My personal opinion is that people will understand the at-home parent phase of your life and the resulting employment gap, but trying to make official "experience" out of it tends to look cheesy (even if it was truly skill- or character-building time).     I would list the at-home parent time as part of your history ("2005-2010 - Stay at home parent by choice following the birth of my children") so it doesn't look like you were an irresponsible bum, but I wouldn't try to build it into some big skill such as "handle multiple tasks at once", etc.

Here's why:  You're either going to be hired by someone who "gets" the at-home parent thing or doesn't.   If they get it, then you're not really losing out by not listing the usual skills - they know what you did.   If they don't "get it", then they will very likely view the "skills" as lame.    Basically, for better or worse, your goal with the resume is to get a job, not to promote at-home parents or change the attitude of your potential employer.     Fortunately, most people with responsibility for hiring are older and therefore somewhat more likely to "get it" than the younger kidless folks might.

That said, if you're going for a very kid-related job, perhaps you want to make more mention of it than you might with other jobs.   For example, I like your "greater insight into how children learn and develop", but I'm less impressed with things like "handle the unexpected".

And, also fortunately, the education world (if that's where you're looking) is much more family-centric than most other professions - people generally don't go into education if they're career-obsessive business types.    The at-home dad time may not be as big of an issue as you might think.

I'm curious to hear other opinions on this.

We always tell dads heading back to work to be open and honest in their resume.  Like Mike B. stated, don’t try to make being an AHD official, it will look cheesy.  As a matter of fact, it’s best to list the time spent at home in your timeline and leave it at that.  There is really no need to expand on what you do, most interviewers know what the job entails.

However, that said, it is very appropriate to list any community volunteering you may do either at your children’s school or other places.  It is recommended to volunteer as much as you can to keep your skills up and current and to show you are still active outside of taking care of the home.  Look at your volunteering from the aspects that transfer well to the working world.  As an example; you are the membership coordinator for your son or daughter’s soccer team.  Breakdown the duties into tasks you would do if the job is for an professional association, a trade organization, etc.  Maybe you volunteer organizing ride sharing for a hospital staff during bad weather, this easily transfers to logistics services in large corporations.  Maybe you coach or manage a sports team, look at the job from each aspect of the job.  For example, I coach and manage a high school rowing team.  Almost everything I do in my role as the operations manager applies to my old job as a fleet manager.  I buy new and used equipment.  I set up and manage equipment replacement schedules.  I enter into contracts for the use of the marina we practice from.  I negotiate contracts and services from outside vendors to support our team.  I dispose of and sell old equipment.  I’m the chief liaison between the school and the team and booster organization.  I’m also the chief liaison between our team and the league.  As you can see, almost all my duties are very relevant and are an extension of what I did for 20 years in the working world.  So if you haven’t done so yet, get out there and volunteer.

And lastly, if asked don’t shy away from your time at home.  Be confident and explain it that this was a choice that you and your wife made that was the best thing for your family.  You felt it was important to have one of you home for the children and that you have no regrets.  And if your wife knows someone in her HR department at work, see if they will look over your resume and give you some suggestions from an HR point of view.

Hope that helps,

Mike Stilwell — Daddyshome, Inc. - The National At-Home Dad Network www.daddyshome.org

after 13 years as a home-dad, for several of those years publishing "full-time dads" magazine, i went to look for "work,"  and thought that my experience would be of some value.

time-management, responsibility, proof that i could do more than one thing at a time, etc. but no, potential employers would look at my resume and ask what i had been doing for the past 13 years. it made absolutey no impression on them. i don't think it hurt me at all, but it didn't help either. i wound up working in a warehouse, eventually moving up in the company. it might help if you are looking for a job in child-care or teaching, but anything else, i doubt anybody will get it that you've een WORKING all those years.