Cartoons and Seriousness
Posted on 01. Mar, 2006 by Brian Reid in General
A couple of things worth flagging. For starters, eagle-eyed Peter Baylies, the man behind the At-Home Dad Handbook made a rare post on AtHomeDad.com, noticing today’s Stone Soup comic strip. I’m not entirely certain what it means — that non-traditional gender roles make for lousy parents, as measured by school lunches? I’m too tired to gin up outrage, but I suspect that the strip probably deserves at least a small dose of it.
On a more serious note, Jeremy from Others magazine put up an interesting post about his at-home dadism. It’s an interesting read, capturing the two-faced nature of parenting and underscoring the importance of ignoring social trends. Jeremy’s take:
Dads-at-home will be a tiny minority for as long as parents have to scramble to keep their heads above water, trying to make enough money to survive and give their kids the best life possible, under the circumstances. If Americans — we fat, rich, selfish, sadistic, TV-watching bastards -? really wanted to encourage stable families and more paternal responsibility in raising kids, we’d raise our boys to be caregivers, guarantee health care for everyone, build more affordable housing, and require and incentivize employers to give all new parents, poor and middle-class, a break. Until all that happens, don’t talk to me about trends.
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Sky Cosby
01. Mar, 2006
I enjoyed your site this morning, keep up the good work!
Jeff
01. Mar, 2006
I saw that comic strip.
I’m not too sure how to take it myself.
It seems that the lunch making ability of an at-home dad writing a novel is the same as a rushed working mom…… I suppose it could be worse.
Stephen
01. Mar, 2006
I thought the comic was funny. I think just including the words SAHD probably helps more than it hurts.
Sure it’s a cliche, and there is the second class parent thing going on. But I do think that most SAHD are working on something else.
In short. Nothing to riot over. lol.
As to the more serious note and SAHDs being a tiny minority. Well, I’ve come to terms with the idea that SAHD will always be a minority. My guess would be leveling out at around 20% of fathers…? I think it’s important for SAHD’s not to give off the impression that they are waiting for a world where half the stay at home parents are dads.
The real battle is making sure dads have the same choices as moms. Because it’s only fair.
Phil Lincoln, NE
01. Mar, 2006
I think the cartoon is funny. It should have said an at-home dad whose writing a book about his experiences. If I had a dime for every sahd who has a book in him, I’d be rich (includes you, RD). I don’t think all those guys intend on writing a book, it just gets people off their backs and makes them feel like they’re accomplishing something.
Phil Lincoln, NE
01. Mar, 2006
I think the cartoon is funny. It should have said an at-home dad whose writing a book about his experiences. If I had a dime for every sahd who has a book in him, I’d be rich (includes you, RD). I don’t think all those guys intend on writing a book, it just gets people off their backs and makes them feel like they’re accomplishing something.
Rebel Dad
01. Mar, 2006
Oh — the novel thing is funny, no doubt. But dad-can’t-cook thing, not so much.
chip
02. Mar, 2006
Hey, both my kids absolutely love sandwiches made with frozen waffles, and they invented it all by themselves with no help from dad or mom!
Rebel Dad
02. Mar, 2006
I officially stand down from my original comments on the Stone Soup comic. Egg salad on a frozen waffle is evidently a culinary delicacy.