Gentlemen:

While the 2008 convention is just around the corner, there is some very important planning that needs to start for 2009.

Easy to make during a morning nap or any 20-30 minute span you can find. Also gives the added benefit of spreading the smell throughout the house and unless something goes horribly wrong, that'll be a good thing.

From http://www.marshillchurch.org/
A lively discussion will ensue.
-MileHighDad

Hi there,

Am I the only SAHD living in Europe?

It's quite isolating being out here, but nice to know you chaps in the States have the same highs and lows I have here. I live in a German environment but escape it through the Web or British TV which I get via satellite.

Anyway just wanted to say hi.

Well, it has been a bit since I last posted, but I have been enjoying reading everyone else's comments. I just didn't feel the need to chime in. Now, though I need a bit of advice from you all. I am kind of in the funky dumps. I am starting to get that feeling more often like I am the baby sitter, maid, handyman, and such and not so much a equal partner in the raising.

I read the post 'Dad Gets The Boot From Mom's Group' and learned of the website meetup.com. I have never heard of this website and went to this site excited to look for a local SAHD group. I was not able to find a local group, but there were two SAHM groups. One stated that they were full and the other had openings. With three young daughters, I thought rather than reinventing the wheel and starting a SAHD local group, I would join the open SAHM group.

I have been divorced 2 times by the same women, we were married , she had a 6 month old from other marriage. we had 4 children, she divorced me, got pregent, married him, divorced him, married me again had that child. we had 2 more children. 8 in all. I have raised them all. Been divorced now for 5 years. mom left, returned after two years, let nanny go. mom lives at the house, has boy freind in other town, they were to get married, she lives here because i work away at sea for 4 weeks at a time. last trip was 13 weeks.

ABC is debuting a new show following Supernanny this Friday -- Super-Manny. Yes, that's right. A man, Mike Ruggles, a Chicago therapist will work with families with kids who have behavior problems. More on the show:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/chi-super-manny,0,1068437.story

So, will you watch? I can already sense the overtones of a man dealing with childcare issues in a nontraditional way.

By the way, in the Tribune article referenced above, I paused at this sentence:

High profile local station, magazine-type news show, wants to talk to a couple of guys about life as AHDs. Let me know if you might be interested.

After reading the responses to this years convention threads, it promted me to ask the question "what are you paying for gas"?
This brought on by all the references to driving in the discussions.
My local station 1 mile from my house came in at 1.99.9 right after lunch today.
How low can you go?

Your suggestions are welcomed! My daughter Rachel just turned 21 months. I've been working on potty training her for about 1 month. She's good at wanting to try to go to the bathroom, but I have two problems.

First, getting her to stay on the toilet for a good amount of time is very "hit or miss." Sometimes she'll stay on for 10 minutes other times less than two.

Secondly, she's gotten to the point where she'll let me know when she's just gone to the bathroom, I'm trying to figure out a way of maybe having her give me a little advanced notice.

Much to my mother's chagrin, I owe much of my sense of humor to the usual gang of idiots at Mad Magazine. Imagine my reaction when I read this weekend that Al Jaffee, mastermind of back page fold-in, received a long overdue Reuben for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year from his peers at the National Cartoonist Society.

Vin-di-CAAA-tion!

Where would I have been without Al Jaffee, Mort Drucker's movie and TV satires, Sergio Aragones' "Spy vs. Spy" tales, Don Martin's "Adventures of Captain Klutz" and the rest? Probably on my yacht in the Caribbean, counting the millions I made in a real profession.

But I'd be counting very, very dourly.

So, in tribute to one of Mr. Jaffe's most influential works in my life, here are some "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" about being an at-home dad:

We have a nephew that is almost 2.5 yo on my wife's side. The Mom is very controlling. So much so, that she NEVER has a babysitter because she fears outside influence. She is also a Vegan, which is fine other than the fact that she feeds her kids Crystal Lite and Cheetos for breakfast. I guess that technically is a Vegan meal... right? Anyways, just giving you a feel for what we are dealing with.

Guys:

This was posted this afternoon over on Peter Baylies' group;

This Canadian dad was banned from a moms playgroup, any one from Canada
that can help? Or have any sussestions? I posted a blurb on the story
here.. - Pete

http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/athomedad/index.blog/1343372/athome-dad-banned-from-moms-playgroup-due-to-the-security-of-our-children/

Here is the link from the British Columbia newspaper that ran the story;

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=f9c4dd2f-d9bc-4f76-bacf-22905730c3f6

Well at 10:15am PST, the convention has begun. We now have 5 guys here so far, with 3 more on the way to start Thursday night. We've called Bob Noonan, and lifted a glass to him, and will be shortly on our way to go-kart racing.

Stay tuned. more to come.......

PS. I'd like to thank those who have offered their support despite their absence. You'll be missed, and we'll raise a glass to ya'll.

dayv

This is seriously one of the funniest videos I've seen in a long time.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/fffe84d50c/stay-at-home-dad-jon-lajoie-from-jon-lajoie

I have two boys 1 & 2 years old (Irish twins). My older one keeps taking off his diaper when he goes down for a nap. It is the first thing he does - then he climbs out of his crib. I have tried everything like putting his diaper on backwards or even using duct tape and the little monster still gets it off and he throws all his blankets out and climbs under his mattress too! And...you know how it goes...monkey see monkey do! His brother is starting to do the same thing and I'm tired of washing blankets and clothes all the time. I can't get through my own laundry. Any advice will help!!!

Hi Guys,

I'm in the market for a home gym (read: adjustable bench station, lat pull down, cable, leg station, preacher pad, etc). Anyone in or around Chicago have one that might be for sale?

Here's a picture that describes what I'm looking for.

Email me at peteralexbryan@gmail.com

Thanks for reading this!

Peter.

Hey all...I'm going to ask...who here is going to convention and who is not? I'm pretty sure I'm going, but I'm very bummed that a couple of the guys that were originally going that I chat with on line are now not going. So...who is and who isn't?

What type of car do you drive? I drive a Chrysler Town and Country right now and am hauling three kids with me. My lease is up in just a few months and am looking to shed the mini van and go with a new type of car. Respond with the type of car you drive, the number of kids you transport and the type of seats they use such as boosters, 5 point harness' or the bucket seats for the under one crowd. Thanks, Kevin