Being a Stay at Home Dad

I've been a stay at home dad for a little over three weeks now.  I know I haven't written in a while.  One of the jobs I've assigned myself is getting our house in order so that I only need to do maintenance cleaning.  Since Lisa and I are slobs and I can only clean when Callum is happily playing or sleeping, it has been a long process.  We've traveled and are going to be traveling more so that all our aunts and uncles can meet Callum (who is, by the way is amazingly good with flying).  We've had two cleaning relapses too, so that hasn't helped.  In addition to that I am continuing to work on my application for a Clinical Pastoral Education residency next year, and I am in an interview process for a bivocational ministry position.  So as Callum has decided to sleep in today, I am taking a lazy morning to finally write again and give some of my observations on being a stay at home dad.

1. I love it.  It really is wonderful being able to spend so much time playing with Callum and taking care of all the things that I used to have to squeeze in between other things after work.  The fact that I can make dinner and have it ready before Lisa gets home gives the three of us so much more time together in the evenings.  I think it has helped Lisa in getting her take home work done and I think it will be good for our running program.  It just feels like we are spending a lot more time together.

2.  We have a really wonderful child.  I don't know how we got so blessed with Callum.  He mostly sleeps through the night, he has finally started breastfeeding well and he takes a bottle with no problems.  He is healthy and though he can get really crazy loud when he does cry, he has a very happy disposition.  Yesterday I got to sit and watch him and talk to him while he tried for over an hour to roll over.  When he is tired and I hold him on my shoulder he puts one arm over my shoulder and the other across my neck and hugs me.  Callum and I have gotten into a schedule that both allows me to spend time with him and gives me time to work or play on my own.

3.  I now have time to do some of the things that I really enjoy.  I can make time to make myself a cappuccino and enjoy it, or better still make tea the RIGHT way (pot and loose leaf, warm pot, add tea one teaspoon of tea per cup and one for the pot, heat water to correct temperature for style, tea cozy).  Making tea can be a very soothing and relaxing ritual for me, but I used to have to rush out the door go to work, microwave water in my mug and toss an infuser into it.  Other hobbies that take large blocks of time however have gone out the window.  I am reading books in short snippits instead of long reading blocks and I haven't had time to brew anything since Callum was born (I am going to try to get a few beers done over Christmas break).

4.  I am hoping to learn how to do some new things.  I want to learn to sew (I have a book on its way now).  I have been sewing for repairs for a long time, but I have never learned how to sew properly.  I would like to make some curtains for the living room and bedroom to replace the mini blinds.  Ultimately, I am really hard to fit in dress clothes, so I would like to get good enough to make my own shirts and slacks.

5. So far I am doing a good job of being self motivated to get things done, but I am worried that it won't last.

6. I do miss some of the people at work.  I need to find an excuse to get together with my friend Robert, so perhaps a morning at the rifle range is in order as target shooting is one of our shared interests.

Those are a few of the disorganized thoughts on the last few weeks going through my head.  I will send some more coherent thoughts your way soon.