Posted on 08. Mar, 2004 by Brian Reid in General
The heartwarming local stories about at-home dads tend to come and go in spurts, and we’ve been in kind of a dry spell. That changed this weekend when the Albuquerque Journal ran this piece about a successful marriage built on the freedom and flexibility of at-home fatherhood.
In the homedad celebrity spotlight, we celebrate Clint Black’s decision to be family-centered over the past decade. I know that at-home fatherhood is a different beast from my own experience when you’re talking about a very, very rich performer. But I’m not complaining. Society sees so many super-happy celeb mothers claiming that babies changed their lives that it’s nice to see a famous guy touting that line.
Just what we need: another stereotype. In the new book by Tom Perrotta (the guy who wrote “Election”), we’re treated to a main character who is an at-home dad. Good news, right? Not exactly: Todd, a lazy, pretty boy dad, ends up having an affair with a mom he meets at the playground.
This doesn’t exactly match my understanding of reality. Whole sessions at the At-Home Dad Convention are held on the subject of how to get moms to jut *talk* to at-home dads at the playground. There are *definitely* no reports of any broad-daylight playground kissing going on …
amyknight
09. Mar, 2004
wow. Funny, I just got back from the local coffeeshop, and I’m going to have to find a new place to work, because it’s quickly turning into Romper Room. Only it’s an all-Mom Romper Room. I just saw a guy come in with three kids, stand in front of two different mom/kid groups, and be totally ignored. He ended up getting his coffee/food to go & taking the kids back outside.
It’s enough to make me want to start a “Who’s your Daddy” playgroup — no kids allowed without a daddy, whether or not there’s a mom along.
jesus. how are we supposed to convince men we’re serious about this childcare-sharing thing if we’re not willing to let fathers into the happy little mom/kid groups?
amy
carla
10. Mar, 2004
Well, don’t be too hard on Perotta; he also wrote “the wishbones,” which was hysterically funny and I ended up reading in practically one sitting.
Rebel Dad
10. Mar, 2004
I’m sure the book is great. I just found it funny that his at-home dad lives a very, very different lifestyle than the rest of us
-rD