SEAN LANE was talking with a friend about how busy his day had been, playing the piano at Nordstrom, watching his two sons, grocery shopping and cooking. The friend teased him, saying, "You'll make someone a good wife someday." Sean countered with, "I hope I'm being a good husband now."

Like a growing number of young couples, Sean and Kathy Lane have chosen a fairly unconventional, but very practical approach to raising their family. Sean has stayed home with their two young boys while Kathy works full time as an administrator for Anne Arundel public schools.

When Kathy was pregnant with their first son, Brendan, now 7, the couple decided that Kathy would continue with her job and Sean - who was a music therapist - would try to develop his musical career while caring for the baby. Trained in classical piano and jazz, he had performed at clubs, hotels and events around the area. This was the perfect opportunity to explore other opportunities as a musician.

When Brendan was 6 months old, Kathy returned to work and Sean became, not Mr. Mom, but certainly Mr. Dad. Like every other parent, he remembers the awesome sense of responsibility he felt in caring for his son - and how unprepared he felt. After all, he had a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in music. But he was raising his son without any technical training at all. He remembers the feeling of isolation, hungering for adult conversation after a long day with the baby. But he cherishes the close bond that developed between him and his son.

In the quiet moments, he composed - in words and music - a journal about raising his son. In a series of songs and essays, he expressed the fun, the fear, the joy and the love that filled his days with Brendan.

And in the evenings, he sometimes continued playing the piano at events around the area.

Then came Brian. With two little ones, life got more hectic. While Sean wrote a book of songs about Brendan, he admits he only wrote a few during Brian's baby years. Still, he accumulated an impressive list of performance venues, ranging from Nordstrom to the Kennedy Center, from the Crofton summer concerts to presidential inaugural events, from the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival to events commemorating the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.

Sometimes, his unusual schedule leads to comical problems. One day, he watched Brendan's T-ball game dressed in a tuxedo because he had to leave immediately afterward to play at a musical event.

When people discover that Sean is a stay-at-home dad, he says, they usually look surprised at first - then amused and impressed. He is quick to say that he feels blessed to have this opportunity. And he is full of praise for his wife who works every day, but also cares for the boys when she comes home.

Now that the boys are older, Sean has broadened his musical horizons again. He recently completed his first compact disc, Request for Romance. Over the years, he has often taken requests for songs at Nordstrom and other venues. He compiled a list of the most frequently requested romantic songs and from that list chose a group of favorites. Some are classics, such as "Our Love Is Here to Stay" and "As Time Goes By." Others come from Broadway musicals, such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. Others reflect different facets of love. He wrote "Full of Doubt" while Brendan was a baby. "What a Wonderful World" has been one of the most popular requests since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Now that he has produced his first CD, what does Sean see as his next goal? Brian will be starting kindergarten in the fall and Sean looks forward to being involved as a school volunteer. Of course, he will continue guiding Brendan, now a second-grader. And always, there will be music.

Sean's CD, Request for Romance, is available at Nordstrom in Annapolis Mall.