At-Home Dad Convention
Sponsored by the At-Home Dad Newsletter
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Ninth
Annual At-Home Dads' Convention
Sponsored by The At-Home Dad Newsletter
Oakton
Community College
Saturday, November 20, 2004
8:00
a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
1600
E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016
Doing This for Our
Kids
Most
at-home dads break from the traditional male career path for a single reason: We
believe our children benefit. And even a vast majority of those dads who have
taken on their at-home roles for financial or other reasons come to believe the
presence of a nurturing father in the home is of huge importance to their
children’s development. It is with this knowledge and confidence that we
gather for the ninth annual convention of men who serve as their children's
primary caregivers. Whether you are a new at-home dad, a seasoned veteran or
considering joining the ranks, this conference is for you. This yearly assembly
of extraordinary men from across the country (and, often, a few international
neighbors) finds each of us with unique circumstances and expectations, but more
significantly, bonded through our common role. The convention’s open,
free-flowing format includes thought-provoking speakers, give-and-take
discussions and plenty of time for networking and friendship.
Program
8:00 - 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast Reception
8:30 - 8:45 Welcome
and Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Dr. Robert Frank, Barry Reszel and Peter Baylies
8:45 - 9:45 Morning Keynote Address
Nurturing Fathers Raise Better Children
Dr. Kyle Pruitt, Yale University
9:45 - 10:00
Break
10:00 - 11:00 The
End of the Innocence: Fathering Across the Ages
These breakout discussion groups are organized by the ages of our
children.
Facilitators: Dr. Bruce Drobeck and Dr. Bob Frank (breakdowns by
children’s ages)
11:00 - 12:00 Let’s Talk About
It #1
These are facilitated small-group discussions, not
lectures. Come prepared to share your own thoughts and experiences and well as
questions and solutions.
Taking a Breath—A Session for New At-Home Dads (Dr.
Bruce Drobeck)
School Dazed—Committing to “At-Home” Through the
School-Age Years (Steve Klem and Ed Steffek)
Time for Yourself—Hobbies and Activities for At-Home
Dads (Chad Curtis and Gary Foshkul)
Transitions When Our World Gets Rocked (Roland LaScala)
Back to Work?!—Pros, Cons, Ins, Outs and Realities (Joe
Hanafee and Jay Massey)
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch and Conversation
Authors, Resources and Family Psychologists
at Stations for Private and Small-Group Discussions
Peter Baylies, Dr. Bruce Drobeck, Dr.Robert Frank, Steve Klem, Jay
Massey, Dr. Kevin Murphy
Multimedia Presentation: Cherishing Our Children
Casey Spencer
1:00 – 2:00
Afternoon Keynote Address
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fathers
Dr. Kevin Murphy
2:00 – 2:15 Comedy Break
Back by Popular Demand…
Kelly Williams, At-Home Dad
2:15 - 2:30
Break
2:30 - 3:15 Let’s Talk About It
#2
These are facilitated small-group discussions, not
lectures. Come prepared to share your own thoughts and experiences and well as
questions and solutions.
When Two or More—Starting and Sustaining a Dads’
Group (Bill Beagle and Casey Spencer)
Division of Labor—Talkin’ About the Dang Chores (Bob
Noonan)
Schools, Sports, Etc.—Involvement In Your Kids’
Activities (Jim LoCascio and Tim Hughes)
You Should Write a Book—Journaling/Documenting Your
Time at Home (Mike Perricone)
Love ‘Em All the More—Finding Out Our Kid Isn’t
“Perfect” (Dr. Bob Frank)
3:15 - 4:00
The Keynote/Discussion We’ve All Been Clamoring For
Sex and the At-Home Dad: Triumph, Satisfaction or Oxymoron?
Brian Reid
4:00 - 4:15:
This Year’s Favorite At-Home Dad Anecdotes
Bob Noonan
4:15 - 4:30
Wrap-Up and Surveys
Dr. Robert Frank
Speakers,
Facilitators, and Resources
Peter Baylies, Massachusetts,
is the author of The Stay-at-Home Dad Handbook which was published
in October 2004 by the Chicago Review Press. He became the
full-time caregiver for his six-month-old son in 1992 and started the At-Home
Dad Newsletter and network in 1994. The newsletter, which contained articles
written for and by at-home dads, information about playgroups and an online
message board, is now in online form at athomedad.com. The network has
helped dads across the country stay connected and is responsible for the
development of numerous playgroups nationwide. The newsletter also is a sponsor
of the annual At-Home Dads’ convention.
Bill Beagle, Ohio, has been at home for five years and is the father
of three reasonably well-adjusted children. Using the “build it and they
will come” strategy, he developed a web site for his one man group, Dayton
Dads at Home, in 2000. One year later, he and three other dads met as group for
the first time. Together they have grown the group to about 40 members,
half of whom are active. He has a BS degree in Finance as well as an MBA and
worked as a senior financial analyst and operations manager for Bank One and GE
prior to becoming a full-time at-home dad. Along with raising his children,
Beagle is a member of his local City Council and is on the Board of Trustees for
the Tipp City Library.
Chad Curtis, North Carolina, is
first and foremost husband to Linda and dad to their 7-year-old son, whom they
adopted at one-month of age. For three years Curtis stayed at-home as their
son battled childhood leukemia, which makes him somewhat savvy on issues
regarding both at-home dads and children facing life-threatening diseases. He
has been active in the on-line communities for at-home-dads since before their
son was born. Curtis continued to work full-time at night as a producer for
NBC News Channel during that same period. He has been a television news
producer for 12 years; nine of those at the network level. He currently works
with NBC stations nationwide making arrangements for television transmissions
from remote locations, particularly those involving communications satellites.
His travels include the Super Bowl, NCAA Championships, NBA drafts, National
Political Conventions, and his personal favorite, Olympic Games. The Curtis
Family lives in Charlotte, NC.
Dr. Bruce Drobeck, Texas,
is a licensed professional counselor and full-time lecturer at the University of
North Texas. He teaches life span and child development at UNT as well as
classes for expectant fathers at local hospitals. Drobeck, whose two children
are now in late adolescence and young adulthood, was the primary caregiver for
both his children throughout their development. He lives with his family in
Southlake, Texas, where on occasion he makes “one hell of a tuna casserole.”
Gary Foskuhl, Ohio, was born and raised in Dayton, enlisted in the Army
as a musician and accepted an offer to attend West Point. After four years of
spit shining, studying, and marching, he graduated with a degree, a commission
and a trip to flight school. After helicopter training he was shipped to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, where he married his New York beloved Tracy. After serving
with the 101st Airborne Division in Desert Storm, he decided that his debt to
his country had been paid and he hung up his uniform. The civilian job force in
Ohio was unkind to Foskuhl, but his wife found a corporate home, and he became
at-home care giver to his three children. In the nine years since then, the
Foskuhl family has grown to five offspring.
The Foskuhls are currently living happily in Dayton without pending
legal action against them. They own a mini van, a station wagon and the
state-required minimum of two pets.
Dr. Robert Frank, Illinois,
is a licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor of psychology at
Oakton Community College. His national research focuses on fathers who are the
primary caregivers for their children, spurred by his unofficial role as
“at-home dad forefather” and founder of the At-Home Dads’ Convention. Dr.
Frank has written two books, Parenting Partners, and most recently, The
Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child, about his struggles growing up with
dyslexia.
Joe Hanafee, Illinois, a
member of the Chicagoland At-Home Dads group, is the proud father of
James,4, and Mary Catherine,1, as well as husband of Liz LaPlante.
He is also an experienced workforce development consultant/counselor and has
coached a diverse range of job-seekers on such topics as dealing with gaps in
work history, /interviewing skills, resume writing, networking, marketing
transferable skills and portfolio development. He has a Master's degree in
Education from Wayne State University in Detroit and a BA in Philosophy and
Economics from the University of Dallas.
Tim Hughes, Michigan, married Lisa in 1996 and became a father to Joseph
in 1997. At that time, he left a career position at General Motors Corporation
and became a full fledged at-home dad. Searching the internet, he came across
slowlane.com and attended his first At-Home Dad Convention in 1999. Fired up
upon returning from the conference, he founded Northern Michigan Dads, a local
Dad's group in Traverse City. Hughes is an adjunct college instructor (business)
and substitute teacher at Joseph's school. He and Lisa are also proud parents of
their daughter, Julia, adopted from South Korea in the summer of 2000.
Steve Klem, Florida, has been an at-home dad since the birth of his
daughter eight years ago. In 1998, Klem took over “DadChat” on America
Online from founder David Boylan. In his role as chatmaster, Klem creates topics
ranging from “Getting Acquainted with Your New Role” to “Who is this Alien
Called a Teenager?” Although topics are specific, there is always room for
free-flowing conversation. A new, “revamped” chat experience is being
promised for the coming year. Klem and his family live in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Roland LaScala, Ohio, is a native New Englander who is making a
career out of relocating in the Buckeye State. A recent move to Canal
Winchester, just south of Columbus, is the third Ohio residence in less than 10
years for this former insurance agent. LaScala has been an at-home dad since
January 1990, just after the birth of his first daughter. Duyring this time, he
has also enjoyed part-time occupations as perpetual student, tutor in the local
schools and educator in his church. He is currently pursuing a Masters of
Theological Studies from Trinity Lutheran & Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminaries
in Columbus and has a BA from The Ohio State University, where a blood
transfusion caused him to become a rabid fan of OSU football and Cleveland's
Indians & Browns, much to the dismay of his sports loathing wife and
daughters. LaScala shares his life with his wife Carol, a Human Resource VP,
daughters Celeste & Olivia, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a guinea pig and some fish
that won't die.
Jim LoCascio, Florida, has
been an at-home dad since his daughter was born in 1998. An active volunteer in
his daughter's school, he was elected vice-president of their parent group for
this year. After graduating from the University of Connecticut, LoCascio worked
in publishing before teaching middle and high school while working towards his
MAT from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT. He is also the founder and
organizer of the At-Home Dads' Florida Fishing Trip held each March in Southwest
Florida. He lives in Cape Coral, FL with his wife Lisa, daughter Ally and son
Nicolas.
Jay Massey, Florida, has been an at-home dad since 1994. He is
executive director of Slowlane.com, a searchable online reference, resource and
network for at-home dads and their families. In addition to his at-home dad
duties, Massey is founder and president of two Web design firms, CocoDesign and
OneDotNow.com. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.
Dr. Kevin Murphy, Illinois,
is, first and foremost a husband and a dad. He also works
as a consultant, coach, and psychotherapist for individuals, families, and
organizations interested in effectiveness, growth, and transformation. He earned
a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of
Professional Psychology and advanced theological degrees from studies at Loyola
University and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake. He is a certified
facilitator and trainer for Franklin Covey. Other interests include vacationing
with family, carpentry, art and design, ritual-making, being a human being, and
taking more and more time off with the family.
Bob Noonan, Illinois, is a 13-year, Chicago at-home dad to two teenage
sons. While wife Vicki pursues a successful career in commercial real estate,
Noonan spends much of his time volunteering at his sons’ schools. He is now
beginning to return to his interior design/architecture roots with a small
business venture, “Let Bob Do It,” consisting of design, handyman and
subcontracting work. He’s watchful that the new business doesn’t interrupt
his at-home dad duties, including spending summers on Big Fish Lake in
Marcellus, Michigan. Noonan is the social coordinator for this year’s
convention, a task he’s prepared for at many past conventions. Once in a blue
moon, Noonan is moved to show his loyalty to the TKE fraternity.
Mike Perricone, Illinois, spent
12 years as a sportswriter at The Chicago Sun-Times, then became an at-home dad
to his daughter Jenny from her birth through age 8 (1989-1997). His weekly
newspaper column, "Jenny's Dad," chronicled his first year at home
with Jenny throughout 1990 and served as the basis for his book, FROM
DEADLINES TO DIAPERS: Journal of an At-Home Father (Noble Press, Chicago,
1992). Perricone returned to a full-time position in 1997 as a science writer at
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. His family, including his wife, Joan;
daughter, Jenny; and their small but mighty dog Fred, lives in Riverside,
Illinois.
Dr. Kyle Dean Pruitt is
the principal author of over sixty original scientific articles and books
including the award winning The Nurturing Father, Me, Myself and I, and Fatherneed:
Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child. Dr. Pruett
has also served as a consultant to ABC, ABC News, CBS Morning News, Sesame
Workshop, and served as a co-host of a nationally distributed videotape for new
parents with Oprah Winfrey, Begin with Love. He lectures internationally,
and represented the United States at the UN’s first International Summit on
Fathers and Children. He has been a columnist and contributing editor to Goodhousekeeping,
Parents, and Child magazines. Dr. Pruett hosted his own Lifetime
Cable series “Your Child Six to Twelve with Dr. Kyle Pruett”, and has
appeared frequently on CNN, Oprah, ABC News, NPR and Good Morning America.
He and his wife Marsha Kline Pruett, Ph.D., M.S.L., are parents to three
daughters and one son.
Dr. Pruitt was educated at Yale University and Tufts University
School of Medicine. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry, coordinator of
education at the Yale Child Study Center (DMS); Yale University School of
Medicine and School of Nursing. He served as principal investigator for the
longitudinal study of children of primary paternal care; co-principal
investigator for the collaborative divorce project (Richardson Foundation); and
co-principal investigator of leadership development initiative (Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation). Dr. Pruett has also maintained a private practice in
infant, child adolescent and family psychiatry since 1974. His areas of interest
and expertise include the developmental vulnerabilities and mental health in
infants, toddlers and young children, school and day care consultation (public
and private), clinical and legal dimensions of fatherhood (biological and
non-biological), and role of the media in children’s lives. He served as
consultant to Vice President Al Gore, Jr., for White House Conferences Men in
Children's Lives. Dr. Pruett was also the founder of Yale Conference on
Medicine and Performing Arts and a founding member of Father to Father.
Brian Reid, Virginia, is at-home dad to his 3-year-old daughter,
maintains the rebeldad.com web site and is working on a book by the same
name, laying out the benefits of at-home fatherhood for dads, moms, kids and
society. He also works as a freelance journalist during naptime. He and his wife
raise their daughter in Alexandria, Virginia.
Barry Reszel, Illinois,
is at-home dad to son, Bradford, 10, and daughter, Christina, 7. He is a
part-time writer/editor; a regular coffee drinker; a rebel against
establishments that permit poor treatment of kids, including, most recently,
local Little League; and a champion of individual liberties, most notably, free
expression. Someday, Reszel hopes to be a famous writer of stories and
screenplays, but if it never happens, that’s OK, too. This is his ninth
At-Home Dads’ convention and eighth as coordinator. He lives with his wife
Lori and kids in Libertyville, Illinois
Casey
Spencer, California
is a self-proclaimed
52-year-old overweight college dropout who recently bowed out of his nine
successful years as a SAHD saying, “If success is measured by my child's
self-esteem and character, I think I've done my job well." Along with Jim
DiCenzo, Casey co-founded Dad-to-Dad San Diego and noodled around as a freelance
photographer while raising daughter, Keilani, and supporting his wife Sharon's
career as a land-development executive in home-building and theme-park
businesses. Her career took the family to San Diego, Los Angeles and Osaka,
Japan. There, he says, “I delved into the topic of "involved
fatherhood" only to find Japanese fathers almost entirely uninterested in
(even when they were able to grasp) the concept. Casey is a former convention
keynote speaker and recently entered real estate sales when my wife's employment
came to a long-anticipated end. In addition to Keilani, Casey has two other
children and two grandchildren.
Ed
Steffek, Illinois, was
born and raised on the Southwest side of Chicago. He ventured off to the
University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana where he earned his BS in Secondary
Mathematics Education. There, he also met his bride of 18 years, Laura, an
electrical engineer. After teaching for 10 years in Maine and Wisconsin and
vowing to never move back to Chicago, Steffek moved to Naperville, Illinois in
1997. He is beginning his 9th year as a full time At-Home Dad to his three
children, Will, 12, Peter, 9, and Claire, 5, and keeps busy by continuously
volunteering for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA Guides, Religious Education and
numerous school activities. When asked when he'll go back to work, he simply
answers, "When it comes to my kids, there's no place like home!"
Kelly
Williams, Illinois,
Born and raised in “the bad part” of Chicago Heights, Williams used humor to
save him from countless beatings from neighborhood girls. After unsuccessful
stints in college (Kansas State, 2 years); the military (U.S. Army, 5 years);
first marriage (Unbearable Psycho, 5 years); and the computer industry (Blue
Cross, CNA Insurance, law firms), Kelly went to his first comedy open mic in
January 2000 and hasn't looked back. He's also entertained at gatherings from
bar mitzvahs to Bulls games and has appeared on Mancow's Morning Madhouse as the
day's Featured Performer. And he's an at-home dad of 6 kids, living with wife
Deanna in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.
Registration
Form
Register for the Ninth Annual At-Home Dads’ convention via the Stay
At-Home Dads Web site: www.slowlane.com.
Online registration deadline is October 21.
Or, fill out the attached registration form and send it along with a
check payable to Oakton Community College to: Bea Cornelissen, College
Relations, 1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016. Attention: At-Home Dads’
convention.
To register using a credit card, call 847.635.1812.
Name
________________________________________________________________________
Address
_______________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip
__________________________________________________________________
Phone
_____________________________ E-mail
____________________________________
___$55
Individual Registration for
At-Home Dads’ convention (before October 21)
___$75
Individual Registration for
At-Home Dads’ convention (after October 21)
___$85
Individual Registration for
At-Home Dads’ convention and Men’s Day (following day)
___
I am unable to attend, but please accept my donation to the Oakton Community
College Educational Foundation.
___ Yes, I will attend the Friday night gathering party at
the Best Western Hotel (6:30 - 10 p.m.).
Advisory
survey for planning purposes only—costs will be shared among those attending.
___ Yes, I will attend the Saturday post-convention
dinner/party at a Chicago restaurant (5:00 - 8:30 p.m.)
Advisory survey for planning
purposes only—costs will be shared among those attending.
Hotel
Information
Best Western River North Hotel
125 W. Ohio, Chicago, IL 60610
Reservations: 800-727-0800 ext. 123.
Due to the popular demand of at-home dad conventioneers of years
past, our convention hotel is located in downtown Chicago. The Best Western
River North Hotel is the official hotel of the 2003 At-Home Dads’ convention.
For reservations, call the number above, mention the At-Home Dads’ convention,
and receive the special $92 (plus tax) convention rate if booked by October
21 (while rooms are available). Parking at the hotel is free. If the hotel
becomes booked but you are still looking to stay in the vicinity, search for
additional hotel options in the Chicago River North area.
____ Free transportation
between the Best Western River North Hotel and the convention (approximately 20
miles each way) will be available. Please check here if you will use this
transportation between the hotel and the convention.
For more information, log on to www.oakton.edu/news/events/special.htm
or call 847.635.1812.
Return to the At-Home Dad Network
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth At-Home Dad Convention..."Yes!"
By
Peter Baylies
- Director At-Home Dad Network
Reprinted from At-Home Dad, Summer 2000, Issue 24
I first meet Hogan Hilling at the At-Home Dad Convention, in 1997. I had written an article about his life journey with his son Wesley, a disabled child, earlier that year (Spring 97 issue). Hogan required the patience of a saint to I first met Hogan Hilling at the Chicago O'Hare airport before the
care for his son. So when this normally soft spoken dad of 3 kids stepped up to the mike to start a session titled, At-Home Daddying: What Are Our Issues?, no one expected his verbal onslaught: a boot camp style pep talk that would put any drill sergeant to shame. First, he told the nearly 100 at-home dads to put their total trust in him. Then, he instructed all the dads to make a fist, raise it
high, and at his command, pump down (like pulling a truck horn), and yell, "Who are we? Proud Dads!...YES!"
The crowd responded weakly at first, Hogan persisted, "That's not good enough, I didn't hear you!" As he looked around the room, I'm sure he could hear them thinking, "Well, this is OK, I guess I can do this" After a few more tries he had the crowd in the palm of his hand. He then
introduced 3 discussion groups to be hosted by Barry Retzel, editor of the At-Home Dad Handbook, Marty Josephson, moderator of the eGroups dads-at-home listserv, and Jim Dicenzo, the leader of the San Diego DAD-to-DAD playgroup. I decided to join Barry's discussion group where the topic was "Being on the same page with your wife". During the session, Jay Massey, the webmaster of
slowlane.com, advised that you keep the rules of the house constant. He felt his wife, Joan "was a little softer on the kids and I would find myself reprimanding her under my breath". At the same time, he stressed that it's important to "admit to your wife when you are wrong." (Send an e-mail to me at athomedad@aol.com if you have ever admitted you were wrong. I will let you know how many I get.)
Richard Axel, author of The Father Daughter Bond, reported about spouse's work habits spilling over to the home life. He found that after a spouse has delegated projects all day at her work place, might come home and stay in that "work-mode" and continue to delegate ssignments once she walks in the door. arry argeed that his wife would delegate "family time," which can be trying to a dad who has just spent an entire day with the kids. The solution brought by others was to divide time you spend with your wife and the kids. After the session was over several rules to live by were announced to the rest of the dads. Jubal Prevette, of Sunnyvale, CA, noted that although some dads like the break your wife can give you when she comes home from work, he has trouble letting go. He finds that he wants to continue to stay with his son and he finds that he has to "let go" and let her have time with him.
Mark Abraham, of Minnesota Dads at Home, reminded the dads that the kids are listening if you argue. He instructed to his 4 1/2 year old son, if "mommy or daddy start using a mean voice to let us know." He shared one time when they were arguing at the supper table that his son suddenly said, "Mommy! Daddy! ...remember, friendly voice!" Thus the major ground rules are:
1. Your kids hear you argue, keep your disagreement private. Don't intervene if
you think your wife is "solving a kid problem incorrectly." Talk about it later
to set up new ground rules.
2. Keep your communication open, honest and consistent as your expectations
will constantly change over time.
3. And again, the hardest thing is to admit to your wife when you are wrong.
Another major highlight of the day was viewing of the suburb documentary, Homedaddy, produced by filmmaker Kent Ayyildiz. Kent has used up many rolls of film shooting all 4 conventions and compiling a bio of his own search for a new definition of fatherhood. In the 28 minute film he shows the isolation that built up while at home with his 5 year old Quinn. A classic scene is when convention organizer, Dr Robert Frank talks about the mother assuming her role as a housekeeper when she comes home. Using Dr. Frank's narration Kent shows his wife vacuuming the living room in her pajamas. Zooming in on her, he catches a glaring stare or what you guys might be called "the look" as if to say maybe you should be doing this... The scene had a lot of dads nodding their heads in agreement. In the film he shows how the At- Home Dad convention helped break him of the isolation he felt. Featured in the film was Dr Robert Frank, David Boylan (ex-AOL dad chat moderator), Mark Abraham, Peter Hoh, (editor of the Minnesota Dads at Home Newsletter), and at-home dad Larry Mains of Chicago.
At the beginning of the film he describes his dad as one who "would work insane hours, have a family and never see them". At the end of the picture Kent's dad makes a startling revelation while visiting his grandfather's grave site. His dad explained that he left his native country without saying farewell to his abusive and newly married father who died shortly after. The sorrow of his dad's absence filled his heart and helped him better understand his own dad's absence in his life. He understood, and could now go home and break that cycle with his own son as an at-home dad. Following the film, Kent got a well deserved 5 minute standing ovation, (the first one at a convention).
Laura Cobb who is researching at- home dads noted how the themes have changed in the last three years. Although she was not there in 1996, I can say that we were all just glad to see each other, to see the faces that matched the names of those who communicated online and read about in the At-Home Dad Network. Laura identified the themes of the following 3 years: 1997: Getting the word out to the media and having at-home dads be covered more in the press. 1998: In praise of the wives; thanking them for allowing the dads to have the opportunity to stay home with their children. 1999: The men talked about how their role was a "blessing" to them. The last session, titled "The Anatomy of a Working Mom's Brain", was lead by Joan Massey. She spoke of her feelings as she went back to work, saying to he dads, "I hated going back to work. I was absolutely miserable, the only thing that got me through it was [my husband] Jay." During her speech you could tell she had picked up the office-speak as she described cooking and taking care of her child as "multi-tasking". Jay cringed when she noted that he didn't do laundry. But she also remarked that Jay works at home and is willing to pick up the extra "slack".
Cory McPerrin, a Chicago sportscaster for the FOX network was the keynote speaker for the day. He showed various stories he has covered of local sports figures and their families, such as Michael Jordan and his father Gus and the late Walter Payton and his son. Speaking of his own childhood, he spoke fondly of his dad who served on the school board and was "always there for him". McPerrin got emotional when he noted that his father was a "great dad and that being a great dad is not about winning an emmy award, but winning the "best dad award". The convention ended on a humorous note as Chris Coby came up on stage with a brown paper bag and did a reenactment of funny moments his kids pulled off. While a few women reporters squirmed, Jim pulled out a few tampons and proceeded to show how his kid used them as props. He held up 2 of them wrapped the strings around his ears and with them both dangling, he shouted,"Look, daddy, earrings!" The crowd roared in approval. He then pulled out a few of those thin sanitary pads and held it to his ear and said mimicking his kids again. 'Look, mommy, it's a cellphone." He then ripped off a layer that makes it sticky, stuck it on the side of his head and stuck it on his ear and yelled out, "look a cellphone with no hands!" Hogan Hilling stood up and on cue, every one pumped their fists and shouted, "YES!"
After the convention
DiCenzo wrote in Marty Josephson's e-groups list, "I don't
want to go overboard for the guys that weren't there, but I'm very
energized today due to the wonderful experience from the convention
weekend. I enjoyed meeting all the guys from the dsd listservs
as well as the format this year. I was taking [my daughter]
Lauren to school this morning almost walking on air and one
of the mom's gave me the greatest complement as I was gloating
over the weekend. She smiled and said "your kids are so lucky."
I thanked her, agreed, and added, "I'm pretty lucky too.
The 6th Annual
At-Home Dads Convention, will be held in Chicago, Saturday November 17, 2001
For more info contact DrBobFrank@aol.com
We will provide more info here as we plan the speakers for 2001
