Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

I may need a reality check here so correct me if I am wrong.  If a father is very active in his kid's life and even has primary custody should the children call their step father, daddy?  I know there are situations out there where step dads become the regular dad becuase he isn't around and I think that is great.  However, I can see my ex really getting my goat by convincing my daughter to call her step dad, "daddy".  I think she should call him by his first name.  Do I make an issue out of this or let it go?  However, it does bother me a bit, okay more than a bit.

I try to avoid much opinion about the destuctive things people do in this world. I tend to think that we are smart people, at least most of the time. I know brilliant people are trying to stop the oil spill that has been going on for weeks in the gulf without success... this in itself is a bit disturbing. Anyhow I simply pray that God will bring an end to it and that He will make some good come from it. If that is man pushing this world just one step closer to disaster so Christ will come then so be it. Okay, here is a photo from the Department of Defense. Does buring oil seem odd to you? How much better can that be for the environment? I don't know I guess little ignorant me just doesn't get it.

We all want to connect and be involved with our child . Children of involved parents generally feel more confident, assured and have a higher level of self esteem. They excel in school and do well in extracurricular activities and with their hobbies. But is there such a thing as too much involvement? It's imperative when you're becoming involved with your school-aged child's activities and academics that you recognize the line of what being too involved can be. Remember, you're becoming involved in your child's life. It's important that you don't intrude too much upon it. Children need their space and privacy and they need to be able to develop their own skills, talents and abilities. In our eagerness to help our child succeed, it's tempting to want to step in and start doing things for them because you feel they are doing it incorrectly or inadequately. But remember, you had to learn too, and this is their chance to learn on their own. Be...

Chores can help develop a sense of responsibility and self worth in your child. It should be understood by all family members they are expected and necessary to a household running successfully and efficiently. They can help create a sense of unity and family and is a great place for your child to learn about teamwork. Parents should take special care to handle the delegation of chores to children so they don't become a source of frustration or create arguments. Allow your child to have an active say in the delegation of chores . Give them choices. We all have household chores that we don't like to do, but if it's a chore the child enjoys doing then there's less likelihood it will create a battle in the end. The child will most likely appreciate having the chance to be heard and having a choice. It's imperative that you set parameters early on for the successful completion of a chore. They may not perform up to snuff when they first start performing the chore, b...