Bushcraft house husband

[salad]

Hello

I have just started my new Job as house husband today. When we used to live in Blighty I worked and the missus was at home on Maternity leave. Now we have moved to Germany in the Alps and as my wife is native German and can obviously speak the lingo very well we decided that her earning potential was better than mine here . So I am now staying home with my daughter who is almost 1 years old for the next 6months to a year (until my German improves and my earnings potential is better).

Now I was wondering how many other bushcraft house husbands are on the forum and what do you do to keep your kids busy that has a positive focus on the natural world around you ?

 

[Retired Member southey]

HELLLOOOOOOO! been home dad looking after our two for the last two years same kind of deal as your self, I earn my wage by us not having to pay child care, I tend to carve stuff, make knives and kit, go for walks and see if they can remember the names off trees(refreshing me by teaching them) its ace but can be a little lonely sometimes, they are only just beginning to understand a reply to conversation and questions so the back and forth banter is a little off for now, take em out running with me, A good choice of buggy is important, big wheels either air filled tyres or some kind of suspension make the trails easier, now they stop when told hope to start taking them out camping soon,

 

[FGYT]

Hello

I have just started my new Job as house husband today. When we used to live in Blighty I worked and the missus was at home on Maternity leave. Now we have moved to Germany in the Alps and as my wife is native German and can obviously speak the lingo very well we decided that her earning potential was better than mine here . So I am now staying home with my daughter who is almost 1 years old for the next 6months to a year (until my German improves and my earnings potential is better).

Now I was wondering how many other bushcraft house husbands are on the forum and what do you do to keep your kids busy that has a positive focus on the natural world around you ?

served 5 yrs now and have 2 kids Holly 4.5yrs and rowan 2.5yrs
moved in April to a larger house with large garden in a rural setting which needs a lot of DIY and sorting hopfully will have a fair size veg plot by next year and start producing our own meat.

Also setting up still as a knife maker supplier working from the shed

hopefully i will never have to go back top the rat race of working for another again

Why women demanded the right to go to work (i know some who rush back in weeks and earn less than the childcare they have to pay ) and let others raise their kids is beyond me. I cant think of a more important job
we need to get back to a single income family system (doesn't matter if its the man or woman just not both)

any way rant over


ATB

Duncan

 

[salad]

Hi Southey

we have just invested in one of those baby back packs so we can take her out walking, but I think when its just me I might stick to the buggy so I can see her face and make sure she is not getting upset. We went and fed some ducks this morning she seemed to like that.

Hey as your from Hampshire will you be at the wilderness gathering ? The mother in law is staying here for a few days then so I am able to come over for it

 

[Retired Member southey]

Yeah going to go for the day either sat of Sunday, it depends on what day my matey can guarantee not working, are you going for the whole event, would be cool to say hello!

 

[salad]

served 5 yrs now and have 2 kids Holly 4.5yrs and rowan 2.5yrs
moved in April to a larger house with large garden in a rural setting which needs a lot of DIY and sorting hopfully will have a fair size veg plot by next year and start producing our own meat.

Also setting up still as a knife maker supplier working from the shed

hopefully i will never have to go back top the rat race of working for another again

Why women demanded the right to go to work (i know some who rush back in weeks and earn less than the childcare they have to pay ) and let others raise their kids is beyond me. I cant think of a more important job
we need to get back to a single income family system (doesn't matter if its the man or woman just not both)

any way rant over


ATB

Duncan

I agree, I remember when I was a kid living in Romsey (hants) single income homes were much more normal back then and everyone seemed less stressed out

 

[salad]

Yeah going to go for the day either sat of Sunday, it depends on what day my matey can guarantee not working, are you going for the whole event, would be cool to say hello!

yes, will be flying over on the wed then going to my brothers in southampton for the night and heading to the gathering on thursday. hello and a drink is always welcome

 

[Retired Member southey]

I agree, I remember when I was a kid living in Romsey (hants) single income homes were much more normal back then and everyone seemed less stressed out

Definatly, but I have to say that without the heavy discounts we get with wifely work we would be struggling hard to make ends meet a our level of income,

 

[Dogoak]

Iv'e been the one at home for a few years now, it's been a fanatastic time. Plenty of ups and downs but a great experience, I do occasionaly get it in the ear for not getting everything as swmbo would want it! Money is tight but we do have the lifestyle in a wonderful area.
As Southey said, getting out and about is the best bet but try to involve them with everything you can, I'll bet she will enjoy cooking!
My son has just had a birthday and a close friend, who knows of our interests, sent him a book called 'I Love My World' by Chris Holland, it describes its self as 'The Playful, Hands-On, Nature Connection Guidebook'. Iv'e only had some quick peeks inside and seems to be a great book for anyone involved with childeren in the natural environment and would be a great teching aid.

 

[Retired Member southey]

yes, will be flying over on the wed then going to my brothers in southampton for the night and heading to the gathering on thursday. hello and a drink is always welcome

absolutly! I will be wondering round with a guy who looks suspiciously like Dolf lundgren! hahaha

 

[salad]

Hi Dogoak

Thanks for the tip with the book I will check it out. I know what you mean about the way swmbo wants it. I have already done washing up twice today

 

[salad]

absolutly! I will be wondering round with a guy who looks suspiciously like Dolf lundgren! hahaha

I will be wondering around with a battered old filson baseball hat you can see here, bottom photo http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77127

 

[FGYT]

Definatly, but I have to say that without the heavy discounts we get with wifely work we would be struggling hard to make ends meet a our level of income,

unfortunately the Dual house income has steadily pushed the price of everything up over the last few decades to the point where dual income is needed (supply and demand) so dropping back to one is more difficult. houses a few years ago where priced because 2 incomes could get any mortgage amount they wanted no questions so prices spiraled now that lop has been pretty well shut down.

Im extreamlly lucky that my wife can earn a fair bit more than I can and now earns more than we both did when we first met plus is very careful with money
but even when we made the choice that if we have kids one of us would stop work my factory Managers salary would have all but disappeared in child care (for just 1 child) and fuel to get to work
now if i added up the cost of child care saved plus the cost of DIY/building work saved and the money from knife making i would need a pretty big wage to match it

ATB

Duncan

 

[salad]

unfortunately the Dual house income has steadily pushed the price of everything up over the last few decades to the point where dual income is needed (supply and demand) so dropping back to one is more difficult. houses a few years ago where priced because 2 incomes could get any mortgage amount they wanted no questions so prices spiraled now that lop has been pretty well shut down.

Im extreamlly lucky that my wife can earn a fair bit more than I can and now earns more than we both did when we first met plus is very careful with money
but even when we made the choice that if we have kids one of us would stop work my factory Managers salary would have all but disappeared in child care (for just 1 child) and fuel to get to work
now if i added up the cost of child care saved plus the cost of DIY/building work saved and the money from knife making i would need a pretty big wage to match it

ATB

Duncan

We are not yet sure how we will cope the one wage as she is yet to get her first pay packet, but I do know that we have spent all our savings in the move.
I think its great that you are able to make some extra income out of knife making, doing something you enjoy and getting paid for it has been on my mind for some years now. When I have learnt to speak german well enough to get a job here I am hoping to be able to do something outdoors

 

[eel28]

It seems that I am not alone then finances forced me to be a fulltime Dad back in February, and it's looking like things will stay this way for at least another year 'till our daughter starts school full time - well unless we have another one in the mean time!

To be honest, I don't know how I had the time to go to work in the past! Always seems to be something to do, taking/collecting daughter to preschool, washing clothes and dishes, pottering in the garden, general housework etc, but I am enjoying it generally speaking

Anyway, back to the original question, on almost each and every walk to/from preschool, we have been collecting and trying to ID feathers, watching the blossom appear and turn into fruits. pressing flowers to make into pictures (have done this in a couple of ways i.e. arranging them on the scanner and 'photographing' them, scanning them individually then (try to) making pictures in photoshop, and the bit she loves best, is plain old gluing them on paper )

Always give myself half hour or so once I get back from dropping her at preschool, and usually end up sat in the garden making a brew using one stove or the other from my 'collection'

 

[salad]

Hi eel28

It sounds like you are enjoying yourself and some good ideas there as-well.

Thanks

 

[blacktimberwolf]

My little-un loved her grub & one thing she enjoyed was we went out fruit picking (wild grapes, blackberries & plums mostly )
You may have some mountain blueberries (Hiedelbeeren) near you Mmmmmmmmmm