 Discovering funny and interesting dads for this interview series has become somewhat of an addiction. I belong to quite a few networking sites and forums and continue to stumble upon some really great candidates to interrogate here in the Daddyshack.
Joe Schatz is one of the dads I met on a new site, cre8Buzz.com, and he has created quite a following of readers on his website, joeprah.com . Joe's site even caught the attention of Kathleen Deveny of Newsweek who wrote this article about throwing away your kid's artwork and mentioned his blog post from earlier this year on the same subject. When you get a chance you should stop by his blog and read some of the funny stuff he writes on a daily basis. For now, sit back with some hot coffee or a tasty beverage and read more about Joe as he takes his turn in the Daddyshack.
Q: Taking on the commitment of an at-home dad is a big decision. What factors contributed to your family's decision?
- Finances and the benefits packages my wife and I had from our respective jobs when we had our first child. I made slightly more money, but I had no benefits...easy choice really.
Q: I keep asking this loaded question and all the dads keeping giving me the runaround not wanting to stir things up - but I'm going to continue to ask it anyway. What do you think some stay-at-home dads do better than some stay-at-home moms?
- Dads have a better sense of humor and most of the time they aren't stuck in a parenting box. I do not like to generalize but I have seen dads improvise without batting an eye much more often than moms. I think this lack of rigidity can be both a positive and negative depending on the parent and situation.
Q: Where is your favorite spot to go when you have time without the kids?
- When I have some time to myself I enjoy passing time either golfing or going to the practice range. I do not go golfing to break records but simply to rejuvinate myself. Golfing is a way for me to recharge my parenting batteries and I usually get to go around once or five or six times a year. I am not the club throwing, cursing golfer, rather those types of players put a smile on my face. So the answer, your local golf course.
 Q: You and Mrs. Joeprah have three girls. What is it like to be the only member of the house who doesn't wear pink and fight over Barbies?
Q: When you take your children out in public and people comment about how nice it is for you to take off work for a "Day out with Daddy," what do you REALLY want to say to them but bite your tongue instead?
- I have said to people, "This is how it is everyday lady." I really can't think of anything worse to say than that. I don't usually hold back. If I have something to say I usually say it. Oh, and sometimes I do want to say, "You are an idiot," but I usually do hold back with that one.
Q: If you were not an at-home dad, what would you be doing right now?
- I would love to pursue a job in the wine industry somehow. Or perhaps be an author. I am pursuing writing a book about my experiences as a stay at home dad, so I guess I would like to see how far I can get with that before our youngest is in school and go from there.
Q: You are a self-proclaimed good cook and a neat housekeeper, but there must be one chore you abhor and one meal that your family gives you the "blech" face on. What are those?
- Hmmm. I do hate many chores, but the one that takes the cake over all others is the laundry. It isn't the sorting, washing, drying, folding or putting away but rather the dizzying combination of all of those and the sick realization that "doing the laundry" entails completing not one but all of those mini-chores. My family usually enjoys my cooking, one time I experimented with a ‘double battered' fried chicken recipe of my own creation that didn't go over so well, but that is the exception...I think.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about having all girls and no boys?
- I have been able to experience a new side to life. I come from a family that was the opposite. I have one brother and we always did ‘boys' things growing up. I enjoy learning how to braid hair. I get super excited for the dance recitals. I love how my girls naturally love to sing and dance. I enjoy seeing life through their eyes and the new and refreshing outlook that gives me. I guess the answer is everything.
Q: If you could play a professional sport, which would it be and why?
- I think I like golf more, but I am a trash talker and because of that alone I would definitely say basketball. Some of my best sports moments have either come watching or playing basketball so it is a natural choice.
Q: With the exception of your wife, who was the last person you had an adult conversation with (not through email), and what was it about?
- Hmmmm. Adult conversation huh? Lets see. Well that could be just about anyone of our neighbors. We have an extremely tight nit community of neighbors who became our best friends. We play poker every weekend with them and when we get together no topic is taboo. If I remember correctly we discussed how having a clean house is a turn on for some of us and for others it didn't matter. I remember saying, "I don't do it in the dirt."
Q: What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
- Those who don't know me think that because I am a stay at home dad that makes me lazy or somehow flawed. They also perceive me as a less than adequate caregiver. For those that know me there aren't a whole lot of misconceptions. I wear my heart on my sleeve so to speak.
Q: What is your favorite kids show on television and why?
- Well, I just wrote about this and it is and still is Little Bear. Why? First, because I can fall asleep to it easily and second because it is perfect. There is a bear and a duck, not to mention the most patient, heart warming characters I have ever seen. It sets a great tone for my youngest as we start our day.
Q: Your blog name is Joeprah (www.joeprah.com) and you created that name because you "wanted to portray myself as a male cultural icon to rival the ultimate female cultural icon embodied by Oprah." When Oprah calls you to be on her show, what is the first question you want to ask her?
- Do you mind my blogging alias?
Q: What peculiar habits does your wife have?
- She talks in her sleep and always stifles her farts. I have never heard her fart except when she is pregnant and then she simply can't help it. She has a lot of habits, but so as not to be rude I will stop with the farting one.
Q: Now that you've exposed your wife's freakiness, what peculiar habits do YOU have?
- I am a night owl, I eat cookie dough, I bite my nails, I sleep with a pillow between my legs, when I am insolent I like to be put in a burlap sack and beaten with reeds...pretty standard really.
Q: If your life were turned into a movie, which actor would play you?
- Patrick Dempsey. My wife says we look alike, she has a huge thing for him, and because of this I may need to take him out at some point.
Q: If you were trapped on a deserted island, what three things would you need to survive?
- Fresh water, a pen and paper.
Q: Do you have a philosophy to live by?
- Humor brings perspective and rub some dirt on it and stop crying.
Q: It's been stated that everyone in the world should have his or her own theme song. What would be the theme song for your life?
- I like the theme to the Last of the Mohicans, can I use that one?
Q: Who would win in an arm wrestling match: Oprah or David Letterman?
Q: What words of wisdom did your father share with you? Was it good advice?
- Still waiting on those words of wisdom I suppose. He is more of story teller and will use anecdotal evidence to make the point for him instead of coming right out and saying something to you. He is non confrontational. So, maybe his advice is to not give others advice rather to share experiences and let the individual come up with the best solution. If that is the case, then it is rather good advice wouldn't you agree?
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Quirkee Voices 
