Male Homemakers

[runvardh]

My only problem would come from needing money for hobies...

 

[Feops]

I wonder if men in general are properly conditioned to handle that type of social atmosphere. I've a strong feeling that I would become isolated and irritated after not too long.

 

[Usehername]

Well, I basically agree with that- but I think most mothers want something else to do after a few years, too. Especially if they were very work-oriented before spawning. The difference, IMO, is that the societal expectations for women are different from those for men. IMO, they're even more strict for boys and men.

Definitely. My opinion is purely a pragmatic one. I'd be cool with it temporarily (a few years max) but in the long term, I think even if paying the cost of daycare financially nullifies the point of having him work, the social rewards would probably make it worth it.

 

[cafe]

My only problem would come from needing money for hobies...

That's just part of the family budget, regardless of who is the breadwinner. Or should be, IMO.

 

[runvardh]

That's just part of the family budget, regardless of who is the breadwinner. Or should be, IMO.

Ok, I guess I just have to make sure I really trust her; which makes that a moot point since I should be able to trust her before things get that far.

 

[Magic Poriferan]

I wonder if men in general are properly conditioned to handle that type of social atmosphere. I've a strong feeling that I would become isolated and irritated after not too long.

It sounds fine to me.

 

[Ivy]

I don't think the question of whether men in general are properly conditioned to handle the social atmosphere is very relevant when it comes to any individual man. It's insulting when people insinuate that women aren't properly conditioned to work fulltime after having children, and I find it equally insulting to insinuate that men can't handle doing the bulk of household management and childrearing.

 

[Alwar]

Yeah baby, you bring home that bacon. *Slaps wife's butt*

2 year old daughter walks up after wife leaves for work...

"Daddy I fall down and have boo boo"

Me: "Be a man and walk it off" *sips pabst blue ribbon*

Livin the dream.

 

[OrangeAppled]

Well, I basically agree with that- but I think most mothers want something else to do after a few years, too. Especially if they were very work-oriented before spawning. The difference, IMO, is that the societal expectations for women are different from those for men. IMO, they're even more strict for boys and men.

Definitely....my ISFJ mom was cool with staying home because her interests were gardening, cooking (elaborate stuff, not just dinner), reading, and volunteering. This was easy to work around taking care of kids. I think more women than not need to have additional "projects" beyond the home though.

My aunt was going stir-crazy after having a kid and went back to work after a year. Now her husband works for himself out of the home, and he is essentially "Mr. Mom" since he has the flexible schedule and more time to clean/cook/care for their kid. He can also bring their child along when he works outside the home.

I think the bottom line is a person needs some stimulation outside of parenting and homemaking.

 

[Wonkavision]

I was a stay-at-home-dad for 2 years.

Though I loved spending so much time with my child, it was extremely debilitating to be financially dependent on my wife.

I lost most of my self-esteem and self-confidence during that period, and there certainly was no shortage of people insulting and degrading me for doing it.

My wife did not like being the primary homemaker, either.

Right now, I work full-time and she works 3 days a week.

Her mom babysits on the days she works.

This arrangement is working out really well for us.

 

[Thalassa]

I knew a man who did this. He stayed home with his daughter and somehow managed to start his own business by the time she was in elementary school while his wife worked. He was (still is?) successful with his business.

The messed up part is that by the time his business was off the ground and they were both working, they got divorced. But it wasn't over him being a stay-at-home dad.

 

[Wonkavision]

Yeah baby, you bring home that bacon. *Slaps wife's butt*

2 year old daughter walks up after wife leaves for work...

"Daddy I fall down and have boo boo"

Me: "Be a man and walk it off" *sips pabst blue ribbon*

Livin the dream.

 

[avolkiteshvara]

I was a stay-at-home-dad for 2 years.

Though I loved spending so much time with my child, it was extremely debilitating to be financially dependent on my wife.

I lost most of my self-esteem and self-confidence during that period, and there certainly was no shortage of people insulting and degrading me for doing it.

My wife did not like being the primary homemaker, either.

Right now, I work full-time and she works 3 days a week.

Her mom babysits on the days she works.

This arrangement is working out really well for us.

Wuss.

 

[ceecee]

I think people should do what works for them. It would never, ever fly in my house though.

 

[Thursday]

I think people should do what works for them. It would never, ever fly in my house though.

May I ask why?
*crickets*
Why is that, ceecee?

 

[Wild horses]

My own father became a stay-at-home dad due to illness and I must say he was great, perhaps better than my mother. He had amazing patience and seemed to put the same effort into it has he had done into work. I can't say he always liked though but I think that was more to do with his ill health. Certainly from a child's perspective it made no difference. Actually both that I had had neither parent at home because both were working in fact my mom worked like five jobs and so it was just nice for me to see so much of one of my parents!

 

[The Decline]

I wouldn't mind seeing more stay at home dads, simply because I think it's a gender role stereotype that women are great with children and all that.

 

[Feops]

It sounds fine to me.

Porief, you want me to be isolated and irritated?

 

[Magic Poriferan]

Porief, you want me to be isolated and irritated?

Yup, but I'll never tell why.

 

[01011010]

Equality doesn't apply to women alone. Why shouldn't a man be a homemaker?