The girl I'm currently dating has a 3yo girl. It's definitely a different experience. Myself, I've never wanted kids and that isn't changing any. I have just come to accept the reality that as I get older, so are the girls who I'll be dating and that increases that likelihood that they might have a kid.
I've come to the realization that you rarely get any 'alone' time. My GF and I are both nurses, working 3x12hr. shifts per week. She works days, I work nights. Her and the baby daddy have shared parenting, which is great for the kid. But it also leads the GF to want the kid every time she isn't working, which is understandable, but it also leads to us not being able to do anything by ourselves. If I want to spend time with the GF, then 95% of the time, the kid will be there. Can't really go out and see any movies or do 'adult' things. Everything I plan has to be kid oriented. It's definitely different and I'm still not sure I even like it.
The kid is great. She is extremely intelligent for her age, but she is also 3 years old and being that age, she can be a giant pain in the ass. I get aggravated at my GF sometime because of the way she disciplines (or doesn't...) the kid. "1-minute of timeout for every year of age'' is what she tells me. In my opinion, it should be 1 lashing for every year. But I don't dare state my opinion for fear of momma bear making an appearance. So I find it best to shut up and mind my own business. But it does get annoying when the kid is in a whiny/crying mood and all I want to tell her to do is to shut the fuck up. I constantly have to remind myself that she's only 3 (again, this is new to me). I also get annoyed when her mom feeds into it.
The kid's dad is an alright guy. Has a job. Buys her things. Pays for half of the babysitting cost, but I think he hates me; not that I give a shit. The kid, for whatever reason, absolutely adores me and talks about me constantly, even when she's with him. I can understand him being a bit jealous, but I personally think he should be happy for her. It's not like I'm some deadbeat who beats her and her mom.
Anyways, if the relationship ended tomorrow I wouldn't be too sad. The kid is great overall, but I'm just not much of a kid person. Never have been.