new guy

[bcibob670]

I am bob. I have been doing the SAHD thing for 7 years now due to disability retirement. The last 4 or so years I have really come to love raising my kids. How many dads have involuntarily assumed the SAHD role?

[tt3]

Welcome Bob, glad you found us.
I don't know if it was involuntary, but I was laid off a month before my first was born. Made the decision pretty easy for us. I likely might have found more work, but I'd be barely making more than the cost of day care.

[Don-Dad]

Welcome Bob,

I know some others have joined are ranks involuntarily, hopefully they will chime in.

[SmokinZBT]

Count me, Bob. I was let go from my last job 3 months before the baby was born. I expected to find work within a few months, and so far its been 14 months. Zoe is almost 11 months now. I love being with her everyday, but I would like to get back into the workforce.

Interesting note on that. I met with the Chicago Stay Home Dads group on Sunday night. Good guys. When I said I was looking for a job, everyone kind of said, "really?" And then tried to offer help. I don't know for sure, but I think women's groups would have been offended that someone was choosing to go to work. The guys all were supportive. I guess that's what you get when you hang with the non-traditional guys.

The group seemed good. I actually met a dude that lives a few blocks away, with a 6 month old. Another guy has a 2yr and 4yr, and I ran into him at the Y the next morning. Antoher guy has stayed home for 13 years, and I ran into him at the Y also. I'm pretty pysched to have dudes to play with during the day.

[Patrickz]

My wife and I decided this before we had Alex that I would stay home. So I don't consider our choice involuntary but with my income as compared to hers and my added experience with houshold chores( single man for 20 yrs) it was really a given that I would be a SAHD.

7years a SAHD in this group is big time! :wink: