Yesterday was my wife’s last day of work and my last day as a Stay-At-Home-Dad (SAHD).  This is a pretty big deal for us.  I’ve written about the day itself here and posted a bunch of pictures as well.

The biggest part of it is the changing of roles.  The two of us have had many different circumstances since we were married more than six years ago.  We’ve both worked, she worked while I was in seminary, I worked and she went to part-time, we moved and both worked full-time. Then last March, I lost my job and she became sole “breadwinner”.  [By the way, how comical is that title “breadwinner”.  The only 2 things that come to mind are a Price Is Right-style game show in which contestants win bread or a state lottery in place of food stamps in which only the lucky get something to eat.  The first is ridiculous and the second is tragic.  Neither seems to be the point of the term.]  We had done this before, of course, when I was in seminary, but that was before kids and, to be honest, it wasn’t supposed to happen.  The plan was for me to work and for her to be home.

So now we get the plan.  But really, is that the point?

I stick by my assessment that every father should be required to stay at home for a while. Even if we aren’t as good at it as Will Arnett‘s character in Up All Night.  We should still do it. And we should see our families as something other than a commodity.

Next week, I’ll be starting as Priest-in-Charge of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in St. Clair, Michigan.  New challenges.  New opportunities.  New life.