Raising Real Women.

I know I am shamefully ripping off the other topic about raising real men in the men's lounge, but being a single father of a teenage daughter I really wanted to make my own topic. I know my situation isn't very common and as such there really aren't that many places to go for a situation such as mine. I have always tried to do my best to help her grow into a real woman, and sometimes it can be quite daunting, especially when she has those lady issues that come up and no mother around to help. But nevertheless, I have trudged through even despite some comments over the years (especially from women) who have said such things as being a man I can't possibly know how to raise her to be a grown woman and I even had one woman say to me when her mother left at 3 months old and decided to raise her alone that I should give her up for adoption! But I never listen to them and have done everything I can to try to help my daughter through life, especially now with her being disabled. I realize it's very tough for girls growing up for a multitude of reasons, yet I have always been determined to do my best and teach her about loving others, being intelligent and hard working etc. to that end I have always had her involved with all kinds of things, such as taking her camping/hiking, having her help me with working on the car, teaching her how to do things around the house, as well as things such as cooking, cleaning, etc. My daughter is very girly and always enjoys dressing up, messing with makeup etc. so I enjoy cultivating her feminine side as well. When she was a little girl unlike so many other men I loved having "tea parties" with her and playing with her even when she was doing things other guys would make fun of me for. It is so important, and I have little doubt that if more women had good fathers that were to show them what a real man is like it would help boost their self-esteem in regards to looks and their self worth, and also make them better at picking out good guys when they start dating. I can still remember me having to learn how to change diapers and bouncing her off my knee and taking her to the park; the kind of memories you cherish. It's been so hard to see my girl is fast approaching womanhood and there will come a day when I will have to get my shotgun ready for any man that dares to court her (I kid...Kinda!), or the day I'll have to "give her away". But she'll always be my little girl! My absolute worst fear has always been that she'd end up as so many of those trashy women you see that behave more like little girls than real women. Thankfully she has not been into those type of "popular" people that the media likes to shove in our faces. It's been an amazing experience watching her grow, and even though she will one day leave, I will take pride in the fact that against all odds and the naysayers, I have helped to create and shape a woman that is strong, capable, feminine and above all else, intelligent.

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2629979