When Newsweek hits shelves on October 8 it will carry inside it's pages an article written by Brian Braiker on his one year adventure into the realm of stay-at-home dadding. The full text of the article is available for your perusal by clicking that there link, but as I myself read the article I found my blood pressure rising a bit.
It's not that it isn't a well written glimpse into one man's experience as a SAHD, it's more to the fact that after a year of doing his fatherly duties he's somehow garnered enough attention to be considered an expert on the subject. These fluff pieces written by career men who take some time off to raise their kids and then return to the workplace where they wax nostalgic about being a SAHD do nothing for the men who do this everyday. If anything, these type of articles only help solidify the misguided ideal that men are supposed to be the breadwinner no matter what.
In my experience you'd be hard pressed to find many articles written about men who've stayed home and taken care of their prodigy full time. Stories about SAHDs are more often than not written about or by men who give it a few months to a couple of years and then return to the workforce.
Admittedly I am far from an expert on the matter with only six months of SAHD work under my belt, but where I differ from so many of those that have written on the subject (or been written about) is that I have no intention on returning to the rat race. I am perfectly happy wiping noses, changing diapers, and play peek-a-boo everyday for the rest of my life. So, as a full time SAHD who is perfectly content to provide for my family by raising our children full time, what I'd like to see is more articles written by and about men who've dedicated their lives to raising their children and not returning to the working world.
Is that really so much to ask?
20071001
Yet Another "Thoughtful Insight" Into SAHDs
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2 comments:
My boy is almost 5.. and I've been a SAHD for almost 5 years.. now I have 2 kids... almost 5 .. almost 2.. and I applaud your desire to play peek-a-boo for the rest of your life and your support for those of us SAHDs that are in it for the duration..
that said.. print your statements out and look at them again in a year.. and another year.. and one more.. and then do an article on how much a new parent really doesn't know... and how fun and trying the journey is..
that said.. Have fun!! it's a ride!
Good point, but regardless of gender it seems that having an at-home parent is an oddity these days. I applaud either parent to desire - natch that, commit to playing peek-a-boo for the rest of their offspring's childhood.
Do print your statement off in a year, and check out how much more firmly your resolve becomes!
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