Dad for a Day
Posted on 14. Mar, 2006 by Brian Reid in General
I used to be amused by stories about fathers (usually newspaper columnists) who — after years of being the primary wage earner — decide to take on the role of at-home dad for a day or two. I used to find them encouraging, signaling an additional convert to the ways of the involved parent.
I’m more cynical now (maybe it was the self-satisfied yet largely joyless Hard Tough Could It Be that did me in), so I wasn’t that impressed with this Deseret News column about being an at-home dad for a long weekend. The author admits to never caring for his kids alone for longer than a day (his oldest is eight), and the youngest child he has to deal with is three.
I’m glad that the guy recognizes — at least a little — what the whole parenting this is about, but I think (I hope) that this is an increasingly anacronistic view of parenting. The guys in my neighborhood are not splitting the parenting duties with their wives 50-50, by and large, but they take on the role after work and on the weekend, and I can’t imagine any of them blinking at the idea of getting some good daddy time during a long weekend. And they certainly wouldn’t feel the need to crow about it in the newspaper.
The times (and the dads), they are a changin’.
Obligitory Mommy Wars Link: The National Organization for Women is now officially on the record as stating that these stories are trumped up dreck that diverts attention from the real problems facing mothers.
chip
14. Mar, 2006
that NOW letter is excellent! And they even get the dad part: It is also crucial to talk about men’s role and responsibility in parenting. Women need to know that they don’t have to do it all. For example, men who choose to stay at home with their children are often ridiculed or overlooked, rather than supported.
I’m not sure how the whole media-induced wars meme will be stopped. Maybe if enough viewers let these media types know that they are clueless and are not representing any reality that most people live, it’ll have some dent. If the disgust gets high enough maybe they’ll rethink their “war”-mongering…
Mrs. Coulter
14. Mar, 2006
Thanks for posting the link. I was all set to add my own personal comments…and found that the letter pretty much said it all.
KZ
14. Mar, 2006
Thanks for the link, RD. Excellent letter - I like how she brought in the relatively disenfranchised working poor. That is, disenfranchised from the “war” discussion about what makes a good mom (or dad).
Dads and times are changing. I think those “Mr. Mom for a Day Retrospective” pieces are on the way out…. one can hope.
The Mentat
19. Apr, 2006
Daddy for a day? I was a stay-at-home dad for close to 3 years. Yes. 3 whole years. And I LOVE every minute of it. To see your kids grow, learn, and mature. What I would do to go back to those times… It was my achievement of achievements.