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From Wall Street to Sesame Street

The Rewards of Being a Daycare Daddy

By Mark Stackpole

There are many rewards to spending so much quality time with your children, and Foreman has gotten to spend such time with them not only at home but also in the daycare setting. "The best part is truly feeling that I am a part of their development," he says. "Just seeing your children grow up on a daily basis and working with them on new skills is so rewarding. It gives me more satisfaction at the end of the day than anything else in the world. It truly helps put things in perspective as to what is truly important."

Now that Foreman is back to work full time as a public relations director, his schedule is no longer as flexible as it once was. Recently, he had to go in to work early for a meeting and his wife was the one taking the kids to daycare.

"My son was so out-of-sorts that Daddy wasn't there that he cried all morning and wouldn't eat," Foreman says. "I felt bad for her, but it made me feel good to be wanted. We have deep bonds and a lot of inside secrets and stories, which they don't yet have with their mother."

There are a lot of things that a father can gain by putting down the pen and sticking his fingers in the paint. By taking a few minutes every day to let Wall Street turn into Sesame Street, he is taking the time to show his children that he is there for them, living in their world. They could never handle being dropped off unless they were sure that someone they love was going to be there to pick them up. That's you, Dad. Make sure not to be late; after all, they'll be waiting for you – and daycares charge extra if you're not on time.