The Price Family

It’s one thing to work around your kid’s tummy ache for a few days, but caring for a child with long-term illness presents an even greater challenge.  When Brian Price learned that one of his twin babies had acute myeloid leukemia, he put away the carry-on luggage and stayed home.

Brian transitioned from a successful salesperson to a full-time caregiver.  He admittedly did some fumbling with his identity in the beginning.  After all, filling up diaper pails and racking up frequent flyer miles are two distinct flavors of achievement.

Brian’s background might sound familiar.  He had hard-working parents that taught him to “go to school” to be successful.  Only now, with job scarcity and a higher cost of living, that advice is treading water.  “Three things have stood out to me when talking with people: the high number of people looking for work, the high number of people looking for a free ride, and the amount of fraud out there,” Brian notes.

If free rides do exist, Brian isn’t boarding.  He still believes in hard work – just coupled with smart work, claiming that it’s made his challenges easier to face.  It hasn’t been easy for the Price family.  While Brian’s wife is still employed, the decision for Brian to stay home required planning.  Brian says, “It’s a trial on your marriage, finances, and work. You have to muster up all your faith to deal.”

Brian also works at home as a part-time business developer (XanGo).  “Service is really important for home based businesses,” Brian says.  Perhaps that’s another lesson learned from his past, but we can all lend help to the people around us.  “Sometimes I don’t even talk to people about my business,” Brian says, “I just listen.”

The Price Family

Jill Barville, a writer for The Spokesman-Review, wrote about Brian’s decision to be a stay at home dad.  She was kind enough to introduce me.  In fact, Jill’s article brought quite a bit of attention to Brian.  “It started with an elbow grab,” Brian says, reflecting back on his burst of publicity.  He was attending one of Greater Spokane Incorporated‘s monthly meetings for small business owners.  Attendees were introducing themselves, and Brian confidently introduced himself as a stay at home dad.  Likely struck by Brian’s confidence, Jill caught him before he could leave.  I reached out to Brian for the same reason.

Brian’s daughter is cancer-free today, but he’s still staying home.  Brian’s confidence, however, keeps traveling.  Are you a stay at home parent?  Do you work from home?  Be proud of it.  You’re in good company.