Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

We have all seen the commercials and even probably been told by our doctors that smoking is bad for us. There is no doubt that the health effects of smoking affect the entire body and everyone around us. Consider your children, if you are a smoker, the health consequences to children can be even more devastating. According to The National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma and Children’s Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, “eleven percent of children under the age of six are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes several times per week.” We know that smoking kills and yet we allow children, even our children, to be exposed to the harmful effects. Children are stillgrowing and developing physically and have very little control of their environments so it is up to the parents to put them first. If you are a parent that smokes you may want to consider what you are doing to your child and if you are in the process of divorce or have a current custody order you may ...

Greetings all! I will be fasting from the computer for the next 7 days. It seems I spend way to much time on it. I want to begin the spring with a fresh start with God, myself, and my daughter. I have been couped up over the winter and the computer is an easy outlet but now with spring here it is time to get out! God Bless and when I get back I will have some new insightful posts. I promise. I just need more readers... :-) Have a great day!!!

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh fromt he Lord, which make heaven and earth." The Way Each Day Will Look to You All Starts with Who You're Looking to. - author unknown

Jesus, help my eyes to see all the good you send to me. Jesus, help my ears to hear calls for help far and near. Jesus, help my feet to go in the way that Thou will show. Jesus, help my hands to do all the things loving, kind and true. Jesus, may I helpful be, growing everyday like Thee. Amen

Involved fathers provide practical support in raising children and serve as models for their development. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem , exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior compared to children who have uninvolved fathers. Committed and responsible fathering during infancy and early childhood contributes emotional security, curiosity, and math and verbal skills. Even parenting as a single father this can be accomplished but it isn't always easy. It wasn't until 1995 that Clinton took action and had studies done to measure the affects of fathers in their kid's lives. When single fathers have custody they are just as likely to be invovled with their kids as single mothers... Why - because either way it NEEDS to be done and they love their chidlren too!

Surfing the internet one day I thought it would be interesting to see what it cost to raise a kid these days . Well guess what... - there is an APP for that. Okay, not really (well actually I don't know) however there is a calculator at http://65.216.150.170/default.aspx The results are self explanatory and they can be modified if you know the actual cost. Don't plan your retirement or investments by it but it is kind of interesting. Overall Annual Cost Estimates (Household Type = One Parent and Income = Less Than $56,870) Housing Food Transportation Clothing Health Education Other Total Madalyn's Estimated Annual Costs Housing $3,612 Food $1,664 Transportation $1,097 Clothing $413 Health $710 Education/Childcare $3,312 Total $11,582 Housing expenses consist of shelter (mortgage payments, property taxes, or rent; maintenance and repairs; and insurance), utilities (gas, electricity, fuel, cell/telephone, and water), and house furnishings and equipmen...