Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

Well so far I have survived the holidays and I look forward to the time I get to spend with Madalyn on Christmas, really it is never enough but why fret over what I can’t control. On a positive note, Madalyn turned 3 last week. YAY! She is getting so big and smart. She is daddy’s little girl whom hurts my arm because she is heavy. I was struggling with what to do on her birthday. Previous years I did not make much of it but this time I wanted to do something special. Being a single dad I did not feel comfortable asking parents at daycare whether they would be interested in a party, they are mostly women and probably married. I didn’t want to give them the wrong impression. Plus all the hassle that is involved in throwing a big shindig. Anyhow here is a pic of my party and Madalyn didn’t seem to mind who I brought. It was a quick party but we had fun... I think she understands that her daddy isn't very exciting.

My last post talked much about the power struggle between Madalyn and I and I have felt that I am lost and alone in the whole situation. Really not knowing what to do.. One comment from a visitor told me to talk to Madalyn on her level. As I contemplated what Madalyn's level is I realized that I am not seeing her for the smart, understanding child she is. In my mind I am still talking to her in "goo goo" and "ga ga". Sure I see her growing up before my eyes but for some reason, mentally I still see her as a baby and "how could a baby understand that I am simply setting rules?" One night I was doing some laundry and Madalyn was laying in bed reading her book, pretending to read it(still cute as heck), and I was just talking to her. She answered my questions beautifully and was talking back to me. I was having a converstation with my child which I thought impossible. I almost started crying my eyes out for not seeing this before. Why does it seem...

HELP!! The power struggle amongst Madalyn and I has been getting intense lately. I continually pray for wisdom and patience but the situations just seem to be getting worse. I ask Madalyn to use her words and talk to me about what she needs or what is wrong but she just “grunts” at me. She doesn’t want to listen until she gets in trouble and then she tells me, “I am ready to listen, daddy.” Then the cycle continues all over again. I don’t know what to do, the timeouts are not that effective and I feel like much of our time together is spent arguing, and “no” I am not talking about my exwife. :-) I just hate feeling like my kid is always mad at me or that I am a drag but I tell her I am just trying to help her to get what she wants. We have things we need to do before we can have a treat, like eat dinner. Going any place turns out to be a nightmare. I am incapable of controlling her and I don’t know what to do. My words are empty to her and my actions have no real effect....