Remarks from Mark

Hello, my name is Mark Mahoney, and I'm a stay-at-home dad.

That is a sentence I never thought I would write, yet I'm happy to have been home nearly every day with Hazel, my one-year-old daughter, since the end of June.

Prior to then, I had been a full-time newspaper reporter for just over 13 years. I thought I would miss being a part of the workforce once I left it, but I really don't.

Though I guess I haven't left the working world entirely, as I contribute to the Summerland Advocate-Messenger with occasional stories and photos.

Now I'm contributing this column, which I will call "Remarks from Mark," though I'm not sure how often I'll write one.

Anyway, I never thought in my life that I'd be a stay-at-home dad, which is quite the job in itself with how much my daughter loves to play, run around and nap.

Adjusting to taking care of Hazel while my wife, Christina, works as a full-time hospice nurse hasn't been easy, but I wouldn't change anything for the world.

I'm getting to see Hazel grow and learn on a daily basis, which I wouldn't otherwise get to witness if I was working full time.

She loves to watch the movie "Moana," which she can do as much as she wants thanks to Disney Plus, a streaming service that has more than proven its worth.

I can't count how many times we've seen that movie, though we've have watched other Disney films, especially ones I grew up with.

If Christina and I hadn't had Hazel, we'd probably still be living and working in Sheldon, located in the far northwest corner of Iowa.

We moved to northeast Nebraska so Hazel could grow up in the first house we've ever owned, and we could live closer to some of our relatives.

I have no regrets about the decision to move back to my home state and become a stay-at-home dad to my daughter.

While taking care of a toddler has been stressful at times, it also has been rewarding to be at home with Hazel and sharing laughs and smiles with her.