Window to the World

Since becoming a stay-at-home-dad I think the single most important luxury item I have is not any gimmick or toy for calming Margot down, not any book, and not any appliance; rather it is regular access to the Internet.

I probably use the Internet now more than I ever did before:

• I keep up-to-date with what is happening in the world by reading numerous online articles about such things as the tragedy in Japan and the turmoil in the Middle East (indeed, I am often tempted to write my support for the people in those lands on this blog, something I may do on a later occasion).
• I use it to find online resources so that I can practice my French. 
• I check the weather to see if it’s too cold outside to go for a walk with Margot.
• I email my friends to make plans for guys’ nights out. 
• I use Skype so that my parents can see Margot grow more regularly. 
• I even blog in order that my connection to the online world operates in two directions (as a consumer and as a contributor).

I did a lot of those things before becoming a stay-at-home-dad…just not as much. Interestingly, even though I probably don’t even use a tenth of what’s out there, I sometimes think I surf the Internet too much.

Could I give up the Internet? Well, maybe…if you gave me a million dollars to tour the world. Although, and this may shock you, from the middle of 2003 to the middle of 2007 I actually had no home Internet connection (I used libraries)! Haha that seems so quaint now.

Anyways, going forward, and definitely as long as I’m a stay-at-home parent, I think the Internet will be a big part of my life.