ludwig
Howard A. Ludwig biography
Howard A. Ludwig became a stay-at-home dad after the birth of his son on June 14, 2006. He’s chronicled his experience in a weekly …
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Stay-At-Home Dad: Son’s first hit a tale of a better batter
He got a hit. My 6-year-old son hit the baseball for the first time this season. The hit came last week. A second-grader who lives around the corner was pitching. I can’t remember the pitch count, but I’ll forever remember the stunned look on my …Read More
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Stay-At-Home Dad: Get what lead out? Screening requirement imperfect
The mandatory medical forms for the 2013-14 school year arrived last week. My 5-year-old son needs physical, dental and vision exams before entering kindergarten. Peter also is required to have a lead test. The lead test requirement was spelled out in bold print, underlined and …Read More
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Stay-At-Home Dad: Family minivan goes down a dead-end road
The primary vehicle of the Ludwig family — a 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager — died last week at age 13. The blue-green minivan is survived by owners Howard Ludwig, The Wife and their two children, Bubba and Peter. The Grand Voyager died after colliding with …Read More
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Stay-At-Home Dad: Family yoga outing filled with distractions
I’m not particularly flexible. I knew my physical limitations going into a recent family yoga class. I wasn’t nearly as aware of my rigid parenting style until that afternoon. The Wife signed us up for the family yoga class at the Beverly Yoga Center. The …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Parents go to great lengths to get kids into summer camp
I camped out for Lollapalooza tickets in 1994. The Beastie Boys headlined the show, along with The Smashing Pumpkins and The Black Crowes. The epic lineup was well worth spending four hours seated on the curb outside Coconuts Music. That was nearly two decades ago. …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Bronzeville Children’s Museum not typical
Museums commonly are associated with learning. Exotic exhibits open our eyes to objects of historical significance. Well-thought-out displays teach onlookers about different cultures or scientific breakthroughs. Children’s museums don’t play by the same rules. I’ve been to countless children’s museums, and they are really just …
Stay-At-Home Dad has answers for all those stupid questions
Stay-at-home dads remain a curiosity for some. For those still shocked by my chosen career, I tend to offer polite answers about why I decided to leave a full-time job to raise my two sons. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to give a wise-guy …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Joyous joust
As much as I like being called “my lord,” I equally dislike calling a waitress “wench.” And yet those are the rules at Medieval Times in Schaumburg. My family of four visited the castle perched beside Interstate 90 last week. The replica fortress is an …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Grannies playing nannies
My 5-year-old son’s preschool lets out at 10:45 a.m. The cast of characters waiting for children as they come bolting out the door includes stay-at-home parents, nannies and grandparents. I’ve come to know many of these folks, chatting as we wait for the steel doors …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Bubba’s a little shaver
Bald boys kept showing up at my 6-year-old son’s elementary school this month. Everyone seemed to be participating in a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event, and Bubba eventually joined in. The California-based charity raises money for childhood cancer research. Participants shave their heads in exchange for …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Solitary confinement
The sign hanging on the door spoke volumes. The words “Keep Out” had been scrawled on a scrap of paper. The blue-lined paper was hastily taped to the highest point on the door that my 6-year-old son could reach. This was the marking of Bubba’s …
Stay-At-Home Dad: A few First World problems
My problems are paltry in the grand view of things. While people in less fortunate parts of the world struggle to find food and clean water, I complain about a broken child safety strap on my grocery cart. I’ve heard such complaints referred to as …
Stay-At-Home Dad: More bang for the puck
I love the Chicago Blackhawks. Tickets to Chicago Wolves games are simply cheaper. With that in mind, my two sons and I boarded a bus last weekend destined for a game between the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford IceHogs. Ironically, the IceHogs are the top …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Play date dos & don’ts
My two sons are officially on the play date circuit. At least twice a week, my 6- and 5-year-old boys are invited over to a friend’s house, or I host one of their buddies here. I attribute our packed play date schedule to winter hibernation. …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Hunters turn gatherers
I have keen grocery shopping skills. I get great deals, avoid impulse buys and am able to build meals around sale-priced items. I’ve even exchanged Christmas cards with bakers and deli workers. Shopping for groceries and other household staples has traditionally fallen to stay-at-home moms. …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Quality vs. quantity
I stumbled upon a theory last week called the Myth of Quality Time. The theory states that the concept of quality time as it pertains to childrearing is contrived. It’s the quantity of time that’s truly important, according to the online commenter presenting the theory. …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Rest in peace, Mr. Mom
Stay-at-home dads everywhere danced on the grave of Mr. Mom last week. The celebration followed a story in the Wall Street Journal declaring “Mr. Mom is dead.” The term has long been considered disparaging among fathers, particularly those serving as full-time caregivers. At-home dads flooded …
Stay-At-Home Dad: A gift guide for guys
“Forget the stay-at-home dad stuff, Howie should write a column about giving gifts.” This suggestion came last week from The Wife’s friend and former co-worker. She had taken notice of the new coat I’d given my bride for Christmas. The year before, I had bought …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Books that are bummers
Children’s books are typically cheery. “The Little Engine That Could” makes it over the hill. Max returns from “Where the Wild Things Are” to find his supper waiting for him — and it was still hot. But a few children’s books take a different path. …
Stay-At-Home Dad: Third place feels great
I can’t remember the last time I was so proud of my 6-year-old son. Last Sunday, Bubba won his final match of a youth wrestling tournament at Marist High School on Chicago’s Southwest Side. He pinned his opponent in the first round, securing third place …
