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Working at Home

Is it For You?

By Greg Downs

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, who did much of his research and writing at his home office for nearly a decade.

Frank, like Giardina, used babysitters and nannies to cover part of the business day, but that didn't keep him from rushing downstairs to check on his children. "For me, my first priority was always being a stay-at-home dad, so I took care of my kids first. When I scheduled my interviews, I always planned it for when my wife could take care of my kids, or when the kids were on a regular napping schedule."

Massey turned naps into a boon for his business. While he did not use an at-home babysitter, he had the benefit of a son who for years took two regular two-hour naps a day. As Tucker settled to sleep, Massey would frantically catch up on phone calls and e-mails. "I had mothers who called me nasty names because he took two-hour naps," says Massey. "I said, 'It's a dad thing, you wouldn't understand.'"

Fighting Isolation
Despite the almost constant attention from their children, many work-at-home fathers report feelings of loneliness and isolation, according to Frank, who, in addition to being an author, is also an assistant professor of psychology at Oakton Community College in suburban Chicago. "You have to get out without the child," says Frank. "Join a dad-to-dad group. Go to the park district. Get out to the mall. You've got to be with other people."

For the past four years, in an effort to encourage that kind of contact -- and to spur more academic research -- Frank has organized the At-Home Dad Convention, to be held this year on November 18 at Oakton Community College in suburban Chicago. Massey started a local fathering group and is active with Slowlane.com, an online resource for at-home fathers, while Kelly participated in for at-home fathers.


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