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What I’ve learned being a stay at home dad | Glen Henry | TEDxMidAtlantic


all right I want to tell you how I got

all right I want to tell you how I got my super powers through fatherhood I was

my super powers through fatherhood I was

my super powers through fatherhood I was working a job I hated okay and I don’t

working a job I hated okay and I don’t

working a job I hated okay and I don’t know if anyone here ever worked the job

know if anyone here ever worked the job

know if anyone here ever worked the job they hate it has anyone here ever worked

they hate it has anyone here ever worked

they hate it has anyone here ever worked a job they hate it okay good cuz I’m not

a job they hate it okay good cuz I’m not

a job they hate it okay good cuz I’m not alone and I have something to confess

alone and I have something to confess

alone and I have something to confess and I don’t want you guys to judge me

and I don’t want you guys to judge me

and I don’t want you guys to judge me feels like a safe space this is safe

feels like a safe space this is safe

feels like a safe space this is safe space okay good okay I was working the

space okay good okay I was working the

space okay good okay I was working the job I hated my manager and I were not

job I hated my manager and I were not

job I hated my manager and I were not getting along okay I was sitting in my

getting along okay I was sitting in my

getting along okay I was sitting in my car looking in the rearview mirror

car looking in the rearview mirror

car looking in the rearview mirror trying to figure out what’s friend I

trying to figure out what’s friend I

trying to figure out what’s friend I could call to call in a bomb threat so I

could call to call in a bomb threat so I

could call to call in a bomb threat so I didn’t have to go back in the building

didn’t have to go back in the building

didn’t have to go back in the building okay this this this was having a lot of

okay this this this was having a lot of

okay this this this was having a lot of issues for me I was having a lot of

issues for me I was having a lot of

issues for me I was having a lot of issues at my job and I come home every

issues at my job and I come home every

issues at my job and I come home every day from work and my wife would ask me

day from work and my wife would ask me

day from work and my wife would ask me the same question and when you hate your

the same question and when you hate your

the same question and when you hate your job this is the worst question anyone

job this is the worst question anyone

job this is the worst question anyone could ask you she’d say hey babe how was

could ask you she’d say hey babe how was

could ask you she’d say hey babe how was your day

your day

your day and I’d say are you bringing up old

and I’d say are you bringing up old

and I’d say are you bringing up old stuff I just left there I don’t want to

stuff I just left there I don’t want to

stuff I just left there I don’t want to think about that place again see we were

think about that place again see we were

think about that place again see we were spending about 40 percent of my income

spending about 40 percent of my income

spending about 40 percent of my income on childcare we had one child and we

on childcare we had one child and we

on childcare we had one child and we were pregnant with our second child and

were pregnant with our second child and

were pregnant with our second child and we were trying to figure out how we were

we were trying to figure out how we were

we were trying to figure out how we were gonna fix this whole thing of this money

gonna fix this whole thing of this money

gonna fix this whole thing of this money situation and she said hey babe I got a

situation and she said hey babe I got a

situation and she said hey babe I got a great idea I said what’s up she said uh

great idea I said what’s up she said uh

great idea I said what’s up she said uh I think you’d be a great stay-at-home

I think you’d be a great stay-at-home

I think you’d be a great stay-at-home dad I was like why would you say

dad I was like why would you say

dad I was like why would you say something like that she said because

something like that she said because

something like that she said because babies like you

babies like you

babies like you I was like no they don’t she was like no

I was like no they don’t she was like no

I was like no they don’t she was like no they do like you and and I think it

they do like you and and I think it

they do like you and and I think it would be great for our children to see

would be great for our children to see

would be great for our children to see what love looks like coming from a

what love looks like coming from a

what love looks like coming from a father okay so I had issues with issues

father okay so I had issues with issues

father okay so I had issues with issues with this because I haven’t seen a lot

with this because I haven’t seen a lot

with this because I haven’t seen a lot of stay-at-home dads before and I I

of stay-at-home dads before and I I

of stay-at-home dads before and I I thought men would judge me so get this I

thought men would judge me so get this I

thought men would judge me so get this I said this please don’t be offended I

said this please don’t be offended I

said this please don’t be offended I said this I said you know that sounds

said this I said you know that sounds

said this I said you know that sounds boring and uh what do stay-at-home moms

boring and uh what do stay-at-home moms

boring and uh what do stay-at-home moms do all day anyway she smiled at me a

do all day anyway she smiled at me a

do all day anyway she smiled at me a smile only a woman full of knowledge can

smile only a woman full of knowledge can

smile only a woman full of knowledge can smile and said well this sense this

smile and said well this sense this

smile and said well this sense this should be easy for you and it will save

should be easy for you and it will save

should be easy for you and it will save us some money it seems like a no-brainer

us some money it seems like a no-brainer

us some money it seems like a no-brainer fast forward six months I’d been a

fast forward six months I’d been a

fast forward six months I’d been a stay-at-home dad for about a week I was

stay-at-home dad for about a week I was

stay-at-home dad for about a week I was standing in my bathroom looking into the

standing in my bathroom looking into the

standing in my bathroom looking into the mirror crying tears running all down my

mirror crying tears running all down my

mirror crying tears running all down my face my one-and-a-half year old was

face my one-and-a-half year old was

face my one-and-a-half year old was banging on a bathroom door because I

banging on a bathroom door because I

banging on a bathroom door because I locked them out you know crying tears

locked them out you know crying tears

locked them out you know crying tears running down his face and my newborn was

running down his face and my newborn was

running down his face and my newborn was in the bassinet crying tears running

in the bassinet crying tears running

in the bassinet crying tears running down his face I looked at myself in the

down his face I looked at myself in the

down his face I looked at myself in the mirror and I said which one of your

mirror and I said which one of your

mirror and I said which one of your friends could you call a call in a bomb

friends could you call a call in a bomb

friends could you call a call in a bomb threat man we got to get out of here

threat man we got to get out of here

threat man we got to get out of here see I had traded my manager for my

see I had traded my manager for my

see I had traded my manager for my children I didn’t know what I got myself

children I didn’t know what I got myself

children I didn’t know what I got myself into I thought I knew everything about

into I thought I knew everything about

into I thought I knew everything about being a stay-at-home parent and in fact

being a stay-at-home parent and in fact

being a stay-at-home parent and in fact I knew nothing at all

I knew nothing at all

I knew nothing at all because even though my manager was a was

because even though my manager was a was

because even though my manager was a was well at least my my children were a lot

well at least my my children were a lot

well at least my my children were a lot cuter than my manager they were just as

cuter than my manager they were just as

cuter than my manager they were just as demanding

what had I gotten myself into I thought

what had I gotten myself into I thought I knew everything about being a

I knew everything about being a

I knew everything about being a stay-at-home parent in fact I knew

stay-at-home parent in fact I knew

stay-at-home parent in fact I knew nothing I thought that all I had to do

nothing I thought that all I had to do

nothing I thought that all I had to do was feed them and change their diapers

was feed them and change their diapers

was feed them and change their diapers and they’d be fine like I really thought

and they’d be fine like I really thought

and they’d be fine like I really thought that that’s that’s it

that that’s that’s it

that that’s that’s it Sesame Street on TV keep them distracted

Sesame Street on TV keep them distracted

Sesame Street on TV keep them distracted applesauce and a bowl milk in a bottle

applesauce and a bowl milk in a bottle

applesauce and a bowl milk in a bottle they’d be fine but if you leave children

they’d be fine but if you leave children

they’d be fine but if you leave children alone they’ll get into just a little bit

alone they’ll get into just a little bit

alone they’ll get into just a little bit of mischief you know what else I thought

of mischief you know what else I thought

of mischief you know what else I thought I knew about being a stay-at-home parent

I knew about being a stay-at-home parent

I knew about being a stay-at-home parent I thought that all I had to do was take

I thought that all I had to do was take

I thought that all I had to do was take him to the park once a week because if I

him to the park once a week because if I

him to the park once a week because if I took him to the park

took him to the park

took him to the park once a week they’d be fine in fact I

once a week they’d be fine in fact I

once a week they’d be fine in fact I knew nothing at all okay if you take

knew nothing at all okay if you take

knew nothing at all okay if you take kids to park every day then that means

kids to park every day then that means

kids to park every day then that means they get dirty of the every day if they

they get dirty of the every day if they

they get dirty of the every day if they got dirty every day they need baths

got dirty every day they need baths

got dirty every day they need baths every day if they got baths every day I

every day if they got baths every day I

every day if they got baths every day I just don’t think you understand see

just don’t think you understand see

just don’t think you understand see having two kids under two you end up

having two kids under two you end up

having two kids under two you end up changing over 20 dirty diapers a day

changing over 20 dirty diapers a day

changing over 20 dirty diapers a day okay and if you give them a bath that’s

okay and if you give them a bath that’s

okay and if you give them a bath that’s just more nakedness and a higher

just more nakedness and a higher

just more nakedness and a higher probability of getting peed on and no

probability of getting peed on and no

probability of getting peed on and no one likes getting peed on even if it’s

one likes getting peed on even if it’s

one likes getting peed on even if it’s from a baby

from a baby

from a baby but I read this article by father Lee

but I read this article by father Lee

but I read this article by father Lee which sites has surveyed them by two

which sites has surveyed them by two

which sites has surveyed them by two detergent companies only Moen persons

detergent companies only Moen persons

detergent companies only Moen persons and they did this study and it said that

and they did this study and it said that

and they did this study and it said that at two hours a day prisoners get more

at two hours a day prisoners get more

at two hours a day prisoners get more outside time than children

outside time than children

outside time than children that convicted me and so we went outside

that convicted me and so we went outside

that convicted me and so we went outside [Music]

[Music]

[Music] see I knew nothing about being a

see I knew nothing about being a

see I knew nothing about being a stay-at-home parent and once I embraced

stay-at-home parent and once I embraced

stay-at-home parent and once I embraced the fact that I knew nothing I’d begin

the fact that I knew nothing I’d begin

the fact that I knew nothing I’d begin to learn from my new managers and I

to learn from my new managers and I

to learn from my new managers and I always was told that is as a

always was told that is as a

always was told that is as a stay-at-home parent you get no sleep or

stay-at-home parent you get no sleep or

stay-at-home parent you get no sleep or as a parent in general you get no sleep

as a parent in general you get no sleep

as a parent in general you get no sleep but that’s not true because if you sleep

but that’s not true because if you sleep

but that’s not true because if you sleep when they do you actually can’t get some

when they do you actually can’t get some

when they do you actually can’t get some sleep you know what else I thought as a

sleep you know what else I thought as a

sleep you know what else I thought as a stay-at-home parent I thought I knew

stay-at-home parent I thought I knew

stay-at-home parent I thought I knew that the best way to teach kids right

that the best way to teach kids right

that the best way to teach kids right from wrong was to discipline them

from wrong was to discipline them

from wrong was to discipline them because that would make sure they

because that would make sure they

because that would make sure they understood right from wrong the pain the

understood right from wrong the pain the

understood right from wrong the pain the fear that would teach them but the truth

fear that would teach them but the truth

fear that would teach them but the truth is the best way for me to teach my

is the best way for me to teach my

is the best way for me to teach my children right from wrong is to teach

children right from wrong is to teach

children right from wrong is to teach them take out a whiteboard and draw

them take out a whiteboard and draw

them take out a whiteboard and draw pictures and make connections that they

pictures and make connections that they

pictures and make connections that they can understand how was the best way a

can understand how was the best way a

can understand how was the best way a lot of these images you’re seeing a

lot of these images you’re seeing a

lot of these images you’re seeing a coming from my youtube channel belief in

coming from my youtube channel belief in

coming from my youtube channel belief in fatherhood documents the misadventures

fatherhood documents the misadventures

fatherhood documents the misadventures of being a stay-at-home dad and it’s not

of being a stay-at-home dad and it’s not

of being a stay-at-home dad and it’s not perfect it’s just showing that I’m

perfect it’s just showing that I’m

perfect it’s just showing that I’m trying you know I’m not trying to be an

trying you know I’m not trying to be an

trying you know I’m not trying to be an example but just proof that it’s

example but just proof that it’s

example but just proof that it’s possible for whoever else is doing this

possible for whoever else is doing this

possible for whoever else is doing this you know what I also know about being a

you know what I also know about being a

you know what I also know about being a stay-at-home parent I knew that children

stay-at-home parent I knew that children

stay-at-home parent I knew that children needed love but I just didn’t know what

needed love but I just didn’t know what

needed love but I just didn’t know what love looked like

it turns out putting diapers on your

it turns out putting diapers on your head and play fighting until the kids

head and play fighting until the kids

head and play fighting until the kids fall asleep is a great way to love your

fall asleep is a great way to love your

fall asleep is a great way to love your parents your kids so I was learning a

parents your kids so I was learning a

parents your kids so I was learning a lot but it’s not all fun and boogers is

lot but it’s not all fun and boogers is

lot but it’s not all fun and boogers is it I asked a group of stay-at-home

it I asked a group of stay-at-home

it I asked a group of stay-at-home parents was the hardest thing the the

parents was the hardest thing the the

parents was the hardest thing the the thing they underestimated most about

thing they underestimated most about

thing they underestimated most about being stay-at-home parents and they said

being stay-at-home parents and they said

being stay-at-home parents and they said that the loneliness was one of those

that the loneliness was one of those

that the loneliness was one of those things not having someone else to talk

things not having someone else to talk

things not having someone else to talk to feeling inadequate feeling selfish

to feeling inadequate feeling selfish

to feeling inadequate feeling selfish for wanting me time in nursery rhymes

for wanting me time in nursery rhymes

for wanting me time in nursery rhymes suck like really mary had a little lamb

suck like really mary had a little lamb

suck like really mary had a little lamb is cool the first couple times but after

is cool the first couple times but after

is cool the first couple times but after all these years on repeat you wonder why

all these years on repeat you wonder why

all these years on repeat you wonder why Mary just saying make herself a wall

Mary just saying make herself a wall

Mary just saying make herself a wall skirt and have lamb chops you know what

skirt and have lamb chops you know what

skirt and have lamb chops you know what I’m saying the one thing I

I’m saying the one thing I

I’m saying the one thing I underestimated most was the emotional

underestimated most was the emotional

underestimated most was the emotional fatigue see I was an artist so I’d write

fatigue see I was an artist so I’d write

fatigue see I was an artist so I’d write songs for other artists because that’s

songs for other artists because that’s

songs for other artists because that’s how I made money from home but when

how I made money from home but when

how I made money from home but when you’re with your kids all day you become

you’re with your kids all day you become

you’re with your kids all day you become emotionally tired and that means all

emotionally tired and that means all

emotionally tired and that means all your creativity comes from your emotion

your creativity comes from your emotion

your creativity comes from your emotion so you just tapped out you’re done so

so you just tapped out you’re done so

so you just tapped out you’re done so you become done with time that time

you become done with time that time

you become done with time that time timetables timeout time like to cook

timetables timeout time like to cook

timetables timeout time like to cook with all types of time you’re just done

with all types of time you’re just done

with all types of time you’re just done you had no time for anything and some

you had no time for anything and some

you had no time for anything and some people are done with their spouse as a

people are done with their spouse as a

people are done with their spouse as a stay-at-home parent because the spouse

stay-at-home parent because the spouse

stay-at-home parent because the spouse just doesn’t get it I was talking to a

just doesn’t get it I was talking to a

just doesn’t get it I was talking to a friend of mine he said I’m man I come

friend of mine he said I’m man I come

friend of mine he said I’m man I come home from work drawers I the drawers are

home from work drawers I the drawers are

home from work drawers I the drawers are open clothes hanging outside the drawers

open clothes hanging outside the drawers

open clothes hanging outside the drawers the kids are still in their pajamas and

the kids are still in their pajamas and

the kids are still in their pajamas and it can’t be that hard

it can’t be that hard

it can’t be that hard to have dinner ready when I get home

to have dinner ready when I get home

to have dinner ready when I get home right

right

right started to freak out you know I’m saying

started to freak out you know I’m saying

started to freak out you know I’m saying like he was trying to confide in me up I

like he was trying to confide in me up I

like he was trying to confide in me up I said you have no idea what you’re

said you have no idea what you’re

said you have no idea what you’re talking about she wakes up every morning

talking about she wakes up every morning

talking about she wakes up every morning tired from the night before baby

tired from the night before baby

tired from the night before baby attached to her breads dropping this kid

attached to her breads dropping this kid

attached to her breads dropping this kid off at school taking this one to the

off at school taking this one to the

off at school taking this one to the park laundry piles up to the skies he

park laundry piles up to the skies he

park laundry piles up to the skies he has a conversation on the phone for

has a conversation on the phone for

has a conversation on the phone for hours with your mom about God knows what

hours with your mom about God knows what

hours with your mom about God knows what it takes the dog you wanted for a walk

it takes the dog you wanted for a walk

it takes the dog you wanted for a walk and nobody died bro she kept your kids

and nobody died bro she kept your kids

and nobody died bro she kept your kids alive all day that’s hard I have become

alive all day that’s hard I have become

alive all day that’s hard I have become an advocate for stay-at-home parents why

an advocate for stay-at-home parents why

an advocate for stay-at-home parents why because finally I was standing in their

because finally I was standing in their

because finally I was standing in their shoes because when you stand into

shoes because when you stand into

shoes because when you stand into someone else’s shoes you see the world

someone else’s shoes you see the world

someone else’s shoes you see the world from a different perspective and when

from a different perspective and when

from a different perspective and when you start to take steps it feels like

you start to take steps it feels like

you start to take steps it feels like baby steps wobbling but then they turn

baby steps wobbling but then they turn

baby steps wobbling but then they turn into stomps and you start making

into stomps and you start making

into stomps and you start making footprints for the next generation to

footprints for the next generation to

footprints for the next generation to walk in so we’re walking on a certain

walk in so we’re walking on a certain

walk in so we’re walking on a certain path as parents we’re all in this

path as parents we’re all in this

path as parents we’re all in this together I mean no one can deny that

together I mean no one can deny that

together I mean no one can deny that family is one of the biggest foundations

family is one of the biggest foundations

family is one of the biggest foundations in anyone’s life and we’re all walking

in anyone’s life and we’re all walking

in anyone’s life and we’re all walking on this path and we’re we’re pulling

on this path and we’re we’re pulling

on this path and we’re we’re pulling these thickets out of the way in these

these thickets out of the way in these

these thickets out of the way in these storms making it easier for the ones

storms making it easier for the ones

storms making it easier for the ones coming after us it turns out parenting

coming after us it turns out parenting

coming after us it turns out parenting has a lot more to do with landscaping

has a lot more to do with landscaping

has a lot more to do with landscaping and learning more than teaching and the

and learning more than teaching and the

and learning more than teaching and the best thing to do was to show up for

best thing to do was to show up for

best thing to do was to show up for class be present is what I learned as a

class be present is what I learned as a

class be present is what I learned as a stay-at-home dad and let your presence

stay-at-home dad and let your presence

stay-at-home dad and let your presence be a gift

this was me coming home from tour one

this was me coming home from tour one day I thought that the father was

day I thought that the father was

day I thought that the father was supposed to pursue the child but it

supposed to pursue the child but it

supposed to pursue the child but it turns out the father makes himself

turns out the father makes himself

turns out the father makes himself present and the children run after him

present and the children run after him

present and the children run after him and that right there is a superpower and

and that right there is a superpower and

and that right there is a superpower and that right there my friends is

that right there my friends is

that right there my friends is everything thank you

everything thank you

everything thank you [Applause]

”

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