Hard at Work at Home

I have the great privilege of being a stay-at-home dad. I didn’t always get to enjoy time with my kids every day. No, at one time I had a job just like the average dad. But, at some point, I was blessed with the opportunity to resign from that position and become a full time “Mr. Mom.” And watching my kids grow up has been a ton of fun.

As a stay-at-home dad, I’ve got a lot to do. Both of my kids are in school, so I don’t really have “toddler time” any longer. That means that while they’re at school, there are chores to get done. I can have several things a day, including laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, and making dinner. And that’s all on top of maintaining my online presence with my YouTube channel and the podcast I produce each week.

When it seems like my day is already full, the kids get home from school! This means helping with homework, reviewing agendas, giving out spelling words, and all the other great things I get to do. Plus, having the unique position to be the first to hear about all of the day’s ups and downs, including the times they felt great and the times they just wanted to come home from school early.

This all sounds pretty standard, right? Well, it is, except for the fact that I am vision impaired. Sure, I have some sight remaining, but enough gone that it affects my life. So, I have many tools to help me. One such tool sits at my feet as I write this. He’s a black lab named Koa, and he is a wonderful companion and guide dog. I also utilize desktop magnifiers, screen reading software, and whiteboards.

Another go-to tool is Aira because it’s proved to be really handy when it comes to being a stay-at-home dad. Agents help me sort through the mail, read labels on boxes for dinner, read school newsletters, and even help me give out spelling words. It’s an invaluable tool that makes things so much easier.

When it seems like my day is already full, the kids get home from school!

I think getting to walk through life with my kids in this special time has been amazing. I’m grateful for tools like Aira that remove some of the barriers I may have. Most importantly, I’m excited to know that as my kids grow up, they’ll remember dad being home with them. Not that he used magnifiers and talking screens. But that he was there, making sure they were taken care of and watched over. And telling them, “Wait until your mother gets home!” when they presented him with math homework that was just slightly beyond his scope.

To download and use Aira for free, visit: www.aira.io/derekd