When and how did you become a single parent? My ex left when my son was one, it’s been almost 4 years. She got married too young and decided to go in a different direction. For about 3 years she was traveling a lot and exploring herself. My son was with me about 75% of the time and now it’s 50% of the time.
What kind of visitation arrangement do you have with your son’s mother? Her and I have an open relationship as far as how we’re gonna work with each other. The way it typically works is each of us have a week on and a week off. During that week we each get him for two days.
What do you do for a living? Prior to the Bachelor, I did estate and insurance planning. Right now we’re doing a couple things; working on the website, writing a book on single parenting. We’re looking at some other opportunities as far as helping out single parents in the long term. We initially thought the website was a good place to do that.
How did you wind up on a national tv show? It’s funny because I was watching the show 2 and a half years ago. I had a really good friend who was on the show. She was after me to be on the show. She was a good friend of mine; she was in my wedding. Anyway, I turned on the tv and it was the very last episode of this show and she was getting let go. I got on the computer, sent them my story and they called me. About a year and a half later they called me. It was a long time between.
What was the best part of the reality show experience? It’s right now; because my relationship actually worked out. If you don’t go through that; it’s a lot to go through without it working. Following that I have met a lot of interesting people; cast members, producers. I was able to open my life up to a lot of great people and that was really fun. I made a lot of great friends.
What was the worst part of the tv show experience? I hate to think any negatives come out of anything. People get close to you and feel like they know you and feel like they could judge you on a lot of different things. People forget we’re not paid actors we’re real people and I didn’t think about that before.
What’s the best part of single parenting? The best part is you’re able to build a bond that you didn’t expect to ever exist. You expect to love your child in a typical husband, wife, child relationship. When you turn into being a single parent you build a unique bond. He’s my best friend and buddy too.
What’s the worst part of single parenting? Time management. There’s never enough time. You have to do all the same things you have to do in a typical family, you just have less time to do it. Less time to take care of yourself, workout etc. Goes with the territory.
Do you see yourself getting remarried? Will it be soon? I can’t tell you exactly when, but absolutely! On the show it’s 1 guy and 25 girls. Trust me it’s flattering but it’s not what I want out of a relationship. I’ve always been a type of one girl relationship guy.
What qualities do you think are important in a woman? I’ve never, ever thought the word “step mom” in my mind. It’s always been mentor, friend. Obviously there’s authority there too, decision making. It’s not the word “step mom.” I think even the word “step” is in intimidating. To the child and the woman too. For me it’s different. It’s got a be a companion, it’s got be my best friend and a lover.
Tell me about JasonsPlace.com It came from the idea of when my ex first left me. I didn’t know what to do, or who to do talk too. I wanted to talk to others going through the same thing I was going through. I wanted to know I wasn’t alone. I wanted to know it’s gonna be ok. I found a divorce group about a year later. I was the only guy. All the people in the group were about 30 or 35 and they were older. I said to myself, “why can’t I recreate something that people can find something they ‘re looking for right now.” That’s where the idea came from.
