Challenges of raising a son as a single dad?

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Challenges of raising a son as a single dad?

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Being a single dad has many challenges. It has many advantages and many challenges. You know, a lot of times when there's a mom and a dad, one plays the nice one, the pushover, the this, and then the other one is more of the disciplinarian. And they can kind of tag team the kid that way. I've never had that. But my mom never had that. My dad passed away when I was 3. I'm the youngest of 8 kids. My mom raised 6 boys and 2 girls all by herself. So there was no time for a pity party. She was a great role model, showed me tremendous strength through all kinds of adversity. The biggest challenge for me is wearing all those hats. Sometimes you've got to do it all in 10 minutes. You've got to react. Sometimes you're angry. That's normal. You've got to reason. You've got to talk through it. You've got to come to some resolution. And hopefully gain some tools in the process where you don't keep banging your head on that wall. And with kids, sometimes it takes 10K times. Please don't do that. Please put this away. Please do that. It's exhausting. But you've got to stay the course. But sometimes on that 10,001 request, that's when the magic happens. Another challenge about being a single parent is having a semi-normal life outside of your kid's life. It's funny. The older your kid gets, the less involved in their lives, but the more you have to police it, because social media comes into the question, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, there's so many more moving parts that you have to police. And I've always had an open door policy with my son. My door never closes. Sometimes his door closes now. But nothing is off limits. We talk about everything - sex, drinking, drugs, consequences, when is the right time. Kids are curious. And they have so many avenues to get this information. If you're lucky enough to create a safe environment where your kid will actually broach those subjects with you, you better be prepared to actually talk about them, because they're going to leave the house. If you don't and you experiment on their own, they're going to go out there and experiment on their own. And maybe approach people that won't give them the best advice, or that have these ulterior motives. Unfortunately it's a dark world we live in.

Watch Video: Challenges of raising a son as a single dad? by Owen McKibbin, ...

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Owen McKibbin

Celebrity Trainer & Single Dad

Owen McKibbin is one of the most credible and recognizable personalities in the health and fitness world. He currently can be seen on the immensely successful infomercial “The Rack Workout” all in one gym. Owen’s exclusive “Zone Progression Training” is the break through fitness solution to get you strong, lean and ripped for life. 
 
OWEN was discovered while playing volleyball at the infamous Will Rodgers State Beach in Santa Monica. World famous photographer Bruce Weber shot Owen in his first job for Polo Sport/Ralph Lauren. That same month Owen also was photographed for world wide advertising campaigns for Guess Jeans with Claudia Schiffer, and Hugo Boss. Owen has gone on to be one of the most sought after and recognizable men in the business.
 
Born and raised in Hawaii, Owen McKibbin, the youngest in a family of eight children, is a graduate of the prestigious Punahou High School and the University of Southern California, where he majored in communications. He was Hawaii State Champion in three sports, volleyball, soccer, and canoeing. As a pro beach volleyball player, Owen achieved nationwide recognition representing the United States in a number of World Championships.
 
Perhaps best known for his nineteen covers of Men’s Health magazine, the world’s most popular men’s magazine, Owen has established himself as a leading voice in dialogue on health and fitness. (Each issue of Men’s Health featuring Owen has sold in excess of one million copies more than any other issue).
 
Owen and his fitness message have been feature by CBS News, The New York Times, People Magazine, The View, Extra TV, and Entertainment Tonight, to name a few. His informative and sexy health and fitness segments for the hit television show, Extra, helped catapult those episode’s rating to triple their normal size.
 
Owen has always remained in tip-top shape despite 2 major back surgeries. He was a spokesman for Bowflex for 5 years and in 2004, because of his un-paralleled level of fitness, Owen was coaxed into coming out of retirement and back onto the sand. Although he hadn’t touched a volleyball in over 10 years, he competed once again on the AVP tour for another year and a half. 
 
His first book, commissioned by Rodale Press, The Men’s Health Cover Model Workout, Body Sculpting Secrets of the World’s Top Fitness Model, has received praise throughout the fitness industry for its insightful and concise approach to fitness and well-being. It is currently available throughout North America, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico.Represented by the prestigious LA Models, Owen has appeared in major print or television campaigns for such clients as Polo by Ralph Lauren, 2x-ist, Gillette, and Hugo Boss and in. Currently Owen resides in Santa Monica California with his 12 year old son, Blaze.
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Transcription: 
Being a single dad has many challenges. It has many advantages and many challenges. You know, a lot of times when there's a mom and a dad, one plays the nice one, the pushover, the this, and then the other one is more of the disciplinarian. And they can kind of tag team the kid that way. I've never had that. But my mom never had that. My dad passed away when I was 3. I'm the youngest of 8 kids. My mom raised 6 boys and 2 girls all by herself. So there was no time for a pity party. She was a great role model, showed me tremendous strength through all kinds of adversity. The biggest challenge for me is wearing all those hats. Sometimes you've got to do it all in 10 minutes. You've got to react. Sometimes you're angry. That's normal. You've got to reason. You've got to talk through it. You've got to come to some resolution. And hopefully gain some tools in the process where you don't keep banging your head on that wall. And with kids, sometimes it takes 10K times. Please don't do that. Please put this away. Please do that. It's exhausting. But you've got to stay the course. But sometimes on that 10,001 request, that's when the magic happens. Another challenge about being a single parent is having a semi-normal life outside of your kid's life. It's funny. The older your kid gets, the less involved in their lives, but the more you have to police it, because social media comes into the question, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, there's so many more moving parts that you have to police. And I've always had an open door policy with my son. My door never closes. Sometimes his door closes now. But nothing is off limits. We talk about everything - sex, drinking, drugs, consequences, when is the right time. Kids are curious. And they have so many avenues to get this information. If you're lucky enough to create a safe environment where your kid will actually broach those subjects with you, you better be prepared to actually talk about them, because they're going to leave the house. If you don't and you experiment on their own, they're going to go out there and experiment on their own. And maybe approach people that won't give them the best advice, or that have these ulterior motives. Unfortunately it's a dark world we live in.