Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a father who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man and a father. Above all, the Dad of the Month is dedicated to his children. Rich or poor, famous or not, he shines as an example of what fathering is all about.

Our choice for June is Mike Kettler, dad-to-be and a new dad to 4-year-old Krystal!

Mike and Kim passed each other often in the halls of the Children’s Hospital in San Diego where they both worked, but they never met. Then a mutual friend set the two up. “The rest is pretty much history,” says Mike Kettler. “Although, Kim says she didn't like me at first because I was late.” Even with his tardiness, the relationship blossomed.

Mike knew Kim had a daughter, Krystal, from a previous marriage. “I was really nervous about meeting Krystal,” he says. “I had never dated anyone who had kids. I didn't really know the background information regarding Krystal's biological father too well either.”

The couple, now dating seriously, took a trip to a cabin in Lake Arrowhead with Krystal. “I think Krystal was a bit shy at first, but she really likes everyone so she warmed up to me fast,” says Mike. “I was a lot less nervous after I finally met her.”

Father From Day One
Kim knew from that day that Mike would make a wonderful father. “I went in to take a shower and when I came out Krystal was sitting on Mike's lap and they were watching Little Mermaid on the TV,” says Kim. “Neither of them saw me standing there watching them. Then Krystal turned to Mike and said, ‘I love you.' Mike said that he loved her to. I knew that Mike was sincere and that he really did love Krystal instantly.”

Wedding bells made the threesome official, and Mike is now in the process of adopting Krystal. “I decided to adopt Krystal because I wanted her to have the opportunity to have a real father,” he says. “Her biological dad was never really a dad to her. I also don't want him to show up one day and decide that he wants to have Krystal part time. I think that if Kim and I are building a relationship as husband and wife, then I should be building one with Krystal as Dad and daughter. I have felt like I was her real dad since Kim and I started dating seriously.”

Instant Family
While some men may shy away from marrying into an instant family, Mike was not one of them. “I think that I was lucky marrying into a family,” he says. “Kim is a great mom to Krystal. She had raised her well. I was also lucky that Krystal is such a loving girl.” Mike says it would have been hard on him if Krystal’s biological dad had still been a part of her life. “Also, it would have been hard on all of us if I had met Krystal, become part of her life, and then had broken up with Kim for some reason.”

Mike says if you’re going to get involved in a relationship with a person that has children, make sure you love the person, and they love you, before you meet the kids. “Also, if you get involved with a person with children, make sure that the other biological partner is in sound mind and that he would understand and appreciate you in their child's life also,” he adds.

Mike has a lot of respect for Kim – and all single moms. “I think that single moms should get more respect then what they do get. I know that Kim went through a lot of pain being in such a bad relationship before she met me. She had to be a mom and dad to Krystal.” While single, Kim worked overtime to pay the bills, sometimes working 70 hours per week. “I really respect how Kim raised Krystal herself, and gave up going to school so that she can spend the time she is not working with her.”

Family Time
One of Mike’s favorite activities to do with Krystal, who is now 4 years old, is flying a kite. “She loves to run after it when it falls,” he says. “It is so fun to watch her do any activity. When we lived in San Diego I would love to take her swimming. She is so full of energy that it just makes me have a good time whenever she is having a good time.”

Mike has also helped Krystal redirect some of her hyperactivity. Krystal had been diagnosed with ADHD, then after seeing another psychologist, Kim was told she did not have ADHD, but a post-traumatic stress type of disorder. “Before I had met Mike, I had been in a very bad relationship with Krystal's biological father,” explains Kim. “He was abusive in every way possible. When I finally got up the courage to leave him and begin my life as a single mom Krystal had nightmares every night. She thought there were monsters in her closet every night and always slept in my bed.” Mike drew a picture of a happy monster, and Krystal named him Rest. Rest scared all the bad monsters away and kept them away when she was sleeping. “She has never had another monster in her closet,” adds Kim.

A New Addition
The Kettler family now resides in Eugene, Ore. Mike works the afternoon shift at Serenity Lane, a drug rehabilitation hospital. “I like my job a lot because I can work at my own pace and I set my own goals. They are really flexible with me if I need to go in late because of one of Kim's doctor appointments or something.”

Kim is seeing the doctor quite a lot lately – she’s pregnant again after two miscarriages. “I was in shock at first when I found out that Kim was pregnant,” says Mike. “I really didn't want to hear it until I knew whether or not she was going to miscarry this time. When the doctor said that this pregnancy would probably be all right I started to get excited, but it was still hard for me to believe.”

Reality hit Mike when he saw the ultrasound. “That was when I could actually see that it was a baby.” A baby boy, that is. “Krystal was upset when she found out it was going to be a brother. She really had her heart set on having a sister. It took a few hours for it to sink in for her, but now she is really excited. She gives Kim's stomach hugs and kisses and she talks to it all the time. She thinks the baby is going to talk back.”

While Mike is happy about the baby, right now he’s just enjoying being a dad to Krystal. “Every day she takes me by surprise in a different way, and she always manages to make me smile.”