When I first became a single dad of a two and a half-year-old energetic baby boy, I knew that it was not going to be a piece of cake. however, I did not think that I would lose two jobs and get fired from another because of him. But I did. I never ventured out to be a stay-at-home dad. But, being at home with my son was something I soon learned to appreciate. At first I was wondering, what would others think of me, a very healthy and strong mature man sitting around the house everday? However, it was not just sitting around the house everyday, I was going to the supermarket, cooking, washing dishes, doing the launday changing diapers,disciplining, teaching, soon getting my son off to school everyday. I was also dealing with his behavior in school, and his teachers, and other school officials. I was learning a new job along with new skills htrough my on hand experiences. I had soon given up the horrors of having some complete stanger care for my while I was away at work. Actually, when he was with babysitters it seemed that his behavior had gotten even worse than before. I soon learned that a few people who called themselves babysitters or caregivers of small children, some did not like children. It was all about the money. Therefore, in some meetings with them, I found some to have very attitudes, and had thoughts of how to best overcharge their clients whom some of them thought were in desperated need of their childcare services. Again, for some of them it was a easy buck to call themselves caregivers of small children. Some of them should have taken some parenting classes before calling themselves caregivers. They needed to understand small children and their needs. I have had many jobs offers during my stay-at-home ordeal. However, I reluctantly and temporarily turned them all down. I did that for lots of reasons relating to my young son and his care. Most notably was because I could no longer concentrate on the job at hand and at what my employers expected of me, and what paid me for. When at some job, my thoughts would always be on my young son, and what the caregivers where doing to him or what they were not doing for him. And at the same time I was also going through a very nasty divorce. That didn't help matters any. But still I had to make a decision. In the beginning, the decision would impact my income, my stature in the community, and maybe my self esteem. I would have to put off relocating, buying a house, and getting a better car. We would live off my savings that I had the bank for our needs. Therefore, I had finally my the decision of my life. So there I was, a stay-at-home dad.Most of the single parents in my community were young mothers. Some of them were surprise and even supportive once they found out that I was s singel father of a three year old.It was unusual for some of them to see a male actually taking a part in his child's life. Denver has long been settled in school now. However, it took a while for him to get use the the routine. I had to sit with him, in his class everyday because of behavior problems, I hold myself at fault for being off at work everyday and some unskilled caregivers, I had him with at the time, for his behavior That is when I learned that valued lession, and that is children crave to have parent at home full time. After learning for lession, I still can't understand why some parents of very young children would want to let complete strangers,including relatives, care for their children while they are at work. I know that the rent, mortagage, and car payments and other bills have to be met. Most most would be losing out on all the fun of being around young children can be. They would lost out on watching their children grow up right in front of very eyes. It is much fun listening to them trying to learn how to talk. Young Children need their parents more then their jobs need them as employees. If parents keep dumping their young children off every morning and evening with strangers, they will lose their children in many ways. For example, the children will grow up to act irresponible. They will have no respect for their parents or anyone. They will refuse to do household chores. They will become demanding. They will start to fail in school.They may began breaking the law. And some children may even grow up to dislike their parents for not being there. I heard some parents say, that their children drives them crazy. I say, it's the job of young children to make us a little crazy. If they didn't give us headaches every now and then, some would be worried. Therefore, stay at home with young children until you are sure that he or she has firm footing to be successful without you being around all the time. I'm not avocating, that no one give up a job, I'm just saying spend more time with children and they will surely make you proud. copyright 2006 www.freewebs.com/gwilder |