By Rebecca J. Williamson

May 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) --To some, romantic love is a never-never land—a place of unfulfilled dreams.  Sometimes, a parent chooses not to explore fulfilling his or her own needs in order to protect someone else. 

Patricia, an East county resident who asked that her last name not be published, is a single mom. She does not date or bring a romantic partner into her life for a reason---to protect her now teen-age daughter from being hurt—emotionally, physically, or any other way. 

“I decided not to date when she was  two or three and to focus on raising her,” Patricia told ECM. As a mom, Patricia learned first-hand about having to protect her  daughter from a man who was a convicted pedophile.