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The love for his son gives Dalibor the strength he needs

I am a single father to my three-year-old son, Bogdan. We live in rural Serbia. His mother passed away when he was 14 months old, and since then, my world has revolved around him.

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Every day, I do my best to care of him. I often tell myself that I must be both a father and a mother.

I have been raising Bogdan with the help of my family. Still, there were moments when I felt alone and unsure when it came to parenting.
Everything began to change when I joined a programme at the Centre for Interactive Pedagogy. One moment stands out more than any other: for the first time in my life, I spoke openly about my situation in front of other parents. Before that, I never dared to share my story. That day, I felt something new—a sense of strength and confidence. The support I received from the group meant more to me than I can put into words. I realized that I am both an emotional and a strict parent, and through the programme, I learned how to better balance those two sides of myself. I have become more patient and more consistent with my son.

Our daily life has changed in simple but powerful ways. We now play more and have more moments of connection. Telling children’s stories has become part of our bedtime routine, something we both look forward to every night. These small rituals have strengthened our bond.