The Blog Bug

Wow! I guess I'm slow on the uptake. Blogging has become an incredible way to get your message out there. I've been checking out blogs on various subjects but focusing on blogs about single parenthood.

It is kind of nice to see there are a lot of responsible dads out there who really take parenting seriously and not as an onerous obligation. It gives me renewed hope.

It is also nice to see that I'm not the only one dealing with all the various issues that come with being a single parent. I've commented on dating, adult sleepovers, communication, etc. It is nice to see that there are so many other people out there dealing with the same issues that I am and getting an idea of how they approach them. Sometimes it makes me feel like I'm a bad mom...sometimes it reinforces the fact that I'm doing the best I can. I tend to be more practical. I'm not giving up my life for my child. I'm bringing my child into my life. I have a lot of experiences that I want to share with my daughter. I've traveled a lot in my life and I want to show her the world, not limit her world out of fear that she might see or hear something that will make her uncomfortable. If it does, we can talk about it. Life can be uncomfortable or downright cruel...she needs to learn how to deal with it when she has support so that when it happens while she is on her own she knows what to do.

I know, I know. Parents are supposed to protect their children from the evils of the world. Sure, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't know about the evils. We shouldn't hide the evil in the world from them. It isn't going to go away. She will someday find herself confronted by something "not good" and I hope she has the skills and wherewithall to lessen the impact on her life. I also don't want her to be afraid to take chances or explore. Knowledge is power...knowing what to do or not do when someone points a gun at you or how to negotiate with a customs officer in a 3rd world country can give you the freedom to travel to places that aren't sanitized for tourists.

Granted, my parents did draw the line for me. They wouldn't let me take the trip to Russia when I was 14 out of fear of the communist regime and me creating an international incident. However, they did let me go trek the Himalayas when I was 15. My daughter is 13 now and when I think about the things I was doing and where I was going at that age (I'd already traveled literally around the world by plane by myself), I think I'm sheltering her a bit too much.

Oh well, we do the best we can with what we have when we have it. That is all we can do, for better or for worse.