The New 'Modern Family'... Life as a Single Dad in the Modern World

I have been wanting to try this for a long time... so here it goes.

I am an almost lifetime resident of this great county. I graduated from Hartland High in 1982 and although I have lived in many places, I always return here to Livingston County... it is my home. 

I work in Pinckney where I got my first job in sales from John back in 1983. I returned to this dealership back in March of this year a changed man. I was a young buck when I got into this business at the age of 19. Now I'm a single dad to a 12-year-old son who has been with me since he was 3 years old.

Now, the few people that new me "back in the day" would have never believed that I would be a responsible parent, but I think it was the best thing to ever happen to me. My son keeps me grounded, motivated and in touch with whats going on with kids these days... and believe me it's a whole new world out there.

I have been in sales as long as I can remember. I have dabbled in a few other careers but this is what I love. I spent an eye-opening three years as a Bail Bond and Fugitive Recovery Agent, that taught me to spend as much time as I could with my son. 

I have seen things that shouldn't be seen, things that should never have happened.  It is a lot different out there from when we were kids. I believe modern technology has accelerated the time it takes to grow up... and most kids are not prepared for what they can find with a couple of key strokes. We are letting them expose themselves to things we had to learn by experience. They are growning up a lot faster than we did, I'm afraid. He talks about stuff that I was discussing at 14 years of age, quite freely I will say.  

I believe that you need to be a friend but more important a parent first. Sometimes I have trouble with that. I feel bad that he was kind of deprived of certain things that I really enjoyed. 

My father was all business and my mother was the one that was always there for us. He never showed much love or affection and I couldn't talk to him the way my son and I do. My grandfather taught me how to shoot, how to drive and many other things. I was closer to him than my father. 

My son doesn't have that. 

My father passed away before my son ever met him. He was trying to be a better father, I believe, when he passed suddenly. I haven't had much training in being a parent, I learn day by day. One thing I am certain of is that I will know what my son is doing, as well as who he is hanging out with. I will talk to him about anything he wants, no matter how embarrassing. 

Most importantly... I will always be there for him. He sees his mother on a regular basis but I am the parent. Sometimes it is quite a chore, but it's the toughest job you'll ever love.  

I have nothing but respect for the single mothers out there. That is all you ever hear about but there are some of us single dads out there... who do take care of their kids, and have careers and relationships and volunteer and at the end of the day... hope we've done it right.