I hated it, Rebeldad hated it, but NBC's terrible Meet Mr Mom TV series was snatched out of NBC's dumpster after rotting for almost 2 years by the Internet video-on-demand firm Akimbo. The 2005 show is poised to air on their web TV site to make a few bucks. You will do better with Japan's effort titled "At-Home Dad" which actually ran longer.... it's even available on eBay now if you can translate the language.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul people are looking for some at home dad fodder for their next book, Chicken Soup for the Father and Son.  They want inspirational, true stories, 1000 words or less, that will make readers laugh, cry, jump for joy, find peace, or just say "wow." Stories should be positive, universal, and non-controversial. The "message" should be evident without preaching. No essays, tributes, letters, philosophical or biographical pieces will be accepted.  This pretty much eliminates an entry from the fabulous Jay Allen of  Zero Boss, so if your style is closer to his, go this route..

A huge thank you to Bruce of Seattle Dads for going though the playgroup list I have maintained since the mid 90's. When I had the hardcopy version of the At-Home Dad Newsletter, I listed over 300 individual dads looking to start up groups which needed to be maintained heavily. Eventually due to the transitional nature of the at-home dad and my laziness they would disappear leaving a deadly trail of non-responding links.  Bruce painstakingly  tracked down every link from my list and other dad sites and listed the established ones here.    He's offered to share his database so if you want in on the action send him an e-mail and be nice to him. Due to his efforts I've cleaned up my list, which I will promise I will maintain. I'll still continue to include individual dads who are looking to start a group as well as the larger groups.

When the media "discovered" at-home dads back in the early 90's  we squirmed through a series of pieces comparing us to the Mr. Mom movie, the media just lapped it up and drooled for more. As the skepticism of dads parenting skills gave way to praise, the stories slowly dissolved to syrupy father's day pieces to fill the producers quota during the Father's Day Holiday season. The Today Show's last gasp of at-home dad playgroups  featured the Seattle At-Home Dads last May and they treated me with kid's gloves.  Now that we've been beaten up, sweet talked and forgiven, they showed us what it would take to feature an at-home moms playgroup....a glass of wine.   Armed with the Oprah-sanctioned Dr Janet Taylor and  Meredith View Viera, they ganged up on mommy blogger Melissa Summers of Suburban Bliss because they found out some mommy groups threw in a bottle of wine in their diaper bag.  The segment created a Mooninite-like blog buzz on dozens of mommy blogs and a few daddy ones.  Funny thing.....the Aqua Teen Hunger Force "hoax", didn't scare New York City  where the Today show is aired, but a mom with a glass of wine in her hand gets transformed into a scary piece titled  Happy Hour for Moms.   It's a mom drinking a glass of wine!! Get over it!! . Now get yourself a can of beer and check out  Melissa's take on the whole stupid thing.

In this weeks Time Magazine, Matt Lauer hinted that he could join the at-home dad ranks.. He was asked where he sees himself in 10 years. His reply? Probably on some baseball field coaching my son's Little League.  At some point I'll take early retirement to be a stay-at-home dad, Mr Mom. Too bad he had to clarify what an at-home dad was by throwing in the M word. Check back here in in 10 years, I'll keep you posted. 

Last week the At-Home Dad Network Message Board  reached a milestone ... it's 1000th member. Below is a post put up by a Wyoming at-home dad on that board just a few days ago.  I say we sign up the supermarket cashier mentioned in the post for the convention keynote.  It's nice to see the ladies sticking up for the dads in public for a change. 

     Good change and something that might offer a bit of positive in our struggle against societal norms. I had a surprise moment of support this very week at the grocery store we frequent. On Wednesday it is grocery day. The three year old and I have been going since his first year and now the infant travels along. We've gotten to know almost all of the cashiers. They know that I am a home dad and have the babies every day.
Yesterday, the infant was in prime gurgle-coo mode and we were cooing back and running the typical "no" argument game (we have made it into a weekly ritual verbal game that the little boy loves- he holds up anything he can pick up and says, "I need this" and I say no in a variety of ways) in the check out line wait. Suddenly this older woman and her mother were in line behind me and began a litany of comments about the situation, "Must be dad's day off. Maybe he was laid off. Maybe he works in the oil field..." and criticisms, "My kids would never ask for so much stuff. That baby probably needs changed (for real this was said) Look at the snot on that kids face." (there was snot on the infants face) I was doing my best to ignore as I unloaded my cart and continued the "no" game. They were really loud. I get this sort of thing often (it sounds like some of you guys do too) so it really wasn't a big deal. Maybe a few years build tough skin.
     Then, out of nowhere (I was still busy) the cashier said in a loud voice, "Excuse me ladies." We all turned. Then she commenced to tell them off. I wish I could remember everything she said, it was quite powerful for me. But it was to the gist that I was an excellent father, was a stay at home dad by choice, took excellent care of my kids, and had less problems than most mothers she sees in this line. Then the cashier in the line behind us agreed in a loud voice. I think I turned bright crimson and got a bit watery in the eyes.
    The ladies didn't say another word. I thanked the cashier, still feeling hyper-humbled. She winked and told me it had to be said. I guess what we do doesn't always go unnoticed. It is also nice when it is acknowledged. And, I have to say, I haven't felt this puffed up about the choice to stay home. 

(The vid at top is just eye candy enjoy...)

On November 11th, 2006 between 8 am and 5 pm, the At-Home Dad’s Convention will be beginning its second decade in a new home, Kansas City, Missouri. Hosted by the University of Missouri’s Women’s Center, this year’s convention is geared towards helping the at-home dad make his job easier. Some of the breakout sessions that will be offered this year include: Keeping Track Of Your Kids On The Internet,  Growing Your At-Home Dad Group, Informational Resources For At-Home Dads, Home Business Networking, Kids, Nutrition, and Behavior, Investing For The Future , Digital Photography Archiving, Child Safety,  “Is it just my kid?” An Age-Group Based open Forum and how to Create and Publish a Blog.  Big thanks for all those who have taken on this volunteer effort to keep the convention going!

Watch today's Google fight search battle between "Mr Mom" and "At Home Dad"  "Mr Mom" has always won this catfight until today.

Here's the Video for the The Seattle At-Home Dads Group that was on the Today Show this Monday morning.  Chris Nelson of the group was featured.  We had a fun night in New York and didn't get into the Survivor Finale, but we did spot past survivor winner Ethan who also ended up interviewing my wife for a CBS promo (in picture). The next morning we had fun with the Today show where I huddled with other nervous book authors in the green room for 30 minutes before they smothered us with make up for our interview with Ann Curry, (it's right after the Seattle playgroup video).  We were in and out of there in 4 minutes, then flown back to New England just in time to pump out our flooded basement in our North Andover, MA home.

My Wife and I do a quickie in NY,  but before I get into that, the Seattle At-Home Dads Group, will be on the NBC Today Show on Monday (the 15th).  Ed C. of Renton, WA reports that his Seattle group and one of their dads will be profiled . He also noted that they got a nice write-up in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last month. As for the quickie, My wife and I  will be interviewed for a few minutes on the show during the segment, (so don't blink or you miss it). The Seattle segment will show during the 9 o'clock hour EST, so who knows what time it will end up in your area, (in the East coast its either 9 or 10 am depending on your programming).  Since I'll be hanging out in New York Sunday night, does anyone have tickets for the Survivor Finale??