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Accordingto a recent article on the parenting community Babble.com, there hasbeen a 62% rise in single father households from 1990 to 2003; thenumber of stay-at-home dads in the U.S. last year had risen to159,000; and there's a sharp decline in the category. The statistics sure do indicate that dads are replacingmoms at a fast rate.
So,what does this new dad look like? And, is he really taking on thetraditional "mommy" role and becoming a full-time !?
Aproud stay at home dad, Dana Glazer, says that they are just a tinyfraction and sub-culture representing what is a much more radicalchange in the way families are operating these days and handlingtheir approach to child care and childrearing.
"Stayat home dads, at least from my perspective, are a total novelty andsomething that's been going on since the early 90s," Danasaid. "Typically the stories are fluffy: they claim that[stay-at-home dads] are growing in numbers; and then there's acitation from the Census Bureau; and then there's always thereferences to the movies Mr. Mom or Daddy Day Care. My perspective on[this trend] is that on the surface, it's progressive, but underneaththat, it's the status quo?just a flip in the traditional genderrole. You get traditional dads who glance at it and go "ICK!"
Butthe larger issues at hand, like gender equity and work-familybalance, are largely ignored. In the best possible world, kids needto interact with bothparentsas much as possible. What the kids get from the mother is verydifferent from what they get from the father, and kids are sostimulated by that different kind of interaction. The more thetypical gender roles blend, the better. The ??or nanny Denver? positions are fast filling, proving that parentsstill look out for babysitters without giving thought to theirchild's overall development.
Whatare the challenges you face being a stay-at-home dad? Do you reallythink dads can replace moms?
We'dlove to hear from you!
Shareyour experiences with the Care.com community by posting a commentbelow.
There is no doubt that children need their parents, which is why many families are selecting either the man or woman to stay at home while the other works. The process by which the selection is made is based entirely upon each family's decision, but all experts believe that children need parental guidance in order to happily mature. It isn't enough to simply hire a babysitter or leave the children at preschool.
A stay at home dad will get to spend the most time with the children and will be responsible for many of their daily activities. Making sure that they have well-balanced meals, are dressed properly when going to the store or play with toys that convey a positive message are just a few of the responsibilities of a stay at home dad.
Anyone accepting the role of a stay at home dad will need to prepare themselves for a job that is far more difficult than any paid position. The stay at home dad will be a supervisor, a teacher, an authority figure and a friend. Being a stay at home dad is about more than just watching the children, which is very important - it is also about spending quality time and having fun with them. Playing video games, going out for lunch, going to the movies and sporting events and other activities is a very important part of what being a stay at home dad is all about.
With this role comes the need for extreme patience and understanding. As is their very nature, children can be demanding and even sassy at times. It's important to handle each situation with love and respect for the child. A stay at home dad must have the ability to effectively communicate with children. For example, yelling and punishment will not be as effective as explaining why the child's action was wrong, why it is not acceptable to be repeated and a reasonable punishment for the act.
Being a stay at home dad is one of the best jobs in the world and will likely is the most rewarding career that any man can perfect. A closeness with the children and watching them grow up as loving adults will be a reflection of how they were cared for in their earliest years.