Divorced fathers often have to fight tooth and nail to make sure that they play an active part in the lives of their children. Dads may be worried that they will be marginalized in their kids’ lives and not be a part of the family they expected to care for in the coming years and decades.
At other times, though, it works out that a father will end up with custody of his children with little or no fanfare or acrimony. Such is the case for one author whose daughter announced one day that she preferred to stay with her dad — and the girl’s mother agreed.
At first, the newly minted single father made sure his daughter was involved with all aspects of his life, even taking her along on dates and outings with his friends. Eventually, though, he says they fell into a more regular pattern.
Eventually, the man considered himself to be his daughter’s de facto mother as well — a point driven home when he often found himself the only male parent to attend kids’ activities with his daughter. Ultimately, the arrangement was a success; the man is now the proud grandfather to his daughter’s two children.
Of course, not every father-daughter relationship is this smooth — or as permanent. It can be crucial to work with an attorney who is committed to preserving fathers’ rights when going through a divorce. Child custody arrangements can be altered after they have been decided initially, but it might be better to apply the effort up front rather than to hope for a favorable decision.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Single Fatherhood: The Gift That Keeps on Giving,” Obery M. Hendricks, Jr., Jan. 17, 2014
