The Stay at Home Dad Enigma

What do you do? It is a simple enough question, but when you are a stay-at-home dad, sometimes the reaction you get can ranges from curious to a complete lack of understanding. Being a stay-at-home dad does not mean you are lazy. It does not mean you are not working. It means, too many times, that people have a misconception about what you have to deal with.

In society, there is a certain perception about how things should be. Men should leave home and work. It is that simple. It should not be challenged. It should not be questioned. The only men who should be working at home are farmers, and they should be out in the fields all day, not actually inside their residence, except maybe for lunch. That is the way a vast majority of society sees this.

Women, on the other hand, are seen as the homemakers - the natural nurturers that are in their natural element at home. It is not politically correct to say that, but that remains an entrenched mindset around the world, and even the United States. If women do decide to work, that is accepted. Children then have the option of going to daycare or an extended day school program.

It seems rather backwards, that many in society would be more comfortable with the scenario that a stranger would be raising children, rather than their own father. That is exactly what happens when children are dropped off at a daycare center. Yes, parents may know the worker's names. They may have polite conversations with them. However, most parents do not truly know the workers caring for their children on any significant level.

Given that fact, it would seem the option of having a stay-at-home dad would be one that more families should consider, if they are able to do so. In some cases, the father may not have a source of income at all and the mother may earn enough on her own to sustain the family. In other cases, the father may be able to earn a comfortable living from home. Attorneys and accountants often work from home offices and do so very successfully, for example.

In addition to traditional avenues of employment at home, technology is quickly becoming the need to commute to the downtown office obsolete. With a computer and Internet access in nearly every home (and on more than a few laps), the need for physically being in an office is quickly being diminished. Employees can access their office network from home, or anywhere else in the world. This can be especially helpful for any parent wishing to work but also be at home for their children.

Of course, being a stay-at-home father is not for everyone. Some men, and women as well, prefer the quiet, structured environment of the office, where they can be free from distractions. They may find working from home causes a severe blow to their productivity.

Overall, being a stay-at-home dad can be a very rewarding, but also very challenging experience. For those who also plan to remain employed, it not only requires a serious commitment to family, but a serious commitment to the job. Many may have a difficult time balancing those commitments, but for those who do, the benefit is sharing some of the best, most formative years of your children's lives with them.