Next month, Jason Mesnick will be introduced to 25 beautiful, available women on the new season of ABC's The Bachelor. After being rejected by DeAnna Pappas on the most recent season of The Bachelorette, Mesnick took a little time to heal and move on before deciding that he was ready to fall in love again. In a conference call with the press this week, he expressed how happy he was to participate on The Bachelor and how much he believes that people really can find true love on reality television. He is currently engaged to the woman that he chooses at the end of the season. Of the 25 women who will be meeting Mesnick on the season premiere, 4 of them are single mothers. As a single dad himself, Mesnick will have an immediate rapport with them but will that give them an advantage in the long run?

Having something in common with a Bachelor or Bachelorette, whether good or bad, can certainly help a contestant in the competition. Last season, on The Bachelorette, DeAnna couldn't help but bond with Jeremy since they both experienced the lost of a parent.  What ended up happening though, was that DeAnna mistook the bond for romantic feelings and once she realized that she didn't return his feelings, she broke his heart on national television.  Let's hope that Jason has a little more clarity and doesn't end up stringing along a nice woman just because they bond over something.

Still, single moms could have an advantage here.  Jason will already know that those women are mature, responsible, and are good with children.  He has emphasized, several times, the importance of the woman he chooses being comfortable with his son Tyler and vice versa.  Ty is also an only child so if Jason were to be with a single mom, he would have a stepbrother or stepsister to play with and keep him company. 

However, dating single parents also has its complications, especially when there is another parent involved.  Jason seems to be on good terms with his ex, if not at the very least for the sake of their child, but perhaps the women in this competition can not say the same for their own exes.   Jason could also be wary of single moms, not wanting to show them favortism or not wanting to give them a rose just because they have parenthood in common.  Only time will tell when The Bachelor premieres January 5 on ABC.


- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)