as you like if you know that the old relationship is over for good. The key question is when to let the kids know or when to let them meet the new partner and that should be handled a bit more delicately depending on how they are after the break up and how serious the new relationship is.

No kids involved in my situation. I met DH on a blind date (set up by a mutual friend) 2 months after my Ex and I separated. DH and I only dated very casually though for the first 4-5 months, we were NOT exclusive and I had a couple of other guys that I was doing things with as well (and for the record, I'm not a whore. by doing things, I mean movies, dinner, festivals and stuff) I honestly think doing the multiple guys thing, really helped me solidify that DH was "the one" and we started dating exclusively about 8 months after my ex and I separated.

Now that I have BS6? meh, I don't know that I would be in any rush to "date" if DH and I were to divorce. I really don't agree with these people who parade a string of "flings" in and out of their children's lives.

But if you're BM2, you make sure you start dating someone new BEFORE you break up with your current boyfriend, that way you never have a moment in time without a man to control and do your bidding. If you're BM1, you just throw yourself at any old dick available to ensure you have the maximum number of baby daddies possible

I think it's different for everyone.
My DH started dating after 2 years I think. Had one fairly serious gf before me.

After my divorce was final (took about 3-4 months) I started dating about a month later.
However, I considered my marriage over the day I left the house, so about 6 months before I started dating. And I was already mentally done about a year before that. DH was a little concerned about that but I was done with that relationship so totally. I also didn't expect to meet someone so soon after, it just happened. And I'm grateful it did.

I also agree it's different for everyone.

My husband's ex wife dated outside of their marriage, while they both resided in the same house, for a good year or two before they ultimately split. In their own apartments, they lived apart for a good two years after that. Still married, his ex continued to date, and per DH he did not date.

Shortly after that two year mark, and he had filed for divorce, we started dating. This was NOT okay, for ex wife. She wanted to keep him on ice. Even after he had filed for divorce.

I started dating DH immediately after I physically moved out of the house I had with my ex husband and filed for divorce. My ex and I had been living separately, under the same roof for the better part of a year, at that point.

Edited to add: Also, fwiw, I was married 10+ years longer than DH was to his ex. I had a grown child at that point too. The two of them on the other hand... they BOTH had emotional issues with introducing their snowflake to me. Even after two years living apart, mommy dearest with her handful of boyfriends, and DH's lonesome devotion to being a doormat to ex.

It depends on what you mean by "DATING." I don't see the harm in having a nice time with the opposite sex at any point once the divorce is final. I think I probably did that about one month post.

I did not, however, get into anything serious for probably 6 to 8 months, and I never did let my son meet anyone I dated. I dated my current husband (he was not the only one post divorce) for one year before we allowed each other's kids to meet us or to meet one another. I felt (and my husband felt this too) that there is no point in letting DS meet someone unless I intend for them to be a permanent fixture.

My BFF and her hubby split but couldn't afford for either of them to move out. They told the kids they were getting divorce and he moved to the basement until the house sold.

They didn't make a big show of the break up, family and close friends knew but not acquaintances.

She was at one of the kids game when one of the Moms came up to her and asked how her marriage was doing. She was a little shocked and asked why?
The woman told her that she was single, on a dating site and the husband had shown up as a possible match for her.

It was slightly embarrassing but my BFF told her that they were splitting and he was living in the basement until they could sell the house.

She went home and told him that she didn't care that he was dating but would he either move out or wait until they weren't living together to actually go on a dating site.
He said he wasn't going to go out on a date, he just wanted to make friends. Yeah, right! Too bad for him it was about 8 years before Tinder.