Ahhh.. I see.. Nope.. Lex is not a 13 year old boy. Although.. That would explain a few things!

Not that I think it is any of my business because I know it's not. Just idle curiousity.

Oh, shoot! Insert hand-over-mouth emoticon here.

When I was younger, I was involved with several older women who had kids. I found that, in every instance, she was not looking for a relationship at all, just someone to come in and play Daddy.

Being naive and stupid, I went along, and eventually learned that I simply did not have a parental bone in my body. The whole concept is totally alien to me; and, while I get along fine with my friends' kids, I cannot ever imagine being in the position of a parent or even a pseudo-parent.

Thanks for taking the time to satisfy my curiousity. It makes sense. As a single mom, it never would have occurred to me to try to find a "daddy" for my daughter; first of all, she has a dad, and second, she is my child, my responsibility. I would not want someone in my life trying to assume a greater role in her life than I would want. But I do understand that many women are not like me and would try to put you in a position of substitute daddy.

As you continue to get older, though, Lex, you may want to widen your options to include women with college age or married children. They are usually way past needing or wanting a daddy.
Good luck and thanks again!

Thanks, Hiker. I think part of my own scenario is that I grew up without any sort of real "parents" in the home -- they were there, but not there, so to speak. I have no frame of reference for what a parent is supposed to be or do. I like to tell people that my entire understanding of fatherhood is based on reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show."

wow. Ok. Yeah, Lex, pretty much stay away from the women with kids! Just kidding. I have seen women do what you described and it was distasteful to me. I am my daughter's parent and never felt the need to bring in help. In fact, I think I would have resented any interference in my parenting of my child. I dated only one man the entire time I was raising my daughter and he understood his place. He could be a member of our loving family group, but I was the parent of my child, not him. Of course, that was the way he wanted it too. I wouldn't have been with someone who would try to take over that role. He sometimes drove her to practice, etc. for me, but he never tried to tell me how to raise her. And on some level, I still love him, but that is a story for another day.