Single Dadhood - Defined

For this inaugural article on single parenting, I will state semi-categorically, the conditions that must exist before one can be defined as a member of the Single Dadhood.

First, he is a single parent who is the lone emotional and financial mainstay of a household that includes one or more children.

A divorced father, who has the children on the weekend, some holidays, and/or two weeks in the summer, is not a single father; he is a father who is single. A subtle but important difference.
But, then again, I know some who take on that single parent job description everyday, with more dedication, and to far less credit than they deserve. I did say "SEMI-categorically".

Second, a single father, for the purposes of this blog anyway, has little or no outside support system or extended family to help carry the weight of actual parenting.

A true single dad can never utter the words, “You need to go ask your (insert female relative here) about that kind of stuff.” Or, “Run in and tell (insert female relative here, also) to put a band-aid on your boo-boo, can’t you see I’m watching the ball game?”

At least not without the child staring at him with great concern, obviously suspecting a mental impairment of some kind.

Third, and finally, a single dad is not always a father.

He may be an uncle, grandfather, brother, cousin, or simply a good man, unrelated by blood, who has taken a child to his heart to raise and nurture to adulthood. Usually the relationship is confirmed through the legal system and always with the intended duration of a lifetime, although for better or worse, it is also the surest avenue to virtual immortality...

That's it guys: WELCOME TO THE SINGLE DADHOOD!