I have said before that being a single dad is one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever have. It has given me the opportunity to bond with my kids in so many ways (note last week's blog). We as a family are closer than I could have ever wished for, but it's time. I am going to kick them out. I hope for their sake that they stick together. I think that they will but if not, I will sleep well knowing that I have done all that I could, to prepare them for this moment.
We have talked about this before, so I really don't think that it will come as a surprise to either one of them. If it does, then I will just do what every other successful parent would do, I'll bribe them. That always works. Don't kid yourselves; we have all bribed our kids at one time or another. "If you behave in church we will go have ice cream afterwards" or, "Get good grades and I will buy you something special". Heck parents have been bribing kids since the day they were born. Why not now? If I need to bribe my kids one last time then so be it. I'm kicking them out.
After all these years of caring for them, being there for them and loving them I have just decided that my space is more important to me than it is to them. I am sure that they will be ok. They have dealt with adversity before and come through it beautifully. Why am I to believe that this is going be any different? There is an old saying "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime". I have given them more than enough fish over the past few years, let alone bikes, toys, video games, trips, parties and rides. Oh, and don't forget about the unconditional love, respect, education, clothes, and MONEY. They need to spread their wings and fly away. It is time to kick them out.
Tonight I am going to do it. All they really need are their towels, toothbrushes, combs, shampoo, lotions and soaps. After all, their bathroom is just down the hall. You didn't really think I meant the house did you? Wow you did! You see, my kids have preferred my much larger bath to their kid size bath for sometime now, and I have allowed it. I can't say that I blame them but then again I can't say that don't. One thing that I have learned as a single dad is that we all need our own space. For my kids, that space just got a little smaller.
Oh and by the way, the new shower heads that I bribed them with should be here any day now. Thank God.
Published by Bill McLeod
Bill McLeod, a full time single dad of two children has experienced alcoholism, divorce and death on his path to helping all single parents overcome the challenges and experience the joys of parenting. View profile
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