1740 hrs September 30th 2005

I have many friends

who are single mothers.

But it is almost impossible

for me to think

of going into a relationship

with a single mum.

As long as I am not

the child's natural father,

I think there is a

natural opposition

to me.

He will probably even

resent me

as I compete for attention

from his Mum.

And I have no

moral authority

to discipline

the child.

He can always say

who the fuck

are you?

And if I do discipline him

at some stage,

he will scheme

child abuse charges

against me.

There is no way

I will ever be seen

as Dad.

And I have no interest

in being surrogate father.

I suppose single Mums

deserve a second chance

at love too.

But I believe,

their best bet,

is either to keep

the children

out of the relationship,

or better still,

find single Dads.

Not someone like me,

who actually yearn

to experience

fatherhood.