Single Dad Jason Jones is a dad of 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Jason is the Vice President of Community Development at Dollar Bank. He enjoys reading, live music, skating, golf, dancing, and spending time with his loved ones.
Meet Single Dad Jason Jones
How did you become a single father?
I have become a single father because the relationships that I was in didn’t work. I do have a positive co-parenting relationship. There is a team environment. Although not perfect, we do what works for us. There are hiccups from time to time, but nothing to write home about. We keep the kids at the center of what we do.
I have a 15-year-old son, 10- and 9-year-old daughters, and a 3-year-old son. I have joint shared physical custody. We have a 5-2-2-5 system where I have them every Wednesday and Thursday and every other Wednesday to Monday. Once a year, we have them for vacation uninterrupted for a week straight. We are very flexible with the time as we all have busy work schedules.
Have you been stereotyped as a single father?
I am stereotyped often because of the number of children or ages of my children. When we are out, people often say, “She dresses them well.” Not knowing that the “she” is me.
What’s one word to describe single Black fathers?
Disrespected
Why is it important to share positive stories about single Black fathers?
Because we don’t hear it enough. The narrative is that dads aren’t necessary or don’t care to be involved.
What misconceptions do people have about single fathers?
We are not interested in the mundane details of day-to-day interactions in the child’s life. We can’t do hair for our daughters.
What is the hardest part about being a single father? What is the best?
The hardest part is figuring out what to cook during my time. Also, respect sometimes goes out the window when difficult conversations happen with the other parent. The best part is seeing my kids develop and grow. Watching them think through and spending time mastering what they love.
Why is it important for single fathers to be active in the lives of their children?
For a father not to be present is a painful feeling I have felt growing up. I vowed never to give anyone I love that pain. For my son, it’s about teaching them to be a man of integrity, strategically using logic with some emotion and passion to make decisions and give back.
It’s about teaching my daughters how a man should treat them in the future. How to be a helpmate and wife. How to navigate being successful at whatever their hearts desire.
What are some activities/things you enjoy doing with your child/children?
I love supporting them in sports, plays, dance, and architecture. They love amusement parks, video games, traveling, karaoke, skating, and watching movies with me.
What advice would you give a single mother to help her heal from a bad breakup and have a positive co-parenting relationship with her ex?
Anger and retribution only hurt the child in the long run. Be still, think, and do the right thing. Be careful who you listen to. They may not have your best interest in mind but rather their own agenda or bias in mind. Understand that you are building a team, and you are a co-star on that team, not the star. The kids are the stars!
What advice do you give other single dads?
Don’t quit! Find others in a similar situation and spend time with them and the children. The job is thankless, but you are so vital to the success of your offspring. You will see or hear it once they are in their late twenties.
What do you do for self-care? Why is self-care important? How has self-care helped you as a person overall or as a single father?
I go golfing, get massages, and sometimes do nothing for self-care. Self-care is important because we need a safe space to relax and prepare to deal with the storms that will surely come. It has helped me be more patient and calmer in high-stress situations.
All thoughts and words shared are those of Single Dad Jason Jones. Read more of our Single Dad Defined series and stay tuned for more Single Dad stories where we work to combat negative narratives about single parenting and aim to mend relationships between co-parents.
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