I think it’s fair to say that most working partners think that their other halves have it easy when it comes to “being at home and looking after the children”.
I have been doing this full time fatherhood now for about six weeks and I think it’s fair to say that this is no easy job. Having two young children and getting the house hold chores done takes some organising. What’s more, I don’t even get paid.
Things have become easier as time has gone on and I have been able to organise myself and I know that it will get even easier once my eldest son goes back to pre-school.
Once again, hats off to all of you (this is where you reply and say it WILL get easier).

Today’s heart stopping moment:
I got the children out of the car and got them indoors (left the little one asleep in the car seat). I then went back and got a hand full of bags. I came indoors, bags in tow, shut the door behind me and made my way to the kitchen. In that time my eldest son had opened the and started walking down the drive. Boy can he walk fast!
Two lessons learnt
1. Unload the car before getting the children out of the car.
2. ALWAYS lock the door after myself.
Regards
Martin(the work from home dad)

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Here's to full time parents. Bravo, my man. You'll never regret these times you spend with your kids.

Keep up the good work and keep the stories of your adventures in parenting coming. We love to hear about it.

Full time parenting is a tough job but the most rewarding you will ever have! Cherish it now. We are in the same boat with the little one. Our 2 year old Myers is a wanderer and can now unlock all of the doors in the house and go outside. He does this every time we turn our backs for a moment. And like your little dude he is fast. This weekend he took off all of his clothes and diaper and snuck out while I was unloading the diaper. I saw a naked little dude flash by the kitchen window at full sprint. He made it 7 houses before i caught up with him. The new childless neighbors were startled to see a naked little dude scramble across their yard with dad in hot pursuit. I guess I'll take them a casserole.

I won't say it get's easier. I've been doing this for nearly three and a half years and every day is a new challenge. There comes a time when you feel your brain turn to mush. By then, it's too late. I'll finally get a real break next week when both boys are in preschool. 5 hours a week, I'll get to choose my own adventures. Except that being a SAHD, I don't get an allowance until everything else is paid for. With a new house, that means, I'd better walk to whichever free activity I choose. So, I don't see it as a huge thing.

But it get's easier to deal with once you've made some connections with others in your situation and establish routines for yourself and the kids.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I forgot that your kids in the states start preschool later than in England. My eldest is already at preschool. He started this year in January when he was jus two (three in jukly just gone).

My sister moved to the states some years ago (Groton, MA) and it messed up the kids schooling a little bit. The youngest was at preschool and had to stop when they moved and the eldest had to drop a year.

Glad to report only one mishap today. A bang on the head in the park. Because we had only just there, he wouldn't come home. He soildered on as we say.

Here's to happy parenting!

Regards

Martin (the work from home dad)

www.thenurserytimes.co.uk

We're actually starting our little guy in preschool before he's 2. It depends on the community and what is offered more than a national trend.

One thing I forgot to say before. I'll never put getting groceries (or anything else)out of a vehicle ahead of getting my kids out. It's way too easy to get caught up in putting things away once I get them inside, leaving the kids in the car too long. With the heat wave we've had across the country, even a few minutes could be much too long for them. I can deal with a few things getting too warm as long as it's not my kids.

I too unload the kiddo first... but I then put him to work... ("Hold the door for Daddy please," or "Can you carry this for me?")... Works like a charm.

As for the Full Time At Home Parenting thing... dude... /SarcasmFont: "That's a horrible problem to have." /end SarcasmFont.

I REALLY want that job... stay at home, do chores, take care of the kid(s)... Not joking in any way shape or form. I'm still hoping that when the time comes (the NextOne and when TheBoy goes to school) that I'll be able to at least split my time between home and work so I can be the Dad that drops him off, AND picks him up... But REALLY hoping to work at home full time, at least for a few years when TheNextOne comes along. My job and daily tasks certainly can allow for it, and I've had positive discussions with my boss about it... but we'll see... Easy to say "good idea" to something that has no immediate time line. *fingers crossed*

Oh, and I imagine that about the time it "physically" gets easier, is about the time that "mentally" it starts to hurt... from the realization of time gone by...