Comments on: 7 Tips for Potential Stay at Home Dads

By: Garth

Garth — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:41:25 +0000

Wow… so glad I found this article. I am just starting, probably my second week or so, and boy is it true what you said!

By: Dennis P

Dennis P — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:02:42 +0000

WOW, this is a great article. I am just starting(within the last 4 months) being a stay-at-home dad myself. I have some of the things on your list down, but not all of them, and it was good to see them in writing. It really got me thinking about stuff that goes on here in our house. Thanks again. Come visit my blog if you have a chance. http://sydanddensdad.blogspot.com/

By: Clint Lalonde

Clint Lalonde — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:53:06 +0000

Hang in there! It does get better. When I first started, I wentthrough the same thing. I had worked pretty well steady since I was 14years old and the thought of doing "nothing" made me feel veryuncomfortable. But then you get into it and that feeling does wane asyou find your groove.Good luck!

By: slin

slin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:45:06 +0000

I just stumbled on this list… i've been staying at home with my 2.5 year old since my last IT consulting gig ended (1.5 weeks ago)… ive been suffering from insomnia the whole time and i think it's due to some lame secret shame i have for staying at home and realizing that this is WAY harder than anything i've ever done… the reclusive/loneliness thing is probably also affecting my sleep. #5 is spot on for me and the previous poster being anonymous shows a little how i feel… my household has no financial issues, and i thought i would enjoy taking this time off with my son, but i've been strugglin with my self identity ever since… it's male post-partum…

By: clintlalonde

clintlalonde — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:09:04 +0000

Elijah, it's interesting you mention experience. We are just going thru a bit of an experiential moment with our extended family that is turning into a great example for my kids of what NOT to do with their health. It's an unfortunate illustration of what happens when you do not take care of yourself, but it has evolved into a powerful “teachable” moment for my kids.

By: Elijah

Elijah — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:56:08 +0000

An awesome resource indeed! I agree with moderndaydad when he mentioned it being okay to feel guilty about your former life as a beer chugging, pimp in training… lol, as far as I'm concerned it all comes back to experience, and being able to say to your kids "I've been there, done it, so you need to listen to me when I tell you NO!"

By: dadventure.ca - » He’s 1, she’s 4 and Dad caught a real Man Cold

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:38:22 +0000

[...] was only for a month, but I was looking forward to it with great anticipation. Too bad I didn’t follow my own rules, especially #1 – Lower [...]

By: Inside Fatherhood » 7 Tips for Potential Stay at Home Dads Provided by Dadventure

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:06:20 +0000

[...] Dadventure, back in October, gave 7 tips for potential Stay at Home Dads. It sort of reminds me of my own attempt at educating those who are seeking out the position. I have 2 articles called 5 Things I Learned Since Staying Home With My Kids and the Top 5 Hardest Things to Deal With as a Stay at Home Dad. [...]

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:44:51 +0000

this list is wonderful….. i can really realte and am encouraged at many levels…
i too stay at home and am vastyly becoming like what seems to be a recluse… the ideas to get out to stimulate the child is great and i too get lonely at times being a stay at home dad….

By: Secretly a SAHD

Secretly a SAHD — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 16:24:10 +0000

Well, as a stay at home dad, I find that I am hit and miss on cleaning. I typically do make dinner, though. About an eighth of the time, I actually work on that novel that was my self-justification for staying home, while the wife worked. But after ten years as the primary bread winner… this shit is hard to cope with. As you can tell from my anonymous posting, I am still a bit ashamed to admit its not all about “being a working professional while at home”.

I have two young kids and daycare took my entire salary. On the upside, they used be sick ALL the time in daycare and in the six months I’ve been home… its been a perfectly healthy environment.

The list makes sense, but I still want to believe that I can be contibuting by more than being a babysitter. As Spring is coming, I plan on putting in a big garden and such. Something for me and the kids to do together and feel like I am financially contributing by attacking our grocery bills.

By: Dweeter

Dweeter — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 15:20:34 +0000

I feel like I must be doing something right since so much of this list sounds familiar to me after eight months at home with our ten-month-old daughter. In particular, I agree about structure, although sometimes I feel (1) like it is more for me than for her, and (2) like I should shake things up with the unexpected… you know, just so she doesn’t get too comfortable and unable to adjust to new things. But then I think, no, strcuture is good. Then I think, geez, I wish I could ask another stay-at-home dad what he does…..

By: Clint

Clint — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 05:17:52 +0000

I hear you moderndaydad. Someday society will realize that being a good parent is a far more important contribution to society than adding to the Gross National Product.

By: moderndaydad

moderndaydad — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 08:29:40 +0000

Very well said and thought-out. The only thing I might have added is that it’s OK to feel weird/nostalgic/guilty about your former non-SAHD life. Even though what we do is the right thing for our families (and a privilege at that), there will still be awkward moments when you’re trying to explain to the cable guy that staying home with your daughter is in fact what “you do.” And the fact that you feel awkward doesn’t mean you don’t secretly wish you went back to your 9-5 job. Just get used to the fact that what you’re doing is different, and probably will be until your kids are out of the house for good. And who knows, maybe you’re opening up the cable guy’s world-view a little too.

I think I’m going to blog about this tomorrow.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 22:25:50 +0000

Great advice! Thanks for sharing. The slowing down thing and enjoying the here and now is the toughest one for me, and I think one of the most important. I have attention deficit disorder, which I think exacerbates this challenge. The lack of intellectual stimulation is painful and I often find myself ignoring the kids needs to pursue interests of my own–not for long, but a few extra minutes spent online when the kids really need some attention (kids are 5 and 3). I am so aware that in a few short years I will look back on this time and relish those moments when I was able to connect with the kids and just be here. I suppose it’s a balancing act, as one can’t ignore ones own needs entirely. Thanks again, Nick

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 20:52:02 +0000

Great suggestions. I have twins and I’m doing the SAHD thing temporarily (five weeks) and #3 really saves me.

Keep up the great work!