What (is this blog about)?
This is intended as a series of observations made by a stay-at-home father. It is not intended to be instructional, and it is not intended to be a collection of “aww…look at what cute thing my kid did/said/made today!” notes either. My focus will be on the experience of fatherhood from the father’s perspective---with the hope that others out there will find these thoughts relatable, relevant, enlightening, and ideally…entertaining.
Who (is this guy)?
My name is Jason, but I’ll go by DCD (Day Care Dad) on these pages. I worked in education (mostly college level) as a teacher and administrator, but I presently find myself in between careers. This period coincided with the birth of my first child and the end of my wife’s maternity leave from work. A new set of goals and needs presented themselves; hence: day care dad.
For whom (is this blog intended)?
As I write, I have an obvious primary audience in mind: other dads who are their child’s primary caregiver (which may include other stay-at-home dads like myself or single parent dads). However, I do have several secondary audiences at heart:
· Working dads – One of the things I have gained most pleasure from is really soaking up the experience of raising my daughter. I expect that most other dads out there are working full-time as either a day care worker (agency or nanny) or a mom deals with the kids most of the day. There’s no need to regret the quantity of time if you can truly immerse yourself in the available moments you get.
· Older dads (& Granddads) – For those dads whose children are older now (teenagers or adults out of the house), you may recognize some of these observations from when this period was new to you. My own father is someone who expresses good-natured envy at my situation, wishing he could have been a more regular part of my sister’s and my early childhood.
· Dads-to-be – As I prepare for my next children (yep, got twins coming), I have the pleasant feeling of “okay, I’ve been through this…I can handle it.” However, I do remember the flashes of panic and anxiety of someone who had no idea what he was getting himself into).
· Moms – Regardless of whether you are the primary caregiver of your child, the working parent, mom of adults, a grandmother, or a mother-to-be, I’m hoping that you will find these observations of interest…as you try to pry into the mind of your own significant other and wonder how much of “parenthood” is the same or different between moms and dads. By the way, this category includes my wonderful wife, too.
· My daughters – I’d like to think that my daughters and I will have many years ahead of us to get to know each other, and I will do my best to have an open, respectful, and affectionate relationship. But I enjoy the thought that they will be able to get to know me from a different perspective having put my thoughts to writing.
