Be More Awesome

Every Tuesday my daughter takes a Spanish class at the community center with a good friend of hers from nursery school. The bonus for me is that her friend's dad is also of the stay-at-home variety so we usually grab a cup of coffee and play cards during their class.

During drop off at the community center the other day a guy approached me while I was waiting for my friend so we could head off for coffee.

"I don't mean to be forward but are you a stay-at-home dad?," he said.

"Uh, yeah."

"Well I am too. We moved last May and I've been home with the kids since. We were just paying so much for daycare. It didn't make sense so I'm home with the kids now. But I have to say...I feel really isolated."

Cut to me looking like a deer in the headlights:

"Oh, well...uh...yeah...I guess it can be..."

Off the cuff empathy is not my strong suit I guess. Mercifully my friend showed up just in time to save me from saying something stupid. I said goodbye to the forlorn father and we headed out to play cards.

I recounted this story to my wife later and she was horrified.

"You didn't give that poor guy your phone number or invite him for coffee with you guys?", she said

"I'm not that kinda guy. I don't move that fast. I need a formal introduction from a trusted third party before I give out my digits."

"Your terrible," she said. "That man was lonely. It was a cry for help. I feel so bad for him"

"I don't know the guy from Adam. He could be a knife wielding maniac with a pre-schooler for all I know."

My wife remained unconvinced and I must admit that I did feel a little sad for the dude. It can be hard to meet people when you're stuck at home in a new town. If I could give the guy advice I would say to get a little less desperate and a little more awesome. Maybe get involved in your kids school or a charity in town. Do some good and you'll probably meet some good people.