Every parent deals with frustration in their role. Every. Single. One. And, as if this weren’t enough of an issue, this frustration often translates to feelings of inadequacy. Well, I’m here to tell you, you’re not only adequate, you’re exceptional. You are a great parent, doing a great job for your kids. You might not…
Category: Personal Essay
Job Hunting After Staying at Home With Your Kids
Considering Work Outside the Home A few weeks ago, I got word of a job opportunity. Intrigued, I clicked on the link, and gave it some thought. Over the next couple days, I decided to take my chances and throw my name in the hat. I’ve been home with my kids for about two-and-a-half years…
Self-Discovery While Living in A Three-Generation Household
Three months ago, we moved. We left our two-bedroom city apartment, for a three-bedroom suburban row home. This normal trek from city to ‘burbs is pretty common in Chicago, as changes in lifestyle and priorities make the suburban draws of safer neighborhoods, more space, and (overall) better public schools worth leaving the city for once…
The Priceless Lesson of An Unfruitful House Hunt
About a year ago, my wife and I decided to move. That alone wasn’t that big a deal. We had moved before. Several times. What made this move a big deal was that we decided it was time to buy. We’re a family of four now. Our oldest is preschool age now. We’re in our…
I Was Dismissed Because I Am A Stay-At-Home Dad
Originally published by Daddy’s Digest, and reposted here with their permission. Thanks Daddy’s Digest for helping me get the word out! About two weeks ago, something happened to me for the first time: I was dismissed because I am a stay-at-home dad. It stung then, but why I’m still thinking about it is much more…
I Miss My Wife Even Though She’s Right Here
Can you miss someone you live with? The answer, most certainly, is yes. Sure, my wife and I are still together, and I’m thankful for that. But, the truth is, I miss my wife. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine posted some guidelines to a healthy marriage that she came across. The first…
Curing The Loneliness of The Stay-At-Home Parent
Being a stay-at-home parent is hard work. There’s no way around that. Now, I’m not saying that working outside the home isn’t hard. I’ve worked outside the home, and it most certainly is. But stay-at-home parenting is hard in a way that working outside the home is not–it’s lonely. To the uninitiated, this might seem…
A Salute to Moms That Work Outside The Home
Here’s the situation: I’m the stay-at-home parent. My wife, Claire, is the the parent that works outside the home. If you want to know more about the how and why that came to be, you can check out the rationale here. Given that dynamic, I thought I’d touch on something really important–an appreciation for moms…
No One Cares About My Potential Anymore
Over the last couple weeks, I realized something that freaked me out. No one cares about my potential anymore. This is troubling, and, I gotta say, I’m a little bit shook. I’ve gone from a promising up-and-comer, to a bust. The event that did it? Having kids. And you know something? I’ve having a tough…
Let’s Give Dads More Credit
I have to get something off my chest. Yesterday, Claire, the boys, and I were eating lunch at a restaurant. Claire was tending to my oldest, and I was holding our three month old. Without warning, he unloaded! It’s funny how three month olds leave no doubt about whether they pooped. You hear it. If…
