Usually when beginning a project such as this, you believe you have something of value to share, or believe something is missing in the current landscape of websites that you can provide.

One of the surprising benefits of developing Single Dad Life, is becoming part of the single parent community or actually, the parent community as a whole. While I do hear from single dads, and obviously with the website name, that is the target of the information, single moms have provided great support.

I must admit, this kind of shocked me. It was not a goal to hear from single moms. I did make it a conscious decision early on to try and not raise the ire of single moms. I didn’t want to purchase a supply of neosporin for my cuts and bruises (easy just kidding moms ). But also, I felt their is so much negativity in the relationship between single dads and single moms in the press,  I did not want Single Dad Life to be about complaining and whining. I also didn’t want to “live” in that arena.

Don’t get me wrong, I will walk the edge a bit. This is how to create honest  discussion and debate. Just not about she didn’t bring the kids back on time, her boyfriend is a loser, she takes my check and gets her nails done, etc etc. I realize these issues may be out there, but I wanted to provide a site that is positive and about living your BEST life as a single dad.

I would like to add, that I have  found some amazing single dad sites and blogs that provide a wealth of information.  I quickly learned that I don’t have the market cornered on positive, informative, and entertaining content. Some of these guys are way more talented than I could  ever hope to be.

But what surprised me the most, is how much I enjoyed reading single mom blogs and their comments. Talk about an eye opener. As I began gingerly testing the waters and placing a comment or two on some of these, I sort of flinched a bit, wondering what might be thrown back in my direction.  Nothing could be further from the truth! Not that all agreed with me 100% of the time, but always respectful and usually welcomed  a guys opinion. I have seen the same from comments on touchy subjects on Single Dad Life made by single moms.

This may appear to be a  “kiss up”, but it isn’t. It is just an unexpected observation that I felt compelled to share with others. Many who post on these sites will not be surprised and already understood this dynamic.

Then I started to think. Communication breakdown is a big part in the disintegration of many marriages.  Husbands and wives complaining that neither understands the other or just don’t listen.  You hear this word often. Listening. Listening. No one thinks the other is really listening. Great read on listening

In marital disputes, each party usually has their mind set on what they want to get across to the other. They are not truly listening or hearing what the other is saying, often  interrupting to say (or shout) their position.

I am reminded of how I once explained to try and stop myself from interrupting others,  I would make believe I was receiving an instant message or text message. Not responding until the other person was done equated with reading the complete message and than responding.  It does work (sometimes ).  Growing up in my family, dinner table conversations tended to have the person who talked the loudest got heard!

Blogs provide a similar platform. If single dads, or even better, married dads, would just read single mom blogs, they would receive a wealth of insight into the minds and thought patterns of how women think. Their complaints, pet peeves, what they are looking for in a man or what really annoys them about men. Just read and listen.

I am not saying guys need to agree with everything they say. To be honest, my mind sometimes freezes, as it spins trying to compute the information I just read.  But to be able to”listen” as an outsider, not emotionally charges or connected, could be better than hundreds of dollars of therapy or marriage counseling.

Moms and single moms could learn the same from reading single dad websites and blogs as well. You might be surprised that we are deeper than just, eating, sex, sleeping, sex, sports, and sex. See how you snickered and agreed with that statement ladies!

The online single parent community is an amazing group.

Another “ah ha” moment.  None seem to be in competition with the other. Single dads supporting  other single dad sites. Single moms supporting other single mom sites. More important, single moms supporting single dad sites and vice versa.

Time for me to create that blog roll I have been putting off.  Who knows, it might just save a marriage or save someone in counseling fees.

Related posts:

1. Single Dads are No Better than Single Moms
2. The Joy of Single Parent Sex – Really
3. The Favorite Single Parent Syndrome