Wired

Well I we have really progressed on the bathroom. We moved the pluming, added the hardy backer to the rest of the floor, started on the linen closet and did most of the wiring. We have very little left. We need to finish the wiring, put up new dry wall, plaster the seems, finish the floor tile, paint, add shelves to the closet install a new vanity (yet to be purchased, we need about $ 500) do the tile around the tub, tile the wall around the floor with a bull nose tile, and trim the door and ceiling. We should have it all done in time for Christmas.

I’m also getting a lot out of this whole thing. One, I’m spending lots of time with my dad. More time than I have in more than 10 years. Two, I’m learning a lot about home repair and remolding. (Thanks dad) Three, my Maleness has really gone up. Nothing makes a guy fell more like a man than home repair. (Of course I was also doing the laundry, doing the dishes, fixing meals, and taking care of the kids wile doing my best Tool time Impression) Any way I will have much to post when we get back from up north. Check out my flickr acount for more images

A Day a School With My Boys

Today I volunteered at Rodney and David’s School for the whole day. We started the day with Amy dropping us off at the school a little early. (Having one car we some times have to do things a little different.) Because we were at school early and it was a nice day I took them to the play ground to get rid of their excess energy. As any one who has boys can tell you, this was a futile effort. David as always was full of energy today.

So I was there to help out in David’s class room in the morning. I then got to have lunch with both boys, and then I got to go out with them for recess. (My first recess in years) After recess I had some time to help out more in David’s room before Rodney’s IEP. (Individualized Education Program) Wile in David’s class I got to go out side with him and his 5th grade buddies to read. I was a perfect day to be outside, and I got to help with redirecting David.

After the hilarity with David I went in side for Rodney’s IEP. The meeting was mostly to talk about getting Rod through the rest of the year. (last year was very hard for him for the last weeks of classes). We he also has had a few problems with aggressive behavior towards the staff and students. How ever we all were in agreement that he is doing much better than he did last year.

So it was a great day with my kids, and as a stay at home dad I have to say this is something I would not have gotten to do when I was working.

Updates and the past few days

I have been trying to post more frequently to my blog (either every day or every other), but that has been hard to do this past few days. Monday was our first day back form our trip to Milwaukee, and I spent the day getting caught up on laundry, doing other things around the house and went grocery shopping. Also I need to get ready for the next few days at Rodney and David’s school. This whole week is teacher appreciation week at the school.

Tuesday for teacher appreciation week, me and the ladies from the PTO made breakfast for all the staff. I made my world famous pancakes. There were four kinds of my pancakes; plane whole wheat, banana whole wheat, banana nut whole wheat, and crapes. Later I had to take Rodney to a doctor’s appointment. And after that I had to go back to the School to set up for muffins with Mom. Some ware in there I found time to work in the yard.

On Wednesday I had to get up at 5:30 to go get milk, juice, and water for the muffins with mom at the school. Muffins with mom is were the kids can come in an hour early to school and have breakfast with their mom. So I work with another father on the set up and serving the moms. We had to be there and hour early to get the coffee ready and set out the muffins and Danishes. Amy came up with the kids about 7:30 so she could get to school on time. And the boys the were left in my charge during the event. Rodney really wanted to help me and did a good job of it. David being our social butterfly went around and talked to all of his classmates that were there. After it was over I cleaned up for about an hour after, then I came home to do a few things around the house. Then I got David off the kindergarten bus at 12pm. I gave him lunch, and then I collapse in to a heap. That night I then had to go back to school again for the last PTO meeting of the year.

Today is all about getting caught up. Also you may have noticed I redid the lay out of my blog. I really like it. The photo at the top is of my cherry tree this spring. Hopefuly today I’ll finish un-packing form the trip and go get Amy’s birthday present.

Don’t call me Mr. Mom/a year of Blogging as a stay at home dad.

I have been an at home dad for a little more than a year and a half now, and what a ride it has been. The 1st six months were the hardest. I had to get use to not going to a job every day and not having adult contact. After six months I found an outlet, this blog. Along the way I found I was not alone in the world of at home dads. There are many other fathers who are at home and have there own blogs. And I also found that we all agreed on a few things. One; this is the hardest job we have ever had. Two; we love being with our kids more often. Three; our wifes are happier and so are we. Four; don’t call us Mr. Mom!!

We are fathers who love our kids not Mr. Mom. That implies we are taking over the role of the mother. Not true, yes I do more of the house work than my wife, yes it is my job to get the kids to school, and yes I do all the cooking. But I both want and love to do these things. The other thing is, the house work that “traditionally” done by the man, are still done by me. This has one big bonus, I can do them at any time of the day. I don’t come home from work all exhausted form working all day and then have to mow the law in the heat. I can do it in the morning before it gets to hot. I can do home improvements at any time (I love to do this when the boys are in school and the wife is at work)

So what to call us? You can call us Stay at home dads (SAHD), but that is too bland. You could call me a dedicated father, but that would affect my ego. How about a demostic engineer? Nope that is taken by at home moms. I think of my self as just a dad doing what he must for the kids who need him the most. But if you need something to call me, call me a Honey-do Engineer… “Honey will you do this today?”

If you look to the right there are some links to other at home dads' blogs