Adam Copenhaver, former pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Yakima, Washington, was recently one of several fathers featured in an article on stay-at-home dads. Here is an excerpt–to read the entire article click here.
Copenhaver never planned to be in this position. He was a full-time pastor at Yakima Grace Brethren Church for several years before he moved to Philadelphia to pursue a doctoral degree in theology. After completing coursework there and moving to Surrey, British Columbia, for a part-time ministry position, Copenhaver’s wife, Susie, landed an information technology job in Sunnyside.
Now, Copenhaver stays at home full time with the kids while he plugs away at his dissertation. He had a taste of this lifestyle in Philadelphia, though, when he stayed home three days a week while his wife worked, though she was still the primary caregiver.
“Our commitment is for one (parent) to be home,” Copenhaver said, adding that eventually Susie will resume her role as a stay-at-home mother, perhaps a few years from now when he is finished with his dissertation and secures a job in teaching or ministry.
When the family moved to Sunnyside in April 2009, Copenhaver wasn’t sure how long his full-time father role would last, so he took advantage of the time with his two boys, Simon, 6, and Calvin, 4.
“I thought of it as my goal to make it a memorable summer for the boys,” said Copenhaver. “I wanted it so they weren’t missing Mom, but having Dad time, so we did a lot of guy stuff. We went fishing, went up to the mountains … and were outside as much as we could be.”
Then, when his oldest son entered kindergarten, Copenhaver developed a routine of getting up in the morning, making lunches and transporting his kids.
