Dad’s House

Dating & Parenting by a Single Dad

That Boy Has Chops

Posted on December 9th, 2008 | 9 comments

My son is quite the trumpet player – he’s a first trumpet in his middle school band!
Part of the reason I’m crowing is because I taught him a bit of what he knows. You see, back in the day, I was a trumpet player. And back in the day before that, my dad was a [...]

Single Mom, Empty Nest

Posted on November 21st, 2008 | 19 comments

A single mom friend of mine sent her son off to college this year, and she is now living alone for the first time in her life. The empty nest has her going a little bonkers.
I can sort of relate. As a single dad with half-time custody, I spend half my time without the kids.
She [...]

Wanna Wrestle? (This is Not a Dirty Text!)

Posted on October 24th, 2008 | 19 comments

Wanna wrestle?
If that had been a sexy dirty text from an ex-girlfriend, I might have said yes. But today, it’s a question for my son and his junior high wrestling team. They had their first match yesterday, and I must say, it’s an interesting sport.
Until someone gets hurt.
I had never been to a wrestling match. [...]

Halloween Holiday Decorating Gene

Posted on October 22nd, 2008 | 6 comments

It’s almost Halloween, and my house should be all spookified for this autumn holiday, right?
Grab your broom and witch’s hat and fly on over to the Silicon Valley Moms Blog where Dad’s House has gone all Haunted House for Halloween.
Or has it? My house is frighteningly normal looking these days, as it is for most [...]

PreTeen Sex Talk With a Boy

Posted on October 21st, 2008 | 22 comments

My twelve-year-old son entered the kitchen the other morning with his shirt off, flexed an arm, pointed to his muscle and said, “Know where I got that? Wrestling.” He’s on the junior high wrestling team.
Not to be outdone, I set down my coffee cup, rolled back my shirt, flexed an arm, and pointed at my [...]

Dating After Divorce

Posted on October 15th, 2008 | 38 comments

Here’s a question inspired by a discussion topic on the Facebook Single Parents Connection group: When is an okay time to start dating after divorce?
Depends what you’re looking for.
When I first separated from my wife, I was like a chicken with its head cut off. For two months, I was so busy setting up my [...]

Free-Range Kids

Posted on October 14th, 2008 | 21 comments

You’ve heard of helicopter parents – those moms and dads who hover over their child’s every move.
The opposite? A parent with free-range kids.
Um, can you guess which one am I? Don’t think too hard!
My kids’ schedules are so friggin’ complicated, if I was a helicopter parent I would implode.

Check this:

Monday and Tuesday morning – daughter [...]