SAHDs Connect
via www.npr.org
In a "down economy" stay at home dads are more popular than ever!
Whatever.
This story from NPR is pretty good though, and it puts a spotlight on what a lot of us are going through. Namely, should I go back to work? Because there's a part of me that does, and a part of me that doesn't. And if I do, how the hell am I going to explain this period of my life on a resumé?
Greg from over at Hopeless Cases wrote a good article about what it was like to attend the SAHD convention last November. And if some bitch on an airplane called me a loser to my face, I'm not sure I could have kept my cool like he did.
A Bunch of Losers? At Home Dads Struggle to Change an Outdated Stereotype [AtHomeDad.org - probably the best resource out there for SAHDs]
Well, I'm sitting in the airport here in KC waiting for my flight home so I thought I'd blog. The convention was by all accounts a success, and it was pretty evident that Andy, Dayv and all the other folks who helped plan it did a lot of work. Thanks guys.
For me, even more than the break out sessions at the convention, it was really great to meet Dads from all over the country who are doing the same thing I am. And although we are all doing the same thing and share certain similarities because of it, it was still a pretty diverse group of guys. I met computer guys and ministers, finance guys and bass players. For me at least that was the best part.
That is of course not counting the burnt ends at Arthur Bryants.
Goddamn time is flying. Halloween was tonight (which, luckily, we seem to be getting better at each year. As a kid Halloween was my favorite holiday, and now as a parent of a toddler, I'm finding the whole trick-or-treating thing really stressful - remind me to thank my parents) and the weekend after next is the stay at home dad convention in Kansas City. And then by the time I get home from that it will be almost Thanksgiving, which means Christmas.
Anyway, I've found three other Dad bloggers who are going to the convention - Al from KC Home Dad, Greg from Hopeless Cases and Kevin from I'm Not a Slacker. Check out their blogs if you get a chance, and if you're a dad (stay at home or not) who's looking for a break, maybe a trip to KC might do you some good. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone, but mostly I'm looking forward to a mini vacation before the holidays devour me.
Oh, and eating good barbecue.
The flights are booked and the car is rented. I'm going to the 2006 At Home Dad Convention this year in Kansas City, MO with a fellow stay-at-home-dad and good buddy of mine.
We're not really sure what it will be like, but hey. It's a weekend away in a random (to us at least) city with beers, barbecue and a lot of dads who are in the same boat we are. And oh yeah, there will also be some good info.
(Speaking of that, if you can find it, check out the excerpts of Kyle Pruett's keynote address Rebel Dad podcast last November. There was some really interesting stuff in there.)
And if you're a SAHD who's thinking about or is confirmed going, drop me a line.
For all the info and registration information, check out the website: 2006 At Home Dad Convention (11th Annual? Who knew?)
On a personal note today, I want to congratulate a friend of mine, Dave, who quit his job and is now in his first week of being a stay at home dad. It wasn't an easy decision for any of us, but I have yet to talk to someone who hates it. So congratulations Dave - it will be as good as I said it would be. I promise.
And I suppose as long as I'm including personal notes today, I should include this too. I don't know if any of you out there are as addicted to playing Halo 2 on-line as much as I am, but my friends and I are pretty sick of playing with the random teenage douche bags that one usually is made to play with on-line. So at the risk of sounding even more nerdy than I already have on this blog (if that's even possible), if anybody reading this is over 25 and feeling the same way, leave your gamertag in the comments or email me at the link above (left). We usually play around 10PM ET on some weeknights and after dinner on Sunday evenings.
