Aiken resident Bill Reynolds raised four children, including daughter Dekesha, alone. He says priorities are different for single parents, and he says divine intervention helped him raise successful children. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

''I coached every one of them at East Aiken (Elementary) when they were playing in the pee-wee leagues,'' he said.

He raised four children when there weren't many single fathers raising families. His youngest child, 22-year-old Jamal, was drafted in April by the Green Bay Packers.

After 14 years of being a primary caregiver, Mr. Reynolds said he appreciates single mothers and the sacrifices they must make. A single parent must factor in the interests of the children when making any decision, which means they think differently, act differently and even date differently, he said.

''You run into a lot of people who don't understand what it takes to raise a family and then try to compete with you and your family,'' he said. ''I guess that's why I never got married again; I couldn't put up with that.''

Today, a single father raising children is more common than it was 10 years ago.

There are an estimated 2 million single fathers in the United States, according to the Census Bureau's March 2000 Current Population Survey, a 62 percent increase since 1990.

Census numbers show that the number of single fathers has grown by 85 percent in Georgia and 72 percent in South Carolina since 1990. Locally, Richmond County's numbers increased by 69 percent, Burke County's numbers grew by 34 percent, and Aiken County saw a 105 percent increase.

But those numbers pale in comparison to Columbia County. In 1990, there were 147 single fathers. In 2000, that number was 579 - an increase of 294 percent.

Cayle Bultman's dad is one of those 579.

Making dinner is a family affair as Kellie, 7, shucks corn, and Sean, 9, and single father Terry Pitts prepare to cook macaroni and frozen fish. JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF

Taking a break from chasing minibasketballs around his aunt's muddy driveway and yard, 4 1/2 -year-old Cayle fidgeted as his dad wiped the dirt off his face.

Tugging on his son's black Rugrats shirt, Michael Bultman had to ask: ''Cayle, how did your face get so dirty?''

Cleaning faces and bouncing balls are just part of being a single father for Mr. Bultman.

''I've gotten so used to it, I really can't compare it to anything,'' he said. ''There's nothing unusual about it to me, you know what I mean?''

In the background, 8-year-old Tyler Bultman was sinking jump shots.

''My dad can't even make that shot,'' he said.

Mr. Bultman has been raising his sons in the four years since his divorce.

''It's real hard to be mom and dad,'' he said. ''Moms are moms for a reason, because they have qualities that dads just don't have. It's a real challenge sometimes to bring those qualities out in yourself.''

But he thinks public perception is changing.

''To see a single father, for instance, walking into a restaurant and having to deal with two children, I don't think anyone looks twice anymore,'' Mr. Bultman said. ''When I was growing up, if there was a child of divorced parents, we'd take notice.''

This year, as he looked at the list of the parents of pupils in Tyler's class, Mr. Bultman noticed something: there were just as many single-parent households as there were married couples.

''(The single-father demographic) is growing,'' said Ken Bryson, a program analyst with the American Community Survey, which compiles and releases census numbers. ''There's no doubt about it.''

He attributes it to societal changes.

''I think the laws have changed,'' Mr. Bryson said. ''The circumstances involving women have changed. There are a lot of social changes in society that make this kind of arrangement more common.''

Carol Davis, a local certified family life educator, sees these changing demographics as she meets with families to discuss issues ranging from divorce to raising children. More and more of her clients are single fathers.

''They are definitely in the minority,'' she said, adding that the transition from being married to being a single father can be difficult. ''Here they are having to do everything and having to put on a whole different hat.''

On any given day, Mr. Bultman is the father, mother and best friend of his two boys. During the summer, the boys stay with a baby sitter.

But on a typical school day, the family is up at 7 a.m. to get dressed, eat and head out the door. Tyler goes to South Columbia Elementary School; Cayle goes to the sitter's; and Dad goes to work at Hall Marketing in Augusta.

''Then it's the reverse at night,'' he said, adding that the children have a strict 9 p.m. bedtime. ''You do what you can with them with the time you have.''

That time is most precious for Mr. Reynolds.

''You give them your love and your time,'' he said. ''If you give them that, your children will grow up fine.''

DeKesha Reynolds says she turned out OK.

''He did a lot with all of us,'' said Ms. Reynolds, now a teacher in Aiken. ''My father was always there to help us with problems in school or in life.''

Her father credits a higher authority for the success of his children.

''It's a script I couldn't write,'' Mr. Reynolds said. ''It had to be a lot of divine intervention to make that happen.''

Ms. Davis said the success of a single father in raising a family also often partially depends on both parents.

''If the parents are divorcing, they are not divorcing the children,'' she said. ''The children still need both parents. Even if the two parents cannot have a good relationship, it should not diminish the relationship they have with the child.''

Terry Pitts understands the challenge of a broken home.

''I think it is important for both parents to build up the other parent's role in their children's lives,'' he said. ''It's important that the kids know that their parents love them and it's OK for them to love both parents. And the parents can't forget that their children have two parents.''

Mr. Pitts, who shares custody of Sean, 9, and Kellie, 7 1/2 , with his ex-wife, is a member of the organization Fathers are Parents, Too, a group aimed at offering support to single and married fathers.

''I do my best to be a real father, not an entertainer for my kids every other weekend because that's the only time I get to see them,'' he said.

Associated Press reports were used in this article.

Reach Jason B. Smith at (706) 868-1222,

Ext. 115, or jbsmith@augustachronicle.com.