What’s the best part of being a dad? “Literally everything” says dad Ryan.
Meet Ryan and his fiancé Michael. The Nashville couple are Daddy and Papi to their 9-year-old son, Parker, who is biologically Ryan’s from a previous straight relationship.
“He couldn’t be a better father figure,” says Ryan about Michael.
Ryan and Michael met on Tinder but ghosted one another a full year before meeting in person. When they did finally meet, the connection was instant and the couple haven’t been apart since.
Dating as a single parent comes with its unique set of challenges. Finding a partner who is not only open to kids but embraces them is an intimidating task. But Michael was all in from the start.
Early on the couple talked a lot about fatherhood and have even discussed growing their future family! But obviously, Ryan had to first make sure that their passions and personalities aligned.
When Michael was finally introduced to Parker, it was like a switch flipped and he was in full “dad mode”: they hit it off instantly and Michael naturally meshed with Ryan and Parker’s dynamic.
Parenting is a balancing act, navigating when to be cautious and when to ease up can seem like an impossible task. But Ryan says that ever since Michael became a part of the family, he has helped to figure out a balance that works for them. Luckily, the couple has the unconditional support of both sides of their families and a close network of friends.
“Our favorite thing about fatherhood is watching Parker grow into such an amazing human being with so much love and compassion in his little heart”
Like a lot of “non-traditional” families, they sometimes deal with the judgment of others around them. But Ryan and Michael agree that representation is imperative in changing hearts and minds; people judge what they don’t know.
“Our goal of social media has been to show representation to those that need to see it. We know our path isn’t the norm but could and I hope does help others out there in similar situations.”
