Riding home in a taxi at 9:30 on a Wednesday night, I knew I was in trouble when I heard a voicemail message from Emily saying she'd forgotten her keys and would be waiting for me at the Starbucks near our apartment. What I didn't know was how much trouble.Sweeping into the coffee shop, I offered the breeziest of apologies. Emily was not charmed. I've been waiting here for two hours, she fumed.

If you were one of those dads who checked out when you had a parenting partner in the house, now that you’re a single dad you have no choice but to check back in. Depending on your level of involvement in the parenting before you became single, this can either be a somewhat smooth transition, nightmarish task or somewhere in between.

So, you're thinking about introducing your baby to the world of fine dining (or at least fine baby food). Starting solid foods isn't as easy, however, as setting down a plate. You'll be playing waiter to a whole new world of foods. At any good restaurant, a waiter listens to the messages his guest is sending, and it's the same for your baby. By following a few easy steps, you can make sure that your baby's first solid meals are four star experiences.

Most guys tend to think that they will be able to handle parenthood without too much stress or aggravation. It's the wife that has to go through all of the discomfort of pregnancy and childbirth, right? But once the realities of being awakened every hour and a half by a crying baby, the endless visits from family and friends, the easy slippage into exhausted bickering with your partner, and the very real and very intense anxiety about not doing anything terribly wrong to your newborn all set in, your tune will change.

Like many other first time fathers (and first time mothers, for that matter) you are probably wondering how pregnancy will affect your sex life. The good news is that sex is safe during ALL stages of pregnancy. The bad news is that, as the pregnancy progresses, the big bulge your partner is carrying in her tummy, her hemorrhoids (!) and her swelling may put a damper on what used to be a sex life.

Finding a qualified babysitter isn't as easy as it used to be. Teens seem to be busier and more preoccupied than ever with cell phones, computer chatting, video games, and lots of MTV. So how to find just the right sitter for your precious child? Here are some guidelines.