Single Parenting Support Group
Today being raised by a single parent is not uncommon. About three in ten children live in a single parent home. The most common type of single parent home is one with only a mother. However, single father homes are the fastest growing type of family situation; 60% growth in the last ten years alone.
My 14 year old son’s previously absent, abusive and criminal dad recently got some time with him and now he has a girlfriend with 2 very small children, 1 and 5 years old. My son is very good with kids and babies and is happy to babysit, but recently has been sharing with me that the degree that his dad and dads girlfriend are holding him responsible for her kids has gotten way out of control. They expect him to be their full time caregiver even when their mom and my son’s dad are around. His dad even yells at him if the baby cries or if anything else happens, they just expect him to be watching them constantly even when they are both around and don’t even ask him. His dad is always yelling at him even though he takes care of these kids who are in no way his responsibility and the mom of these kids just sits there and looks at her phone, not watching her kids at all or doing anything as his dad is yelling at him. I really need advice for how to handle this situation. They are planning a trip together to Las Vegas this weekend where my son will be forced to be the only caregiver for these kids while their mother and his dad are off partying and enjoying their vacation
The reality is that you and I both know he's being used, but he has to come to that conclusion on his own, or he'll end up digging in and defending his father.
If he's being left in an apartment/house for a weekend with toddlers...I would hit the roof. I would start by having a heart to heart with my son of the dangers and why it's probably illegal.