With two six week olds and a four year old, I have lost all track of time, date...but unfortunately not season, I am well aware it is still winter.  My wife asks for little on Valentine's Day except flowers.  So I dutifully provide her lone request every February.  This year I wondered how I would manage to do it.  Getting all three of them into a car and to a flower store? I mean, come on, the double stroller probably won't even FIT in the store.  And heck Andrew will probably destroy way more than $70 worth of flower and flower accessories while attemtpting to show my something "mommy would like."

So trips for flowers are eliminated.  And it's too crass to have her buy her own on the way home from work.  (It is, right?)

Then lo, and behold, once again, athomedad.org, comes to my rescue (does sucking up count in the percentage?).  Not only a resource for wonderful advice, and networking among the SAHD community, they now give me a shining light, a beacon, if you will, to meet my wife's one and only Valentine's dream -- a beautiful bouquet of roses from proflowers.com.

So Mike, and Mrs. Mike, I don't know if this will win but at least I got the ball rolling (or the seed planted??  huh?).  Looking forward to February 8, so that my wife looks forward to February 14.

Always,

Josh

Josh SAHD Since August 2005

Thanks Josh!   That's a good start.   Let's hear from some other people...

I would love to give this to my husband because I would love  flowers just once that weren't last minute thought and delivered to work in front of the gals so he can be mr. hero and I get ohhs and ahhs from them when the delivery person comes.

My husband is a swet man but does not think, and having this in front of him- he could order something beautiful and  not even have to get off his butt- sure he would have to make the poker or sports page smaller for a bit but still he could look like a hero and no one would ever have to know he has no money and he thought of it all by himself- noone will tell and he won't be walking around with a big red bump from a cast iron pan  being whacked on his  head from forgetting or being too busy---ok nope I don't do that- really officer he bumped his head on the table when he was tying the kiddos shoes.

We seriously have a limited budget as he is a disabled veteran and my hours are few as I come home to help care for him, so this would make him feel like he did something and I wouldn't feel so bad like I pushed him into getting something- which he  generally doesn't but the fact is, we as women would love something picked out from the heart and know money is tight, even a breakfast in bed- yep captain crunch would make me happy but flowers would make me go nuts!

Hmm..  I thought there would be more interest in this.   Notice that your chances are pretty darn good at this point - there are only two entries (one from someone who is new here) and I have five gift certificates to give away....

...and his family who each deserve their own personal bouquet of flowers.

But how about flowers for my beautiful wife who works hard and doesn't complain:

when the house is a mess and her dinner isn't ready when she gets home...

when her evening meal is pasta yet again...

when the kids, the cats and I all want her attention at the same time...

when my hands are cold... Ok. That's when she complains.

Because last year at this time, my wife was suffering from postpartum depression and her birthday (Feb 2) and Valentines Day basically sucked for her. I did what I could, but her psychiatrist had taken her out of work so we were pretty short on money (high school counselors don't get disability). Okay, so my post lacks humor (I'm not that funny anyway - except to my 15 month old). Things are going much better now and my wife would really appreciate the flowers, especially if they're free. Plus, we're trying for another baby and Valentines Day is right around the right time if you know what I mean. So please please please even though I'm not that funny and as my son would say, "Want that, want that, that, that, that, that, waaaah!"

Thanks, Tim

I am most deserving to win since even after 15 years of marriage, I refuse to give up on attempting to master the "house rules." For those who aren't aware of the "house rules," a few examples include: (1) "house rules" are sacred and must be followed at all times by the husband, (2) "house rules" can be changed at any time, but only by the wife, and (3) if it appears the husband is mastering the "house rules," the rules must be immediately changed by the wife.

I have been close to mastery several times, then I slip back.  I think giving flowers to the wife for Valentine's Day is a "house rule" (at least for the next couple of weeks), so I hope I win!

I don't know about that.  But deserving?  Yes.  Let this be my evidence--

Here was the gift exchange at our house one Valentine's Day:  I gave hubby the key to a weekend suite at the Marriott.  I wrapped it in a maroon lace teddy.  He gave me a new faucet set for the downstairs bathroom sink.

I don't know if I deserve it or not but i will give it a try.....Considering my wifes birthday is on the 9th and Valentine's Day creeps up 5 days later it is always hard to find something to get her for both. I think I have sent her flowers just once before and we have talked about not doing it any more because it seems like a waste of money for something that only last a week. Anyway...this next week for her birthday and Valentine's she will be out of town for work. I think it will be a nice suprise for her to get flowers at her hotel since she will be all alone on these two occasions.

Liam

We are moving. We close on our new home on the 18th and will be moving on the 21st. It's been a struggle for us to be able to do this on one income and we decided not to get anything for each other for Valentine's Day this year due to financial constraints. It would be really nice if i could surprise my wife with some flowers. She has a demanding job and works very hard. She is a wonderful wife and mother and I think she deserves something special. She is definitely the glue that keeps our family so tight and I love her with all of my heart.

Andy

...and I'm not a Kennedy. So like the rest of the poor saps who live here,

we freeze about 1/2 the year and then die in the Summer. We have about

three good days of weather per year. Beyond that the drivers are the worst,

and most rude you've ever known. The economy stinks but that's okay because

the cost of living keeps going up around here...housing, taxes, food,somebody is

making something, just not me. My wife is a school teacher and I am just starting

out as a handyman (Handy Andy) part time, so I can still be around my kids. It sure would be nice to have some help with the flowers this year...even though we

won't see the ones from the ground for about three months. Thanks!

Andy M.

Hi, I am not sure about needing flowers, as we live in a series of fashionably-arranged cardboard boxes in NE Wisconsin, we sure could use the flowers to put into the holes the kids keep poking in to the sides of the bedrooms. I just added another ”3 season’s room" and now they went and installed a skylight in it and another door. If our public school system would not keep giving them pencils for things like no-tardies, birthday and fun Fridays we would not have this problem. The other kids have so many pencils they give them away to classmates. Can you believe the nerve of some people! As long as the flowers have stems, my wife said she really didn't need the tops. They taste terrible. She said to just send us a bunch of stems and we may make it above 40 degrees at home sometime this month! Good news, summer is only 5 months-around the corner. Since my wife has a job of standing at the off-ramp with the sign this month, I am still the at-home dad. How many a's in starvfing? Now if you could give the shelter some more recipes instead of chili, spaghetti and Soppy Joes, it would go a long way to help us. I am also doing pretty well and smuggling ketchup, salsa, sour cream and other packets out of the school lunchroom to make a soup base. I look up recopies at the public library, (free Internet Rocks). Also, we are very pleased that most people in our area are somewhat overweight, so we can stop up on oversized coats which make a pretty good bed for a 5 year old. After I remove my eight-year old's tongue from the school's flagpole for sixth time this winter ($5 bucks is $5 bucks, and a bet is a bet, I tell him.) then I will firmly plant mine in my cheek as you may have guessed.
Bruce Cantrall, dad to 3! Northeast Wisconsin at Home Dads & Aluminum Can Recycling (Green Bay)
• http://tellmymom.com/athomedads

I’m relatively new to the community (member status is currently measured in minutes), and feeling good about what I see. This post will serve the dual purpose of introducing me and identifying me as a flower competitor. It’s nice to have others who can relate because in my neck of the woods I’m fairly unique. In fact, I’m included in our community college’s slideshow showcasing nontraditional careers (my picture could only be more awesome if it was surprisingly snapped while I was on the toilet).

I’ve been at this gig for a year now. After having our first child, a beautiful girl, my wife and I quickly grew weary of the daycare game and all the headaches associated with a two-working-parent household… and of course, the benefit our daughter would receive from having one of us home was 90% of our decision. Since I made less money than my wife (her name will be withheld), her name is Sarah, I got to be the Manny. It’s been the best thing we’ve ever done even though money is tight (thermostat is set low enough we can safely thaw meat on the counter). This contest is a good one. My wife hearts flowers.

I racked my brain trying to think of a good story to share but no single one stood out. It’s been amazing seeing my daughter transform from a blob to an actual walking, talking hurricane over this past year… there have been so many little things happen. So, instead of one story I’d like to share various unexpected happenings/insights that, when combined, explain my experience and why I love being the “at-home”.

1. Reading, with confidence, “What to Expect – Toddler Years” and “Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy” cover to cover.
2. Learning how to cook.
3. Digging oatmeal out of ears.
4. When she pooped in my hand (I mean my baby daughter. When Sarah did it it was just unacceptable).
5. Endless research whether or not to vaccinate (get outta my head Jenny McCarthy).
6. When I literally got upset that my wife hadn’t noticed I cut my hair (this really happened – it happened and it hurts to talk about).
7. Including our “Parents as Teachers” on speed dial.
8. Discovering our daughter will stop crying when played “Love Shack” at high volume.
9. Finding out just how un-pullable dog tails really are.
10. When she had an x-ray for pneumonia, feeling the surge of pride at the disciple & girth of my daughter’s fart when laid on the table in front of a room of techs.
11. Oh, the moment I realized intimacy with my wife during the workweek was a thing of folklore… that was fun.

There are a million other things that’ve made my at-home time memorable, so I won’t drone on. Most of them would only be funny/interesting to my family… but I suppose that’s the whole purpose of doing what we’re doing – to have those millions of moments (man, I sound like a sappy d-bag… many apologies).

I deserve to win flowers for my wife because, if for no other reason, this is my first post and I really put up some “A” material. C’mon, I didn’t just phone it in. But seriously, my wife and I have really sacrificed to make this happen. We’ve cut all extras out of the budget – including movies, restaurants and especially flowers. So to surprise her with a nice arrangement would be very, very cool. If I win there’s a possibility, however slight, that I’ll score on a weeknight (unless I’m tired).

Good luck with the site. Now that I’ve found you I’m sure I’ll check in often.

Nathan

I would very much like to receive one of these certificates so I can send flowers to my oh so very deserving SAHD! He is a hopeless romantic and loves flowers as much as any woman – especially when they are unexpected. I’ve managed to put away a measly $40.00 for dinner (probably take-out since we can’t take the little one to any other places) and a little gift. With 2 kids (one is older and in school) and one on the way, we can’t really afford to spend a lot of money on the holiday and therefore officially agreed NOT to do anything big – but I would so like to do something for him. So although I know I’m officially breaking the tenants of this contest by being a non-dad – I’m hoping in the spirit of equality that I’ll at least get a nod for the effort J

This poor man has gone above and beyond the call of duty and taken more than a few blows, time and time again, in the short 9 months that he’s been at home with our son. As a happy working mother (I work with the disabled and 100% love my job) I could not do what I do and still have a family if not for my husband. Furthermore, I don’t really believe that I could graciously take some of the attacks, snotty comments, and bizarre happenings that he (and so many SAHDs) sees every day.

I submit the following true (if slightly exaggerated for humor sake) story as evidence of my husband’s worthiness:

******************

Report received by local dispatch at 11:02 am: Suspect was a Caucasian male, approximately 6’2, seen walking from the International Grocery Store south to the Whole Foods Co-Op. Suspect was further witnessed to be carrying a crying baby. Two police cruisers were dispatched immediately to investigate.

Suspect was found and detained by police officers Macho and Ego in progress along the sidewalk. Suspect was found to be singing “Oh My Darling” at a level much higher than local ordinance allows, obviously trying to drown out the suspicious crying baby and evade police. Police officers further observed that he was carrying 1) a Pooh Bear diaper bag, slightly bulky and possibly containing fire arms and 2) A bag of zucchini, also slightly bulky and possibly containing fire arms. Officers approached suspect with extreme caution.

Officers questioned suspect on his purpose for being in the area. “Shopping”. The suspect raised the bag of zucchini in demonstration – officers braced for a confrontation. “Sir, we’ve had reports of a man seen walking in this area with a crying baby.” Suspect made no response but body language suggested agitation.

“Sir, did you understand me? There have been reports of a man seen walking in this vicinity with a crying baby.” “I understood you officer, I’m just trying to understand – someone reported that - A Baby. Was. Crying? Is that correct?” “Yes Sir. I’m sure you can understand our obvious concern. So is everything alright?” Officers, suspecting possible drug use from the suspect’s abnormally long hair, took the opportunity to release the clasps on their side arms.

“Well officer, I believe everything is alright. We were a little gassy earlier today, and now we’re feeling a little hungry [because it’s almost eleven]. But I think it’ll all be fine.”

Officers continued to watch suspect for a period of 10 minutes. When the baby ceased crying and proceeded to fall asleep on suspects shoulder it was determined that the immediate threat was past and no further evidence would present itself.

“Well sir, if your SURE that everything is alright, we’ll just be going then. Have a nice day.”

Dispatch reports that police officers left the scene at 11:22a.m.

*****************

Yes, our poor SAHD was actually detained by the police for having a crying baby. Now what mother (working or not) would that have happened to?   More importantly - what person would have called in a mother with a baby? No one.  This is just one story. My poor hubby has had to deal with everything from an illiegal denial of FMLA paternity leave (which eventually ended in unlawful termination and a pending lawsuit) to being denied information on any local parenting group because they aren't "geared toward alternative families".

I would love nothing more than to be able to reward my hard-working Full-Time Dad this Valentines Day with something more than a pat on the back.

Thanks for reading

My husband is a whiz in the kitchen.  He can look at what is in the refrigerator, and to my complete amazement, create a delicious, nutritious meal for our family.  I, on the other hand, have been known to mess up macaroni and cheese.  (You have to drain the pasta first, THEN put in the cheese packet!)  When I come home to find the kitchen a complete disaster, I can rest assured that we will be well-fed for weeks, and the dishes I wash are a small price to pay for the deliciousness he puts on our table.

Our daughter, who is sixteen months old, often shows her appreciation for Jeffrey's kitchen genius by first smearing food all over her face, the highchair, and sometimes the floor, then when she has had her fill, putting her plate or bowl on her head like a hat, grinning with pleasure in her version of a culinary five-star review.

I would love to show him my appreciation as well, to thank him for his good humor when he is asked for the nth time "So where are you working now?"  In a time and culture where stay-at-home-dads are going against the grain, he does it with patience that amazes me.

So here's to my husband, a man of many talents, who isn't afraid to change a smelly diaper, who loves, teaches, and cares for our daughter day-in and day-out, who deserves a cook and a maid (but we can't afford a full-time staff), not to mention a day off!

Even if my humorous story-telling abilities fail to make the cut, I am loudly and publicly proclaiming, my husband is the sexiest man alive, for more reasons than I could list here!

I would love to win this giveaway.  I'm a single mom, elementary school teacher (thus financially challenged!) and good friend.  I have a dear friend in Atl. who is sick.  I want to send her flowers.

Well, I'm a cheep ass and I have only ever bought flowers for my wife from the grocery store on sale. With all these kids and all the extra activities they have, who has money for flowers. Lately the winter months have had a toll on our relationship. I'm working nights and she has, after graduation as a nurse and getting a job right away, has been working 12 hours shifts. No time for us these days. When we do see each other she is walking out the door driving the kids to play pratice. The cost of the play is putting a damper on the budget and the show is on Valentines day. So all the extra cash we have is going to gas(the play is in Riverside 25 miles away), the cost of the ad, and the cost of the tickets(six shows at 6 apiece for the rest of us not in the show(4)), and of course flowers for the 5 of my girls in the play. So do I deserve the flowers? No. Does my wife deserve flowers that don't come from Jewel. I think so.

If some of you Chicago dads want to come see a nice children show for 6 bucks here is a link. [http://riversidetheaterguild.com/index.html]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bellyman_7/

So it starts like this...I work in ems as well as run my home based business of...A pooper scooper! Yes I pick up dog poo, and business is picking up....Sorry cheesy joke there! Anywho while working ems i was injured by lifting a 550lb person and have been unable to do either job at all! Well my fiance who works full time, has been taking care of our 2 children (1yr and 4) our dog and cat and the biggest kid ME! And she has for the last month so far....been doin the doo! Yup not only does she get crap from me and the kids but she jumped right in and started scooping to keep our business up and running!

Now this by far is a special woman!!! I would love to be picked so for all she is

doo-ing things might just come up roses for her!

Please feel free to ask any questions about the business as I would love to answer them.....no kidding here at all she has the ship end of the stick!

Thanks! 

Thanks everyone for the entries.    I will sort through these and try to post the winners later today...

The winners are announced here: http://www.athomedad.org/node/3671

Thanks everyone...