[April Masini, your AskApril]

I think that this woman is sending you a message that she’s lost interest. Rather than see it as anything more than it is, consider thanking her for not wasting your time! You can make yourself crazy trying to figure out why she’s lost interest, but the truth is, you’ll probably never really know. I know that’s hard to accept, but your life will be easier if you make it simple. She stopped responding, and maybe the reason is as easy as you turned out not be her cup of tea. Move on.

Since you’re new to dating, this time around, you have to learn that just because you’ve had a couple of dates or even four dates together, it doesn’t mean you’re “a couple.” Dating is a time to experiment and figure out if this woman is right for you and vice verse. It’s a time to really get to know yourself, too, and figure out who you are, post-divorce, and what you want this time around — whether it’s in a second marriage or a monogamous relationship without marriage or just playing the field.

Dating post-divorce with kids is also more complicated, especially if you pick someone with “matching luggage” to your baggage. You’re both going to have kids, custody schedules, ex-spouses, etc. You have a lot more to juggle, and dating is really a numbers game. You can’t put all your eggs in one basket or expect anyone you date to be doing the same.