To live without a father

[asoul]

It is a known fact that Stephen King lived without a father. And it was not hindrance for him to grow up in a famous writer.

But what does a boy feel when the main buttress in his life is only a mother? (For me, one of the most funny and at the same time enough serious episode in the SK's work 'On writing' is the episode when Stephen and his brother after boys' prank muse sadly on the subject whether their mother will visit them in a prinson for young criminals.)

Can gentle mother's hands always replace fast shoulders of a father?

Maybe someone will be a brave to share here own feelings about it?

[LadyHitchhiker]

My mother did find without a father as well. He passed away when she was only ten months old and she was the youngest of six children.

[Theregulator]

My father died when I was two months old. I don't know really what the effects are as it is the only thing I have known. I have a stable happy marriage and have always been able to relate to men ok. I did feel the need to track down my fathers family and fill in some gaps. My mum lost touch after he died as he was from Scotland. My brothers have some issues but then who doesn't. None of them have had stable relationships but how much of that is due to role models etc or how much is just society I can't say.

[staropeace]

There is no such thing as "only a mother".
I think a child can have a full childhood and a happy one even without a father...if the mom is nurturing.
My real father is an american. He is my blood but the man I called "Dad" was a Newfoundlander. I loved him so much. He is with the Lord now.

[Todash]

I think the ideal is a loving mother and a loving father, but just having a father in the house doesn't necessarily help. I would personally have preferred—and I am not saying this lightly, not at all—to not have a father, rather than to have the one I did.

[Srbo]

This all what I have to say...

http://www.stephenking.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9350

[mojomofo]

My father died when I was very young, so I really can't speak to the loss one might feel if they had known their father and lost him. My mom raised us up fine, although financially we were not well off. None of us are criminals, addicts, and we are all in stable relationships. I think if the parent in a single parent house is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to fill the shoes of both parents, then everything will turn out fine.

As a kid, it was very hurtful to hear things like "your father adored you" or "you were his whole world". Not because the words were mean, but because it pointed out the loss. It made the hole marked "father" seem that much bigger. As an adult (and a parent), I can look back at those words and appreciate them for what they were meant to be.

The hardest thing still remains that there was this person, who gave me traits I recognize in other people, that I will never know. My dad didn't get to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day or welcome his grandchildren into the world with love. He did leave all his kids a legacy of love though, none of us can look at a picture of him with us and not see the love he had for us.

[sheba41]

My father left us when I was 14 and finaly there was peace in the house..( he was an alcoholic) so my mum stayed with her three children . From the age of 10 I always looked after my mum and dad....she liked the bottle too. They fight alot and I was the only one who could calm my dad. So that ment that I was always awake until 4 or 5 in the morning. And yes, then I have to go to school. I passed for my exam's and alway's was very nice to everyone....My father is dead . He died when I was 20. My mum is still alive.....but I did not have anything whit both of them....sorry but it is the truth. My bro on the other hand was my best friend....but he died last october.....so....life is good?....I don't know

[smooth operator]

It is better to be raised with no Dad than with a psycho Dad. I know this from experience.

[tillyn]

Well, my mom left me and 1 brother, sisters with my dad, my dad wasn't much of a dad. Not that he was horrible he just didn't know how to take care of 8, 10, 12, 16, 17 year old kids, (i think my mother should have gotten a dog, instead of having kids. Probably would have given it away too.) My oldest sister had to take care of us. To this day she has never had kids. I can't leave my boys and worry about them all the time even though i don't need to . So, Is it better to be raised by a dad or a mom. I think it depends on the situation. I have long forgiven my mom for leaving, she had health issues and i guess we just to much for her to handle. (dad has a story to long to personal to mention.) I choose to forgive, then to have that monkey on my back. Wouldn't do me any good to carry it around. Like they say, Sh*t happens. And i am a strong believer in every thing that happens to us in life has a reason.