Advice - Version 1

I want to create a list of a few things I'd say to any prospective stay-at-home dads out there. Call it advice, if you'd like, but really it's more for me than it is anyone else. I want to get this all down because I think it might help me figure out what's been working and what has not.

So here you go. A rough draft.

1. Keep a journal of some sort - For me, obviously, it's been a blog. You're going to spend a lot of time with a little person who's not much of a conversationalist. You're going to need some kind of outlet for your thoughts, reflections, etc. It also helps you keep track of the days and provides measure for what seems like an endless line of diaper changes and sloppy mealtimes.
2. Get out of your house at least once each day - Regardless of the weather, I try to visit a library or go to the mall to stave off cabin fever. Otherwise, I get restless and the baby's disposition sours. A little fresh air. A miniature mission that you can accomplish. A change of scenery. Leaving home does wonders for your state of mind. However, I must add that my neighbor is a stay-at-home mom and she literally never leaves the house. I'm not sure where her head is at right now but if I was her I'd have lost my mind long ago.
3. Expect ups and downs - Though things don't change too much from day to day, somehow somedays are great and some are awful. It might have something to do with blood sugar levels or some other aspect of body chemistry. I'm not really sure what it's all about. All I know is that there are pretty big emotional highs and lows. If you at least expect them to come and go, it helps you to make sense of what's going on.
4. Don't watch television - The experts recommend no t.v. for tots until age 2 but that's not the real reason you should avoid daytime t.v. The real reason is because everything on during the day sucks. It's a programming wasteland. Unless you like watching Judge Judy or one of the four quintillion knock-off judges banging their gavels on the daytime television landscape you are out of luck.

Okay. That's all I've got so far. It is written. I have spoken. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.