Three months ago, I (24F) ended a long monogamous relationship due to incompatibility and my growing interest in non-monogamy/polyamory. My ex-partner wasn’t open to discussing this, so I’ve chosen to explore it solo. While being single has its benefits (autonomy, focus on my needs), I’m wondering if I’m approaching this the right way. I’ve encountered some challenges and would like advice on navigating this journey.

Here’s a quick rundown of my recent experiences from these last two months:

1. Oliver (34M): An experienced poly practitioner with a wife and young child. We had three great dates filled with fun and meaningful conversations. But he canceled our fourth date last minute, citing extreme stress from work and parenting (even mentioning suffering panic attacks). I offered empathy and space, but he stopped replying altogether. I feel ghosted. Should I give him another chance if he reaches out?
2. Lilly (25F): We matched on Her, and she’s exploring her bisexuality and ENM for the first time. We’ve become friends with benefits, and while she’s been enjoying our times together, she’s told me she prefers dating men and is monogamous. I appreciate our connection and would value her friendship even if the sexual aspect ends eventually if she gets a boyfriend for example.
3. Rose (25F): She ended a monogamous relationship like me and relates to ENM, though she’s said she's not looking for commitment. We’ve had two nice dates, but she’s not much of a texter, which makes it harder to connect between meetups. I’m taking things slowly with no expectations and letting it flow naturally.
4. Fern (23M): He told me he's recently opened his relationship and was excited to explore. After we hooked up, I realized his partner might not be fully comfortable with their arrangement (based on what he tells me). This raises ethical concerns for me—what if he’s not being truthful or their communication isn’t solid? I’m unsure if I should continue seeing him.

I'd like some advice on these doubts of mine:

• How can I build solid, healthy relationships in ENM when starting from scratch? Since I'm sure dating is different with ENM compared to mono dating, what are some main differences when meeting new people?
• What red flags should I watch for to avoid ethical mishaps like with Fern?
• Are there better ways to handle situations like Oliver’s silence or Rose’s limited communication?

Thanks for any advice, if you notice anything else that I should know besides these questions I'd appreciate some insight.