The Benefits of Being Home

    by Jay Hathaway

A few years ago, I was a weekend bartender trying to finish up college.  Bartending worked well for me during my 20s, but I wanted something more for myself, so I set out to finish my journalism degree that I had started at Bowling Green State University in the late 1990s.  In my early 30s, I had just about had enough of the bar.  My knees were shot, my feet were sore, and the charm of being surrounded by inebriates had worn off.

Furthermore, my wife had just given birth to our son, who came in addition to our two daughters, so the hours of a bartender did not work well with having a little one to take care of.  Luckily, my wife had just become a registered nurse, and was making some really good money.  She suggested that I become a “stay home” dad, so that I could focus on school and fatherhood.  I was hesitant at first (being without a steady job made me nervous), but decided to give it a try.

And what a rewarding experience it was!  I was able to bond with my new son in wonderful ways.  We are best buddies, in fact.  Additionally, I was able to graduate (with honors) from the University of Toledo with a BA in Communication and Public Relations.  If that weren’t enough, I have been given the opportunity to do a lot of freelance writing for a couple of excellent local newspapers in the process!

My son is now going on his fifth year, and I have been writing steadily, moving quickly toward my dream of working as a full-time newswriter.  Though I am still able to do the majority of my work from home, I know that a full-time position will change that.  This

The Little Man and Daddy

means that I will probably be heading out to an office sometime very soon for my daily work, which is exciting, because I have missed getting out and about on a daily basis.  Still, the change will be bittersweet, I’m sure.

I know that a lot of our Time to Save members can relate to my story.  Let’s face it—many of you online deal-seekers are probably stay-home moms or dads, as well.  I know this because I became an online shopper through my time at home.  So to you all, I offer a salute to your hard work (yes, it is a LOT of work—more than I ever did for any employer), and to your dedication to family.  Take a minute to truly enjoy being home.