On July 19, 1910, the governor of the U.S. state of Washington proclaimed the nation’s first "Father’s Day." However, it was not until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official, that the day became a nationwide holiday in the United States.
Thinking of my Father today. He passed away on May 2, 1972
Front row: My Dad, my Mom and my brother, Louis
Back row: My sister, Una Mae, me and my sister, Leona
I always read my hometown newspaper online when I get up in the morning. This morning there is a very interesting article about a STAY AT HOME DAD. I would like to share it with you.
Dad Staying Home Works For Some Families
Troy Bradley coaxes Sam, 2, to eat a grape during breakfast at their Bismarck home last week. Bradley and his wife Mandy, an emergency room doctor at St. Alexius Medical Center, decided that Troy as a stay-at-home dad was a better choice than taking their three boys to day care.
Last week, as Troy Bradley was getting a ride home from a shop where he was having his vehicle serviced, the driver asked, "So, what to you do?"
It’s a question Bradley has been hearing for about the last four years.
"I stay at home," was his response.
Bradley is one of a growing number of fathers who stay at home with the kids while the mother works, financially supporting the family.
Bradley and his wife, Mandy, have three young sons: Ben, 5; Sam, who turned 2 Thursday; and Eli, 3 months.
An optician for 10 years in Beulah, Bradley returned to college at North Dakota State University, earning a degree in computer science in 2002.
Mandy Bradley is an emergency room physician at St. Alexius Medical Center, working rotating shifts. About the time Ben, their oldest son turned 2, their careers began to create some conflict.
Troy Bradley said his wife is scheduled to work today, Father’s Day, and the "boys" in the family have no definite plans.
He said his dad was planning to come down Saturday and build a sandbox and after that project, "We might go play some golf."
"We were pretty hit and miss for awhile," Mandy Bradley said. "It was hand the baby off and go to work."
With her income as a physician, they decided he would stay home to take care of their son.
Bradley said for the first year, he found himself feeling the need to defend himself as a stay-at-home dad when people asked what he did for a living.
He worked remotely from home for a few months until son number two, Sam, came along.
The Bradleys are making it work — with Mandy Bradley working shifts, her days off often come in blocks of three or four — and that means more time together as a family.
He takes care of the day-to-day around the house, chores, meal preparation and shopping.
He said his mother, Karen, was a stay-at-home mom, so he had a good teacher.
"I have gained a new appreciation for how she did everything she did," Bradley said.
He has developed what he thinks is a pretty good system during the course of the almost four years he has been "Mr. Mom."
"I’m a list maker," said. "I like to work on one thing, finish it and then cross it off the list."
That works for chores, but not all. "Laundry," he laughed. I don’t think you’re ever done with that."
He does find time to get away for a little time for himself, At the YMCA he’s met more than a few other dads who are in the same situation.
He said he golfs and fishes a little and plays in a pool league and mentors youth through his church.
Bradley said there are groups locally called M.O.P.S., mothers of pre-schoolers and there is an inside joke with other dads that they should organize a P.O.P.S. club, or papas of preschoolers.
He still dabbles in web design and other computer programming and once their boys are older, he will return to the work force.
But for now, he’s relishing the opportunity to be around his sons as they grow, being able to see those "firsts" that many dads miss.
Things like their first steps, their first words, their first hit in baseball.
"It’s hard to put a price on those," he said.
I just logged onto Facebook and decided to add this to my blog. It is my oldest son, Garry, who has been a super dad to 4 children. Sarah, Erica, Garry, Laura and Randy. Taken last Christmas at Lake Tahoe.
Here is a SendOutCard for all Fathers
And if today, June 16th is your birthday, then this SendOutCard is for you.
Some famous people who were born on June 16th are:
James Maslow turns 23
Hilary Farr turns 51
Phil Mickelson turns 43
Abby Elliott turns 26
Rick Nash burns 29
Eddie Cibrian turns 40
John Cho turns 41
Kelly Biatz turns 26
Jim Dine turns 78
Joyce Carol Oates turns 75
Diana DeGarmo tuns 26
Laurie Metcalf turns 58
Eddie Levert turns 71
Joe Mcelderry turns 22
Joan Van Ark turns 70
Arnold Vesioo turns 51
Missy Peregrym turns 31
On June 16, 1978, the movie "Grease" is released, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
On June 16, 1996, for the first time since returning from retirement, Michael Jordon wins an NBA title.
SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
Thanks for stopping by today. Hope to see you again tomorrow.
Vel, Mom, Grandma, Great grandma
