Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

One down one more to go before the years end, holidays that is. I have had the past several days off enjoying time with family and it has been pretty good. A bit exhausting though. I think I need to get back to work so I can get back on a regular schedule. It was a huge blessing watching Madalyn and her cousin play. They are about 6 months apart and they either played really well together or they fought tooth and nail. Yet they were inseperable. Just watching those two could wear a person out. I hope everyone out there is having a good holiday... If you aren't and need someone to talk to leave me a post with your email and we can chat. I know how hard it can be during this time of the year and I am here for anyone that needs it.

I work in the agruculture and food industry and it seems that a week doesn't go by where something jumps out at me and makes me think, "What the heck are we doing?" Here is a recent article that I found very informative and think others will too. Source: Copyright 2008 Chicago Tribune Company Chicago Tribune November 21, 2008 Friday Chicago Final Edition Children at risk in food roulette; Mislabeling, lax oversight threaten people with allergies By Sam Roe, Tribune reporter Tribune reporters Annie Slezickey and Jason Grotto contributed to this report. American children with food allergies are suffering life-threatening -- and completely avoidable -- reactions because manufacturers mislabel their products and regulators fail to police store shelves, a Tribune investigation has found. In effect, children are used as guinea pigs, with the government and industry often taking steps to properly label a product only after a child has been harmed. The Tribune investigation reve...

Teacher sublime, great, grand and free! My spirit loves and honours thee, Who taught that all religion ran, In love to God, and love to man. Grand, comprehensive standard this, To lead mankind to peace and bliss, Inspiring them, when well unfurled, To link in brotherhood the world. Could any sect or doctrine claim A higher, nobler, holier aim? And should not all religion tend, To this all-glorious god-like end? The greatest teacher ever known, This simple rule of life has shown Should be the standard for all time, Of all the sons of every clime. If then Christ's soul-inspiring plan, Makes love to God and love to man, Embrace all duties, and insure Virtue and happiness most pure. Why vex the world with differing creeds, Which meet not universal needs, Which sore perplex and lead the mind To separate, not link mankind? For would not self-denial spring From such rich soil, and blessings bring, Which would provoke each one to be His brother's helper ceaselessly? If each love God wi...

I often times find myself overwhelmed with a joy and love for Madalyn when she is not with me. Maybe she arranges her toys a certain way or puts something of hers with mine that I find later or maybe she does something like she did this morning. We are on the way to daycare and she tells me she has a list. I figure it must of been left for me by her mother. "Great a list!" I must say I can feel the lack of excitement. Anyhow we get there and she runs to her cubby to get the list. She hands me this worn piece of paper and it was our grocery list from Saturday... She is all excited that she gave me the list because it is her job to hold on to it while we shop and not lose it. Needless to say I had to high-tail it out of there before I started to get all teary eyed. The kid kept the list safe! I know she must of found it in her jacket pocket and put it in her cubby for safe-keeping. It is these small things that to me aren't so small and can make my week.

I had to put these out there because I love fall. It is starting to get a little late but the weather is great. I hope we get a couple more outings to the park before it starts to freeze.

I was so excited a few weeks ago to be able to get Madalyn some new clothes. I thought I had found her the perfect jacket. It looked warm and was reversable and even better it was all PINK. Good Job Dad! The first time Madalyn wore it the jacket came back with all sorts of debris stuck to it. I thought of how she must of rolled on the ground to make it so bad. I spent a good hour in front of the tv picking off leaves. I hoped as the season went on there would be less leaves to pick off but now she wore it again and I don't even want to try and pick them off. It is covered with leaves and sticks. I sure hope she is having fun because it looks like it. The jacket looks like wool but it isn't, of course. I am going to try and wash it, unless someone stops me, and see if that helps but my gut says it is only going to make things worse. Another lesson learned. :-) Here are a couple images to help since I could not find any labels... DADS BEWARE!!

Today at work has been one of those days where I find myself daydreaming of days long passed. I spent a good portion of my younger years waiting tables for a living. There was a time when I lived in southern California doing just that. I remember the friends I made and how we hung out. My life has never been that interesting since but of course if I were to really look at it my lifestyle back then was not very healthy. Yet, it wasn’t all-bad either. I remember a friend, her name was Kristen Fox and she was a good friend to me. Heck I think of her every now and then wondering what became of her. It has been many many years since I have even talked to her and others that were important to me. But now when I look back I miss some of the relationships I had. All are gone because I didn’t take the time to try and keep in touch. It was so much easier to make friends back then. As I push 40 it is so hard to meet people and make new friends. I have thought about waiting tables again...

Here we are approaching another holiday season and finding the right gift is getting even harder. I guess that is because it has to be affordable. We got the dolls, dvds, colors, books, stuffed animals, etc so what else is there? Madalyn can use the mouse and the computer pretty good so I wouldn't mind finding a computer game she can play but I can't find any that seem to be good for her age that allow her to grow with. She does the online gaming thing but it is easy to get lost. Any ideas?? If you have other gift ideas for a 4 year old girl please let me know. Hot Wheels??

I have been trying to figure out lately why Madalyn asks for her mom so much. Part of me feels like a failure because I am under the impression that Madalyn does not want to be with me. I know that isn't true but unfortunately I have an overly active imagination at times. Madalyn is almost 4 years old and I just thought she would understand the situation a bit better. She used to be excited to be with me, and I think she still is but she talks about going back to her mom's often. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that her mom lives with another guy. Even though it isn't the same guy she was living with 3 months ago. Maybe Madalyn feels like it is more of a family situation with a man and a woman living together. Maybe this is her desire. Or maybe I just need to let this one go.

I have been here before, more than once. My emotions begin to get the best of me, they manage me instead of me managing them. I don't know if anyone else feels this way but to me emotions are liars. I used to pride myself on being logical and at times wise. I really wasn't all that impulsive, except when it came to spending money now and then. But now I am so quick to fly off the handle or feel sad. I am sure part of it has to do with the upcoming holiday season but an even bigger part is I think God is testing me. Whether it be money, time, or emotions I am being tested and God is looking for me to manage all the above in a Godly way and I have let my emotions slip to where they are in control and I am acting like an immature idiot. Satan is getting a foothold and it is time to take it BACK!

A surprising thing happened to me this past week, actually 2 things. The first is I had a date and found that I don't feel like I am ready to date. Why you might ask? since it is what I have been longing for. Well because I have grown very angry towards my ex recently. To the point where I said things to my little girl simply because she was there and said she wanted to go back to her mommy after I picked her up. Normally I can handle it but my ex has found a new boyfriend and I am so sick and tired of Madalyn seeing this. Yet I am completely helpless... so what do I do? I make my little girl cry because I am a raving lunatic. I guess between her mom and dad we should screw her up plenty. Am I jealous that my ex finds it easy to attract one guy after another? Maybe I am, I don't know. Personally I would be happy if I could feel comfortable with the current situation and get to know the woman God has for me. You would think being the father of the child I would feel M...