The kinds of stories that I like tend to fit best in the young adult fantasy genre.  And these are the kinds of stories that I actually write and that I'm trying to get published. People have told me (and they were trying to be helpful, so I'm not offended or anything) that I should write something else that I might find easier to get published. 

For example, even my wife has said that maybe I should write a nonfiction book about being a SAHD.

That would be a great idea and all, but... that doesn't seem even remotely interesting to me, at this point in my life.  And I can't imagine going through the hard, long journey that writing a book can be and working on something that I'm not excited about.

Right now, my writing schedule entails going out 2-3 times per week in the evenings to Starbucks, getting a cup of coffee, and having a date with my laptop.  And trust me, I really like doing this. I like escaping into whatever world I'm imagining and fleshing out a story bit by bit. But it's really not a lot of time when you think about it.  Occasionally I can write at other odd times, but I don't want to take too much time away from my family.

Obviously, the hope is that eventually, should I get a book published, it will help me get a job, and then my wife can quit her job to stay home with the kiddos and direct children's plays and we can live traditionally ever after.  Or something like that.

But the point is this... Some peope say write what you know, I say write what you love.  That's what I do. And as long as I don't have a job that supports the family (and trust me, I apply for them as I see them), that's what I'm going to do. Because, that's really all I can do.

So I’ve been a stay-at-home Dad (SAHD for those tracking acronym trend) for the past 9 years. It all started when my first child was born (obviously not before). 

My wife and I got married while we were in graduate school, and then Katie came along about 2 years later. Since my wife was finished with school and I wasn’t yet, she found the job with the insurance, and I settled into the job of going to class, writing papers, and changing diapers.

From there, it was always easier for her to find jobs, and so I continued to stay at home while girl number 2, then 3, then, most recently, 4, came along.  

Four daughters, ages 9, 6, 3, and 1. Yes, you should feel both sorry for me and jealous (that I have 4 beautiful daughters).

My wife has always said that I should flaunt this fact about myself and make it my “thing.”  (kind of like how some people run marathons or have a cool motorcycle or something.)  Like that will help me stand out from the flocks of writers and get published.  I have my doubts about this, but whatever.  What do I have to lose?

So some of this blog will be devoted to the trials and tribulations of being a SAHD to four daughters. There’s a lot of stories I can relay here.  Oh, and did I mention I homeschool  as well?  Yeah, blog fodder for years…

Of course, when you have little ones and something like this happens, questions invariably follow. 

"Dad, what if it was filled with lava? Would you make us play in the front yard?" or "Dad, what if it was filled with Kool-aid and it was clean, would you let us drink the whole thing?"

See, even at that age their imaginations run wild, which is a good thing.

Unfortunately, for an adult, in the backyard (and in the case of my writing, a story) the last thing you want to see is a gaping hole.