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I am a single dad with a newborn daughter to look after. Her mother gave birth to her, but has since basically abandoned our daughter and left her in my care. I am happy that at least I know my baby will be in caring hands now, but I am still terrified as heck about raising her. I don't know anything about parenting except what I've read in a few books. I am only 25 and working full time from home, but it seems I am constantly rushing around trying to keep my daughter happy. Does anyone know of any support groups for single dads, because I really am in need of some help! ↓
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| Name: grace | Date: Aug 9th, 2005 3:04 PM |
| i'd say! check with your local church, there are often support groups there (at least at my church there is) for single parents. ↑ |
| Name: preggers | Date: Aug 11th, 2005 10:41 PM |
| Have you tried Yahoo groups? I too am 25 years old, single mom to a 2 week old baby girl....and I truly am overwhelmed. Her father is somewhat involved...basically only when it suits his own convenience. But I'm basically on my own. I searched on Yahoo for a group and found one in my own area for single parents....try it, I bet you'll find something. ↑ |
| Name: Alma | Date: Aug 15th, 2005 8:26 AM |
I am a single mother of a 6 year old boy. When he was 6 weeks old I left his father. It was not easy and one of the things I realised very soon was that I have to be able to have time to myself. Hence my son's routine. I made sure he went to bed at 8 - no later than 8! After 8 my time was my own.
I think it is admirable that you raise your daughter on your own and that you obviously want to be there for her - 24/7. But you know what, it will be ok to put her in a daycare centre. Search for one - a good one, they are around. And she will show you very quickly if she is not happy, even if she can't talk. It will be good for her, she'll learn social skills from an early age, and you will be able to do your work uninterupted.
Most importantly, it is not the amount of time that you spend with her but the quality if the time that you do. A lot of people say that is bull, but it is true. As a single parent you have loads of responsibilities on your shoulders, and work and income is extremely important.
Take her to daycare. Do your work without interuptions. You'll be less irritated at night and will be able to spend awesome quality time with her from the time you fetch her until you put her to bed. You'll be amazed at the kind of bond you will build up with her. And remember, that routine is just as important. She will be more managable and that in its own will relax you.
YOu are just as important as she is. Being a single parent means that both has to compramise. Not only you.
Good luck and enjoy. They are truly a blessing! ↑ |
| Name: Jaime | Date: Aug 29th, 2005 11:40 PM |
| I understand how you feel I am a single mother of a baby boy and am scared as heck to raise him on my own. There is this other web page that I like to go to called Single Family Voices and I find that there is alot of support there. I know it's probably hard to grasp but I dont think most of us know how to parent. I think we just learn as we go along. One thing that I have found being a single parent is that you have to make time for yourself. In order to be there for you daughter you have to be fulfilled yourself first. Whether you go out to a movie or just go have a cup of coffee by yourself. I am sorry to hear that your baby's mother has abandoned you and her but you sound like you have a good head and on your shoulders and I am sure you two will do fine. ↑ |
| Name: Chay | Date: Sep 4th, 2005 4:24 AM |
| try and see if where you live has a single father support group for you and also try the mommy and me classes. contact the local y and see if your daughters doctor knows of any groups that will help you. Congratulations on sticking around when you had to. ↑ |
| Name: mollykathleen | Date: Sep 21st, 2005 7:00 AM |
hi gary,
first of all congrats on the bub. all i can say about raising ur bub is that no one knows what to do or if their doing it right. sure the books n stuff will help a bit but really it'll come to u. make it up as u go along im sur u'll b a good dad. just make sure ur not spendin all of ur time worring about it and forgetting to actually raise her! ↑ |
| Name: Oni | Date: Sep 22nd, 2005 3:52 PM |
| Being a single parent is hard work! just a few ideas for you...maybe you could find a nice retired lady ro college student to drop by your place a fews hour a day or two or three times a week, so you can get work done, run the grocery store, do house hold chores etc...that way you wouldn't have to worry too much about her but, at the same time you wouldn't have to devote all of your time, all the time. ↑ |
| Name: CJ | Date: Nov 30th, 2005 6:23 AM |
| Gary, i have a six month old baby girl and a 10 yr old boy. I met this man who swept me off my feet, planned a wedding and a pregnacy ~ then he left when i was 7 months pregnant "not sure this is what i want" is what he said! Gary, you will do a great job because you want to. is paternal leave an option for you? this way you will be able to focus on your sweet baby girl and get the 2 of you on a routine. there are going to be hard times and some stress BUT the good and amazing times will outway the hard times. look to the church, internet, yellow pages, health units and you can also call the maternity floor at a hospital to find some help. one of those mentioned will have something for you. I wish you and your baby girl ALL the best. stay strong and charish the times that you share with your sweet baby girl and remember that she is growing fast and these hard beginings will be memories~ones to be proud of. take care ↑ |
| Name: Caitlin | Date: Dec 4th, 2005 3:12 AM |
| I'm not a single parent, but I'm 24, work as a nanny for two kids, and have a lot of experience in newborns and infants. I think it's great that you're taking on this responsibility, and I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need any suggestions or "insider tips" on baby care, I'd be more than happy to lend some insight. You can reach me via email at [email protected]. Good luck! ↑ |
| Name: Mrmom_Kenny | Date: Dec 7th, 2005 7:58 PM |
| Well Gary I've been a single parent for 14yrs and my daughter was only 8 mths when her mother decided to leave and hasn't looked back since. I receive no child support from her and that's fine with me. I was working out of state when she left our 2 kids a home without a sitter. I drove 12 hrs to get to work and it took me 8 hrs to get home. the authority found my kids unattended due to complaints from a neighbor that heard the crying. You will make a GREAT DAD and the blessing will over whem you. you will find time to spend with her and she will LOVE & ENJOY every moment. ↑ |
| Name: luana | Date: Aug 23rd, 2008 6:06 PM |
| Hello my name is Luana and I work for the Steve Wilkos Show and I would like to help you with you're issue lets talk more about it my E Mail is [email protected] ↑ |
| Name: ka | Date: May 8th, 2009 8:21 PM |
| hi my baby belly is big is something wrong are it ok ↑ |
| Name: kellyr16 | Date: May 11th, 2009 2:47 PM |
| Name: kellyr16 | Date: May 12th, 2009 12:13 PM |
| please email me so we can [email protected] ↑ |
| Name: bumble bee 26 | Date: Jun 9th, 2009 7:21 PM |
Hi there sngle mom and daddys!
Im Currently trying to get my grade 12 and one of my projects is to
write a 1 week schudule for being a new parent.
Well its hard to write something like that when I have no idea what its like?
Can some one give me some pointers? ↑ |
| Name: bumble bee 26 | Date: Jun 9th, 2009 7:22 PM |
| I can't spell as everyone can see ... sorry about that. By the way i 23 trying to get my grade 12.. not 16 or 17! ↑ |
| Name: Gaby | Date: Jul 22nd, 2009 11:16 PM |
| You can do it. Im a single mom of two great teenagers. I also work full time. Its not easy, but i would not change a thing. Children are the best thing on earth. Good luck. Ill look for you again to see how you are doing. Take care Gaby ↑ |
| Name: Mike | Date: Jul 20th, 2010 1:07 AM |
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