Dating Dos and Don'ts

Brenda says Patti's impressions were very hard to hear. "I was mad," she says. "And I was embarrassed."

During Brenda's matchmaking session, she says one observation really hit a nerve. "[Patti said] that everybody could see my desperation," Brenda says. "And I didn't think so. I thought it was cute and funny...it wasn't cute."

Instead of setting her up with eligible bachelors, this matchmaker prescribed some alone time. "Patti is the one who asked me not to date for at least six months. A matchmaker asked me not to date!" Brenda says. "She said concentrate on your education, go out with friends and stop looking."

After taking Patti's advice, Brenda says she started to relax and her life improved. "I stopped going to places where I ran into my daughter and her friends," she says. "Everything just got calm and so much better."