You are such a good dad! And she’s a very lucky daughter! I do believe you went above and beyond the call of duty!

You’re a good dad, obviously, but that’s what parents do, right…what kids need? Not sure how long you’ve been single but it would seem it might not be the first time you’ve been in this situation. I can understand it not being the most comfortable situation - but isn’t it great you have a daughter who can come to you for anything at 16?

I imagined that once upon a time you changed her diaper. Wasn’t that worse?

Oh, I cannot wait til my ex has to tackle this with our daughter!

Why don’t you get your daughter to take pictures of her toiletry items? I take pics of stuff on my camera phone so I can remember what I’m looking for later. Comes in handy when I spot a good book at a bookstore that I know I’d rather borrow from the library.

I have 3 sons. I told my boys to practices safe sex if they can’t wait until they are married.

One day my youngest son(16y/0 at the time) and I were shopping. When I went into the location he were he said “well Mom I can’t until I am married, So.. what kind a condom do I use, there are different type and size here”. I just sat there in shock.

I can hear men laughing at me because of my facial expression. Lucky for me my brother was there so I didn’t have to answer that question. Thank goodness, I don’t mind giving my sons advice, but that is one area I wish to stay away from.

This is a great story. LOL, oh the thrills of being a single parent. I can’t wait till I have to go to the store and buy my son that “jock-itch cream!”

Thanks for sharing this!

Did anyone check the youtube video on my blog? One of them is a comedian making fun of men like me. Too funny.

I’ve been divorced 8 years, and until this point my daughter went out of her way to get these things with her mom, even when stocking up at my house. I guess her embarrassment is gone, leaving me mine.

As for diapers - yep, I changed ‘em. In fact, the other day I reminded my son that I changed a lot of stinky diapers on his butt. I warned him that one day I’d get him back - when I’m super old, and he’s changing stinky diapers on my butt. He quickly responded, “No, Dad. When you’re old and wearing diapers, I’ll put you in an old-folks home and let them change it.”

Touche.

Nice job Dad, though you may want to pick up an extra box of tampons next time you’re at the store to stash in her bathroom at your house so you’re all prepared in another pinch

Uh, didn’t anyone else have a problem with that last line…how would tampons be in the same category as condoms? Why would you want your daughter involved in an effort to help your sex life? Ewwww….

Lol, the second I mention feminine hygiene products, my dad would drive me there and stay in the car until i came back. No, he didn’t need the receipt and yes, he was extremely comfortable. Poor Dad, but I loved him for it.

My husband panics - literally breaks out in a cold sweat - at the mere mention of the word “tampon”. Actually, I have to refer to it as “The T Word” so he doesn’t tear up and suck his thumb.

Good work, Dad. I salute your bravery. And I’m referring my husband, the big baby, to this post;)

I agree with BlueBella, pick up an extra box, now that you know what she prefers, and keep it at your house.

But thanks so much for the laugh today! And I love that you actually had a whole conversation about who should go, etc. When I was in high school and used to ask my dad about anything like this, he’d turn beat red but run out immediately (buying the first related item he saw), I think to avoid too much dialogue!

Thanks, too, for the heads up about higher insurance rates for divorced parents of teenagers. Makes me glad my daughter’s only 4. But by the time she’s ready to drive cars will probably cost a million dollars, so it may not even be an issue.

I feel your pain brotha!
I end up on these errands way more than I’d like.
Last time I had to but tampons, they were out of the ones she wanted and I had to ask a woman shopper for advice on which would be similar. Fucking embarrassing.
I go a few strange looks

YOu know it never occurred to me how complicated and complex the women’s aisle can be–it’s true, we do have tons of choices, even with lotion, mascara, and the like. Thanks for explaining why some men get flustered when asked to get something from the women’s section of the store–I now understand that it’s not necessarily a person reason but a complicated reason.

You guys just want me to have to go buy another box! Haha. (Actually, it’s a good idea.)

I thought for sure some readers would give me a hard time for not wanting to buy these for my daughter. Everyone being nice? No need. Or maybe you’re like my former girlfriends who HATED buying condoms, and you’re empathisizing with me.

I think its great. I love to see a dad melt at his daughter’s pleading eyes. We’re not being nice. You’re just a sweet daddy. Be proud of it, man!!

And you should send her to buy you condoms. Just so she can feel comfortable when she has to do it one day. (I know. You probably don’t want to go there…)

Ok, I’ll give you a hard time… That’s a good story, but as you know, it’s just part of being a parent. Even married fathers (assuming the wife doesn’t stay home and do all the housework) have to deal with buying women’s products. Even when I was married, I did some of the shopping. Now, it’s just another chore.

Definitely stock up! But how great that you did it for her and ensured that you bought the right kind. Now that is honestly what parenting is about!

I use special shampoo etc as well, but order it all online - quick, easy, and delivered right to my door!

Treysgirl - sorry I missed seeing your comment earlier. The condom jab in my post was because women HATE buying condoms. It was a tongue-in-cheek way to get back at my daughter for making me buy something I hate.

In real life, I’d never ask my daughter to buy my condoms. Welcome to my sense of humor.

A girlfriend? Now that’s a different story… haha.

TentCamper - man, that is too funny. When I had to call my ex, there was some old man and drugstore worker helping him find something, and they both totally turned and stared at me for using the T-word on the phone!

Phil - I have always done much of the shopping, and do all of it now that I’m single/divorced (8 years!). But so far, tampons have not shown up on my grocery list. I’m lucky, I guess.

You are such a super fantastic dad!

LOL at sending her to buy condoms!!!!!! I STILL can not do it!!!!

But well done for surviving! I would also keep an extra box somewhere for in case!

It’s great that you bought them for her and it’s great that she felt comfortable enough asking you to do so. I know I felt embarrassed asking my mum to get them for me. It was never mentioned to my dad.

That was so sweet. No doubt this is high on the list of things a single dad finds himself having to do.

I agree, she should get her own. But being a woman, I know how one can get “caught” needing one RIGHT NOW. I have never asked my father (or my ex husband while we were married, or any of my boyfriends) to provide this service, as I always have a female friend on hand to ask. However, this story shows that your daughter has no trouble telling you she needs something and I’m confident she feels comfortable telling you anything at all.

Good job, Dad!

OK, you want the guys to give you hard time… here goes. Surely you are an awesome, loving and giving dad, and you wrote this post to appeal to the emotions and sensibilities of the single moms (smart… very smart!), but hearing your girly wining about picking up female products for your daughter makes me want to throw up! Get over it… what is the big deal? And the joke about sending your 16 year old daughter to pick up condoms for you is in very bad taste… not funny… not funny at all! My last comment is going to be very politically incorrect, especially to this audience, but it is bad enough that most men in our society are completely pussy whipped, your allowing her to manipulate you with a “pretty-please, sweet smile and a kiss,” is reinforcing the lesson that is pervasive in our society that men are idiots and can be controlled like puppets with a little love (not too much), attention and sex. Your daughter is a big girl; she should take responsibility for this kind of stuff all by her self; without you allowing yourself to be made into the dog playing fetch.

I’ve been thinking about how to respond to this post. In 2008 it is sad that a seemingly “together” caring parent is whining about taking care of the health needs of one of their children. Honestly David, grow-up. And Jim, while she may be old enough to be responsible for this, we all get ‘caught’ every now and then. Dad running an emergency trip to the store is ok…but the drama with it is not.

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be on vacation! I’m packing right now…

In David’s defense, he worked hard to write this tongue-in-cheek. Maybe the humor rubbed some readers the wrong way? I know that wasn’t his intention… Dang, those single dads and their drama!! (Ha).

Jim and Judy - you guys crack me up. This post was written tongue firmly planted in cheek. Maybe you didn’t watch the youtube videos on my blog, or ever read anything I write. Welcome to my sense of humor. And if you don’t find it funny, feel free to find another blog post to read. But piss on me? Okay, whatever.

Jim, sounds like you have some serious issues to deal with - calling me pussy whipped? Give me a break. Helping my daughter out does not make me pussy whipped. What if the story had been about my son and he’d said “come on, Dad, you’re the coolest.” Parents take care of their kids. Period. At least I do. Maybe you don’t.

And by the way, I didn’t try to appeal to the emotions and sensibilities of anyone. I’m my own man. I’m man enough to raise my kids solo the half-time they are with me, cooking and cleaning and whatever else is needed to run this household. You crack me up. If you’ve ever read my blog, you know I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. Least of all you.

I also don’t call people names. Like you just did. (Ahem) You’re funny.

Woof woof (that’s me being a dog playing fetch. Haha)

Sorry for the sharp tone of my comment yesterday, especially the “don’t give a shit” line. What I meant was that I’m extremely confident when it comes to running my household and raising my kids. I don’t pander to female readers in my blog - I speak my opinion and have no problem if feathers get ruffled. However, I usually keep my composure and speak from a place of respect. I missed the mark yesterday when I reacted to Judy and Jim.

I often do things for my kids and others in my life without conditions or expectations. That said, I’m not raising my daughter to be a princess. She’s confident, intelligent, strong, capable young woman. Occasionally she asks for some help, as we all are want to do. That doesn’t make her controlling or manipulating, and it doesn’t make me her whipping boy on a leash. We’re a family. We’re in this life together.

Hope that’s a more articulate explanation of my view.

David, I like both your rebuttals, although I probably like the first one better as it not only got your adrenaline pumping (fight or flight response is good, as it takes us back to our primitive cave man roots) but it also shows that you are passionate and genuine in your beliefs and about your parenting skills … well done! I have no doubt that you are a great dad and that your “little princess” is both fortunate and grateful to have a dad who loves her unconditionally and would do virtually anything for her, just as I would for my kiddos, or any good parent would for theirs.

Let me get this straight? A man (and “most men” according to Jim) are “pussy whipped” because they can be moved to fulfil a woman’s request because she says pretty please, gives a sweet smile and a kiss (all manipulative according to Jim).

Wow. A man who helps take care or is concerned with the needs of a woman is “pussy whipped”? I mean after all - her period - her responsibility, right?

Well Jim, to you and all of the men out there who think along those lines - I think its time you start washing your own damn underwear. You’re the ones that make those last drops of urine stains and skid marks - so maybe you guys should be “taking responsibilty” and washing them out. (and don’t say you’re single and so you do your own laundry - of course, single men do - but most men will glady let a woman wash their clothes).

IT’s called a cooperative relationship. I take care of you - you take care of me. That’s what families do. And Jim, even cave men families worked like that.

Standing round of applause for Amy from my house.

I would have bought her enough boxes to last a lonnnngg time maybe 6-10 boxes of the kind she uses… problem solved for a lonnnng time.
I hated to buy tampoons and pads when I was her age and I’m a girl! If a man was at the cash register I would wait until he left to go over. It embarrased me for some uinknown reason.

Primitive cave man roots? Ugh.

I think I need to take a break from this stuff.

By the way, GREAT picture of you, David!

That pic is from my caveman days. I believe the latin name for such a man is Dudeous Calfironicus.

Jim - adrenaline pumping is the only way to go. Or was that my Rockstar energy drink talking?

Hey Amy, Single Mom in NE, Cathouse Teri, and all the other single moms I offended by my comments, I’m not sure you get where I am coming from, and that is OK, but I honor you for being the loving, emotional, caring, sentimental, courageous, brave, warrior single moms that you are! And Amy, you are absolutely right that as a single dad I do my own and my kids’ laundry, and I would give it up in a heartbeat. By the way no pee stains or skid marks on my boxers… what kind of a savage cave man do you think I am?

Dude, I double dog dare you to send your daughter to buy condoms. That reaction and ensuing exchange would be PRICELESS.

Oh, grow up. Are you 12 or something?

You sound like “ooo, gross, it has something to do with a woman’s private parts, how yucky!”

I think I’ve spotted the reason for your problems with your love life….

And it is seriously warped that you feel that you should “retaliate” by making your daughter buy you your condoms. Like tampons = helping your Dad having sex?

Dude, you are seriously messed up.

mc - thanks! I love that I made you react so strongly! In my book, that’s a sign of good writing.

I bought the tampons, btw. And I’m not sure what buying my daughter tampons has to do with my love life. Also, the “retaliation” was a tongue in cheek joke. Sorry if you didn’t get that humor.

Do you see the youtube videos on my site w.r.t. this post? They both poke fun at guys who feel embarrassed or don’t want to buy tampons. I think it’s telling that I put those up on my own blog, making fun of myself. I think your judgement against me is a little misguided.

Cheers!

p.s. Check out the videos here…

http://dadshouseblog.com/2008/08/22/when-a-single-dads-daughter-needs-girl-stuff/

dadshouse - sorry if I haven’t seen everything you’ve posted (I did miss the videos)…I was just reacting to this one post.

I admit I did find this post surprisingly “neanderthal” compared to your usual writing, which I mostly like, enjoy, and agree with!

So I should have suspected it was meant to be humorous! Oh well, I guess it went over my head, sorry!

Just a few more comments, in the spirit of friendly debate and understanding:

First, shouldn’t each post stand alone? Isn’t that a better sign of “good writing” than just getting people riled up (which is pretty easy, as every blog troll knows)?

2nd, I guess I was kind of assuming that men who think tampons are embarrassing also think a woman’s normal bodily functions/smells/secretions are gross. And are therefore going to be really lousy lovers of women, hence my snarky comment (not meant seriously, BTW).

But maybe I was making too big of a leap there, and not accounting for the centuries of socialization that has led to menstruation being almost a taboo topic among both sexes. Maybe you don’t find women gross but you still find tampons embarrassing due to your socialization? I’m probably fairly clueless re the taboo, thanks to my happy hippie parents. Honestly, the acronym “TMI” was invented just to describe them. So I probably jumped on you too much there.

Finally, I do have to scold you on one thing! As the father of a teenage daughter you should have the foresight to already have a box of tampons (any kind!) in your house somewhere. Just like you’d stock your kids’ favorite breakfast cereal and make sure there’s some shampoo in the shower when they visit. It’s just polite and part of being a parent–a way to take care of your kid when she needs it.

Sure, she probably should “be prepared” and take care of it all by herself, but every woman knows that periods are unpredictable. That’s why every public woman’s restroom contains a machine that dispenses tampons (maybe you didn’t know that?)

And teenagers’ periods are notoriously irregular–meaning you can’t tell exactly when they’ll start/stop or how heavy the bleeding will be. And if you bleed more, you need more tampons. Now. And nothing is more embarrassing than bleeding through your jeans while you stand in line at the drugstore because you didn’t plan ahead.

So yes, you are a super Dad for manning up and buying the things when she asked (despite your embarrassment), but think about going the extra mile and keeping a box of them at your place, eh?

mc - I actually did have a box here, but she finished it without telling me it was empty. So she is partly to blame. Usually when she runs out she asks me to take her to the store and we go together.

As for why men are embarrassed - I really can’t say! No, I’m not grossed out by a woman’s bodily fluids and discharges. And in fact I’ve been called an excellent lover by more than one woman. But tampons - I guess it’s socialization. They don’t even write the word ‘tampon’ on the box! I think my attitude toward it is similar to those women who feel embarrassed buying a box of condoms. I mean - what’s to be embarrassed about?

Finally, should a blog post stand on its own? Perhaps. But as a guest blogger, I had no intention of giving a bio or playing it safe. I wanted to write a humorous narrative that would make readers say, “who is this guy?” and come check out my blog. Seems to have worked!

Thanks for questioning me and my views. Everyone has their own perspective on things, and that’s why we all read each others blogs, I suppose.

What a wonderful Dad.

I know my entry into this discussion is late in the game, but Jim’s comment about people like David being “pussy whipped” was so offensive to me, I couldn’t help but reply.

This comment strikes me not only as extremely sexist, but also extremely perverse, as the term implies that a man is responding to a woman’s requests only because he wants access to that part of her body, thus being controlled by her “pussy,” to use Jim’s crude term. Applying that terminology to someone’s relationship with his daughter seems really sort of disturbing!