On the subject of me

For those of you new to this site (thanks to all the new BoB-alicious traffic), I should probably tell you that "Laid-Off Dad" is a bit of a misnomer. I began writing this blog under a different URL in June 2003, when Robert had just turned one and the large, corporate stink-palace that signed my checks decided it didn't want to anymore. So they gave me a package and 30 minutes to clear out my desk. A week later, LOD was born.

For 15 months, I worked as a freelancer and funneled most of the money I scraped together directly toward my usurious COBRA payment (since insurance carriers tend to think that if you increase your family size by 50%, your premium should go up by 800%). My wife worked too, and even though making rent was an adventure, we somehow made it work. And I got to spend several quality hours a day with this face.

Overall, a pretty good trade-off.

We sustained this stay-at-home family lifestyle for as long as we could muster. But this was Manhattan, where ATMs think $100 is "fast cash." It soon became time to get another full-time gig—albeit not with another large, corporate stink-palace—and start paying off back rent. (I thought about changing the blog's name, but then I would have been stuck with all these banners.) So now I haul my ass out into the street before sunrise five mornings a week, and the best part of my day is coming home to conversations like this:

Me: "You know what we're going to do this weekend? We're going to take the Christmas tree down."
Robert: "Why do you want to do that?"
Me: "Because Christmas is over."
R: "Oh."
Me: "And you know what that means? We're going to do a lot of sweeping."
R: [eyes becoming large as golf balls] "I'm going to help you!"
Me: "Absolutely. We're going to need a lot of your help."
R: "OK, but this time I'm a big boy now, so I get to use the big broom with the yellow straws on it."

Not even three, and already bargaining like a champ.

Comments

[Mad]

There will come a day where he either complains about the helping the whole time he does it or he just plain disappears until you've done the job. LOL

[Stacy]

I'm not saying this just to blow sunshine up your ass or anything, but I love your blog. There are two specific reasons. One, I love your appreciation of your child, just as he is at any given moment. Two, yours is the only blog I read on a regular basis that makes me hop directly over to Dictionary.com. Usurious? I think I love you... ;-)

[Philip]

Have you been designing your banners? How often do you change them? And what's your new gig?

[Muppet]

I love Robert. I do. I just love him. :)

[erinire]

cobra payments blow. but having a son who will help you sweep, now that is priceless.

[Boogie's Mom]

I just found your site and just wanted to tell you how much I love it already. My husband and I were both laid off during the first year of our daughter's life, and while stressful, it was a great experience for us. I hope you're enjoying your time with Robert. He sounds like a very lucky boy.

By the way, I laughed out loud on your post about the vases!

[LOD]

The banners are mine, and I make them when I should be doing something much more productive. Like sleeping. They change with the caprice of their creator.

The gig is a gig is a gig. And I don't hate it yet. So that's something.

[nina]

I sometimes feel like I spend most of the time I'm with my little one (aged 5 1/2) negotiating. No matter what limit I try to set, he is always negotiating for better. So, be warned, it only gets worse.

[lx robotnik]

Yea, new to this also. FINALLY someone who has command of the English language (being a young Romanian immigrant who's had to learn fast before being thrown to the tigers, uh, I mean 7th grade, I greatly appreciate seeing this level of writing) and firmly so.

I am a new dad (daughter, 6 mos.) who's recently been sacked (uh...let's just say MSNBC has had to re-organize) and going through all the COBRA/paying-the-mortgage-by- juggling-bowling-balls-on-a(n)-unicycle-in-the-streets issues.

Thanks for making me snicker with your posts. It's about time I started smiling again.

[YOMAMA]

I just read all the blogs in your category.....if you don't win....you was robbed! Yours is so cute and smart and endearing. Has me wondering...Hmmm....could Robert be writing It?

[aarkli :€)]

Robert is the king, I have to say. The funniest guy to watch interact with the world.
Not that his interactions are funny, but how surprised people are when he starts talking to them. Will never forget him pulling a felt rope into the dining area from the sanctuary and playing jump rope with me and his dad DW. DW would run back and forth over the rope, and little R was having the time of his life, and we laughed back and forth at how high his father would jump over the rope.

[Cell]

Very interesting site I congratulate