My Daddy Works in His Underwear

Good eatin', but apparently not in New York's PS 9.

New York Times writer Susan Dominus interviewed a woman - MeMe Roth - whose children seemingly are offered enough sugary snacks and candies in school to send them into a diabetic coma - or at least an afternoon sugar crash.

So Ms. Roth has launched a campaign (her second, apparently) against the practice of well-intended parents sending cupcakes to school for a child’s classmates to share in a birthday celebration.

An Atlanta native, apparently the fair Ms. Roth is no Southern Belle. In principle, the concept seems fair: Sugar run amok is contributing to rising obesity, diabetes and other disease, which, in turn, costs our nation untold suffering and billions in healthcare costs.

In the article, she’s been painted as belligerent and confrontational. Some in her school - and previous schools - have seen her rants as self-serving and ill-intended. She reminds me of the woman in the 1990s who railed against Married: With Children, hoping to get Al, Peg and the risque show ditched from the TV line-up.

Viewership spiked.

As the father of three grade-school kids also offered cakes and snacks during school (birthday snacks, holiday treats and the lot — sometimes offered by our family in celebration of our own children’s milestones or events), I can see Ms. Roth’s concern. But frankly, she seems in it for the battle - or notoriety.

A more thoughtful approach, one that probably would serve her children better in their own futures, would be to espouse their saying three words: “No, thank you.”

What do you think…?
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My day started this past Thursday with carpool at 7 am. It was followed shortly by another carpool at 730 am. I then saw that I was to walk Bailee, a neighbor’s dog, at 11 am. From then on, my morning and early afternoon were my own — until I had to drive carpools again at 215 and 4 pm.

Oh, and Robbie was headed to Sebring for the day to visit family.

I knew this to be true because Outlook said it was.

Interesting thing about this “work day.” Outlook had no mention of any “work” at all. Just a clutch of events that had everything to do with being a work-at-home dad.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t be busy. My white board was filled deadlines, and a half-dozen open Word docs revealed a fairly filled day ahead. And that doesn’t mean I wasn’t organized and my time wasn’t well managed. I was on top of it. It’s just that “it” had little to do with work.

But I thought when I gave up my corporate job almost 20 years ago I’d also given up the commute. Apparently not. Then again, being a work-at-home dad — or parent — means juggling business and family, finding compatibility between the two when you can.

Technology makes much of this possible — and makes me more reliable as an at-home parent. When I used paper-based scheduling and calendaring, I’d regularly miss appointments because I’d simply forget them. Even with Act!, and now Outlook, if I don’t schedule Bailee’s 11 am walk, she’ll go the day without a traipse around the block, leaving me to fib to her owners that, “Why, yes indeed, I did walk Bailee. I have NO idea why she pee’d for you for five minutes…”

And I always include a reminder 15 minutes before the scheduled event — even if that event is a walk with a dog.

Some out there are grinding their teeth right now, fuming that a neighbor would impose on me — someone who’s every bit the professional of my counterpart downtown, only one who works in the suburbs — such inane chores as a dog walk. Or that I’m driving four separate carpools. I don’t really have a problem with people who ask the occasional favor — whether Bailee’s humans or my kids’ mother. We impose on others. And no one’s habitual about their imposition.

Moreover, my kids have never seen daycare, early drop-off or late-stay/after-care. So I’m OK with all this. Besides, if I have to spend time in the carloop, I’ll being my BlackBerry or laptop and get some work done.

So one recent Thursday I had a very busy day indeed. I know I did, because Outlook told me so. It just didn’t make much mention of actual work needing doing. But such is the life of a work-at-home parent. We define “work” a bit differently in these parts…