October
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I have yet to meet a man who feels guilty because he isn’t a super father, a super husband, highly successful at earning a living, all at the same time. It’s much more typical for men to have realistic expectations of themselves than it is for them to stress out trying to be perfect in several roles at once. One father I know took custody of his two children when he and his wife divorced. As soon as arrangements had been completed and he was finally the full-time caretaker of his children, he met with his boss.

“Now that I’m a single father,” he said, “my children come first. I may be late for work, I may take long lunch hours, I may leave early, and sometimes I may not come in at all,” he said. “It just depends on what my children need on any given day.”

Even if they were in a position to do it, how many women do you know who could take that stand at work without feeling extremely guilty?

While most men I’ve spoken to may feel there’s room for improvement in one or more of these areas, they certainly aren’t plagued by guilt. Leigh said, Sure, I feel bad sometimes about the long hours I work, But I provide a good living and a comfortable lifestyle for my family. Could I be a better father? Absolutely, but then my son wouldn’t have the material rewards of my labor, such as owning his own car and having his college expenses paid.”

Rocky said, “I think I’m a pretty good father. I certainly feel I’m involved in my son’s activities. At times I wish that I earned more money, but we have enough to get by, and we enjoy doing things as a family.”

Greg admits that there’s room for improvement in the romance department. “I may not be a Don Juan,” he says, “but I love my wife and kids a great deal. I go out there and work hard every day to earn a living because I want them to have the best that life has to offer.”

Sorry ladies, but on the subject of guilt, most men have a healthier outlook and can teach us a great deal.

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