Leader of the Pack is the story of a man who, like many men, had been going through his life apparently content and positively clueless, who found himself tethered to a tornado as his marriage descended into violence and madness. Surviving courts and cops and chaos and a crazy-challenging-business, he unexpectedly ended up the only parent of five small children--ranging in age from only 18 months to 8 years old--at a time when most men didn't even know how to change a diaper. It is my story.In it, I detail the transformation transformation I underwent from sole breadwinner and back-up parent to sole parent; from a scared and unsure shell of a man to the strong, confident and spiritual person I am today - as well as a business leader and a voice for single dads everywhere.Though the facts of my story may be different than some, the feelings are the same for single father's everywhere. We are frustrated. We're no longer just the backup parent; the ringer sent in when Mom isn't available -- though that was all we had ever been trained for when it came to parenting. It's not that we don't love our children. We do, but that and $5 will get you a latte at Starbucks.We are told by many voices (and silent looks) from counselors, teachers, social workers, judges and our mothers, sisters and ex-wives that we aren't as capable of raising kids as a woman. We may even feel that assessment is true. We feel helpless and undermined and above all, alone in this. But we are not alone. A quarter of all American households are headed by men who find themselves or choose to be single dads. We need to own that position, be proud of it, figure out the best way to make it work and above all, add our voice to a swelling chorus of support for our brothers who find themselves in our same shoes. We must learn to parent like a dad and that does not mean being only half of a team. In my life, and in the lives of millions of men today, we are the parent. Where there were two, now there is one and we must be enough. Lives depend on it...our kid's lives.We could win our kids, raise them to be happy and healthy people and manage to have a big, fun, and exciting life while we were doing so. Life wasn't over for us. In fact, it was just beginning and beyond the doors swinging open lay a road we never could have foreseen--one filled with adventure and laughter and even sex.I surely never would have believed it. On the day my life changed forever, I looked wildly around any means of escape, but all I saw were their pale and frightened faces, staring up at me. Five little kids, the oldest was only eight and the youngest still a toddler--my kids--all mine now. Their mother had staged one last violent, terrifying episode and left us forever. Where there were once two-parents, there was now only one.It felt like something had torn a large hole in my chest and ripped out my lungs. I couldn't breathe. Then the breath rushed back in and I heard the most heartbreaking crying. It wasn't until later that I realized the sound was coming from me.
About the Author: Matt Sweetwood is well known as a CEO, a successful entrepreneur, an award winning marketer, a social media influencer and a personal branding expert. Matt was the U.S. CEO of beBee, Inc., a professional social network that helps build successful personal brands. He served as President of Unique Photo(R), NJ's premiere Camera Store for 28 years. Nationally known in the photography industry as an innovator, he has helped acquire over fifty US and International Trademarks for both language and design at Unique Photo, and he founded and ran the Ozzie Award winning publication Photo Insider(R). Matt has been credited with the reinvention of the modern camera store, as well as the country's largest in-store education program, the Unique University(R). Unique Photo was named 2008 and 2013 Dealer of the Year by Digital Imaging Reporter magazine. Matt was named the Photo Industry's, 2016 Person of the Year by the PMDA.However, by far, his greatest achievement is having raised five successful children to adulthood as a single dad. Matt was awarded full custody of their five children, ages 18 months to 8 years old. In the 25 years since, he has raised his kids, on his own, into happy, successful and kindhearted adults. Matt has gained expertise in a range of issues such as surviving divorce and custody, single-parenting, dating, relationships, getting in shape, but most importantly - how anyone can have a life worth living - a BIG Life - no matter what difficulties he or she faces and has to overcome. Matt has appeared as a regular contributor on Fox News, NBC Today Show, CBS TV, News 12 NJ, PIX11, and other high-profile programs. He has also spoken publicly for organizations like Panasonic, Canon, PMDA, Microsoft, NJ Devils Hockey and BMW CCA, and was a member of the prestigious CMO Club, where he won the President's Award in 2014.Matt's past charitable endeavors include having served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at both The Aish Center, a spiritual/educational non-profit and The Josephine Herrick Project, a nonprofit that uses photography to enhance the lives of the under-served. Matt was honored by The Aish Center with its 2014 Continuity Award.Proving his contention that single dads can lead exciting, balanced lives, Matt is a die-hard NJ Devils' hockey fan, an advanced auto racer with the BMW Club, and of course, an avid photographer. He is sponsored by Panasonic(R) in his photographic endeavors as a Lumix Luminary. He received his BA in mathematics from Rutgers University and MA in theoretical mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania and his PH.D. in computer science from Warnborough College in Ireland.