Chores

You know you're not single anymore...when you can pass any chore you don't want to do or don't have time to do to your children....you haven't taken out the garbage in over two months because that's a perfect job for your son...your daughter has a knack of pulling weeds out of the yard...both of your kids actually enjoy washing your truck...your dog is also given baths by your son...the only cost is that you occasionally surprise your kids with a milkshake when you get home from work...of course you know you are teaching responsibility...and since the kids are the main consumers of the family, they need to contribute some way....but you are thankful for their good attitudes and you can't wait to spend more time with them...after their chores are done!

Family Budget

You know you're not single anymore...when you used to keep the following budget: spend less than you make...but now budgeting has become a lot more complicated especially when you spend for four people with radically different and somewhat unpredictable needs...You used to know what savings meant...now savings are called "miscellaneous funds"...however, you realize quickly any money you allocate in the "miscellaneous funds" account will be spent by the first weekend of the month and it is usually for the kids...you used to never consider the dangers of credit cards but you get a wake up call when you get thank you notes from your credit card company because of the increased usage...you are so glad you don't get into serious debt and still pay off the credit card each month, but you now understand how easily it can be to get into trouble!

New Name

You know you're not single anymore...when your son decides he doesn't want to call you by your first name anymore...he runs through the gamut of every possible usual paternal name but nothing really sticks...later when you are having a conversation with your wife you mention your college fraternity nickname of "Padre" since you became an ordained minister while you were at college...your son overhears it and has since decided to call you "Padre"...it might not stick in the overall big picture but you'll take it in the meantime.

Clean Car

You know you're not single anymore...when the back seat of your car used to be clean....but now it is a world of wrappers, DVD's, singleton socks, and used Kleenex...you are so proud of yourself for cleaning the car one Saturday morning...but by Saturday evening you look back and the storm has come again...where are the kids getting all this trash?!?...Are they storing wrappers away during the day to bring on the car trip?...You wonder how it could get so cluttered so fast but then you remember the daily state of the kids' rooms and how often they have to clean them...you are thinking they are just making the back seat feel like home.

Tic-Tacs

You know you're not single anymore...when you used to buy a packet of tic-tacs and that would last you for two weeks...now you have to buy the mega-box of tic-tacs and hope it will get through one week...you realize that when you or your wife get a tic-tac (or a piece of gum) then both kids always want some, too...in fact you begin to notice that everything you get, your kids also want, too...if you stop for a drink at QT, then you're lucky you haven't bought a full-course meal with the drinks and snacks that are usually purchased...you know that life with teens is fun and adventurous and like vacuum cleaners, they will consume any food and any drink at any time!