“If you havent done it for a year or more, you dont have a clue.”

Raising a child comes with surprises for every parent, regardless of circumstances.

Here are their most insightful answers:

1.

A man and a young girl, both casually dressed, are using a laptop together at a wooden table in a cozy room, engaging in an educational activity

“[I was surprised by] how much fun parenting provides me.

I had no idea my son would make me laugh so much.”

“I adopted my son when he was 11 as a single, divorced dad.

A man in a light-colored shirt holds a sleeping baby wrapped in a soft blanket. They are indoors, with a chair and side table visible in the background

“I didnt date or go anywhere on my own.

I had made this choice.

In spite of the challenges and obstacles, my son has turned out really well.

A man sits on a couch reading a card with a red heart on it, as a child playfully covers his eyes from behind

Im very proud of the man hes become.”

cheesygiant89

4.

“It can get really lonely when you dont deal with adult humans regularly.

Article image

After seven years as a stay-at-home dad, I am never bored but its very isolating.

I knew it was, just didnt reallyknow.”

Almost every time, someone would say ‘How brave of you!'”

A man and a young girl in a swimsuit with arm floats smile near a pool at a suburban home. Another child is swimming in the background

“[I’ve been surprised by] how little support there is from absolutely anyone.

A few years ago when my kids were small, I was often the first stay-at-home dad people knew.

Something I struggled with was the loneliness.”

A man sits outdoors holding a toy plane as a young girl in a pink shirt and shorts stands beside him, wiping her face with her arm. They are surrounded by trees

“[What I didn’t expect was] the amount of suspicion you get.

[It’s] about as mortifying a thing to hear as you’re free to expect.

Obviously, single moms don’t face this.

A person with glasses and casual attire sits indoors, holding a drink with a straw, looking off to the side. A plant is in the background

Anonymous

9.

My wife even joked about it, saying, ‘Stay away from all those moms!'”

“[People are] always amazed there is no mom.

A man kisses a baby on the head while holding them. Another baby in overalls is crawling on the floor

[They] offer help, but never reach out or follow through.”

“I was a stay-at-home dad for about seven years.

“I’m a stay-at-home dad of two.

A man with a beard and tattoo on his left arm is ironing clothes on an ironing board in a domestic setting, with steam rising from the iron

“I’m a single dad.

My wife died of cancer when our child was young.

People have been very, very kind.

Two men stand in a kitchen talking. One has long hair and a beard, wearing a plaid shirt over a black T-shirt. The other is seen from behind

They also assume I have lots of help.”

“It was very difficult for me to figure out who I was when the kids were in school.

And those struggles impacted me in several ways.

A man with a messenger bag crouches beside a young child at a playground, helping them with what seems to be a small toy or object

I struggled with basic motivation to leave the house.

I hated feeling trapped.”

“I was a stay-at-home dad.

A diverse group of people sits in folding chairs in a bright room, including a woman holding a microphone, seemingly speaking or asking a question

“My wife is in the military and [is] the breadwinner.

We got uprooted from where we met and moved across the country.

It’s quite funny and my wife has learned to laugh it off.”

A man playfully adjusts his glasses, making a baby he is holding laugh, while a woman smiles at them. They are in a kitchen with various vegetables on the countertop

Being the only man at the park feels isolating.”

Let me know your thoughts on the above; there are a lot of diverse experiences here!

And if you have your own story about being a single/stay-at-home dad, feel free to share down below.

A quaint small-town street with various shops and a tall church steeple basking in early morning light

Or, if you prefer to be anonymous, you’re able to fill out thisGoogle Form.

Your story may be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed article!

kindly note: some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.