A true story, It�s now 2002, and my kids have kids, But I want to share this story, The most important thing I have learned is babies become children and children become teens and teens become adults and adults have babies of there own. Moving from dad to grandpa is a journey and a struggle at times but a trip well worth taking.

I was tough, I am terrified, 3 years ago I knew everything, now its 1971 and I know nothing and I am so scared. I was a tough guy, growing up in a bad part of Los Angeles I learned fast and I learned to survive you need to be a tough guy. I was proud, I had my first child (Lorie) at 17 and married Lorie�s mother before her birth.

I dropped out of school to make a living, working in a factory to pay rent and buy food. Hey, no big deal, I am a tough guy. My wife was from the rich side of town; raised in South Pasadena she was a high-class girl. My wife was attracted by my tough guy image I was attracted by her schoolgirl high-class image. We fell in love and made a baby and were married, I was 17 she was 16; we lived together for 3 years.

She is now having our second child, one she does not want!

She said I am not made to be a mother; she is not looking forward to our new child�s birth. Over the last three years I had cleaned up my act. No more drugs, cut back the drinking, I got up every day to go to work be a good father like the ones I saw on TV. As I went straight, my wife got bad, she started drinking, started using drugs, she became what I was going to be, and I became Ozzie (not Ozzy Osborne, but Ozzie Nelson).

Three weeks after my second daughter was born my wife and I split up. I ended up with the kids, It was not easy to come to this agreement (as most single parents know) but after several very emotional meetings (me and my X-wife) agreed I should raise our children.

Now What! It�s 1971 and I am a factory worker with both a 3 year old and a 3 week old girl, I am a high school dropout with no future and earning just enough to pay rent and buy food but not child care and I am so tired when I get home, Now I have a family on my own. For the though guy I am humbled. I am so scared. I love my kids; I will not give them up but now what. In 1971 a single father is very rare, it is so rare that every night you turn on the TV and see a single father family: The Rife Man, My Three Sons, The Courtship of Eddy�s Father, Bachelor Father, Family Affair, The Andy Griffith Show and several more. Anyway now what? I am so scared!

To continue� email me and/or post here, I will return to write more if there is interest,

Daddy_John

Please continue!! I am learning that I don't have it so bad...I only have one!!
Katie

yes please continue...

The same here. Being a single parent period is not easy. I give all of us so much credit.

Same here. Keep going.

Keep going, we need to hear a man's point of view. There's not many men in this world who would do what you have done.