My Fatherly Duty

The time has come.  Christmas vacation!  This time of year usually filled with the mirth and excitement of gift giving and receiving, Secret Santas, fully-decked halls and Christmas trees.  The sounds of Bing Crosby and Perry Como on the airwaves recall times past and can make you feel, for a minute, that you are living amongst the crooners.  Smells of traditional foods waft through neighborhoods and houses, and we can feel free to let loose and indulge in the goodies, along with letting loose he top buttons of our pants.  This year has been no different in most cases.  My annual Christmas party with my brother and close inner circle of friends has already happened (Titled 'Christmas - Patient Zero' this year). My traditional pork pies, or tourtiere for all you French-Canadians, have already been made and enjoyed.  Eggnog has flowed freely, as have numerous other festive libations.  Presents have been bought, wrapped, and exchanged, and some are still awaiting Christmas day and celebrations with in-laws this weekend. Our Christmas tree is tall and proud, and displays the finest ornaments from throughout my wife Elizabeth's and my own childhood. This year, however, there is a big difference that becomes more real every day.

Baby.

Elizabeth is expecting to give birth on January 6th (or 11th depending on which doctor or nurse you believe). We are super excited for the new addition to our family, and have been spending much time preparing for our baby.  Part of those preparations involved an important conversation about childcare.  Elizabeth is a librarian and project manager-in-training, and I work with the Office of Data and Accountability in the Boston Public Schools.  Both of our jobs involve long days, longer that childcare is generally available. Childcare is VERY expensive in this area as well, and frankly, neither one of us was thrilled to have somebody else raise our first child.  We wanted that privilege.  So that brought the question forward: Who would stay home with the baby?

That question brings us to today.  I have wanted to be a father for a long time, and it is an honor for me to be able to do MY FATHERLY DUTY (title of the blog...see?) and stay home with the baby.  Elizabeth fully supported this decision, and I immediately gave my notice in October.  My last day of work with Boston Public Schools will be the 2nd of January, 2014.  I gave my written notice yesterday, and today (a planned day off) it is beginning to sink in.

This blog will chronicle the journey of me (Jon Swift - a new parent in the very new and still controversial category of stay-at-home dad), my wife (Elizabeth), and our soon-to-be born son (Samuel Grey Swift).  I will discuss the joys and trials of this new job from the viewpoint of the stay-at-home dad, including the variety of questions and comments I receive.  I will also write about products I am using and will try to impart my two cents about them. I hope you enjoy reading about this journey, and I'm excited to share it with you!