Three years ago, my wife and I were stressed out and both working full time. I was listening to you as I was driving from my well-paying job to pick up my kids from daycare. You were encouraging a mom to stay at home with her child instead of going back to work. I’ve heard you say the same thing many times before, but this time, it just “clicked.” I asked myself “what are you doing letting someone else raise your kids?” I couldn’t come up with an answer that I could sleep with.
I stayed up late for the next few nights making spreadsheets and creating a budget to figure out if I could be a stay-at-home DAD. I said to my wife that I had an idea that would make us less tired, stressed and able to spend more time together as a family. I think she thought I was going to propose a nanny or a housekeeper. Instead, when I told her, she looked at the spreadsheets and was instantly on board.
A few weeks later as I was driving with my kids in the back seat, my young son said “Daddy, sometimes people kill themselves.” I don’t know where this thought came from, but I was so glad I was there when he said it so I could take the time to talk to him about it and answer his questions as to why people might make that choice. More importantly, I was there to show him that whenever he had a troubling thought, I was happy to hear it and talk about it. If he had been in daycare and said it, most teachers wouldn’t have cared, and those that did would be too busy to sit and talk with him. Even if they did have time, it would teach him to talk to others about his troubling thoughts or ideas instead of us.
The last years have been filled with wonderful memories, special moments and teaching opportunities. My only regret is not becoming a stay-at-home dad sooner. Thank you for giving me the courage to make the right decision for my family.
James
I Became a Stay-at-Home Dad
