Accidental House Life

It seems impossible but the reality of being a house husband doesn't become any easier to live with, even after 7 years. It seems impossible that after 7 years of "practice" I still get things wrong. It seems impossible but after all this time I still can't balance the budget, get the shopping right, have all the correct clothes clean, the house spotless, shoes clean, dishwasher emptied or even (most mornings) have time to sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit before remembering something that needed to be done. Now, dear reader, this isn't a rant about how tough this job is. Ask anyone whose done it, they'll be very pleased to tell you. No, this is a post about acceptance. After 7 years I have accepted that how I feel is ok. It's ok because that is the job. I know many who experience high levels of stress over their role as a stay at home parent, and I, the man with the accidental house life, have decided to no longer feel this way. The house isn'

Never write angry, that's the piece of advice I received when I first started blogging, hence no post yesterday. 24 hours later, the anger still lingers, steam gently issues from my ears, but I can breathe in a normal manner and no longer feel the need to shout at everyone. "But what has made you feel this way?" I hear you ask dear reader, so I shall answer the best I can without shouting or swearing (can't promise though so you may need to cover your eyes). Money. That terrible 5 letter word that no-one wants to utter but is always in our minds. I will take a leap of assumption and say that you, dear reader, have experience with raising a child or multiples thereof. You know how expensive a task this is. The givens of cost being clothes, shoes, food (apparently, although why they need so much is beyond me, I mean, they're tiny, where does it all go?) and fluids. Then we have the expected costs, such as hair cuts, birthday presents, Christmas and Easter. Then

Now that the girl child is in juniors and the boy child has gone into year 1, a new question has arisen in the Castle. Is it time for the full time stay at home dad to go back to the coal face? Now the list of pro's to return to work is long, the list of con's not so much, so here end'th the discussion. Right? Well apparently not. There are certain things that become second nature for the whole house when there is a stay at home parent. Clothes are clean, the house is of a state where you don't die of shame should visitors come a calling, meals are fresh and there is an instantly available parent needed when required at school. The dishwasher is empty, homework is complete, further study can be undertaken, emergency shops can be preformed and all deliveries can be accepted in person. Dogs can be walked, animals fed, cars MoT'd, bills paid on time and deals for broadband organised. I should go on but the point is made. But is that enough? Should I stay at home be

   It's never a good thing when the morning starts off with shouting. It's never a good thing when the kids are leaving for school wiping away tears from a morning telling off. It's never a good thing, but it happens. It happens, not because you're a bad parent, not because you can't control your children and not because your kids are spoilt beyond belief (I believe that was the centre point of this mornings sermon). No, it happens because 4 humans into 1 house at rush o'clock in the morning doesn't always go.    Let me share with you, my dear reader, a short insight into the morning of Castle accidentalhouselife. The wonderful wife is an early riser, not by choice but, by necessity of work. Unfortunately for yours truly, that means so are the kids. The boy child is a 6am man, whilst the girl child prefers the more relaxing 6.30. Joyfully this means a family that sees each other before the day begins. Not so joyfully this also means that at any one time 4

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Thoughts of a Househusband. : Summer Is Over, Time For a Holiday. So the long we... : Summer Is Over, Time For a Holiday. So the long weeks of 4 people in the house instead of 1 have come to an end. The irony of being the...

Summer Is Over, Time For a Holiday. So the long weeks of 4 people in the house instead of 1 have come to an end. The irony of being the stay at home parent. 5 weeks of 24/7, no breaks, spending money you really don't have, no time alone, still up at ridiculous o'clock, when will it end, do we have to go to Sea life, AGAIN, has finally come to an end. The period of your life that truly conflicts with those around you that is the school summer holidays. Now I'm luckier than some. The better half works in education so she is available, in the house, on trips out, helping tidy, prepping food for a BBQ, keeping the kids entertained, all round being lovely. But here in lies another issue. That means I now have another adult in my work environment. I know, I'm whinging, but hear me out. I assume most other long term stay at home parents now view what they do as a job. If so, they, like me will have a work routine. Now, dear reader, put yourself in our position. All of