Even if you and your child’s mother are not together, you can still be involved in your child’s life. Caring for your children part-time doesn’t make you a part-time dad. Not living with your kids doesn’t mean you have to be cut off. Whatever the case is don’t let a bad relationship with your child’s mother stop you from being the father that you want to be. There are steps that you can take to make sure that you are involved with raising your child. Here are some:
- Try to be involved with the pregnancy process. Offer to take your baby’s mother to pre-natal office visits. While there make sure you ask the healthcare provider as much as you can about the baby.
- Help your baby’s mother with buying stuff that the baby will need and preparing for his/her arrival. This may include a crib, car seat, clothing and lots of other stuff. Being involved in this process will give her reassurance that you will support your baby once it is born.
- Once the baby is born, don’t miss visits or let other people care for your children on your visits. This will make it appear that visitation and contact with your child is not important.
- Don’t be late with child support checks so your ex-partner can’t pay bills on time. This ultimately hurts the children and puts a strain on your relationship with her.
- As your child grows, make sure you stay involved in their life as much as possible. Call them, bring them gifts, and be present at birthdays and school meetings. This will ensure that your child grows up knowing who their father is.
Your Legal Rights as a Father
What does paternity mean?
Paternity means legal fatherhood. It creates ties between the child and the father, both emotionally and legally. In most States, an unmarried father is not automatically recognized as the legal father. Parents who are not married when a baby is born usually must establish paternity for their child to have a legal father. Dad, Mom and their child benefit when paternity is established.
There are two ways for unmarried parents to establish paternity:
- Sign a legal document called an Acknowledgment of Paternity
- Get a court order
Benefits for You
- Your name can appear on your child’s birth certificate
- It’s the first step toward protecting your legal connection to your child
- It gives you the legal right to care for your child
Benefits for Your Child
- Your child will know the identity of his/her father and his family
- The legal bond of paternity establishment supports the emotional bond between a father and his child
- It gives a child a sense of identity
- It gives both parents access to a child’s school and medical records
For More Information Visit
Fathers Connection
http://www.fathersconnection.org/
Mr. Dad
http://www.mrdad.com/
Healthy Start – Male Involvement Program
http://www.nationalhealthystart.org/what_we_do/Male_Involvement.org
USA.gov
Find information on child support and divorces in your state
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Parents-Support.shtml