The Family Dog

On balance, the dog has been a plus to my tenure as a stay-at-home.

Especially during the winter, the mandatory daily dog walk has motivated me to take the boy outside. Even wintry sunlight contributes vitamin D, and that 's good for the boy. The daylight also helps my mood. And bundling up for freezing weather lets the boy know what temperature the world is out there.

Also, the dog is good for occasional comic relief.