Being divorced, I don’t get to see my kids everyday. I struggled with this for a very long time. It’s been over 2 years of being single again and at times, I do have somewhat of a hard time not seeing my kids on a daily basis. It’s gotten better over time, but when I get really bored, I miss them. A lot. They are changing and growing so fast and I feel like I’m missing something if I don’t see them for a few days out of the week. But it could be worse. Some dads only get to see their kids once a week, month or year. I have to endure 3 days. It’s like when they are not with me, it feels like I am no longer a father for a few days. Like it was a part-time gig and the only time I have any influence on their well being is when they are with me.
But then again, I look at it like this, when I am with them, I am their father. When they are not with me, I am still their father. I think about them, worry about them and and love them just as if they were with me everyday. This, to me, sounds like ALL of the time. Full-time. Full-time Dad.
What do you think? Am I a part-time dad?
August 30th, 2011 on 8:58 pm
I think you are what you feel. Your a 24/7 dad. If they called and needed something on a day when you didnt have them I doubt that would stop you from doing what was needed. I think it the limits of time right now, that wont always be.
August 31st, 2011 on 8:32 am
You will always be a Father, I am in the same boat with 1 2hr visit a week and every second weekend (have appealed the court order, want 50/50) I too miss my children and find that I feel “unfatherly” when I am not with them. I try to use my “off time” to plan events for them, write letters that I snail mail to them, create slide shows of our activities or create storybooks. I do this when I am not with my Girlfriend, and I wish you luck in that endeavor