Ten Things That Just Make Me Feel Good

 Posted by Bill on October 31, 2008  General  1 Response »
Oct 312008
 

God knows that being a single parent has its challenges. I so often feel like the guy who showed up for a doubles match in tennis, only to find out that his partner couldn’t make it. You better be quick on your feet and anticipate the next move if you are going to be successful.

I have written before that, in my opinion, the most difficult part of being a single parent is finding the time to get everything done. We love our children, and hopefully we are there for them. But too often we neglect our own needs in the process. I may not always be able to control my free time, but there are certain things that I can control. I have come up with a list of ten things that just make me feel good. The list is in no particular order. I hope that it will provide you with the inspiration you may need to just feel good.

  1. Listening to my kids talk about their day. I mean really listening. Face to face, eye to eye and without distractions.
  2. Getting up at 4:30 a.m. and working out.
  3. Grounding my son when he doesn’t turn in his homework. This one really makes me feel good.
  4. Braiding my daughter’s hair.
  5. Reminding my kids of how much their mother loved them, and of all the wonderful qualities they received from her.
  6. Doing something for the less fortunate on the spur of the moment.
  7. Telling my kids that I love them.
  8. Allowing them to fail and then watching with pride as they learn from it.
  9. Going to church and thanking God for this gift that he has given me.
  10. Calling an old friend just to say hi.

    11. Continue reading »

Give Yourself Some Credit

 Posted by Bill on October 6, 2008  Raising Children as a Single Parent  3 Responses »
Oct 062008
 

Over the past two months I have talked about my experiences with raising children as a single dad. People ask me all the time “how do you do it”, to which I respond “I just do it”. Really when you think about it, we all have some sort of experiences from our childhood that we can draw upon. Some of those memories are positive and some of those memories are negative. Too often I talk to frustrated parents who say “My parents raised me to be what I am today, why can’t I do the same with my kids”. Or “My kids just don’t understand how good they have it”. Allow me to break the news to you folks, life wasn’t always a bundle of roses for you growing up, and I guarantee you that it wasn’t for your parents either. Kids are kids, God bless them. They are here to challenge us, test us, negotiate with us and generally push every button that they can. If you are going to try and compare how you were raised, with raising kids today, you need to wake up and smell reality. When I was playing high school football we had three plays. Run left, run right and run up the middle. It was a pretty simple game plan. Now days the parenting game plan, just like football game plans, have become more complicated. Whether you are single parent like me, or part of a two parent household, give yourself some credit. Your kids will be just fine. As long as you listen to them, talk to them, are honest with them, and most of all, let them know each and every day that you love them, things will work out.

In order to show you how raising kids has changed over the years, I have listed some of the differences between  raising children in 1957 compared to 2008. Times have changed, and so must we as parents. Fortunately the basic values of good parenting will always remain the same. If you want to be a successful parent then “Just do it”. And as always, remember that…..

“Anybody Can Be a Father, It Takes a Special Person to Be a Dad” Continue reading »