I’ve been avoiding The Bachelor this season. Jake Pavelka, the 31-year-old commercial pilot from Texas seems like a nice guy and all, but the overly sexy promos have left me wondering, where are they getting these girls? The trailer park?

Tonight though, I turned on my TV to unwind and I’m smack in the middle of a date with Jake, Ella and her son Ethan. If you’re not watching Ella is a 30-year-old hair stylist from Lafollette, Tennessee.

It looked like a fun, family kind of date. They visited Sea World and then had a picnic. Jake presented Ethan with a model plane and Ethan was suitably impressed.

Of course she wants more kids, Ella told Jake. Of course she could see herself getting engaged to Jake during the season finale just like Trista and Ryan. She wants what they have. And the good news Ella told Jake, “I mean you’ve already met my son and I see how you are with him.”

After one date?

I know a lot of single mothers who have a hard time dating. In fact, I was raised by one and like Ella said at the top of the segment, she would never normally introduce Ethan to a new guy until the relationship was serious.

“The fact that he thought enough about me to bring my son here today tells me that he is feeling that also.”

Let’s get real. The producers were the ones who flew out the kid, planned the date and planted the plane so why was she so impressed? To be fair Jake was good with Ethan and the little guy didn’t hate him either, how can she be so sure that he’s going to be a great dad?

What struck me most though was Ella’s post date wrap-up in which she said of Jake meeting her son, “that is something that none of the other girls can possibly share with him.” Leverage your kid to gain a competitive edge. Future bachelorettes take note.

“He looks like he could be Ethan’s Daddy. It took my breath away,” Ella said dreamily. Let’s hope Ethan feels the same way.

What do you think? Was it wrong to involve the kid?