Hello everyone,
My name is Justin Teal. I am thirty one and I have been blessed to be a stay-at-home dad for the past three years. I have been married to my best friend for the past ten years. We have two little girls. The oldest is four and the youngest is two. My wife is supporting us while I watch our girls and attend school at night at Saint Leo University. I am majoring in Elementary Education. I currently have one year left to complete my degree. As for most of you moms out there at first it was hard getting used to being at home with my children. Not because I did not love them, just the loss of my personal identity along with being cut off from the outside world. Well that is enough about me in this first post, but I will be posting a lot more from now on. I have been asked by Ocalamom.com to be a male voice for all of the other dads out there. I hope that if anyone needs help in any way that they will feel free to contact me either here or by email. My email is stage845@yahoo.com. I look forward to talking with all of you very soon.
Justin Teal

Welcome, Justin!

Was there a lot of convincing done at first for you to become a SAHD? (I just ask after what my husband said when I joked w/ him about it....)

Hey,
No it did not take a lot of convincing for me to be the first, in fact I did not know that I was the first. When I was asked to post and talk about the dad’s point of view I was honored. I have found that if you are a single dad or a stay-at-home dad it is very hard to find support groups. For moms it is hard work being at home and taking care of the house and the family there is no question. In fact I feel that it is one of the most demanding jobs out there, but for dads it is even harder. All support groups and playgroups are labeled Mom’s day out, Mommy and me, and anything else you can come up with always starts out with Mommy. I know that is because in the past Moms have taken on the role as care giver for the family. It can be very hard to feel at ease in those groups for dads. It’s not that we dads don’t want to be a part of those groups it just there are a lot of fears tied to them. For example what if the moms think we are there for the wrong reason like meeting someone or what if our spouse gets jealous? I know that it would be very hard for a women to go to an all mans group. Over all it is an honor to be able to spend great quality time with our children during their primary years, even if it is hard. This time goes by so rapidly and we can never have these special moments again.

Justin Teal

Hi Justin! Welcome! Sounds like you really "get it". I guess we'll have to change our events to Parents Night Out

I have an almost 2 year old and a 4 year old, too. A girl and a boy.

I've always wondered how my hubby would do as a SAHD. Too bad I'm not willing to give up my spot I enjoy being home w/ my kiddos way too much!

Hi Justin,

Good to see a SAHD on here! We have had SAHD's off and on in our playgroup . I think it is great that you stay at home with the kids. My husband could never do that. He is too impatient.

Laura Dempsey
Organizer for the Ocala Stay at Home Moms Group on www.sahm.meetup.com/13/

Welcome Ocaladad!! Its great to hear about sahd...if your studying to be a teacher..your getting some good training at home

What grade do you want to teach, Justin?

I really want to teach k-2. I really want to set a good foundation for my students that will carry them through the rest of school.

My degree is an Early Childhood degree (through 3rd grade). I taught at-risk pre-k and Kindergarten at Dr. NH Jones. I LOVE the younger ages! Good luck!