The Reasons That I Love Having Teenagers…

 Posted by Bill on May 7, 2012  General, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers  No Responses »
May 072012
 

I can’t tell you the number of people, who when I tell them that I have teenagers say something like, “Wow that must be tough” or “Good luck, you will need it”. I don’t care, I love having teenagers. I really do. Granted I am decades away from my teen years, I can still remember what my life was like as a teenager for me. I can remember when I was honest with my parents and I can remember when I was not. I can remember all of the things that I put my parents through, granted some of the things I didn’t think were that big of a deal  they sure disagreed with me on . Believe me growing up in a family of five, where you came home when the street lights came on, gave us  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 do you love having teenagers 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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Why Couldn’t I Have Had Twins?

 Posted by Bill on March 26, 2012  General, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers  No Responses »
Mar 262012
 

I recently was speaking with a friend of mine about issues that he is having with his two kids. He was frustrated with no matter what he says to his kids, they would both interpret his words differently, and act differently. We laughed at how two children from the same gene pool could turn out so different. In honor of his frustration, I decided to re-post a blog I did a few years ago about how different my kids are. I hope that it provides some insight, humor and peace in your life today.

I have always said that I am blessed to have my children. Raising them on my own is definitely tough, but with challenges come great rewards. I hope that I can  keep the two of them around long enough to realize this. My son is now 15 and I am so proud of him. He and I have a bond, that although not expressed daily, is there in our hearts. I have watched him mature more and more each day. His sense of humor is second to none.  The other night I told him that “Yes Jack we are going to eat together as a family” to which he replied “Dad I promise that if you let me eat downstairs in front of the TV I won’t do drugs, get  anyone pregnant or go to jail” I think that he must be listening to my radio show archives at www.singleparentstown.com again.

My daughter who has been the apple of my eye since the day she was born has always been a joy. She has a heart of gold and a smile that stretches from here to eternity. Never really a problem, just a good kid. That was until she turned 13 last August. I have heard stories of how girls transform at this age but hearing stories and experiencing it are two separate things. The other night Jack asked if we could just “put her down” There is that quick wit and humor again. What is it that turns little angels into devils at 13? If I have learned one thing as a single parent it is that patience is a virtue. I have become so patient with these kids but  my patience is beginning to wain with my daughter. If I tell her that her hair looks great she asks why I didn’t like it before? If I tell her that I love her new outfit she gives me three reasons why it could be better. I bite my tongue and Jack just laughs. His day will come when he has a family, but right now he is finding joy in watching me deal with this. Continue reading »

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When It Comes To Parenting Does Practice Make Perfect?

 Posted by Bill on September 19, 2011  General, How to Communicate with Your Kids, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting  No Responses »
Sep 192011
 
They say that practice makes perfect. I have decided that whoever said that was obviously not a parent. I have practiced at being a good parent ever since day one, and I continue to practice at it each and every day. Last week I thought that I had finally figured it out, and then my 15 year old teenage daughter reminded me that I have a long way to go. Funny how teenagers seem to think that they know everything. I am starting to think that parenting is allot like the game of golf. No matter how much you practice, you will never get it totally right. Oh you may score well every once in awhile, but just when you start to think that  you’ve got  it figured out, you slice one it into the woods and end up taking a penalty stroke. Over the years I have had my share of penalty strokes with my kids.
The problem with being a good parent, is that your kids are constantly changing on you. Once you get to the toddler stage figured out here comes the young child stage, then the pre-teen stage and finally the dreaded teenager stage. Looking back on the early stages, I now realize that the degree of difficulty changes with each and every  stage my kids go through. It must be Gods way of reminding you that practice doesn’t always make you perfect, but it will make you better. 
I am blessed to have my parents as great examples. Since they raised  five kids, they had allot of practice. Looking back on it now I realized that they weren’t perfect, but at least they kept practicing. Actually with five kids, maybe they should have stopped practicing having children after the first two:) I am the oldest by the way! One thing that I do know is that if you as a parent keep practicing, your children will be the beneficiary of it. I pray every night for those children who don’t have parents who practice. Who have parents that give up. They are the children that will never understand how to become a good parent themselves. They are the ones whose children will turn to the dark side, when if their parents had just practiced more, they would have all seen the light. Continue reading »
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My Reasons For Loving Having Teenagers…

 Posted by Bill on August 14, 2011  General, Teenagers  No Responses »
Aug 142011
 

I can’t tell you the number of people who when I tell them that I have teenagers say something like “Wow that must be tough” or “Good luck, you will need it”. I don’t care, I love having teenagers. I really do. Granted I am decades away from my teen years, I can still remember what my life was like as a teenager for me. I can remember when I was honest with my parents and I can remember when I was not. I can remember all of the things that I put my parents through, granted some of the things I didn’t think were that big of a deal they sure disagreed with me on . Believe me growing up in a family of five, where you came home when the street lights came on, gave us  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 do you love having teenagers 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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Summer Bonds With The Family

 Posted by Bill on July 19, 2011  General, Getting Your New Life In Order, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers  No Responses »
Jul 192011
 

I just got back from my annual vacation to visit my family in Montana (thus my late blog) and had an amazing time. We hung out at the lake, water skied, tubed, jet skied, swam, laughed, cooked smores and just had one of those times that I will always cherish. Whenever I go back to visit, it is always a huge event. Friends visit, family comes together and memories are crested for a lifetime. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how long you might be away from your family, once you get together it seems like you had never left.

My family is very close, which is a good thing since it’s just my kids and I together here in Denver. There is something about the bond a family has, regardless of where you live, that sticks together like melted chocolate and marshmallows in a smore. No matter what challenges or differences of opinions each family might have, you can never separate them. There is a bond not only in your name but in your heart. Families are speciasl regardless of how big, how small, how close or how far they live from each other.

Never forget that your family is your bond and your bond is your family. Embrace it, enjoy it and cherish it because we all deserve to have a family that is special in it’s own way. Continue reading »

Is It Bad Not To Miss Your Kids?

 Posted by Bill on July 11, 2011  General, Getting Your New Life In Order, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting  No Responses »
Jul 112011
 

This Wednesday I will be headed up to Montana to visit my family see friends and retrieve my daughter who has spent the better part of the summer there. I am excited to see my family, hang out at the lake, have fun and oh ya, see my daughter again. Michaela has been there since early June. I know that based upon the three calls she has made to me that she is having a great time. Yes three calls… You see it’s not that she doesn’t love me, or that I don’t love her, but sometimes in life you just need a break from your kids. Now I am sure that many of you are saying the exact same thing “Boy do I need a break from my kids”. It’s natural to need some free time to yourself, to get away and to recharge our batteries, but is it alright not to miss your kids? In my case the answer is yes:) I love my daughter to death, with all of my heart, with all of my soul and with all of my mind, but honestly I just don’t miss her all that much.

Now before you start to say “What kind of a father are you Bill not to miss one of your babies” let me give you a few reasons:

1. She is a 14 year old girl. If you have ever had one of those you will totally understand what I am saying here.  Continue reading »

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A Parents Job Description…

 Posted by Bill on June 20, 2011  Balancing Work and Children, Dealing with Divorce and Your Ex, General, Getting Your New Life In Order, Raising Children as a Single Parent, Teenagers, The Craziness of Single Parenting, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jun 202011
 

Since it is Monday and the new week is upon us, I thought that I would share with you a job description that a friend of mine recently shared with me. I have posted this blog once before but believe that it it is worth repeating. I hope that it brings a smile to your face and starts your weekend off on the right foot. It is hilarious and something we can all relate to.

POSITION:

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Continue reading »

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