Ditzell Not Your Average Stay-At-Home Dad
by Craig Rybczynski | Rochester Knighthawks
In the 1983 hit movie, “Mr. Mom,” actor Michael Keaton
takes on the role of stay-at-home dad, while his wife goes off to
work. For Rochester Knighthawks defenseman Scott Ditzell, that
transition has been easier than for character Jack Butler.
During the day, the hulking 6-0, 210-pound Ditzell cares for his
newborn son, Miles, as his wife, Jenna, heads to work at a nearby
Geneva General Hospital. Scott also works as an agent for
MassMutual Financial Group when he is not playing, cleaning or
feeding his eight-month-old little boy.
“My day consists of watching him, while I try to do work
in-between,” he said. “If I need to go for an
appointment I get a babysitter. Wednesdays are practice nights and
I also get a lift in during the week. Then there are games and I am
going to try to help coach high school lacrosse at
Geneva.”
Ditzell’s daily planner must rival that of Donald Trump with
meetings, appointments and research. Throw in taking care of his
kid and he has “Father of the Year” honors in the
bag.
“I am daddy daycare four to five days a week,” said the
26-year-old Ditzell. “On weekends and weeknights my wife
watches him.”
He admits there was an adjustment period. Although, unlike Keaton,
that did not include fighting off a manic clothes dyer or stapling
together his son’s favorite blanket: “whooby.”
Ditzell’s daily routine starts at 7:00 a.m. and goes as late
as 11:00 p.m. when he has to catch up on his work. His newest
challenge is monitoring a mobile baby boy.
“He is all over the place. He is doing an Army crawl going
arm-over-arm,” said Ditzell. “I have him penned in and
can watch him as he plays with his toys.”
Yet, the new dad enjoys every minute he spends with his son. He
appreciates the wonder that comes with every new discovery.
“It’s a lot of fun and he is always making me
smile,” he said. “I call him my little ‘Chocolate
Factory’ because he always has chocolate coming out
somewhere.”
One thing that Miles is still working up to is making his first
trip to watch his dad play for the Rochester Knighthawks. That trek
from Geneva to Rochester might come sooner than the young dad
thinks, but for now Miles will spend his Saturdays at home.
“He has not seen a game yet,” said Ditzell. “He
has to eat at a certain time and is cranky if he is off his
schedule. Once we get his feeding schedule set he will be ready to
take him to the games.
