BellaOnline Forums Family Single Parents Needed: Single Fathers

If there are any single fathers out there who read the Single Parents column, please contact me via the forum or my email at singleparents@bellaonline.com.

Because I do not have the single father experience and never really will, I find that everything I write is from a single mom's perspective (imagine that!). I would really like to talk to some single fathers to see how they handle particular issues. Perhaps they have some ideas that we single moms haven't considered. I want to know how single dads feel about the issues of child support, raising daughters, and discipline. In fact, I want to hear about anything you are willing to discuss.

I will be hoping to hear from you soon!

I was a single dad with full custody for almost four years. Is there anything I can help with or are you just looking for present single dads?

I am looking for anyone who has been a single father and will not mind discussing with me some of the issues of being a single father and how you dealt with them. As I said, I get email asking why everything I write is from the perspective of a single mom. Even when I try to write from the perspective of a custodial parent, I know that is comes across with a touch of "strictly female." I want to be able to better relate to the single father's in our group and recognize their concerns, too. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If it is okay with you, I could email your bella email; you may not want all the answers to my question posted on the Forum. And I would not use anything you tell me in an article without your permission. What do you say?

Of course, considering our website says "The Voice of Women" - I would think it would be obvious why it is being written from the perspective of a single mom.

Voice of Women or not, if single dads come here looking for help or advice we should give it to them.

Single dad here,iam a 47y/o widowed dad of a 19y/o son.i would be happy to help with your questions..As to that this is a Womens site ,i say nay because i have been reading and enjoying the newsletters for at least 3 yrs.I find that getting both sides of the argument make me more in the bright side of life..So if there are question's dont be afraid to ask..Lou

Hi Cynthia,

I have been a single father for over 8 years. I have a 9 year old son.

Child Support - My son's mom has basically been a deadbeat all around. I had come to expect that some FOC discriminate against the single father but this year I am going to push more. Sometimes I feel a little guilty or maybe embarrassed about talking about child support but I know it's not really money for me but rather my son.

Raising Daughters - I don't have a daughter (I had a step daughter for a bit) but if I did I would raise her just the sane. I think the father sets up the expectations for his daughter about relationships with the opposite sex. If fathers are examples that are dependable, respectfully, strong & loving then I believe their daughters are less likely to put up with males who are the opposite.

Discipline - I have to make a strong effort to remember to nurture since his mom is absent. So I try to build character when disciplining but also remember no too be too hard. I use discipline as a teaching opportunity and also remember to bring it back to love, redemption & forgiveness. For the most part I don't have much of a discipline problem with my boy.

Hi, Lou! I would like to talk with you; I am sure you have some experience to share. Regardless of whether your single parent status is current or in the past, the experiences are still with you. Email me at singleparents@bellaonline.com.

I am 100% with you on this, Juli. While we are "the voice of women on the web," we have editors who are men, contributors who are men, and members who are men. They are not excluded here.

My purpose in soliciting their help is because I don't have the capability of understanding the other side of the situation unless I can get in touch with those who live it.

Samuel, thank you for responding in so much detail. I really appreciate the information. HOwever, I would like to talk more. I commend you for your beliefs and I am interested in delving further into these topics with you. Would you mind if I emailed you directly?