if your real good....you will get all the credit you need from your child

i do think they are out there...and its awesome to see.

I hope my young daughters always view me as their hero, their rock and can confide in me when they have challenges in life. I hope they can look back in their life when they're adults and know they had a great dad when growing up and who will always try to be there for them. I think (or at least feel) that dads who really are strong fathers and actively supporting their children find they have very little time for themselves....and in the big scheme of things, maybe that's ok as you still get to experience life with your children and often through their eyes. I think it's just hard to meet us, because you're not likely to go out to the bar scene and meet one. My time is spent swimming, ice skating, at the library, in the park and of course in the home studying, playing games, "trying" to cook, clean and especially...just be there. Love = time for kids. The other hard thing is to find a way, find any way, to communicate well with the former spouse. If you don't, the children will always suffer the most.

I'm not a parent, I probably shouldn't be in here, but I like looking around and seeing what other parents have to say about a lot of issues, and this one stuck out to me.

I definitely agree though, way to go to all you stand-up dads out there. As someone here said, anyone can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad. Take it from the perspective of a 19 year old male, I admire all you dads out there who love and respect your children, who take personal time to talk with them, get to know them and become a friend as well as a father to them.

Take it from someone who never knew what that kind of person was like. I grew up around a father who cared more about watching television and playing on the internet than actually listening to my stories. A father who never asked me about school, never cared about who my friends were, or ever talked to me about anything in general. A man who only served to give me a place to stay, food, and a car to drive, who, I will admit, he did spend a lot of money to try to put me through college and I do gratefully appreciate all he's done for me with that and all.

But when you're own father trash talks about your own friend's when they're in the same room, when you're own father yells at you after you get home from your best friend's funeral [who was only 17 when he passed], when you're own father screams and yells at you for being incompetent, who puts his hands on you and chokes you into the couch, who assumes that if nothing else, his own son is some sort of mental case, or is on drugs. Talk about a father who disowns you from his family, kicks you out of the house for not having a job and telling the neighbors around him that his 'son' smokes Meth, then proceeds to act a teenager and write crude things on his Myspace page because he knows I would see them.

To all you dad's out there, don't ever be like my father. I beg of you, listen and talk to your child[ren]. Not only are you doing them a favor by being a parent, you're doing them a favor by being a friend, someone they can look up to and count on. Unlike me, who has no one in my family anymore, no one now but my mother and two sisters.

I just thought I would share...let you see the perspective of a 19 year old gay male who had to hide from his own father, because he would tease, humiliate, and flat-out hate me, for who I am and what I believe. I have not seen the man in over a year now; the last thing he ever told me was that I am no longer is son. He never liked me for who I was when I lived with him, he wouldn't like the person I am now.

Wow, sorry, I was rambling...

I have had my daughter with me since my ex wife were divorced in 2001. I fought aggressively in court to keep her with me as her mother was doing things that an eight year old girl shouldn't be around.

Wow, I think men that take responsability $ love there kids no matter what are the greatest!!
And on the other hand,I was lucky enough to find a great man on hear that is a wonderfull father to his own kids,And to mine...No one could ask for more.
So you go dads!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parents who assume a parental and an active parental role in their childrens lives are great.

But not sure about all this giving accolades to either/neither one as it is their responsibility to do so.

jmo

I couldn't not be a part of my daughters life. I have a great co-parenting relationship with my ex. My veiw is that kids really need both male and female influance in life. It breaks my heart to know otherwise.

Thanks,and yes I agree there should be more dads that step up be there for there kids theres a lot more to being a father than just writing a child support check but to the guys that at least do that
at least your trying and thats better than doing nothing


I have a 6 year old daughter and I wish I could keep her every day of the year, they grow up so fast
So if your not spending quality time with your kids now you need to start
Just because it didn't work out between you and your wife or girlfriend doesn't mean that your kids don't need you or should suffer from your mistakes

Thank you for the props!

My girls are mine til death do us part!!!

And i hope that's a long way away!

I have to say that it's true, it seems like that for to many years its been the mom to get custody. Even if the dad would be the better parent its still the mom... that's how it was...

With time changing and more and more dads getting the credit they deserve the courts are finally opening their eyes and seeing which parent would actually be best for the kiddo's.

It takes a special person to be a dad or mom. It's hard work, time consuming and never ending. Not many want that, especially when it comes with the "single" in front of the dad or mom. But, for us that do want that title we look out the opposite side of the ordeal. (the glass half full thing here) The rewards, the smiles, the kisses for the boo boos, the excitement, the pleasure of watching them grow up and above all the I LOVE YOU MOMMY ... I LOVE YOU DADDY...

So kudos for you dads that have taken the giant step in making people see that its not just the moms out there that can raise a kiddo. Because just as it takes a special person to be a dad not just a father cause anyone can do that... it takes a special person to be a mom not just a mother. And it's about time people see that there are some really great stand up dad's out there.

lol yeah my ex doesnt care about our daughter and it breaks my heart, but thankfully there are a lot of women who get lucky and have men that do care. congrats to those women who find such a man

Yes, there definitely is far too few of us out there. My son is the greatest thing in my life right now.

i think there definitly should be more praise for dads and thank goodness dads are getting more reconised these days im a full time dad of two mum has chosen not to see the kids anymore but that was after thousand of dollers in lawyer,s fee,s for myself to have desen;t contact with my kids but now not even a b day or xmas present from her let alone just a phn call from her. its been 24/7 now for about 2 yrs but in all of this it the kids that get the raw deal even tho they say they don;t care, deep down they do... so dads keep up effort that we put in but also all you mums too its hard work and a lot of sacrifice involved ps a weekend of some time would be nice lol..

To entertain and satisfy teenage children in what is a seemingly affluent society can be a difficult task for a single parent without a secondary education nor abundant means. However, depending upon what one deems as important, there is always a way to provide time and love.

Imparting values while allowing a child to blossom into his/her own identity nurtures trust and bolsters the notions of love and respect.

Child support does not equate to money alone.

Kids spell love.....T.I.M.E.


no matter what the gender is of the parent.

I owe my Son my life, I have had him for 4 years now solo, and never seen a penny of finacial support from mom. However, she does take him every other weekend, and watches him after school for 2 hours a day for me while I'm at work. So it works out. She is trying finally after 12 years to do something with herself now, so I am happy. Mostly for my son, he deserves MOM to be something better.

When I was younger, I was miss-lead by my parents seperation, it was very hard for me to endure. I promised myself that I would never let that happen to my children. I want to break the chain, do more, be better then my folks were.

There was a time that I was heading down the wrong road in life, I was mixed up in some pretty nasty crap. However, when the news of my ex's pregnacy came out, I decided it was time to straigten out, make a better life and do the right thing. And you know what, IT FEELS FREAKIN GOOD!!!! I have a wonderfull releationship with my son, and he loves me to death for it. Without him I would be alone, I would be so much less, I would have most likely ended up in jail or dead due to the area I grew up in. I owe him my life and I dedicate myself to him for all eternity.

Remember, no matter how hard things get, the beauty of life is, there is always another day to change. To make things better. To correct your wrongs. Never Give UP.

..been raising my son by myself for almost seven years now,have never seen a dime from my ex gf,besides she probably doesnt have it to spare,and altho we dont get along and we're miles away,i dont ask her for anything,because she has a daughter that i raised as my own from the time she was 3 months,and i cant see taking away from one to give to the other... ..no gratitude needed its what men do when they have responsibilities ..
..of course i havent been out in almost seven years ..but thats o.k too..or been to a bar ,or had sex.. ..why me lord WHY me....jk..

i feel very sad for you my farther was an *** but good on you for speeking out there are people out here that will listen i hope it works out for you dwayne