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Stay at home dads

I am keen to find out if there are any dads who care for their children either part time or full time. My husband is soon to go down to a 4 days week and care for our son 1 day so I can go into the office. I would be keen to hear how it works for other families.

I am also a career coach and blogger and would be keen to use this as research for a new blog post about me returning to work and have hubby care for our child...
Thanks in advance
(confidentiality is assured)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emma Kelly on January 16, 2010 at 1:29pm

I wouldnt really count what ur hubbys dong as being a stay at home dad at all. My hubby works shifts 4 on 4 off and i work 2 days. When hes off work and im at work its just natural he will have Isabelle as i do when hes at work and im off.
(No offence intended)
mabe i just misread the question and im british aswell as blond im just meaning all dads take care of there children dont they?

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Permalink Reply by Dave on February 3, 2010 at 9:23pm

Hi Sal,
I left the corporate world, it's huge salary and all the trappings that went with it and became the primary carer in our house.
I love it and see few issues with the system we have. There is no doubt that there is a stigma with being a stay at home dad and that is equally felt from blokes in the pub and Mums in the school yard.

There are so many mixed messages in society impacting dads, we want their big salaries yet we expect them to be around more often at home. The corporate world fails top deliver on balance of life. Start heading home early top look after the kids and you're history.

Mums who become the primary bread winner get torn by leaving their kids - I think that maternal guilt trip weighs heavier on Mums versus dads. It is doable to have the stay at home dad model - but it is different - good different!
I started a club just for dads - google it. The tag line of our dads club is " it easier to become one then be one!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Linsley on February 3, 2010 at 10:46pm

Hi Dave
a
and all you brave people out there who have a stay at home husband. NOt for me my electric ity bill would soar the TV would be on all day the dinner wouldnt be cooked the child unwashed the dinner not cooked and me ANGRY and would need a drink lol Realy not a bad man just not organised So good luck with that and I really hope you and your child spend some great times together as they are only small for such a little time and then its gone.
Dave said:

Hi Sal,
I left the corporate world, it's huge salary and all the trappings that went with it and became the primary carer in our house.
I love it and see few issues with the system we have. There is no doubt that there is a stigma with being a stay at home dad and that is equally felt from blokes in the pub and Mums in the school yard.

There are so many mixed messages in society impacting dads, we want their big salaries yet we expect them to be around more often at home. The corporate world fails top deliver on balance of life. Start heading home early top look after the kids and you're history.

Mums who become the primary bread winner get torn by leaving their kids - I think that maternal guilt trip weighs heavier on Mums versus dads. It is doable to have the stay at home dad model - but it is different - good different!
I started a club just for dads - google it. The tag line of our dads club is " it easier to become one then be one!

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Permalink Reply by Sal Carey on February 8, 2010 at 4:57am

Just to clarify - the title 'stay at home dads' is intended to reach out to those doing the majority care role. This is something we may consider in the future.

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Permalink Reply by Sal Carey on February 8, 2010 at 5:00am

Thanks Emma, no offence taken, care should be seen as the responsibility of both parents, just logistically it does not always work out that way. The 4 day a week for my husband has been fantastic - and he is lucky to be able to have that, and the 1 day a week in the office is fantastic for me - I get to have adult conversations!

Best wishes.

Emma Kelly said:

I wouldnt really count what ur hubbys dong as being a stay at home dad at all. My hubby works shifts 4 on 4 off and i work 2 days. When hes off work and im at work its just natural he will have Isabelle as i do when hes at work and im off.
(No offence intended)
mabe i just misread the question and im british aswell as blond im just meaning all dads take care of there children dont they?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sal Carey on February 8, 2010 at 5:01am

Thanks Dave and love the positivity in your message.
Will check your site.
Sal

Dave said:

Hi Sal,
I left the corporate world, it's huge salary and all the trappings that went with it and became the primary carer in our house.
I love it and see few issues with the system we have. There is no doubt that there is a stigma with being a stay at home dad and that is equally felt from blokes in the pub and Mums in the school yard.

There are so many mixed messages in society impacting dads, we want their big salaries yet we expect them to be around more often at home. The corporate world fails top deliver on balance of life. Start heading home early top look after the kids and you're history.

Mums who become the primary bread winner get torn by leaving their kids - I think that maternal guilt trip weighs heavier on Mums versus dads. It is doable to have the stay at home dad model - but it is different - good different!
I started a club just for dads - google it. The tag line of our dads club is " it easier to become one then be one!