It says right at the top of the web site for all to see: "The Stay At Home Dad Oasis- Resources, Information, Connections and Community."

This site has a broad purpose. Accordingly, there should be a broad variety of posts, replies and participants.

I'm finding myself checking the site throughout the day, rather than just at naptime, and honestly think it's this "community" aspect of the site that's helped me survive the winter. I guess I just don't think you can get a group of men together without things getting a little rough from time to time, but I've not seen anything here that I would call offensive or obscene.

Right now there's 35 posts on the coffee thread... does that directly relate to being an at home dad or parenting in general? Not really, but it does appear to be something that we as a community have an interest in. Have I enjoyed reading the thread? Absolutely.

I think what we are seeing is that the At-home Dads participating on this site may have an occasional question, but there appears to be an even stronger demand for day-to-day social interaction with other guys in the same boat.

Go back and look at which posts received the most comments. That will show you what At-home dads want. Whether they admit to it or not.

We see this at the convention every year. Sure, the sessions are quite helpful, but the comradery and social interaction are what makes it truly great.

I wasn't too sure about this site, after the infamous ( at least to me ) "spam" incident, but it's grown on me like fungus; the people are generally very good about pointing out when they think another AHD steps out of line, and that's cool. Maybe sometimes a bit too harshly, but at least they care about how someone else might feel.

JPhillip hit the nail on the head I think. I've got more parenting books than I know what to do with. Now, they don't address the occasional question that's popped up here, like "should I pee standing up in front of my daughter", but for the most part I think there are enough general parenting resources out there to satisfy my needs.

What I don't have is another guy anywhere in my social circle that I talk to. All of my "real life" friends are now women. The guys on this site are the only "male" interaction I have on any kind of regular basis.

I spend time with you guys everyday because we all wear the same hat. I am surrounded by SAHM everywhere I go, there is no way to ask them "should I pee standing up in front of my daughter", Yes I do find on many occasions I need the opinion of other AHD's ( just think how many sites there are for our kind, maybe 25 around the world ) The concentration of intelligent and thoughtful guys on this site is why I come back each and every day. Last weekend there was a real lull in the posting activity on Sunday and I had a jones to talk to you f*&^ers and I then relized I was hooked. I enjoy watching everybody get peeved and then work it out again, after all we are men and men do stupid shit all the time. On this site we are self regulating and a spade is called a spade. Weather we like it or not there will be some bullies that will come into our sand box and kick sand all over the place but so goes life.. As for SEX Question I agree with JPhillip. He has been spot on about a good many of the topics here and we can all learn a few things from him.. He has three boy's and in my book that is a lot of experience.

So post your questions and hope for the best but let it be known that you will hear everybody own opinion. Use what you can and pass on your wisdom to other guy who is wearing your shoes and realize we are walking that mile together.
Kevin

http://web.mac.com/ciaalum92/SAHD_Man/Welcome.html

Please refrain for calling me "Mr. Mom" I now Prefer-- Domestic Overlord

I'm used to posting at forums where people are certified assholes. For instance these are popular images to post:

and

I've seen those pictures on another board I post on. Non-parenting related.

As for this board? This is my daily fix of sanity. This is where I see that I'm not the only one dealing with a bit of isolation, a bit of boredom, a need for good coffee, or just sharing bits of my life with others.

Yes, there are threads that I skip over, but I check in on almost all, and try to post at least one response in most of the threads.

I enjoy it the way it is.

www.athomedadconvention.com

...and now I need it. My donation was a testament to that. As others have said, this site makes getting through the winter somewhat bearable, and I find myself checking out the site multiple times each day now rather than once every few days. Colin and I are the only dudes around these parts (besides a jovial German) that have managed to go out and connect with each other. Besides that, this site is my only outlet where I really feel accepted among a group of guys anymore.

Thanks for the compliment Kevin, but I didn't know that piddly ol' me could be considered a "concentration". :p ;-)

OT - That "Congratulations on your gay thread!" image made me inhale my soda that I was drinking. I have never seen that, but I plan on using it! LMAO!!

Randy
Cincinnati, OH
SAHD to Ryder (23 months)

I check several times a day to "chat"with other men who are at home dads. I can talk abou tparenting with people I know in my neighborhood or I can ask the Dad pannel what they think.

Just last week I went back to the Diaper Rash Thred to look for advice on a product that would help my daughter's sore tush. I was at home with her 24 hours a day for 9 days. (I'm sick now. Thank you G'od.) But had I not had both the social and informational outlet on this site it would have made thoes days that much longer.

Be Seeing You.

I joined this site last fall and didn't do much with it -- occasionally checked in to read stuff. But over the last month I've been reading several times daily, posting at least once a day and always enjoying the discussions, even when they get a bit rough. I know only one other SAHD in my town, but through this site I've emailed with a few others who, although they live a little too far away to hang out with, I've been able to help.

It's great to know that so many guys of all types and personalities in locations all around the country are going through what I go through every day.

www.davebrigham.com

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need
If you got the money honey
We got your disease

As I said previously, I lurked here for five months before I ever posted much around here. It was dead. To me this site seemed almost elitist, where topics of discussion only focused on SAHDCon (what can i say, I'm a geek and that sounds cooler) and those that attended it. I don't recall the catalyst that got me to start participating more, but I'm glad I did.

I am a fat, white, loud mouthed, vulgar, flatulent, mean, out of shape, evil summumabitch and the sudden influx of topics and discussions around here made me realize that I am not alone. I come here easily six times a day now just to see what is going on. I like the fact that in the same visit I can discuss the finer points of quality diapers and then jump over to a discussion as to what makes the best vibrator to give to my "friend." I like the fact that here we can be irrelevant and specific all in one place. I used to go to several other sites to connect to fellow SAHDs in this manner, now I only come here.

AtHomeDad.org is billed as an oasis for the stay-at-home dad. In order to be such it should reflect the thoughts and ideals of the audience it intends to address, stay-at-home dads. It shouldn't kowtow to media tools looking to pen their next feel good article about SAHDs, or to those that want to mirror any of the thousands of SAHM/Mom sites. This should be our space.

We aren't all fat, white, loud mouthed, vulgar, flatulent, mean, out of shape, evil summumabitches and as such, we aren't always going to see eye to eye. We aren't always going to get along, or play nice, or agree, but just like you don't always get along with your own family, they're often all you've got. For me, and many, many others, this is all we've got and the only place we can connect to other SAHDs.

-Will
http://www.gamingwithbaby.com all your diapers are belong to us
fatdadcooking.com coming soon!
my flickr

And according to my wife I am aromatic to boot.
I gotta be 6-8 times daily. I really look forward to seeing that all the question have numbers next to them..
Kevin

http://web.mac.com/ciaalum92/SAHD_Man/Welcome.html

Please refrain for calling me "Mr. Mom" I now Prefer-- Domestic Overlord

Holy Crap!

I haven't been here in a while. I log in today and find this thread. Mostly, I fade from time to time because I've got three small boys, and life gets busy. All that said, this site is absolutely necessary to me.
Sometimes I feel like I'm reading stuff I could have written, other times it couldn't be further from what I think, or think I know. The bandwidth of life, I suppose. I haven't found any of the stuff referred to in the previous posts, so I can't comment. Is there such an environment where everyone is happy all the time?

Keep posting, keep inviting new AHD's and keep asking yourself about the relevancy of this site. That's what makes it what it is.

Jim
Boulder, CO
Dad to Cole, Luke & Trev

Two polls pop up. Both of them anonymous. mbieweng states, "more than one person has contacted me recently about the content in the discussion forums." Four people are against everything that's been posted of late.

Anyone else going, hmmmmm?

It's one thing to decry what happens on a message board, but to hide behind a cloak of anonymity? Come on.

-Will
http://www.gamingwithbaby.com all your diapers are belong to us
fatdadcooking.com coming soon!
my flickr

Obviously, I posted the polls to gauge public opinion. It's not a big conspiracy or secret. I was just trying to start them off on a neutral footing.

But I'm glad you stepped up and said you did it. It answers a lot a nagging questions. It shows that you are a stand up guy and you care about what the majority thinks. You could easily say that it's my way or the highway, but you're actually taking the time to find out what we think, and I for one thank you for it.

-Will
http://www.gamingwithbaby.com all your diapers are belong to us
fatdadcooking.com coming soon!
my flickr

I have enjoyed the posts as of late, and support this site 110% regardless of the current conversation. The amount of new threads is sometimes overwhelming trying to get the marked as read in the short spurts I get.
An Idea Mike, I don't know if it is even possible or not, but how about a button that marks all threads as read because if your responsibilities take you away from the site more than a day or two, you are forever catching up on the "older" new.
You do not have to pay to play here but let’s help Mike out so we can see some contributions post that are more recent than the last one, 2 weeks ago. 5, 10, or 25 bucks, it just does not matter, I am sure Mike would like the contribution to help keep our oasis afloat, because as you know, diapers ain’t cheap!
That said, post on gents! I am sure next year this site will be an entirely different growing breed. I guess this is one of the many evolving faces this site will have, be it good or bad, I don't know.

My Site, http://www.milehidad.com/ and my Blog, http://www.milehighdad.net/, visit my online Dad store at my Blog!
Make Babies, Not War!
I Wanna Know How Forever Feels...

Thanks MileHi. I always enjoy your posts here.