Intro to me ;-)

Stayathomedad wrote: Hello,
I am Geoff, a stay at home father to three great kids. Harry 4, Emma 7, and Maddy 9. I also have a 17 year old daughter who lives with her mother. I live in Colorado and have been a sahd for the past four years.

In my "spare" time, I am a freelance reporter for a weekly newspaper, do some computer consulting and write fiction short stories and novels. I am currently trying to finish my first novel, so I wouldn't expect to see much of me on here, but after lurking here over the past few days, I thought this might be a drama free place to hang my hat on the occasions when I just don't feel like writing my stories.

I will say right from the start that I am an advocate of men doing parenting and that I think we can do as good a job of parenting as the women. When I posted regularly on the p.com boards that got me into some arguements, so I thought I would just state that right at the beginning so no one thinks I'm trolling or trying to be mean.

Anyway, I hope to make some friends and meet some new folks.

Thanks,
Geoff.

5littleladies replied: Hi Geoff Welcome!!

First let me say WTG on being a sahd-there aren't many who would do it nowdays and I think it is awesome that you take such pride in it!

I'm Jennifer, sahm to 3 girls-Maddie (6), Meg (5), and Brianna (2). I love being home with my kids and wouldn't trade it for the world!

Post whenever you have a chance-we love hearing daddy's insight on things!

mckayleesmom replied: , Welcome to the board. Im Brianne...sahm to Mckaylee Grace 19 months and expecting the second in a couple weeks.

party-of-six replied: Hi Geoff. My name is Wendy and I am a SAHM of 4. I have a daughter who will be 16 in early february, a 4 yo son and 26 mo identical girls.
I was a 'regular' at p.com for the last year, but do not remember you. It is nice to get a mans prespective on things from time to time.
p.com can be a wierd place at times and people tend to get bashed there if they have a differing opinion on things.....that is why I am here....to get away from the drama.
I look forward to getting to know you better!

Stayathomedad replied: Jennifer,
Thanks for the nice greeting. I am very proud of being an sahd. I can honestly say I love being able to help out at my kids' school, or take them somewhere on a minivacation during school breaks or just be here to help them with homework, etc.

I can honestly also say I absolutely hate the cleaning part of the job. Don't you feel like no matter how much time you spend cleaning, the clutter and crap just sort of roll right back in behind you? Especially during the holidays, when Christmas presents are scattered all over the house and always seem to be spread out everywhere? ;-)

Anyway, thanks again for the welcome. I will check back later to see if anyone else has said hello. I need to grab a shower and since it's Monday, I need to get laundry started. Have a great day.

Geoff.

Stayathomedad replied: Wendy and Brianne, thanks for the welcomes. You must have posted while I was writing my last one otherwise I'd have included you in that one.

Thanks again and have a great day.

Geoff.

5littleladies replied:
Goodness yes! I do have my days when I am just in the mood to get the house clean but more often than not (especially during the holidays) it seems like a hopeless cause. I have the added bonus of being a homeschooling mom so there is very little time for me to get things done without kids in the house.

party-of-six replied: I have given up trying to keep things neat....clean, yes, but neat....I just cannot keep up with three little ones and a lazy teen.
Okay...you have motivated me.....I will go strip the bed and get the sheets in the wash.

ammommy replied: H Geoff. Glad you found this site. I always enjoyed your input "over there"! I have to ask, though, are you the great cook or was that SAHD?
My brother is about to become a SAHD and is pretty apprenhensive about the attitude from people he knows (and doesn't know for that matter). Any tips other than ignore, smile, and nod?

DansMom replied: Welcome Geoff! My DH George is a SAHD also, while I bring home the paycheck. He is a musician and does work some evenings (jazz drummer). I manage a staff of copy editors at a mathematical publication, and have many aspiring writers working for me. I appreciate what it takes to actually complete a novel and not just talk about it---keep at it and good luck to you.

WillandFinn'sMom replied: Hi Geoff. I never knew you at p.com, but I think I've heard about you.

I used to be a newspaper reporter, too. I wish I had your drive for writing. I just can't seem to write anymore.

Welcome to the board!

PS - Editing to add: I love the name Harry!

elvisfan replied: Hi, Geoff!! Glad to see you could join us over here!! It's a really nice place!

Stayathomedad replied: Lol Wendy about stripping the beds. I was sorting laundry in the bedroom and decided to read posts while I did it and saw what you said about getting motivated. I decided to do the same thing. Just added at least another load of laundry with all the sheets I'll be washing today. B-)

Sexymomma, I do all the cooking and when I posted regularly I did talk about cooking somewhat. I don't know that I'd say I'm a great cook, but I rarely get complaints. I have lots of cookbooks and friends send me recipes through e-mail so I try to do something new every week or two weeks. Honestly though, sometimes I get lazy and jst cook things I know will be hits, like mostaccioli or spaghetti or meatloaf.

For those p.comers who don't know me, I haven't posted much in the past several months because I was working on other projects.

The question about Sahd's....hmmm. I generally try to do the smile nod and ignore, but more often than not I'll argue with people who try to judge me because I stay at home. I question them directly, why do you think I can't do this? That sort of thing. It all depends on the type of person your dh is. Even after four years I still run into it, from other mothers at preschool to nurses in the Dr's office. So all you do is deal with it. ;-)

Thanks again for all the replies. I'll check back with y'all later this afternoon. Have a good one.

Geoff.

Boys r us replied: Welcome!!

It's nice to have some men around here!! I look forward to getting to know you and your gang better!

DansMom replied: DH runs into a different kind of bias---not people assuming he doesn'g have parenting skills, but people implying that he just doesn't want to get a real job and is living the life of Riley. These are not people who have ever been SAH parents, of course, or they would know better.

superlydia replied: Hey Geoff!
I remember you from P.com. It'll be nice to have another Coloradoan (?huh) on the board.

Stayathomedad replied: Hey Lydia,
I remember you too. Where did you guys end up in CO? Wasn't your dh military? So you'd be at Fort Carson, or at one of the air force bases, like Schriever or Peterson? I apologize if I'm misremembering.

The pics on your tag are very cute.

Dansmom, I know about that "lazy" bias too. I've been asked if I even look for work anymore. I just laugh and say "I have one full time and two part time jobs". I'm not really looking to add anything at this point. ;-)

I don't know, I used to see a lot of man bashing over at p.com and it seemed like the general concensus is that we can't do it as well as Moms. I imagine it must be how you women feel when you are breaking into jobs that have been traditionally held by men. Same thing, only you ladies have been getting that sort of shaft for alot longer than we stay at home dads.

I think eventually we'll see the day where we don't have those sort of distinctions anymore regarding race, gender, creed etc. I'm just hoping that I live to see it.

superlydia replied: Yep, you're remebering the right person . I'm on the Academy.

gr33n3y3z replied: Geoff
Welcome to the board
I'm the old lady here lol
Redchief and I have 4 children ages boys 20 and 18, daughters 15 and 11

moped replied: Welcome - hope you enjoy it here

WillnCare replied: hey! im new too so maybe we can figure this out together!

I can't believe people would bash you for your thoughts! I WISH my dh was more involved in the daily care of the kids but then again, Im the sahp! I dont ask him to do much more than play with them! I was raised by a sahm and working (pilot) dad....my situation is the norm for me! Mom took care of us, dad did the fun stuff!

Were you the cook/ daily menu guy? if so, I remember you!

Stayathomedad replied: I know I posted about cooking. Don't remember doing a daily menu thing. Altho I did respond on the "What are you making for dinner?" posts quite often. I like cooking quite a bit and have probably about ten different recipe books that I alternate. Lately been doing more "light" cooking since I found out I had high blood pressure and need to start eating right more. Which sucks since my favorite food in the world is pasta with a heavy marinara sauce and big meatballs. Yummmm. Guess I'll have to learn to make do with more fish and less red sauce.

So yeah, I think we'll muddle through this together. I'm really going to try to limit my attendance on any boards, so I can get some of my other stuff done. That way when I want to write I don't end up staying awake half the night. lol.

Take care.
Geoff.

LaurenAnthony replied: Hi! I am new here too! I guess there are quite a few of us figuring this out together!

I think it's great that you are so involved in parenting your children. More dads should be. I am proud to say my dh is very involved and is a huge help to me.

We hope to have him at home with the girls for good by the end of the summer!

Well, it's nice to meet you... see you around!

ammommy replied: Willncare, I thought he was the cooking man, too. Then I remembered it was fatheroftwo or something like that.
Geoff, after the first few weeks of torture, low fat/low cholesterol cooking is pretty easy and tasty. It just takes more time I've got some good recipes if you want any. Just let me know.

Gavs_mom replied: Hi Geoff!!
It's me, Michelle (Gavins_mom over there) Good to see you've found your way here too! lol
This seems like a nice drama free place to hang out.
Hope to see you around, and good luck w/ the novel!

~Michelle~

Stayathomedad replied: Thanks again for all the nice words.

Michelle, I am about 70,000 words into my novel at this point. That's a little over two thirds done. My writer's group is going to critique the first few chapters at the end of this month. I'm only allowed to submit fifty pages per month, so it'll be about eight months before they see the whole thing.

I'm hoping to get my first fifty pages really tight, then start working on a synopsis and query letters to see if there's any interest in my book. Hoping for the best. ;-)

Thanks again,
Geoff.

3xsthefun replied: Hello and Welcome

My name is Tina and I am a sahm to 2 girls Kaitlynn, she will be 5 years old next month. Maegan she will be 14 months in a few days.

Kaitlin'smom replied: Hi and welocme I appaud you for being a stay at home dad. it sad when people stero type. I am glad we have another daddy on board. I look foward to getting to know you.