Happy Single Dad Day & a Giveaway

When I first wrote The Successful Single Mom someone asked if I was going to write The Successful Single Dad, and my response was, "No, I've never been a single dad." But in 2011, it became apparent that dads needed a book, too, because I heard a lot of, "I'm a single dad. I read your book and just replaced "mom" with "dad" and pretended the book was for me."

Last year in August, I published The Successful Single Dad. 

Both books are similar, but I replaced the "mom" stories with "dad" stories by interviewing some amazing single dads ... it turned out that when I started looking around, there are single dads e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! 

More and more men are getting full or 50% custody of their children, and staying actively involved in their lives ... even turning down career opportunities or starting new businesses just so they can see their kids at every opportunity. *Applause!*

Cheers to the single dads and Happy Single Dad Day!

If you're a single dad, you haven't read the book and you'd like to, I'd be happy to send you one. The first 5 single dads to leave their answer to this question in the comments will receive a complimentary book, "What's the best thing about being a single dad?"

Embracing Happiness as a Single Parent

When you're a single parent, how often do you think of pursuing your own personal happiness? Honoree Corder, author and creator of The Successful Single Mom, recognizes the tendency of the single parent to always put their kids' happiness first and foremost, but she stresses that by prioritizing your own happiness once in a while can lead all single parents to "have extraordinary lives." She revealed to Care.com who she leaned on as a single mother to her daughter, how she's learned to re-prioritize her life, and how finding love has created a win-win situation for her family.

Single parenting can be especially tough because as a parent, you get stretched so thin. How are you making it work for yourself and for your kid(s)?

I was ruthless with my time: I worked for myself, so I worked only when my daughter was at school.

Read the entire article here at Care.com.

Guest Blog: Displaced Attention -- Guest Blog by Scott Hanley

The other day I was sitting at breakfast in a busy outdoor cafe in the pedestrian heavy Pearl District of Portland, Oregon. It is a pet and child friendly restaurant and there were many of both scattered about. A particularly young couple and their new baby of about 6 months was sitting across the sidewalk area from us. I began to notice that each of them individually was completely focused on the baby. I generally like this behavior and I particularly like when parents are attentive to the many little things with regard to their children. As I was watching, another young couple came over with their dog to say hello. The parents looked up momentarily to return the “hello” but in the same breath regained eye contact with their baby while continuing talking to their friends. I realize having a new baby, especially when young, is a consummate experience and significant focus and attention will be directed towards the new baby, at least in the beginning.  But this might have been a bit much. It might have been way too soon to judge and I am the first one to compliment parents for whom their children are designated an unconditional priority. It did feel a little over the top, however.