[flickr id=”9360767467″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”original” group=”” align=”none”] If you have been following along this summer, it’s no surprise that I have been spending a lot of time with my family. It has been a nice change, since during the school year I was so busy and commuting so much, that I did not see them nearly enough. The first month of break consisted of the four of us doing as much as we could afford and visiting with family that we only get to see once a year. I’m not exactly sure how we fit that much into one month.
Recently my wife, Katie, started a new job. Since I was not able to find a summer job which could possibly support a family of four, and she became the primary earner, that put me in a new role. I have become the stay-at-home-dad. Most of the day it’s just me, the kiddos, and the dogs. I wold like to beat my chest and say that it has been easy, but I would be a monumental liar. Well, that sounded a little bit too dramatic, but what I meant to say is that no day is perfect, and that being a stay-at-home parent takes a lot of hard work and practice.

Kids like to be entertained. I’m attempting to be as creative as I can in finding ways to keep them occupied. Also, having two kids that are very different from each other adds its own set of challenges. If one is coloring, obviously the other one wants to as well, BUT if one of them has the color that the other one wants, all bets are off. Or, if one isn’t interested in coloring, then I’m trying to manage two tasks when all I want to do is sit down for a minute and drink my cup of coffee.

I’d say that the biggest hurdle that I’m trying to get over with my new duties, is trying to figure in time for my own work. I usually end up, writing these entries at night or in the early morning when the kiddos are sleeping. I’m also struggling to find time to work on arty things. I keep telling myself that I need to sit down and sketch when they’re down for nap time or for the night, but I am usually beat by then. It’s hard, and I think that I’m getting better at it, but finding that balance is very difficult. Knowing me, I’ll probably figure it out the day before classes start up again.

Here are a couple of things to watch out for in the next few weeks…

The Chicago Comic-Con/Wizard World Chicago August 9-11th. I’ll be there in artist alley helping my friend Rebecca of Becca’s Bombshells and meeting John Barrowman, aka Captain Jack Harkness. Then there’s the sixth annual Oak Park Micro-Brew Review on August 17th. Have fun, and maybe I’ll see you there!