A Father of Five moves four of his five kids six times in one year.

Yup, there are a lot of number words in that title...    "A Father of Five moves four of his five kids six times in one year."    Lets break that down a little bit..

"A Father of FIVE..."   - If you are reading this, you know why the word-number FIVE is here, and if you don't, I'll tell you.  I have five (now adult) children.   

"...moves FOUR of his five kids..." -- Four of our kiddos has recently moved.

"...SIX times..." -- Yes, I have helped my four of our five kids (amd pme extended family member) move six times times recently.  But is that six times over the course of 25 years?   10 years?  5 years?   Nope.   Keep reading.        

"...in ONE year."  -- Yes, folks, that's right.  As the Father of Five, I have now offically been "invited" (recruited?  voluntold? ) to help move four of  the five kids (and one extended family member) physically OUT of one apartment / house and back INTO a new apartment / house SIX TIMES IN ONE YEAR.  

Then, to add insult to injury, completly unplanned by the kids (or at least I hope it was unplanned) - two of the kids decided to move on the exact same day.  No, not just the same WEEKEND, but the EXACT SAME DAY!!   

Even better??  The morning move was to a second-story duplex.   The afternoon move was also to a second-story duplex.   

• August 2024 - #4 of 5
• October 2024 - #1 of 5
• February 2025 - #3 of 5
• June 2025 - Extended family.
• July 2025 - #4 of 5 again. (yes, on the same day as #2 of 5 below)
• July 2025 - #2 of 5 (yes, on the same day as #4 of 5 above)

For the record, for any future father (or fella who is even contemplating fatherhood) that happens to stumble upon this blog, do yourself a favor. Before that kiddo is born, get it down in writing that you will have a "one-move-per-kid" limit and it is only valid until you turn FIFTY years old, and under NO circumstances will you EVER agree to multiple moves IN ONE DAY., you (your aging sore muscles, and fatigued body) will thank yourself (and me, for the tip) one day. 

As Al Servik (played by Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack) once said *while rolling his eyes... "Now I know why tigers eat their young."

Back to the Blog — Because Life with Adult Kids Is Still a Bit of "Chaos in Paradise"

Back to the Blog — Because Life with Adult Kids Is Still a Bit of "Chaos in Paradise"

Hello, old friends.

Some longtime readers might remember when I started The Life of a Father of Five back in the days of young children and demands of supporting and rasing a (relatively) large family.   

Fast forwarding 19 years (from when FOF started) and I can now confidently report:that the chaos has not diminished. It’s just evolved.  Life has naturally evolved, and I have made some changes in my own life.   The kids may not need me to tie their shoes anymore, but I’ve discovered that fatherhood doesn’t come with a finish line — only different stages.

Fatherhood has transformed.  I have a new job.  Different demands on my time.  I have elderly parents and inlaws.  I don't just have five kids anymore.  I have five kids and five (very wonderful) "plus ones".  (Two of those "plus ones" are now officially daughters-in-law), and I am happy to share that I have added "Grandpa" to list of fatherly duties!  Additionally duties have recently included being an advisor, laborer, moving company. maintenance consultant, and sometimes when things are just right, I am the guy they want to (?) hang out with sometimes.  

One thing I am happy to share with anyone willing to listen.   As it turns out, parenting five adult children  requires just as much heart, just as much energy, and just as many prayers as parenting five children did/  Despite this, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!  

So why am I back here? Because I miss sharing.  I miss telling my stories — the hilarious, frustrating, heart-tugging, everyday stories of being a dad.  Because this space still has a place in my heart.  

And who knows.  Maybe there are still some readers out there too — some who have walked this path with or along side me on this journey.  Maybe there are some who are on their own journey (a few steps ahead, or a few steps behind)...  Maybe some are searching for an answer to their wondering if fatherhood  ever gets easier. (Spoiler: It doesn’t. But it does remain just as rewarding as it ever was (and maybe even a little more?!))

So here I am again, attempting to brush off the dust and remove all the cobwebs from the ol' noggin while I oil up the keyboard, and start cracking my knuckles (a terrible habit I have had since I was a very young lad) in an attempt to start down this road all over again.   

I make no promises on frequency, but I can promise you that...

• I am still here.
• I am still fathering (and now grandfathering)
• There are still five (now with five plus ones and a grandson),
• And
• I am still somehow trying to figure this all.out.

Thanks for being patient with me.

See you soon (I hope),

—The Father of Five

(Coming soon...  Updates on the OG five!)