Richard O. Jones

It is a mistake for single fathers to be intimidated by single parenthood. Single fathers must put aside their ego and take the apron by the straps, and do the dishes, cooking, and house cleaning without expecting aid. A single father must assume the responsibility of full parenthood. My girls had begun to dress and act defiant and older than their years. When I finally became fed up with my girls looking like in rap video vixens, and therefore put a halt to the media and others raising my children with their values.

Upon reflection of the situation, I began to realize that my method of raising girls was better grounded in logic than that of the females that came into my daughters' lives. For instance, female friends who were single mothers allowed their girls to dress like little women before they are in their teens. They felt it was perfectly innocent to allow elementary schoolgirls to go to school wearing makeup. I was not very popular at home when I prohibited makeup and hair extensions. Women from everywhere supported my daughters' grievances but I stood my ground. I prohibited clothing that showed their stomach, too much leg, and low halter tops. They were not allowed to wear jewelry including earrings to school until the age of thirteen. Although they spent months angry with me and claimed that they felt inadequate, gradually their suffering grades began to improve.

When boys came over to the house they had to give me their parents' names, telephone numbers and addresses. The few that did comply, I would actually call the parents in an attempt to get acquainted. I insisted the boy showed me his report card or a school progress report and if he was a poor student, he was not allowed to visit any of my daughters because I didn't want them getting attached to a boy with no future. If the boy looked like a gang member or a guy that might attract trouble, he was not allowed at my house because I didn't want to risk my daughters accidentally being shot by one of his enemies with poor aim. Of course the girls were furious with me and so was their grandmother and aunts. They called me cruel and old-fashioned; however, none of my girls got shot, arrested, or dropped out of school. None had children out-of-wedlock, and none were on drugs. In my opinion, many single fathers are too lenient with their female children because they're afraid of their daughters' wrath. A father should show to love them but hold his ground and don't let them raise themselves.