PANIC

[Lusche]

Finally it happened.

This morning, my wife left my little boy and me... for work. A day I have dreaded for the last 9 months. 
Now it's here and I'm stuck at home with a severe attention deficit and a 7 month old boy who doesn't give a dam about it. 

Interesting times ahead 

[Mar]

There's a lot of info about your boy that needs to be charted and graphed, get to it!

[Copprhed]

He's getting old enough to start having fun with, enjoy this time, or you WILL regret it. Every minute lost is gone forever, and it's no fun to be like me....58 and lots of regrets.

[cpxxx]

All you can do is embrace it. This morning my wife left me again, leaving me to look after my two sons ages 7 and 6. Back to work after the holidays of course!

 This has been going on for years now. At first I struggled with the idea of it and it caused us problems. But I now embrace it and to tell the truth I enjoy it. I'm now the homemaker in the family and get to spend the precious early years with my children. I can never match my wife's income and with the cost of childcare any attempt to go back to work full time would only be an indulgence on my part. In truth even if I could match her salary I'm not sure I would anymore.

In any case what's not to like about my life? I don't have to go to work every morning and get to spend time with my children and I get paid to fly planes part of the time. This summer a friend wants me to help him ferry his plane over from Africa! Who gets to do that with a proper job?

I've looked after them since they were both babies and I have to say if there's a downside then I can't remember it. Which I suppose is a parent thing. Selective amnesia.

Meanwhile the noise level in the next room has increased so I better intervene before murder happens. 

What my fifteen year old self would have thought of this with his dreams of being a fighter pilot or airliner pilot is another matter. But fate can't be avoided sometime. I never thought I would end up like my Mother or my sisters. Home with the kids.

Enjoy it as best you can. So many Fathers miss most of the their children's lives. We're the lucky ones.

[pipz]

Huzzah!!!!!!!!! Jolly good show! Stiff upper lip old man!

[SmokinLoon]

Congrats on someone in your household being a contributing member of society.   

[Slate]

 Offline mode on another computer and have him blow away stuff with a tank, endless fun for him. My grandson when he was 4 loved it. 

[mbailey]

Meanwhile the noise level in the next room has increased so I better intervene before murder happens.  

Every parent that read this just laughed  

You will be fine Lusche. I have twins (boy/girl) and I still remember the advise my wife gave me the first time she left me alone with them @ 4months old
 
If it's crying it's 1 of 6 things
Hungry.......feed it
Sick......take it's temp, if it's 98.6 it's fine, if it's higher call wife
Hurt.......if there's blood, stop it then call wife
Bored......play with it
Tired......put it to bed
If it's sloshing around, or smells really bad change it

They are 14 now and still alive and healthy (I know this because they have cold wet noses last time I checked) so I think these 6 bits of wisdom must have worked.

Enjoy this time, I'm fortunate enough to work from home and was able to be with them a lot, I wouldn't change any of it for the world

[Curval]

Meanwhile the noise level in the next room has increased so I better intervene before murder happens. 

I lol'd.

My kids are now 15, 13 and 11.  They fight like cats and dogs.

I say one simple sentence to them now "One way or another this will end in tears" and I keep repeating it as the "Daddy, he hit me" or "Daddy, she was mean to me" come flowing in and I have been right so often that they just stop. 

[jeep00]

Congrats on someone in your household being a contributing member of society.   

Properly involved parenting is a contribution to society.

[cpxxx]

I lol'd.

My kids are now 15, 13 and 11.  They fight like cats and dogs.

I say one simple sentence to them now "One way or another this will end in tears" and I keep repeating it as the "Daddy, he hit me" or "Daddy, she was mean to me" come flowing in and I have been right so often that they just stop. 

My younger sister warned me it would be like that. Like a cartoon she said, a furball. She has two boys, both nearly grown now, one is in college studying something hi tech which will pay well and the other has been offered a number of soccer scholarships in various American colleges.

So far she's right. As I was posting the last comment there was a scream. When I got there son number one was applying a 'Garfield' band aid to his little brother's knee because he cut it while they fought. I didn't know whether to be proud or angry. He wants to be a soldier. It seems a medic might suit. Little brother was proud of his cut. This didn't stop him complaining that his big bro hurt him. But big bro was defiant and complained that little bro started it. You have to be Daddy and shout at them but you can't help feeling proud of them.

Like it or not this is my job now. I didn't apply for it or even want it. But my job now is to make those little men into big men who are self confident in themselves and who respect women. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.

[Dichotomy]

I can't say I did everything or even most things right as a single custodial parent but, in the end, I got not only a son but a best friend.  We argue, fuss, fight, and annoy each other but when the chips are down we got each others backs. I got this because I always put what was best for him first before my 'wants'.  Some people call that sacrifice and I hate that word.  I never not even ONCE gave up anything that was more important than him.  I got so much more back because I raised a better man than me.  So embrace these times my friend.  Never forget to let yourself be a kid around your children.  Invest yourself in their interests (I know ALL about pokemon and yugioh because of him) and you'll form a bond that will never be broken.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I can't say I did everything or even most things right as a single custodial parent but, in the end, I got not only a son but a best friend.  We argue, fuss, fight, and annoy each other but when the chips are down we got each others backs. I got this because I always put what was best for him first before my 'wants'.  Some people call that sacrifice and I hate that word.  I never not even ONCE gave up anything that was more important than him.  I got so much more back because I raised a better man than me.  So embrace these times my friend.  Never forget to let yourself be a kid around your children.  Invest yourself in their interests (I know ALL about pokemon and yugioh because of him) and you'll form a bond that will never be broken.(Image removed from quote.)

There's a line between being your childs friend and a parent. Pokemon is definitely beyond that line to me lol. But if it worked for you...

[Dichotomy]

There's a line between being your childs friend and a parent. Pokemon is definitely beyond that line to me lol. But if it worked for you...

oh he well knew where the lines were and when not to cross them.  That's what made it work.  Honesty and communication. 

[bozon]

Finally it happened.

This morning, my wife left my little boy and me... for work. A day I have dreaded for the last 9 months. 
Now it's here and I'm stuck at home with a severe attention deficit and a 7 month old boy who doesn't give a dam about it. 

Interesting times ahead 

Welcome to the daddy's club.