Mr. Mom
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The Today Show recently featured a segment on the rise of the SAHD (stay-at-home Dad). “Mr. Moms” have become a regular fixture on playgrounds and playgroups, many of whom have had to take on their new role after being laid off from their company jobs. A psychologist featured on the show said this shift is at first shocking for the dad, but then can actually be a life-changing experience that can ultimately make them a better person. Watch the video and tell us what you think! Should the traditional caretaker roles be reversed permanently? Should more moms go back to work and dads stay at home? Leave your comments below.
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Comment by Annie Duncan on Jun 18 2009 09:01:30:
I think that if one parent wants to stay home, either the mother or the father, but no one SHOULD do anything because it is what society tells them they should do. If dad wants to stay home or it is more financially viable for him, the do it. That goes for mom too. Sometimes neither can or wants to stay home. That’s ok too. Whatever works for each individual family is what that family should choose.
Comment by Amanda on Jun 19 2009 12:49:03:
This might seem old-fashioned, but I believe that mothers are to be the primary nurturers. It seems that that’s the way nature/God intended it considering the fact that we are the ones equipped to nourish them for the first year+ of their lives. I do realize that this is not the popular choice of the times, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the ideal situation. I do believe that the father has an incredibly important role to play, but not as primary child care provider. I also feel that more mothers should stay at home with their children, not because they’re forced to, but because it’s in the best interest of the child (unless this is financially impossible). It seems to me that womens lib was very positively impacting in many ways, but it seems it did have some negative effects. In many ways it almost feels as if staying at home is a demeaning role, when really it’s one of the most critically important roles one could have. It also seems to have put women/families in a position to the other extreme making it nearly impossible to stay at home and survive on one income. It’s a shame really.
Comment by Anita on Jun 19 2009 11:02:29:
I was going to right a long, detailed post, but I think Amanda summed up my thoughts completely. I second your thoughts Amanda. My husband is thirteen years older than me and is on full disability from the Army.(Not a disibility that would prevent him from caring for our child) and i still choose not to work and be home with my little girl. She is 22 months old now and i am still partially breastfeeding her, which some might think is strange, but i find it to be totally natural and btw my daughter has never been sick even once in her almost 2 years of life now.
Comment by Della on Jun 20 2009 12:21:48:
Both parents can properly care for a child. Who’s to say what is in the best interest for someone else’s child. Personally my husband and myself take turns working and staying at home w/ our children. We have done this for 8 years. It works out great, we both get a break at times. Both working and taking care of the children are difficult jobs. We are fortunate that we both earn enough income that this is possible. If the parents and the children are happy, that’s all that really matters.
Comment by Kris on Jun 20 2009 06:58:10:
My husband is a SAHD, not by choice but due to the economy. I am quite frankly jealous that he is at home with our 2 year old son, I would love for our roles to be reversed. (He has expressed that he feels the same way.) However…I do think that he has had a positive impact on our little boy, and how many kids can say that their dad was around so much and took such an active role in their lives?