The Choice of a Lifetime

Yes. I never had unconditional love for anyone until i had a baby. A lightbulb came on above my head, and i said, "Oh, THATs what that feels like!" Now that i know, i try to give that same love to others as much as i possibly can, although nothing is like the love i have for my son.

I too am a dad of one girl, although she is now 22, and the part of living with your heart on the outside.. is so true. Paid child support for almost 17 years, had many issues with the x, but I was going to be part of her life no matter what it took, now this week she is getting married and one of the driving forces of doing everything right, was the idea of being able to walk my daughter down the ile, being a father that loves her, and showing her that I was willing to meet my role as a dad and a father was so importent to me. And now last night, I find out that the x is going to stand beside her when she is married. I wanted to just scream!!! But being a Dad I'm going to swollow my pride, be prode of what I've done and give her the day she's always dreamed of, and stand with pride in the back ground and know till the day I die she is my world......

I have with my wife have raised 6 children and now we have 8 grandchildren it is the hardest job you will ever have but I would not traid it for nothing in this big world I love all my children more then life its self

and now we are grand parents. I'm love'n it. life is GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am exhausted and going to bed vastly encouraged by this story.



You brightened my day, back4more. Children are the most precious resource we have, and too many of them are getting short-changed. I am thrilled to know of more who are not!



Thanks.

We have yours mine and ours, total of 7!



My two oldest girls are grown, we still have 4 who live with us, and I have a stepdaughter who visits on weekends.

Wow- what a concept, CHOSING to be a parent!



If only ALL people actually looked at it that way....



What a shame they don't.

I agree. I held off on kids for 10 years after being married but have NEVER regretted having my 2 lovely boys. I'm crazy about them. They are so funny and sweet! I just hope they always love me.

I didn't know you had 5 hearts! I do to, 3 boys and 2 girls!



Kiss, Jo

OMG b4m:



This is the first of your stories (and comments) I've ever read, and it warms my heart. Who would've thought Mr. (ALWAYS) Horny was such a doting dad... Except, I noticed you haven't been horny the last few days, which is actually why I swung by your page. I was concerned.

I still get worn out with just the one! I was urged to give him up when he was born (I was 16 then) but I kept hi and all that went with him.

I like that analogy "having your heart walking around outside your body". It does feel like that - so wide open and vulnerable when it comes to our babies. Of course mine aren't even close to being babies, they are 14 and 15 now. In some ways I worry about them more now, though. Most things were fixable by mom and dad when they were yonger...now there are certain things that we can't protect them from or fix...unfortunately some of those things are of their own making...and that's when we have to sit back and see how good a job we did teaching them...sorry, guess that was a bit off topic...

We also have a teenager living with us that is not mine or his or ours...He was just in a bad situation, and well ~ we are just happy to have him with us.

Thanks for sharing your story!!!

My grandmother told me after the birth of my firstborn" while she's little she'll step on your toes, as she grows up she'll step on your heart. That's why God gave parents a rubbery heart!"

THis is a wonderful story! And I'm impressed with these childrens' origins, and your ready acceptance of them. THat may sound harsh.... but where I'm from, men have a hard time FULLY accepting responsibility and love to children that are not their own! Sad.... but true!

I have a yours, mine, and ours situation. Two biological kids; one per 2 marriages. I inheritted step-kids in the second marriage. IRONICALLY.... all of these children have the SAME LAST NAME.... as BOTH of my husbands had the SAME last name!! rofl! (and NO, they are of no kin!)

Very well put. I feel I gained a new understanding of love when I had my son, and it just grows every day. It sounds like you are doing a great job!

you can be as wordy as you want :)

agreed...the parents shaping up would be ideal...but we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. poor guys :( i hope someday they'll realize their "mother" wasn't able/didn't want to take care of them and they're better off being with people who will love and care about them :)

that's awesome :) a friend of mine in high school had multiple foster brothers and sisters...some they adopted, others they couldn't...it hurt us just as much as them when they had to go back for whatever reason :(

5 kids?? that's what you get for being so d@mn horny all the time then lol but i agree...don't regret it one bit :)

I could never have enough hair to deal with 5 kids. I'd be bald by the end of the day!

And I thought 3 was a handful! LOL 5??? Wow--I applaud you! :)



And you are totally right about what it means to be a parent--to have your heart walking outside your body. No other job on the face of the planet is nearly so consuming, or so rewarding. :)

I couldn't agree with you more b4m. Children are gifts to be cherished. I've made many mistakes in my life, but choosing to have children was not one of them.



I still don't know how you handle 5. I only have 2 and they are the true Kings of Jungle, they've got me wrapped around their little fingers. LOL