Suzanne Pate is an “everyday mom.”

Tell us about your wife:

Suzanne grew up in Richmond, Va., with two younger sisters.

Where do you and your wife live now?

We live in Cumberland Heights in Fayetteville with our son, Samuel, who is 2 1/2 years old.

What are your wife's favorite activities with your son?

Just playing on the playground, doing puzzles or just make-believe. Samuel likes to play firefighter, so we take the cushions off the couch and pretend it's on fire so we can put it out.

What are your wife's least favorite "mom chores"?

You'd have to ask her. We are happy to do what we have to do for him.

What kid-free activity does your wife do in her “free” time?

Read.

Is your wife involved in any organizations?

She's a nursery worker at church so she can spend more time with Samuel. She's also part of the Mothers of Preschoolers group at church (St. Andrews).

Tell us about your wife's typical day.

She wakes up around 6:30 in the morning, in time for us to have breakfast as a family. She plays with Sam and then gets ready for work (at East Regional Branch of the Cumberland County Library). When Sam was younger, I took him to my wife's work once a day so that she could feed him. We always eat dinner as a family. (I usually start dinner during Sam's nap time.) Then she plays with and takes care of Sam's bath and bedtime routine.

What three words would you say best describe your wife?

Dependable, honest, reverent.

John insists that his wife deserves all of the recognition. But we wanted to know more about this stay-at-home dad. Here's what he shared:

Have you ever tasted store-bought baby food? Was it any good?

Yes, when Sam was younger. It wasn't that good. But I preferred to grind my own.

What is your favorite children's book?

Richard Scarry's Favorite Tales

What advice do you have for stay-at-home dads?

Make it your own. Find a dad's gear diaper bag. Find what works for you. You're going to do it different than your partner.

Share your favorite 30-minute (or less!) recipe.

I make pasta with jar sauce and add fresh veggies – squash, zuchinni, fresh tomatoes, sliced green peppers, or whatever we have.

Share a funny and memorable moment with your son.

Every day is a great moment. It's a full-time job that I love.

What is most challenging at your child's age?

Just trying to help him soar instead of pushing him down or restricting him.

What is most rewarding at his age?

That's easy! Potty training. It's hard, but it has its own reward to see how proud he is of himself.

From your experience, is the label "Terrible Twos" accurate?

Just once in a blue moon – but it's when I don't feel good. Kids know what pushes our buttons!

What do you look forward to most as your child grows?

Watching him learn new things and explore the world. It's like I can relive a new childhood myself.