Amanamongmommies

As a new year arrives I find myself once again reading and hearing things about peoples perceptions of At Home Dads. You would think that being 2008 people would be more open to “Alternative” parenting. I am a man does this automatically mean I can not be a good father to my children or do I need to make lots of money to prove my worth to my children. My kids have little concept of money and to them I am DAD! I am home when they need me, I cook, clean, read books, play cars, legos and video games. Due to many bumps in the road and the fact that my wife is brilliant she quickly became the one with the better income, benefits and marketability. Our choice to have someone home with our kids was not a simple one, but we dreaded having daycare once number 2 was born. So here I am 3 years later very happy with who I am and what I due despite many people in the public looking down on a Dad that stays home.

I still get the “look” from moms at the stores, library and even the kids activities. I was starting to wonder at one point weather I had some strange deformity or something that my wife was being kind to not mention. Then I figured it out! I must have “Cooties!” At the same time however the moms that have not been afraid to talk to me because they can’t believe I have cooties have become friends. I have even dare I say it had moms other then my wife here for play dates! Oh The Humanity!

To those men out there trapped in jobs working 50+ hours a week, traveling and hardly seeing their children, but somehow think I am not a successful man, HAH! I would not give up what I have for any high paying job! If I am away from the kids for any period of time I go nuts. My job being Dad is more demanding as well as more rewarding then any “Real Job.”

What Many Believe about At Home Dads

• Sleeps In Late
• Watches TV all Day
• Is Lazy
• Can’t Get A Job
• Is not very Manly
• Has “Cooties”
• Must be strange
• Does Not Know What Real Work is
• Is Kept

The Truth About At Home Dads

• Is up at the crack of dawn with the little ones, up in the middle of the night and does not have time to get more sleep.
• The TV is only good when you need a little while to get something done without a child in tow. The kids in front of the TV for one show will be a distraction for at least 10 minutes… Just enough time to change a load and put dishes away
• Lazy!!! My day starts the minute the kids wake up and ends when I finally get to bed. Even then the odds are I will be up at least once with a kid in the middle of the night. 50 Hour work week would be short… 168 Hour Work Week Here!!!
• Can’t Get A Job, Just because I am at home does not mean I can’t get a job or I don’t have a job. I personally work for a software company and am full time Dad…
• Is Not Very Manly, Well say that to my face… As you look up to my Bald Head atop a very large frame standing 6′3″. Most At Home Dads I know are more manly then the Business men dads. As my friend with the Chainsaw to take a little off the top…
• Has Cooties… Well I must have them with how many women look at me. Or maybe they are just jealous I take such an active role in my child’s development…
• Must Be Strange… Well you got me there!
• Real Work… HAH!!! Spend 7 hours cleaning the house with a 3yo in tow, while trying to make sure everything is perfect everyday so when your very pregnant wife goes into labor everything at home is perfect!
• Is Kept… If that’s what you think having a positive relationship with a women is…

I guess a few things have gotten under my skin lately. More often then not I let all that just fly by, but once in a while it is good to put things on the table.

I am Dad and I love that I am Dad! Some days are pure bliss, while other days can try even the best of men. In the end I know that our children will grow up in a loving home and have someone here for them always. We are fortunate to be able to be in the position to have one of us home and I am fortunate that it is me.

I am Dad!