Sponsor

wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Going it Alone

Friday, April 11, 2008

Writer Trey Ellis, assistant professor of film at Columbia University's School of the Arts and author of Bedtime Stories: Adventures in the Land of Single Fatherhood, talks about navigating the dating scene while trying to raise his kids.

Guests:

Trey Ellis

Comments [13]

Erma from NYC

What about single with grown children?!
There are alot of us out there flying solo.

Jun. 05 2008 10:47 PM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Greg from Clifton NJ


I took dancing lesson, she was dancing better then most ladies there. I went with her to pilates class and found myself there alone with about 50 pretty women. I was surprised because pilates is very powerful thing invented by men for prisoners...
I never have been married, so my daughter didn't go through all that separation pain. She see her mom once in few month and understand that is much better to be with dad. All those rituals and traditions are not known to children. They take everything for granted. Children are more concerned with relations between same age friends, then with daddy's friends.

Apr. 12 2008 12:08 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Greg from Clifton NJ

Is there club for Single Fathers? Or web side? News group?
Let's unite and stay in touch!

Though I never had nanny or payed babysitter, every my girlfriend is introduced to my friends and my daughter as Babysitter at list at the beginning. When daughter asked me " Daddy why do you need girl if I am the girl" my answer was: "Darling, you like to play with people of you age, and I like to play with people of my age. Adults like to play games too, only children have children games and adults have own games for big people." And it looked like she was satisfied with my explanation.
She knows were I am looking and she feels what I am thinking. Sometime she even pointing my attention saying: "Look daddy - there is pretty lady!!!" And she knows what is pretty. If that is beautiful for her - is beautiful for me too.

I am raising my daughter alone without nanny. Now she is 9 and I am 40+. She is always with me. Two year ago I learned flying and receive Pilot License. She too was flying a lot through Young Eagles program. Year ago I learned and got Scuba diving license. She was snorkeling with me. I am hiking in Harriman State park 8 miles with a group and she is there.
You can see all that on her website: http://picasaweb.google.com/kamiliva

Apr. 12 2008 12:05 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Perry Jones from Paramus, NJ

When you're standing on one leg it's easy to get thrown off balance. When I entered the ranks of single fatherdom in 1992 it was uncommon for a man to be in the position usually occupied by a young girl. The public at large would give me a curious glance when I'd explain I was the custodial parent struggling to make ends meet to feed myself and my son, and climb out of despair. I had been working as a musician since graduating high school and didn't know much else. It's been the most wonderful, painful, challenging, rewarding experience of my life. I've written a book about the experiencs, and I'm currently looking for a literary agent. If anyone's interested I can be reached at wof2000@gmail.com

Apr. 11 2008 07:21 PM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Alysia from brooklyn

My widowed father raised me alone from when i was age 2.5. i feel incredibly lucky to have been raised by a single dad. i think i grew up better able to believe in and look for the gentle, nurturing side of men whereas some of my girlfriends had a harder time trusting men.

Apr. 11 2008 11:36 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
ab

He had a live in nanny.....I'd like to hear from someone who can't afford that. Enough with these spoiled narcissistic yuppie types who feel they are so important that they must write a book.

Apr. 11 2008 11:21 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Kris from New Jersey

I was divorced and had a relationship with somoene for 3 years and they had no interaction with my child. I do not believe that the parents significan other should be introduced as anything more than a friend uless you are planning to marry.

It creates a lot of confusion with the children and could possibly lead to abandonment issues that might already have be inflicted on them with the divorce.

Apr. 11 2008 11:20 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Lizann Coleman from Glen Ridge, NJ

No wonder his wife left him: he's suffering from arrested development. She had not 2 but 3 children.
On another note: how many interviews have you conducted with single moms for the very reason that they are single moms? This guy thinks he's the only single parent and must write about it. He needs to grow up, indeed!

Apr. 11 2008 11:18 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Ellen Bakalian from greenwich village

Is he a single dad? Or a widowed parent? There's a difference! If he's divorced, doesn't his wife take the kids every other weekend? Or has she checked out and has no contact with the children?

Apr. 11 2008 11:17 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
keith from hells kitchen

gimme a break! He had a "live in Nanny" and "students helping out". Doesn't sound so bad to me.

Apr. 11 2008 11:16 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Anonymous from NY

It's my experience that the reaction to "single" in single parent often depends on the circumstances of being single.

Widowed? Utter sympathy, you are beyond reproach.

Divorced? Some reproach maybe, but understandable.

Never married to begin with? Then if you are female, you're a floozy and if you're male, you are a prince because the mother of the child was an irresponsible floozy and left.

Apr. 11 2008 11:15 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Maya from Brooklyn

Interesting that he HAD to grow up when his wife left him, but it didn't occur to him to grow up before he had kids. Probably why she left him. Just saying....

Apr. 11 2008 11:10 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0
Joan from Manhattan

OOf course single mothers and fathers are viewed differently. Though some (especially those with personal experience) can appreciate the stamina and honor of a single mom, most in society view them as sad/pitiful, promiscuous/ irresponsible and deserving of the difficulties they have after getting themselves into such a "mess".
Single fathers, on the other hand are nearly always viewed as extra virtuous for their "sacrifice" in parenting alone.

I can't say I'm immune to these society judgments, and I LOVED and completely appreciated my single mom growing up!!

Apr. 11 2008 10:08 AM
Vote this comment up Vote this comment down Score: 0/0

Leave a Comment

Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.







URL

If you enter anything in this field your comment will be treated as spam
Location
* Denotes a required field