Where it all began...

I don't completely know how to start this story, but I'll do my best to get the facts straight. One Sunday afternoon Michelle and I were on our way up to my parents' for dinner when Michelle mentioned that she was still planning on going back to BYU to obtain a degree. I thought, "Ok, she's still set on going back to school. That's good." She then said, "What do you think if I go back to work at Deseret Book the days I'm not in class?" I wasn't too happy about that because I wanted to have an out as well. I didn't want to be working as full-time apartment manager while Michelle would be gone 5 days a week. I told her that I didn't want to be stuck all summer and it would make more sense for me to work at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) on the days she doesn't have classes because I make more money there than she does at Deseret Book. After a long discussion I realized I chose the wrong word... "Stuck" is exactly how Michelle felt when I was taking 19 credits and working 15-20 hours a week this last semester. She was ready for a break and we tried to organize a compromise.

A couple Sundays later was Fast and Testimony Meeting and also the baby blessing of our home teacher and his wife's baby. I don't remember anything that was really said but, our home teacher, Tyson Bringhurst, shared his story of being the stay at home dad, his wife, Alyson, shared her story of Tyson being home and then Michelle got up and shared her feelings of going back to school and us switching roles for the summer. Even though it hadn't started yet she said she knew I would do a great job.

Well, our compromise was to see how classes would go and then if Michelle felt like she could handle work at Deseret Book she could do it. Now we are almost done with her first set of classes, I'm home MWF from 7-3 and we are usually both home TTh before I go to work at the JSMB. Michelle isn't working at Deseret Book because there is still so much to do here for the apartments and we like to have some time together. I'm working mostly evenings at the JSMB about 30 hours a week and Michelle is picking up the slack around home while still doing really well in school. I never thought I would enjoy being a stay at home dad as much as I do. I'm just sad for when August 16th hits and I begin my student teaching.