A good friend of mine called last night and said he’d been feeling exhausted. Its been only two weeks at home with his kids since summer vacation started. I shamelessly exploited the obvious jokes at his expense:

“Well! Mom let’s us have Kool Aid for breakfast!”

“I didn’t know the cup would get stuck in the toilet!”

“Why did she get the bigger piece?”

“It’s too hot to go outside!”
My friend is a writer and finishing up his book over the next couple of months and he finds himself at home with his three young children while his wife, a doctor, heads out each day. This is his first time doing this and it’s pretty amusing even if I admire him.

I listened diligently and in the end, while he’ll do a great job and survive until September, needed a little gently reminder about safety as a summer-stay-at-home Dad.

First, I reminded him of the strangers that were going to stop by and in his home this summer. This is an aspect of safety that many new stay at home parents don’t even think of or realize. I reminded him to answer the phone himself and always answer the door. As busy as he is, it’s important to remember that he needs to be filter for strangers. He’ll have to be the filter for his young three children.

Any time he has to meet new clients or subcontractors he is going to have to do so in a local coffee shop until he gets to know and trust them. Having a coffee can also give him something to do during any lulls in conversation other than just sitting there and feeling awkward.

Finally, I asked him to check to make sure his first aid kit is up to date and is where he can easily and readily find it. The same thing goes for his home fire extinguishers. Make sure you know where they are and how to use them and when to use them.

My friend will make it to September. I think I threw him off a bit with my safety suggestions but I know he’ll do them.