Keli started a new job, part-time at first with future full-time in the plan, today, which means I’m again a Stay At Home Dad. I’ve been unemployed since March and, while I’ve been looking for work, there is simply more job seekers than job providers for my line of work. Of the hundreds of applications, emails, resumes, etc., that I’ve sent out I’ve only received one response. It was a nicely-worded, “You’re qualified, but we found a person more qualified” email.

I’m not bitter though. Really.

When Thing 2 was a baby, I worked graveyard and so I was done with work around 10 or 11 in the morning and I was able to spend the day with him, pick Thing 1 up from kindergarten and, in general, got to be more involved with the kids’ daily activities. I’m pretty excited to take up the mantle again, even for the few days a week that Keli’s working.

Thing 2 also started Cub Scouts last week, so he’s working toward his Tiger Cub Badge. What started out to be his Parent Partner and sort of Den Leader helper is looking like I’ve been nominated (and by “nominated” I mean when asked for volunteers, everyone took a step backward while I was caught off guard) to be the “official-unofficial” Den Leader.

I’m still looking for work and hoping the right job comes around so money won’t be so tight and Keli can go back to being home with the kids because a goal of mine was to be well off enough where my wife didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to.

So, as it turns out, one cannot quit the Stroller Brigade (a term I gave to the armada of moms at the kids’ school back when Thing 1 was in kindergarten). Sort of like being a crew member on The Flying Dutchman.