Glad To Be S.A.H.D. a Stay-At-Home-Dad

Plug-in gadget halts phone texting, apps while driving

2012-01-22T23:17:00.001-06:00

Scosche has a simple plug-and-play solution to help curb smartphone activities while driving. Users insert the $129 CellControl in to their vehicle’s OBD-II interface — a standard port on cars produced after 1996 — which pairs with the CellControl app on a smartphone. When the module detects the vehicle is in motion, all handset activities are disabled, with the exception of hands-free functions.

Texting, phone calls, email and apps are generally shut down while driving with the CellControl and attempts to remove or tamper with the module can be automatically reported to a device admin. That’s handy if the kids try to circumvent the system, for example. Music libraries are still available for use on the car’s receiver and calls taken through a Bluetooth headset or an auto’s integrated wireless system are still allowed with the system.

Save on your cell phone plans - No Contract & No Tax!

This is a smart method to help cut down on distracted driving because of cellphones; smarter in my opinion than legislation to accomplish similar results. Laws that dictate no handset use in vehicles can limit the use of valuable smartphone functions such as location services, emergency calls and integrated apps for us in a car.

Granted, not everyone can afford the $129 CellControl, but it’s a viable option that uses technology to improve safety.

For now, Scosche’s software is supported on Android and BlackBerry handsets as well as older Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 devices. I don’t expect to see the CallControl gain iOS support as apps that control and iPhone’s core functionality generally aren’t approved by Apple. Perhaps Cupertino would make an exception or consider a licensing agreement with Scosche, given how distracting it can be to use a phone while driving.

By Kevin C. Tofel Jan. 22, 2012 - gigaom.com

From Stay At Home Dad to Stay/Work At Home Dad!!!!!!

2011-11-13T16:28:00.000-06:00

Here is what I have done to go from SAHD to SWAHD (Stay/Work At Home Dad).

Been home since my son was born March 2008 & wouldn't change it for the world!

It's time to make a living while at home.

This is the First of it's kind.............

Cell phone business that you can work from home!

This new concept a Cell Phone Agent as Home Base Business is the structure and dream of Darrell Tolbert, our Master Cell Phone Agent. It has never been done before. We are the first and will always be known as the first in the history of cell phone industry, 2011. How GREAT is that?

This is your opportunity to build a nationwide organization of cell phones customers and cell phone sub-agents; all within the comfort of your own home office. This is not Network Marketing. There is no enrollment fees required, just the desire and willingness to learn “The System”. You own your own franchise - your own business!

By enrolling today as a cell phone sub-agent you will be able to register new customers with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile cell phone services, receive commission up front, sell cell phones, collect used cell phones, and start the process in getting your very own web-site and cell phone dealership.

We work with the three major cell phone carriers, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, once you get your dealership you will be working with 49 other carriers. We have the best cell phone plans available for everyone’s needs and income, all without a contract. It is that simple.

With our program you will earn while you learn. This is on-the-job training day by day, one customer at a time one sub agent at a time. All you need is time, desire, and be teachable, excited and ready to work.

It is our mission to become the largest cell phone home base business in the world, with your help and Darrell’s leadership we all can be successful.

It is time to roll up your sleeves and get in the trenches. Please join our movement. We are done waiting on our government to feed us, clothe us, keep a roof over our head and provide us a stable job. Please join us and help end unemployment. Please keep an open mind as you read the below passage.

It is time to get down and dirty. It is time to take off the gloves. Did you know we own hundreds of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile home based cell phone business websites? We can do the same thing the big carriers do.

UnselfishFreedom.org

Honoring Veterans and Changing Their Lives

A message to all members of Unselfish Freedom

Hi Everyone

This is an important announcement. United we Stand!!! We as American's are in trouble. We are hurting. We are in pain. We can do one of two things, fight or give up. I refuse to give up. I will die fighting before I give up. If you want to do something right for your country, please send this link to as many as possible. http://unselfishfreedom.org/page/get-down-and-dirty.

We have put our foot down and are tired of the bs. Done! Please. I beg you read and send the above link to as many as possible. We as Americans demand change. And the only way it is going to happen is WE THE PEOPLE make it happen.

Why?

Ask yourself this “Do you think Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Radio Shack need any more money”? Do you think they have the American people best interest in mind? The answer is no. They are cell phone brokers just like us. (www.squarecirclewireless.com) They get commission for selling and activating cell phones just like us. By doing business with us, you will give the little cell phone companies a chance to restore America. We can keep our homes, clothe our kids, keep food on our table and decompress. It is exhausting living day to day not knowing if you will have a job the next day. Not knowing if you will be able to provide for your family. Just not knowing is over whelming. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We need to look out for each other. So please, before you walk into a Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T’s retail store to activate a cell phone, please remember who needs the commission more. Is it the multibillion dollar cell phone companies? Or is it the little cell phone companies that can do the same thing as the big companies. Give us a chance to repair America. Give us a chance to show the world what proud, passionate hard working American people can do. (www.squarecirclewireless.com)

Our goal is to have one million home based cell phone business partners in the next 3 to 5 years. Our goal is to end unemployment. Tell me something, have you heard anyone other than a politician say something of this magnitude? Ending unemployment. Say it again, ending unemployment. Probably not. So what do you say? Please give us a shot. We have the plans, investors, platform and infrastructure in place to complete this monumental campaign. We are asking for your help. Boycott the big carriers. Boycott the walk in retail stores of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Boycott the cell phone departments at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target and Radio Shack. By giving us your business, you will begin to repair America and put it back on its feet.

Earn commission and get paid FIRST - no waiting to be paid!

Check out SquareCircleWireless.com this is what your site would look like.

We are hear to end unemployment and start home based business' all over the country.

Call me with any and all questions!

Frank

224.202.7575

EARN CASH FROM TEXTING - FREE TO JOIN

2011-11-06T15:09:00.006-06:00

It's Time to Cash In with T.C.N.

http://squarecircle.TextCashNetwork.com

Only receive 5 texts a day!

T.C.N. will follow in the steps of Groupon & Living Social and plan to dominate The TEXT TO SAVE MARKET PLACE. Living Social when they reached 16 million members raised $175 million dollars from Amazon and has since grown to 46 Million Members. Groupon with 44 million turned down $6 billion dollars from Google and has since grown to over 80 Million Members. The industry is estimated at $133 billion dollars that local business spend each year on advertising just in The USA.

T.C.N. is one of the first in the industry to go after The TEXT TO SAVE MARKET PLACE estimated to be The NEXT BIG Format in USA Business Advertising. Members motivated by the T.C.N. Pay Plan will generate millions in commissions via a 10 level Referral Plan with a 100% Matching Bonus. Members will derive income from text messages received from their network, business and personal ads placed by advertisers and by corporate accounts received by T.C.N. in House Sales Representatives.

http://squarecircle.TextCashNetwork.com

I have a Great Fund Raiser for Churches Non Profits Charities Pastors take a L@@K

2011-11-01T09:14:00.004-05:00

If you are looking for a way to do a very painless fund raiser for your nonprofit, charity or church, please take a look at this campaign.
Did you know every time anyone in your nonprofit organization, charity organization or church makes a Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T cell phone payment, someone other than your organization gets a commission?
What if I told you that all these commissions can go to your organization? What if I told you everyone will be able to keep their same cell phone number? What if I told you everyone can keep their same cell phone? What if I told you everyone will be paying a lower cell phone bill? What if I told you everyone will be on the same cell phone towers that they are on now?
Are you still with me?
Do you like what you see so far?

We can give you 10 percent of commission every time one of your members pays their cell phone bill.

How can we do all of this for you? We are a Sub-Agent for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
We are in a spiritual movement to repair America. We are in a movement to get America back on its feet. This is a very creative way to raise money and think outside the box.

Win, Win, Win
Win – your organization receives monthly funds.
Win – everyone that signs up saves money on their cell phone plans
Win- we get to give back more

Please call me for more information 224-202-7575.
Also, here is our website. www.SquareCircleWireless.com
We look forward to partnering with you!

We are proud members of UnselfishFreedom.org – Honoring Veterans and Changing Their Lives and The People’s Ministry – People Helping People

His first dead skunk in the road

2011-10-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

While the whole family was driving in the car over the weekend my 3 1/2 yr finally had the opportunity to drive past his first dead skunk in the road and see what a skunk smells like.

After I explained what the smell was he said " No that wasn't a skunk that smells like mommie tooted!"

We all had a gut laugh!

6 signs he’ll make a good dad

2011-06-20T13:08:00.001-05:00

It’s no surprise that your dear old dad is on your mind. But if you’re also looking forward to the day when you can give your significant other a Father’s Day card, too, you might want to evaluate his parenting potential. What can you tell now about whether he’ll be a great father down the line? Check out these telling traits.

1. He treats his mother well. What kind of family man will he be? First look at his relationship with his mom. Does he respect her? Laugh with her easily? Enjoy visiting her? Help out with chores or errands? “If the answer is yes, all of this means she did a good job raising him, he naturally likes women, and will like the mom you will become,” says Wendy Allen, Ph.D., a psychotherapist specializing in couples and marriage therapy in Santa Barbara, CA. In fact, respect in general — to other family members, to kids, and to you — should be at the top of the “what to look for” list.

2. He’s selfless. What’s the number one thing you learn when you become a parent? You never come first anymore! So if you’re with a guy who thinks he’s the center of the universe, beware. For Jackie Baker, a Valdosta, GA, mother of one, it was easy to see she wasn’t dating an egomaniac when she found out that he’d spent much of his time caring for his 17-years-younger sister. “One of his major responsibilities was to take care of her in the afternoon when he came home from school,” she says. “He didn’t really go on dates or get to hang out with his friends. I thought, any teenage boy who is willing to give up his time for his sister is a great man. Even to this day he helps out with his sister’s homework whenever he can. I knew when I saw him taking such an interest in his family that he was going to be a wonderful father.”

3. He’s not easily grossed out. Surprise! Kids are messy. There are dirty diapers, vomit — and dirty diapers and vomit happening at the same time. Being a parent means getting comfortable with the eewwww factor. Good fathers are the ones “who jump in to clean up a gross mess and help out when someone else isn’t feeling well,” says Dianne Couris, an author and parenting coach in Oldsmar, FL, and president of Family Choices & Solutions, Inc. Christine Louise Hohlbaum, a mother of two, found this out years ago while on a tumultuous, three-hour ferry boat ride around the Greek Islands. Hohlbaum got seasick five times. “Each time, my then-boyfriend would take my barf bag to the front of the boat to retrieve another one,” she says. “As we pulled into the dock, I knew this man would make a great father. Childbirth and parenting would be a snap for a guy who can carry puke across the Mediterranean without blinking an eye.”

4. He’s a great uncle. “Nephews and nieces are the stepping stones to your own kids,” says Allen. “Does he call them on their birthdays? Does he make dates where he actually has to show up and take them to the movies or an amusement park?” Varina Caton, a Wilmington, DE, mother of two, witnessed such dedicated affection with her future husband and his nieces and nephews. “He would have his nieces and nephews fly out to stay with us,” she says. “He has always made a point of staying in contact with them. He sent some of them to summer camp because their Mom was unable to come up with the money. He has mentored them as they have matured, introducing money management (for obvious reasons!), job skills, people skills and most importantly setting goals. Because of his involvement with his sibling’s offspring I knew he would make a great dad, and he has!”

5. He doesn’t mind taking direction from his partner. “If a man resents being told what to do, then working with him on his children’s schedule and responsibilities could get tense,” Couris says. “Running a family schedule is usually [the mother’s role] and the father typically needs direction.” How can you tell if he’ll respond well to family life? Notice how he takes to your suggestions (“I think you should pack more than one pair of underwear for our week at the beach”) and how he reacts to your plans (“Don’t forget: Thursday is my uncle’s 73rd birthday and we’re all going to dinner”). If you get a positive reaction, you’re onto something!

6. He likes ketchup. And he understands the importance of blowing the paper cover off of a straw and seeing if it can reach across the table. In other words, he has a playful sense of fun, and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Those could be the most telling sign of all. You’ve got to have a sense of humor to get through life with kids.

Now, here are a couple of signs maybe he’s not destined to be the world’s best dad:

1. He can’t go with the flow. A good dad needs to be flexible, easygoing and not easily flustered. Having a kid means that dinners will get canceled, and vacations will be marred by bouts of the flu. If he’s the type who sweats the small stuff and can’t easily adapt to change, he may be in for a tough time as a dad. “I dated one guy who planned every weekend as if it was a military operation, and he totally blew a gasket if there was any fluctuation from his plans,” recalls Elizabeth Bach of Westfield, NJ. “He wasn’t so into the idea of having kids anyway, and I thought that was a good thing — he’d probably be one uptight, inflexible dad!”

2. He doesn’t pitch in around the house. “Any man who considers himself above anything… is going to have trouble serving his or her majesty: the baby,” Allen says.

Erika Rasmusson Janes is a New York–based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Redbook, Modern Bride and Good Housekeeping.

Picked his nose

2011-06-01T11:35:00.001-05:00

Today my 3 yr old son picked his nose and said "My burger smells like cheese!"

If Kids Can Hear Promises, They Can Hear Requests Getting your child to listen to you is easier than it sounds

2011-03-08T23:32:00.001-06:00

If Kids Can Hear Promises, They Can Hear Requests
Getting your child to listen to you is easier than it sounds

By Jim Fay

You can train your child to hear you the first time you say something. Or, you can train them to ignore you. Raising a child who listens to adults is a source of joy. Raising one who doesn't is a constant source of frustration and torment.

Our actions either train kids to listen or not to listen. Consider this situation I witnessed in an airport recently. Joshua, a five-year-old, was running out into the concourse

"Joshua. You stop that running!" called his mother. She did not follow through, so Joshua continued dashing in and out of a crowed of irritated travelers.

"Joshua. You get over here!" Once more, she barked an order, but did nothing to enforce it.

"Joshua! Get off of that!" Another order was shouted by mom and ignored by Joshua.

Suddenly, Joshua was right at my feet staring up at me.

Mother ordered again, "Joshua. You get away from that man. You come over here. Quit bothering people."

I looked down at Joshua and asked, "Joshua, what's your mom going to do if you don't do what she says?"

He knew the answer immediately, "Nothing."

Of course he was right. His mother had trained him to know that she would bark orders, but never enforce them. Why should he listen if he could do as he pleased - without adult interference - by not listening?

In fact, Joshua never had to walk back to his mother in the airport. She came over to him, held his hand, and apologized to me with, "I'm so sorry. You know how five-year-olds are. They won't listen to a thing you say."

It took a lot to keep me from saying, "I've known a lot of five-year-olds who listen to their parents. But their parents mean what they say."

Training kids to listen is not brain surgery. It's not complicated. Joshua's mom could retrain him to listen by first retraining herself to do the following:

1. Make a commitment she will never repeat herself.
Kids unconsciously learn how many times each parent will repeat a request before taking action. She can give Joshua the gift of knowing she will only say something once.

2. Be prepared to act.
She needs to be dedicated to making her child's life somewhat uncomfortable each time he fails to listen the first time she says something. This means as soon as he disobeys she goes to him, takes him back to his seat, and makes him stay with her saying, "How sad not to listen. Now you can stay with me."

3. She should never accept, "But I didn't hear you," as an excuse.
When confronted with this excuse, she should respond with, "How sad not to be listening. Maybe your ears will get better." It is important she says this without sarcasm and follows through with the consequences of not listening.

4. Be prepared for Joshua to have a fit about not getting his way.
Even though this will be uncomfortable, other adults around her will secretly applaud her courage and willingness to put forth the efforts to raise a well-behaved child.

5. Get ready to enjoy a more responsible and happier child.

I have worked with kids and families for 47 years. During that time I have never met a child who failed to hear a parent's promise. They always hear promises the first time. I've also learned their ears work the same way for requests when parents learn and follow the four steps I've outlined.

Training and expecting kids to listen is one of a parent's greatest gifts. It's the Love and Logic way.

Jim Fay is the co-founder of the Love and Logic Institute in Golden, CO, and co-author of the best-selling book, Parenting With Love and Logic. For more information about Love and Logic parenting and teaching techniques, call 800-338-4065.

Buying or Selling - How to Value a House

2010-12-23T15:06:00.001-06:00

How to value a house!

http://mypropertyvalue.wordpress.com/

Don't and Do Not - there is a difference!

2010-11-30T17:16:00.005-06:00

Don't and Do Not - there is a difference!

I saw a study that the human subconscious can not understand the word "don't".

Which is why whenever you tell someone "don't" do something they do it anyhow.

"Don't slam the door" all the other person brain hears and computes is "slam the door".

"Don't lie to me" they hear "lie to me".

"Don't throw rocks at your brother" they hear "throw rocks at your brother".

Say "Do Not" and they will stop the action instantly.

Try it - it will work.

I use it all the time with my 2 yr old and it works.

If I say "Don't" he continues, if I say "Do Not" he stops.

Hope it helps.

Have you been there yet?

2010-10-29T23:30:00.001-05:00

Going to the zoo!

2010-10-01T14:20:00.002-05:00

We went to Lincoln Park Zoo in beautiful downtown Chicago.

What is funny is what a 2 1/2 yr old is really interested in.

There he was 2" (thru the thick glass) from a full grown ape and he only gives a glance.

Out of all the animals we saw he talked about a bug birds nest we saw.

Just found it funny and proves that we have to stay on their level when we are playing with and entertain a toddler.

He did say he had a "fun day today" later that night.

New Parks

2010-09-27T18:06:00.003-05:00

My son loves exploring new parks around our home, and really what child wouldn't. Even though they are small they get bored with the same old same old park all the time.

I've been thinking of making a park map website for my area with Google directions and ratings then sell some ad space to pay for it.

Giving away 10 Free Ebooks PLUS RESALE RIGHTS!

2010-06-01T14:36:00.001-05:00

10 FREE EBOOKS!

This guy is giving away 10 free ebooks with resale and give-away rights.

That means you can sell them and keep 100% of the profit. Check it out now at:
http://www.10-free-ebooks.com/download/?aff=46098

Daunting Task for Mr. Mom: Get a Job

2010-05-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

Daunting Task for Mr. Mom: Get a Job

by Sue Shellenbarger
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

provided by

Outnumbered and Often Isolated, At-Home Dads Face an Extra-Hard Slog Back Into the Work Force

Much has been written about the challenges awaiting at-home mothers who decide to return to work. Few of them, though, have a tougher time of it than the stay-at-home dad.

• Speeding College to Save $10,000

Compared with at-home moms, who outnumber them by more than 5 to 1, at-home dads face a bigger stigma among would-be employers, and they often have fewer opportunities to network from home. Also, they are returning to a labor market where men have suffered major setbacks; heavy job losses in male-dominated industries and middle management have led pundits to label the latest downturn the "he-cession."

A record 7.4% of fathers in married-couple families with children under 18 were home in 2009 while their wives worked, based on unpublished Bureau of Labor Statistics data set for release next week. That is up two percentage points from 2008 and the highest on record, says Sandra Hofferth, a University of Maryland family-science professor and researcher on family time use.

At-home dads who succeed in landing jobs often have to go to extreme lengths to do so. Morgan Attwood was at home full time during the workweek for two years after the birth of his son. He kept a hand in his career field by working weekend hours that no one else wanted. The Columbia, S.C., photojournalist reported for one or two Friday, Saturday or Sunday night shifts each week at a TV station while his wife, a college professor, was home with their son.

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Giving up weekends "destroyed our social life, and that was kind of a bummer," he says. But staffing at the station was so light on weekend nights that he had a chance to learn every job there. The payoff came last January, when the station hired him full time as a producer.

David Hallowes is taking another tack—acquiring new credentials. The Salem, Mass., father intended to go back to work 2 1/2 years ago but found it far harder than he expected. A former operations manager and controller who quit his job four years ago to care for his newborn daughter, he spent a year seeking work in 2007 and 2008 but had trouble getting interviewers to focus on his job skills.

"I'd be there with a resumé with almost 12 years of professional experience, and I wanted to talk about what I could bring to the job. But instead, I'd spend the hour talking about what it was like to be a stay-at-home father," he says. Career coaches advise being ready with a quick, confident explanation of why you decided to stay home, then shifting the focus immediately to your suitability for the job.

The rejections were dispiriting, Mr. Hallowes says. Many men quit trying at this stage and join the ranks of discouraged workers. Mr. Hallowes delights in his daughter's growth, and in the close bond he has with her, but his desire to return to work has become a passion, he says. He enrolled in grad school full time last year, taking evening and weekend classes while caring for his daughter in the day. He recently earned a master's degree in investment management and will soon take a professional exam for financial analysts. Now that "we're in a new economy, where the ranks of stay-at-home dads have almost doubled," Mr. Hallowes says, he hopes the stigma on at-home dads will ease. The challenges and self-reflection of the past 2 1/2 years will make him a stronger manager, he says.

"It's doubtful you will find anyone who is as hungry as I am to return to work," he says.

Feeling like a curiosity, or a circus sideshow act, as some men describe it, is a pitfall that trips up many job-seeking dads. Dennis Findley, a McLean, Va., architect, says he learned during his 11 years at home with his twin sons to sidestep the problem by keeping everyone he met focused on the fact that he was an architect.

"At a cocktail party, the conversation turns to, 'What do you do?' Someone says, 'I'm a lawyer, what do you do?' If you say, 'I'm a stay-at-home dad,' the conversation ends. What are other men going to talk about with you? 'Do you like Velcro on your diapers?'" he says. Instead, he always answered, "I'm an architect."

Mr. Findley also held to the principle that no networking opportunity is too small, and during his years at home he seized every chance to meet people, from community projects to manufacturers' seminars. These tactics helped him build a residential architecture practice from home and aided his eventual return to work at an architectural firm in 2006.

In another lesson, Ira Montague says he learned not to mention "stay-at-home dad" on his resumé. A former creative director for an ad agency, the Wayland, Mass., father has been home with his adopted daughter, now 4 years old, for three years, and looking for work for about half that time.

At first, he proudly put his fathering role on his resume. "I thought it could be an asset," Mr. Montague says. But like Mr. Hallowes, he found interviews "went off on tangents, talking about how lucky I had been and what a great experience I had," he says. "I would leave thinking I had made good connections" but then would hear nothing. His resumé now lists only his professional experience; he mentions his time at home with his daughter in cover letters.

Dads sometimes organize networks of their own to ease the isolation they face in neighborhoods populated during the day by at-home moms; those can also double as back-to-work networks. Mr. Montague set up an informal work-finding group with a half-dozen friends and former co-workers called "Creative Services"; members give each other referrals to free-lance and project work.

Recruiters say dads should consider full-time temp work, or even a career change, because many of the executive or middle-management jobs they had aren't coming back. Firms that have traditionally helped at-home mothers find flexible, temp or part-time work are seeing a rising tide of males. At MomCorps, an Atlanta staffing firm, men in its 45,000-worker database have risen to 10% from 5% five years ago, says chief executive Allison O'Kelly. Flexible Resources, a staffing firm in Stamford, Conn., has seen a doubling of male applicants in the past year to more than 100. Among hundreds of attendees at several career re-entry conferences held since 2008 by iRelaunch, of Newton, Mass., 5% to 10% were men, says Carol Fishman Cohen, an author and the firm's co-founder.

For some job-seeking dads, the toughest transition is the mental one. "We really have to hit this hard with men: We have to tell them to park their egos at the door," says Nadine Mockler, co-principal at Flexible Resources. "With men, their entire identity is in their work, and with women—not so much," she says. "They have to be willing to take off their big-company hat, roll up their sleeves and, if an employer wants them to go buy paper clips, they may have to do that."

Write to Sue Shellenbarger at sue.shellenbarger@wsj.com

It happened again

2010-05-01T13:03:00.001-05:00

It happened again............. I get in the car by myself and drive for a few miles before I realize the Wiggles CD is playing!! It used to be RUSH - HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Follow me on Twitter

2010-04-26T14:21:00.002-05:00

Follow me on Twitter @GladtobeSAHD

Can anyone help me understand?

2010-03-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

Can anyone help me understand?

Blues Clues - why can everything talk except Blue?

Disney - Why does Goofy wear clothes, stand upright and talk but Pluto is just a dog?

Dinosaur Train - Dinosaurs can build and operate a train but nothing else?

The Wiggles - Why were they allowed to be made? Really - I need 3 other guys to act like idiots with me and we'll make millions!

Curious George - The guy has no name and New York City where everyone is OK with a monkey walking around?

Anyone else or is it just me?

Stay-At-Home Dads Grapple With Going Back To Work

2010-03-24T11:13:00.000-05:00

March 24, 2010

Kevin Folk's new job requires a lot of multitasking, effective time management, a calm demeanor and excellent diaper-bag packing skills.

Folk was laid off from the National Association of Home Builders last summer, shortly after the birth of his twin boy and girl. Instead of entrusting the babies to a babysitter while he looked for work, he decided to stay home — at least temporarily.

"It's so rewarding," he says. But Folk is starting to think about getting a job this summer. "I just had a phone interview last week, which is hard to do with kids," he says.

A Growing Number Of At-Home Dads

Even before the recession began, the number of stay-at-home dads was on the rise. According to the Census, in 2006 there were 159,000 fathers with working spouses who stayed at home to care for their families, up from 105,000 in 2002.

But that's only part of the picture, says Aaron Rochlen, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Rochlen, who studies gender roles and psychology, says many dads with working wives try to work part time or consider themselves "consultants." But many are, in fact, the primary caregivers to their children.

By that expanded definition, he says, there are about 2 million at-home dads. That number has also likely risen during the recession because about 70 percent of the lost jobs affected men.

Re-Entering The Workforce

At a play group for stay-at-home dads and their children in Arlington, Va., there are several fathers who found themselves sidelined from the workforce during the recession.

On one side of the room, Michael J. Madsen shows off baby photographs. Madsen just sent his notice giving up his part-time gig teaching commercial photography. When he re-enters the workforce, he says, he'll do so as a baby photographer.

Although Madsen is happy for now staying at home with his son, other dads in the play group say they've considered what it might be like to start working again after their hiatus from the office.

When Dave Cavey, his wife and their two daughters moved back from Abu Dhabi last summer, Cavey could not find a job. After a couple of months of paying more than $2,000 in child care while he engaged in a "fruitless" attempt to find a job, Cavey decided to pull the kids out of day care and stay home.

"I definitely don't miss looking for a job," he says. But he is concerned about letting his skills atrophy or putting a big gap between jobs on his resume. So he's running for a position on the board of his condo association, and he is volunteering for the National Park Service and the City of Alexandria, Va. "I'm trying to do things to pad my resume," he says.

Rami Cohen's architecture firm lost lots of business, so it furloughed employees to two days a week — then, temporarily, to no days a week. That left Cohen available to care for his 2-year-old daughter, Aviva, while his wife worked.

Cohen says he enjoys taking care of Aviva full time. When work picks up again, when the economy improves, he says he doesn't know how he'll feel about working full time, though he might not mind discussing things other than Sesame Street and snacks.

"There's something to be said about having a little bit of a breather," he says, referring to time spent in the office.

Full story at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125057317&ft=1&f=1001

Parent - Job Description

2010-03-23T22:51:00.000-05:00

If it had been presented this way, I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION :

- Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
- Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

- Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in anoften chaotic environment.
- Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
- Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
- Travel expenses not reimbursed.
- Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

- The rest of your life.
- Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
- Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
- Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack muleand be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
- Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers...
- Must screen phone calls, TV and Internet usage, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
- Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
- Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
- Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
- Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
- Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
- Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.

- Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

- None required unfortunately.
- On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

- Get this! You pay them!
- Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
- A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
- When you die, you give them whatever is left..
- The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

- While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

And people continue to apply for the job!

Stay At Home Dads 101 Tips

2010-03-20T21:18:00.000-05:00

Good information:

Stay At Home Dads 101

* SAHD Survival Tip #1: Knowing your baby is your number one priority is the first step
* SAHD Survival Tip #2: Find a way for both you and the baby to get out of the house
* SAHD Survival Tip #3: Find a way to connect and talk with other dads
* SAHD Survival Tip #4: Make Mommy happy - clean up and pitch in around the house
* SAHD Survival Tip #5: Treasure this time with your child

SAHD Survival Tip #1: Knowing your baby is your number one priority is the first step

My wife and I knew several months before Tessa's birth that I would be staying-at-home with the baby. But being a SAHD wasn't going to be my only job. I have my own consulting business and worked from home even before Tessa's birth.

But as a stay-at-home dad, I knew my priorities would have to change. I had to learn to ignore the cell phone and the e-mail. I had to switch gears from being only a workingman to being a family man.

Putting Tessa first above everything else made our transition together much smoother. Tessa learned early that when she fussed or cried, I was there for her instead of trying to soothe her while sitting in front of a computer screen. Ultimately, by making Tessa my top priority, our bond has become strong and our time together has been very positive, and that has made me more confident as a father and SAHD.

SAHD Survival Tip #2: Find a way for both you and the baby to get out of the house

Take it from me, although my time with Tessa has been wonderful, our days together are long and can sometimes get boring. Before Tessa came along, I always thought babies slept about 20 hours a day. I was completely misinformed.

Tessa, who is apparently very similar to how I was as a baby, doesn't really nap. She knows when its nighttime and then she sleeps. When its daytime though, it's her time to explore her new world. On a good day, Tessa might nap one or two hours. An average day though is a 10 minute nap here, maybe 15 minutes there for two or three times at the most. I'm not joking.

This lack of napping makes for a long day. To help break up the day, Tessa and I took lots of little trips out. We went to the coffee shop and would sit and have a bottle. Walks were popular little trips as well. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, just bring along your baby. It gets her out into the world and interacting with people and gives you a break from the monotony of sitting at home.

SAHD Survival Tip #3: Find a way to connect and talk with other dads

This one is really important and might not be thought about by many new stay at home dads. Becoming a dad is a huge adjustment, let alone becoming a SAHD. Like I mentioned earlier, in the beginning I was a nervous wreck. I had so many doubts about myself, I felt like I was an awkward teenager all over again.

Fortunately, my best friend was a young dad as well. He also had a daughter. Although I didn't have the time now like I did before to hang out, I made time at least once a week to go visit my friend or go grab a bite to eat or beer with him. We spent many of those outings just talking about what it was like to be a dad. The more I was able to bounce things off my friend, the more confident I felt in myself as a dad. My gaining confidence resulted in helping Tessa and I get into a good routine and things settled down nicely from there.

SAHD Survival Tip #4: Make Mommy happy - clean up and pitch in around the house

I'm going to be honest here. This wasn't my strong suit before the baby. I continued that trend even after Tessa's birth. But I started to see my wife acting as if she wasn't too happy with me. I, of course, acted indignant about it but when I finally clued in that I needed to get out of the "I stay home with the baby, so I don't have to do anything else" mindset, I started seeing some of the little fights and arguments my partner and I were having disappear.

The tension in the house went away and we all started to enjoy our time together more. Bottom line: Staying at home with your children doesn't give you a free pass. If you're kids are a little older, get them involved in cleaning up and pitching in around the house.

SAHD Survival Tip #5: Treasure this time with your child

Being a stay at home dad is the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. At the same time, I love every minute of it. I feel so lucky to be able to spend so much time with Tessa. Sometimes when I'm home with her and I'm watching her smile at me, I can't help but forget about all the difficulties and stresses in life. I forget about those e-mails I have to answer and those projects I have to finish up. Instead, I sit and just enjoy the moment with her. Tessa has one of those smiles that lights up everyone around her and my advice to any SAHD is to enjoy each and every one of those moments while you can.

I love advertising!

2010-03-20T20:46:00.000-05:00

I love advertising,especially when it's creatively funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYE02_ypz-4&feature=player_embedded

This is one of the main reasons we decide to be a S/W.A.H.D.

2010-03-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

This is one of the main reasons we decide to be a S/W.A.H.D. This is so disturbing it make my stomach turn. Satan will have a special place in Hell for these people.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/20/earlyshow/saturday/main6317454.shtml?tag=contentBody;cbsCarousel