Well, this is all true--there's no disputing it--but it makes sad reading for me. I try to be both mother and father to my little son by taking him fishing and camping, teaching him about guns, encouraging him to take risks instead of being like most timid, worried mothers, putting him on horseback, etc. But the truth is I can't be a father. No woman can. Boys learn how to be men from men, and one of the great problems in our society is that too many boys don't have a father in the house to teach them what manhood means.
"Boys learn how to be men from men, and one of the great problems in our society is that too many boys don't have a father in the house to teach them what manhood means."
Do you have any brothers? Would you feel comfortable signing your son up for Big Brothers if that's available to you? Is there a Grandpa in the picture? You do have options.
I was blessed to have my boys (one son, two nephews that we raised) have a big extended family with lots of uncles, as well as them having their Dads in their lives.
I don't agree that it has to be their blood-Daddy, but boys do need men in their lives. And it can be even worse for us girls! If we don't have a Dad that thinks the Sun rises and the Moon sets on us...we WILL go looking for that love in all the wrong places.
I agree with the poster that said God designed us this way for a reason, but there's no reason NOT to give our kids male/female based families as best we can when circumstance takes the original option away from us.
SO TRUE!!....That's why after my divorce, my daughter and I , trying to raise my youngest son (5 at the time) for six months decided he would be better off with his father and older brother. We missed him terribly, but that is what was best for him.
I try to be both mother and father to my little son by taking him fishing and camping, teaching him about guns, encouraging him to take risks instead of being like most timid, worried mothers, putting him on horseback, etc.
You are not trying to be a mother and a father; you are succeeding at being an excellent parent. Your son is blessed to have you!
I have the opposite problem. Being the father of two children I try to be a mother as well as a father. It is my hardest job. In fact it's impossible! I just have to manage as best I can. They see their mother fairly regularly but it is not enough.