Storytime with Chazark

Message for child-free single guys in Tucson  My biggest life-altering consequence? Answering a lady’s Facebook DM seven years ago 😂 If I had never replied, I’d probably still be a child-free single guy, busy doing wrestling and MMA at 10th Planet Tucson right now. My advice for single guys with no kids — from a single dad’s perspective: I don’t know about single ladies, but single guys definitely have certain advantages. When you have no dependents, you have less to lose. You wake up and your only responsibility is yourself. No child support. No alimony. No legal or emotional obligations tying up your future. I can see why people approach single ladies or single moms. But who’s lining up to approach single guys? 🤷🏾‍♂️  Advice:  Be selfish — at least understand the trade-offs before you change your life forever. Happy Valentine’s Day. Happy Arizona Birthday. 🌵

Is a stepfamily or blended family worth it? Honest question. This came up during a discussion on one of my posts in NextDoor, and it got me thinking. I grew up in a blended family. My mom married twice, so I had two different stepdads. I’m 41 now, and my mom has been married to my second stepdad for about 30 years—since I was 11! That’s a long time, and honestly, that kind of longevity matters. Like any family, we’ve had ups and downs. Overall, though, I’m grateful. He and his family have been good to us. That said… the risk is extremely high. Very high. I’m a single dad to one child—single by choice. This has nothing to do with being anti-relationship or the usual “I must focus on my son” argument. I value freedom and flexibility, whether I have a kid or not. Personally, I’d rather deal with one baby mama, not two or more. And if I ever did end up in a relationship (unlikely), I’d keep it separate from my child’s life—no blending.  That’s not hiding my life from anyone...