|
Staying Home With the Kids |
|
|
|
|
Written by Jeff Mathes
|
|
Hey all you dads out there, how many of you can say that you are a stay-at-home dad?
In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 143,000 dads at home caring for approximately 245,000 children up to age 15. I am one of those dads with my five children under the age of 15.
Not everyone can be a stay-at-home dad, because they may not be able to afford it or maybe it isn’t something that they would enjoy. But I can guarantee you that there are a number of those remaining 66 million dads that want to be doing just this (at least for a few weeks).
It’s not always the most rewarding job, just ask any housewife that has been doing this for awhile. But there are perks.
I do get to sleep in – especially during the summer—and I don’t have to worry about jumping in the shower the minute I wake up. I can look a little gruffy until noon, if I really want to. On the other hand, I have to manage everything around the house. That includes everything from feeding kids, keeping the house picked up, as well as those regular things men still do like fixing broken toilets and adjusting a bicycle seat.
Keep in mind that I, like many stay-at-home dads, chose to do this. I left a fairly high-powered, high-stress job because I finally decided that my family was more important. There are moments when I wish that I could be back with other adults in a normal work environment, but overall I wouldn't trade what I get to do now to be back in that rat race.
|
