My career choice was not to be a single father

[panader0]

I had my own small general contracting business when my 4 children's mother ran off with a fireman. (Cue hose jokes)
The oldest boy (not mine) was 10. Then a daughter, age 4, and twins (boy and girl) age 3.
That was long ago, seventeen years. The oldest boy is now a father twice, in the Coast Guard and doing great. The two girls are in college on scholorships and the youngest boy is in welding school.
Like so many of us, because of whatever circumstances, I didn't have a choice, like Mrs. Romney.

[Demeter]

1. I salute you, Sir

Single mother in similar boat....

[laundry_queen]

15. Ditto.

Except I'm lucky enough to receive child/spousal support so that I can go to school full time. Still things are very tight. I'm also lucky that my ex left when my oldest was old enough to watch the younger 3 after school. Only the youngest isn't in kindy and childcare would take up 1/4 of my support if it wasn't for the subsidies in my province.

[Warpy]

2. You did a good job

Most single parents out there do the best they can with what they have and most of their children do as well as children who grew up with both parents. It's just tough on single parents of either sex who have to be both breadwinner and parent with no backup at all.

I think Mrs. Romney did more than the rest of her peers at the country club because one of her kids has a severe handicap. However, she was also well able to hire staff to take care of nearly everything, nannies to private duty nurses.

Romney jumped up on that cross just a little too quickly, IMO. I've been reading other boards where SAHMs and working moms alike see the fault lying with Romney, who has absolutely no idea how any parent does it on what men like her husband thinks their paychecks should be.

[panader0]

3. Thanks but I'm sure I could have done more

I almost had a nervous breakdown more than once. A few tokes in the evening made things better.
The babysitter took more than half of my weekly paycheck for a few years until I got them into kindergarten.

[whathehell]

5. It sounds like you did EVERYTHING you could have done and your children have reaped the rewards.

My dear, put upon Dad almost had a breakdown as well, but he held on.

You're a good man, Panader0, and I salute you.

[Voice for Peace]

14. Always "could have done more" -- I know it well. The truth is if you could have you would have

and you probably did what's called "Good enough parenting."

[GoCubsGo]

4. I think you might be mixing up the kids.

It's Mrs. Santorum that has the severely handicapped child, Bella. All of the Rmoney boys appear to be quite fit and healthy to me.

[Warpy]

7. Thanks, since they all look like mushrooms

it's easy to mix them up.

[glowing]

16. I think you are mixing up wing-nuts... It is Santorum that has the severely

ill child that they must care for and has been hospitalized a couple of times while he was running for Pres.

Mrs. Romney has MS I believe, however, she seems to be receiving proper care enough to make it around the campaign trail and ride her horses and drive her multiple cars to each of her homes.

[benld74]

6. Congratulations, YOU sir, is what makes this country!

[progressoid]

8. I don't know how single parents do it.

Kudos to you.

[EFerrari]

9. "And some have greatness thrust upon them."

[AllyCat]

10. Thank you for being a good father in a doubly difficult situation.

Thanks for posting this.

[Throckmorton]

11. Nor was it mine, but I did it.

When my wife of 12 years died of cancer, 8 years ago, leaving me with autistic 7 and 9 year olds, I had to be both parents, and continue to work. It has been a fun ride, but I found an absolute saint of a women, and I am now remarried for almost 5 years.

[abelenkpe]

12. Good job!

You sound like a great Dad.

[AtomicKitten]

13. You sound like a good man and great father.