Driving Your Car Through The Rear View Mirror

 Posted by Bill on August 26, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order  No Responses »
Aug 262010
 

When I was much younger I seemed to have a bit of a problem avoiding the other cars. I have scratched, dented, totaled and smashed more cars than a demolition derby driver. My dad would always say that if I was in Patton’s Tank Brigade we would have lost the war. It is only through the grace of God that I am still here today. The amazing thing to me is that I wrecked all of those cars while looking forward. OK, maybe once in awhile I wasn’t totally focused on looking forward but I can honestly promise you at no time was I ever driving the car through my  rear view mirror.

It always bothers me when I talk to people that seem to be living life through their rear view mirror. You know the type. The guy who likes to say: “If only” or “Why not me”? They are living their life through their rear view mirror.

You know some of the best lesson’s we will ever learn are from our past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future. Continue reading »

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The Kids Were Gone For Three Weeks and I Didn’t Miss Them

 Posted by Bill on July 16, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Taking Time for Yourself, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jul 162010
 

Well Jack and Michaela made their annual trek to Montana this summer to see their grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncles. I for the first time didn’t because I had to really focus on finishing my book “Kickin’ Butt a a Single Parent” 99 Tips Every Single Parent Must Have (available August 12th) and making a living in this difficult economy. Michaela was going to be gone for three weeks and Jack for 12 days. I have been without the kids before, but never this long. When you raise your kids 24/7 you become a close knit group. Sometimes this is good and well, sometimes this is not so good. We all have a tendency to get on each others nerves every now and then but always seem to work through it.

I have to tell you that after the first day I really didn’t miss them so much. I wondered if I should feel guilty about this or if i was just going through some sort of delayed separation syndrome. By the 5th day I still didn’t miss them. This is getting interesting now. By the 10th day I was considering asking my parents if they could stay another three weeks and you know what, I didn’t feel guilty at all:)

It’s interesting that no matter how much I love and enjoy my kids, I was really enjoying being away from them. I think that we all need some “Me Time” every once in awhile to recharge our batteries. We all need a break from our kids, and our kids need a break from us. I just hope that next summer they understand that as I send them off for eight weeks:)

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A Fourth of July Inspirational Message

 Posted by Bill on July 2, 2010  General  No Responses »
Jul 022010
 

Today I want to post a letter that was written back in 2005 by Ms. Polly Sigh. I think that it will remind all of us how blessed we are to live in the greatest country in the world. Have a great holiday everyone.

Dear Reader:

This weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our great nation, I ask that you ponder the meaning of freedom and democracy. And that you thank the brave men and women of yesterday and today who have sacrificed so greatly to ensure the traditions bestowed by our remarkable founders. Continue reading »

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I am Blessed to Have Supportive Kids

 Posted by Bill on June 24, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Organizing, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jun 242010
 

I think that as parents, especially single parents, we spend so much time wanting to be supportive of our kids. Maybe it’s because we only see them so often, or maybe because we worry about how being raised by a single parent might affect them later on in life.

Webster defines support as:

to bear or hold up ; serve as a foundation for.   Continue reading »
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More Fathers Are Getting Custody in Divorce

 Posted by Bill on May 14, 2010  Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex  2 Responses »
May 142010
 

I recently read an article by Lisa Belkin that I thought was very interesting and a sign of the times. The article chronicles the pendulum swing in society with regards to fathers getting primary custody of  children in divorce. Now many of you would think that as a full-time Dad I would be happy about this. I am not. I believe that all children need both parents in their lives. I also believe that they need their parents an equal amount of time. I do not buy the argument that because one parent works more than the other they should not have as much custody. I believe that if given the chance loving and involved parents would find the time to be with their children. I am proof that as a full-time single dad you can make it work if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in order to gain the big rewards.

I have copied the article below so that you can make your own decision. I would love to get your feedback so fell free to comment below or email me at bill@singledadstown.com Either way never forget that LOVE is spelt TIME….

More Fathers Are Getting Custody in Divorce Continue reading »

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What Did You Call Me?

 Posted by Brooke on May 2, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Raising Children as a Single Parent  1 Response »
May 022010
 

Yesterday I was in a  meeting with two single moms. One of them said she had met a woman the night before who refuses to be called a single mom, but a co-parent. “Genius,” I thought.

When meeting someone and they learn that I am a “single mom” the look on their face is always the same. Their expression goes from engaged to worrisome and sympathetic. “Oh wow! It must be so hard to be a single mom!” I quickly interject that my sons’ father and I share custody and I am not doing this completely on my own. I don’t want to mislead anyone. A single parent has faces struggles that I don’t have. I don’t deserve that credit. But that doesn’t mean that what I do is easy.

The world has a cut and dry view of what single parent means. But in reality there are two basic categories of single parents. There is the quintessential single parent, the one who doesn’t have the other parent involved in any aspect. Then there is the co-parent, whose ex-partner is in the picture and contributes in every aspect of child raising. But there is a gray zone in between which houses the single parent who’s ex only contributes financially, the widowed single parent whose partner didn’t abandon his or her children by choice, and the single parent whose ex lives a long distance away and only sees their children seasonally. You can break it down even further to single parent who is remarried, and married parent who feels like a single parent. Continue reading »

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I Love Having Teenagers

 Posted by Bill on March 5, 2010  Balancing Work and Children, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  1 Response »
Mar 052010
 

I can’t tell you the number of people, who when I tell them that I have teenagers, say things like “Wow that must be tough” or “Good luck you will need it”. I don’t care, I love having teenagers. I really do. I can still remember what my life was like as a teenager. I can remember when I was honest with my parents and when I was not. I can remember all of the things that I put my parents through. Believe me growing up in a family of five, where you came home when the street light came on, we had allot of time to put our parents through hell. I know that my kids, or at least one of them,  will do the same to me but… I still love having teenagers.

So why you ask? Why after all that you put your parents through? Why after all of the warnings others are giving you? Why knowing full well that the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” do you still love having teenagers? Well here is why in this weeks (drum roll please):

TOP 10 LIST WHY I LIKE HAVING TEENAGERS: Continue reading »

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