Heather: Laz, what are you looking for in a significant other, in a mate?

 

Laz: A mate? (Laughs) I never referred to a woman as a mate.

 

Heather: Right, but I’m not referring to someone you casually date.  I’m talking about the person you might marry.

 

Laz: (Smiles) Right. When I’ve had the best relationships—that to me have stood out above the rest, I wasn’t looking. I was open and available.  And I met the person that in my opinion God felt I needed at the time.  You know how they say you have friends that are there for a moment, what is it—a reason, a season, a lifetime?

 

Heather: Yep. It’s in Ecclesiastes.

 

Laz: Right.  There we go! I have not yet met my mate (laughs), my lifetime mate, but I do know that she’s out there. And it’s my job to remain open and to remain available. And to not clutter my life with unnecessary people who would keep her away in the event that I do meet her.

 

Heather: When you meet her does she have to come in a certain package? Do you have any nonnegotiables?

 

Laz: I wouldn’t want someone to use a nonnegotiable on me. Or write me off for something without getting to know me and my character, and who I am.  Obviously you have things that attract you, but I try my best to not to have any nonnegotiables.  You never know who’s going to be that one.

 

Heather: Expectations are so different now.  I just reentered the dating scene. I don’t date men who don’t pick up the phone and rely mainly on texting as a form of communication. Would you text back and forth?

 

Laz: My phone is my office. In my profession, I don’t have a workplace that I go to everyday. I get so many texts and emails—my agent, my manager, everybody’s hitting me. When it comes to personal relationships, I don’t want to text. I’m not going to sit and have an emotional or three page conversation telling you how I feel when we can do that in a conversation. And the beauty of technology is you can Facetime, Tango or Skype. You can see the person when you talk to them.  And really see and hear their sincerity. I try to keep my text communication to business and my personal relationships more personal.

 

Heather: Sometimes people think children are deal breakers.  Do you date women with children?

 

Laz: If you’re being selective about whom you date, then they will allow a child to be a reason to write someone off.  I think when I’ve dated women with children, more than anything; it was planning around and coordinating around soccer practice or basketball practice.  Or maybe they have a play.  Things like that.  It’s not a situation where you can just say, “Hey, what are you doing tonight at seven?” You have to plan.

 

Heather: Just like you plan around your schedule as an actor, right?

 

Laz: Exactly.  At times I’ve even offered to chip in.  It’s like; we’re both going to enjoy this date.  This isn’t just you.  You shouldn’t be the only one coming out-of-pocket on a babysitter. Let me help out.  I’ll pay for the babysitter.  I’m the one inviting you out on a date.  I think it’s more of a respecting each other’s time thing more than anything.  A child to me shouldn’t be a reason why a relationship shouldn’t work.

 

Heather: I agree! Thank you.

 

Laz: Thank you. It was nice meeting you.

 

And that’s how our date ended. Until we meet again over dinner or drinks, but definitely not over text messaging! Tonight, I’ll cuddle on the couch, and tune in to NBC’s Deception, perhaps cursing under my breath at Joanna for sleeping with Will (Laz) and then running into the arms of a rich man.

 

Hey DFTM Fam–what do you want me to ask Laz on our second “date?”

 

 

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About The Author

Vlog Mom/DFTM Creator

Not long ago, Heather Hopson hosted a television show in the Cayman Islands. Today, she's back home writing a different kind of story as a new mom. In her 15 years working as a professional journalist, this by far is her best assignment! Growing up, she dreamed of becoming Oprah Winfrey. She was the features editor for her school’s newspaper and a teen talk show host for her city’s most popular radio station. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University. After graduation, she worked as a television producer and reporter at CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates throughout the U.S. Instead of heading to Chicago to join Ms. Winfrey on her set, she bought a plane ticket to the Cayman Islands instead. She arrived five days before a category five hurricane! She lived in paradise for seven years, hosted an award-winning television show and traveled the globe with a government delegation. She also served on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters and spearheaded a Send a Kid to Camp campaign. Then, she relocated to Washington, D.C. to obtain a teaching certification and instruct 8th grade reading at a high needs middle school. She later returned to her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA to raise her daughter Caitlynn, now 4-years-old. During her 10-month-stint as a stay-at-home mom, Caitlynn inspired her to create this blog, and Diary of a First Time Mom was born on Mother’s Day 2012. Two years later, she expanded the family to include 20+ writers. Currently, Heather serves as the communications director at Allies for Children. In addition, she is the owner of Motor Mouth Multimedia, which ranked #49 in Startup Nation’s Home-Based 100 Competition sponsored by Discover Card and Sam’s Club. Recently, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments selected Heather to receive an Emerging Black Artist award to develop Diary of a First Time Mom.

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