You are not so different

The traditional family is fading away, a new report says.
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Hot Toys November 2009

Get ready for Christmas: Here are 10 Hot Toys You Should Know About!
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Posts Tagged ‘single dad’

Do Children make You Angry?

angry

Sometimes, it does not take much to drive you over the edge and let your anger overtake what you are really trying to do. We tend to feel terrible in such a situation, but perhaps it makes you feel better that scientists have released new findings on common origins of anger. And yes, having children in a household is said to be a contributor to angry behavior. Do you agree?

The results released by the University of Toronto is based on a survey of more than 1000 Americans aged 18 and older. Project lead Scott Schieman will be publishing basic social patterns of anger in a book entitled International Handbook of Anger, scheduled for a January 2010 launch, but offers a few notes on his findings now.

Thanksgiving 2009…Part Deux!

In our last episode, we had the charming and sexy single dad about to bring the kids over to the ex-in-laws for a Thanksgiving dinner. Part deux of Thanksgiving 2009 starts with the drive over to the other side of town. Now, I thought I was listening to Hannah Montana. As a side bar, that is all I EVER listen to in my car with my kids…oh ya and High School Musical. For those single parents who feel my pain…can I get an AMEN!

Anyway, so I think I am listening to Hannah Montana, when in reality I was listening to the theme song from “Friday the 13th” all the way over there. Like many things as a single parent, it is NEVER as bad as it seems. The ex-wife was very cordial and the ex-in-laws were excellent hosts. The food was great and they even gave me leftovers. I made this amazing soup, and even the ex-wife took some home with her, so I know I did something right. After a great dinner and dessert, I left my kids with their mother and drove to my friend’s house to hang out with him and his wife. It was his wife’s birthday and they were having some people over for a round 2 of Thanksgiving and to watch a movie.

Less Stress Makes You A Happier Parent

stress

A national parent teacher association has found that parents are happier parents if they find ways to reduce their levels of stress. That applies to married parents, but even more so to single parents, where it is critical that you can recover and find some time for yourself.

Daycare At Home May Double TV Time For Your Children

tvwatch

A new study published today highlights an increasing concern that our children are watching too much TV. And if Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute is correct, children in home daycare may in fact be exposed to more than twice the TV time than those who visit daycare centers.

Money Does Not Buy Love: 9 Single Parent Holiday Tips

happymom

A few days left to Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Time to think about Christmas and checking your bank account how far it will go. It is also a time to reflect how your year was, what went well and what did not. For many single parents, the holiday season can be a rough time, balancing the fact that you will not see your children on days you used to and figuring out ways to cope with the pressure of buying Christmas presents. Here are nine tips to help you readjust and reduce stress.

Single Dad TV Casting Call

Richard Jaramillo of Singledad.com is looking for a few single dads to join a reality TV show featuring single dads.

Weekly Safety Recall Alert: 1 Million McLaren Strollers

cpsc

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued half a dozen critical safety recalls relating to children since the beginning of this month. Here is our current update which includes Adventure playsets, Century 21 sweatshirts, Three Sisters baby hammocks, Easton Sports bicycles, McLaren strollers and MacPherson’s art easels.

Single Parent Dilemma: What To Do When You Don’t Have Your Kids

So here we are again kids. Another day, another moment of single parenthood. How great it is to be a single parent. Like many of you, I have my kids 50% of the time. When I have them on my days, we have a blast. We play ball, I get to be a daddy taxi to all their events and school activities. We read, play cards and watch movies. Then I get to recharge my battery.

I get my kids 50% of the time, so the other 50% I get to focus on me! How great for me and for those of you who do the 50/50 split…how great for you. This is where it gets hard for some of us. What do we do when we don’t have our kids? Well, here is a list!

Recommended Reading: A Family’s Heartbreak

heartbreak

Book Review – You get a lot of advice during your divorce. Some you should follow and some you better leave alone. The best advice may not come from your family, close friends, counselors and lawyers. It may come from someone emotionally disconnected who, however, can relate to your situation. Michael Jeffries wants to be that distant friend and offers support with his own experience of extreme parental alienation. If scientific books about alienation do not speak to you, this one may.

Women Losing Custody Battles More Often

coparenting

There is a common perception in this country that divorcing dads will lose their children in custody battles simply by default. However, a report published by Working Mothers magazine published today states that the times may be changing. Dads apparently are increasingly taking over primary child care duties, which puts the in a much better position to get full custody of their children.

“The shifting custody landscape is alarming to working moms, many of whom say they work primarily to provide a better life for their children,” said Working Mother Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Riss. “Women are surprised to learn that time spent in the office is increasingly being viewed by the courts as evidence that they’re less involved in their child’s day-to-day care. It’s important that working mothers understand the changes in custody rulings.”

Surviving Thanksgiving Alone

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday season. Although usually less fraught with anxiety than Christmas, if it is the first “big holiday” since your estrangement from your spouse, you may be dreading the day. It also may be your first holiday without your children.

Going through a divorce can give you the perfect “excuse” to break with tradition and forge your own way of celebrating. Spending the holiday home by yourself watching videos and eating Chinese take-out (yes, they are open on Thanksgiving) may be just what you need to do!

Why Teens Need Dads

fatherson

SingleDadLife has an inspirational article on the relationship between teens and their dads. Especially in single parent environments, the role of the father may appear to be much more complex and difficult to fulfill. Author Ben Murphy has some food for thought for moms and dads.

“As the teenage years progress, there are times that your child will open up and share things with you, and times that they won’t – even if you have a great relationship,” Murphy writes. “Perhaps it’s helpful to understand why teens need their fathers, and what you can do to deepen that relationship.