Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

One of my recent posts talked about everything being quiet between my ex and I. It is kind of funny because I have been doing a lot of praying about being able to see Madalyn more and WHAM! not long after putting the post on my blog I get a call. Mom is not going to be able to get Madalyn for the week. The week ends and I get another call, this time mom is crying, still not going to be able to get Madalyn. Come to find out my ex is having problems with finding affordable living accommodations and paying her bills. This has been going on for several months now but I thought she had it all worked out. Anyhow, Madalyn is with me and I am feeling a little guilty. I know the kid misses her mom and I need to put the kid first. So I invited mom to come get Madalyn and go get her hair cut, go out for ice cream, and then go out to dinner, my treat. You should have seen the kids face when mom showed up at the door. She was so cute and a little shocked. She didn’t know how to respond wi...

When I was married I was working hard to make it so my wife could be a stay at home mom. The problem was she or we had to much debt that made it impossible, at least for the short term. Everything was in place and I had a 3-year plan to change it all. Well now it has been almost 2-years since we parted ways and I am no better off financially. And to top it off I find that I wish I could work at home and be a stay at home dad. Is it normal for a guy to want to be with his child so much? Sure there are times she drives me crazy but I love the stuffing out of her. Kind of silly, huh? I don't think of remarrying and trying to provide the opportunity for my next wife to stay at home. I want it for myself... :-) I guess in that case I know I would appreciate it unlike my previous wife. What I learned from that experience is that, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished."

Over the past several weeks things have been very quiet between me and the ex. No late night calls to come get Madalyn, no call reminding me what a terrible guy I am, nothing... Yes, I know this is a good thing, as you guessed there is a "but". Those annoyances provided me with the opportunity to see Madalyn more than my normal time. I still get her 50% but it used to be more. The problem I have is that I realized that I am, for a lack of a better term, scared. I miss Madalyn a lot and I would like to talk to her on the phone but I don't want to call because I would have to talk to her mom. So I sit, saddened and discouraged wondering why I just don't pick up the phone and call. I haven't even called to talk about Madalyn's biting at daycare. The real sad thing is I know this shouldn't be a big deal. I have dealt with so much more and worse. I should know better!

A tired grumpy little girl starts to make her way over to daddy. Inch by inch she gets closer. I insist that she is tired but she just won’t hear it. She is adamant about not being tired or needing a nap. But daddy knows better, plus daddy DOES need a nap. Next thing I know I have this silent sleeping beauty leaning against my arm knocked out to the world. “Not tired huh?” I whisper in her ear. There is something special about moments like these. Sure I’ve seen Madalyn fall asleep in her high chair or at her coloring desk. Both are cute and make me smile, however the times when she falls asleep on daddy really warms my heart. Granted the hour before was no picnic. Ahhh, now its time to put my feet up, run my hand through her hair, smile big, and close my eyes…

Well I am going to try my luck with a new blog. I don't know if I have the time to pull it off but we will see. I hope to add a lot of pictures from my new hobby. If anyone is interested in Boise Idaho they can check out my Boise Idaho Blog .

Been awhile since I have taken some good photos. I just got a new cameral but am uncertain how to use it to its full potential. I guess it is time for a class. This pic I call "Blue Eyed Princess"

Last week was fairly interesting... I would pick Madalyn up from daycare and I would hear a story of how she got in trouble for biting one day. Then Friday the manager talks to me about Madalyn biting and hitting. I was not very happy but then again I knew exactly who to blame, the person who broke the family unit up! Yes, I am going through one of them phases. Madalyn opened up to me one night and told me the story of how one of the kids would not let her pass on the playground so apparently she bit him. Later I come to find out that it was the same child she had bit before. Now of course I want to blame her mom but I think the reality may be that Madalyn and this other kid are either in love or simply don't care for one another. I guess I am leaning towards this is kids will be kids and we will get through it. For awhile I envisioned tales of disaster. I hope it passes.