How do you feel about stay at home dads?
ByI have a 2 year old daughter and one on the way and My wife and I have decided I will stay at home and she will work.She’s is a nurse and I am a welder but she makes more $.I have only been staying at home for less than a week and I have discovered that once you get one mess cleaned up theres 3 more waiting.Still I’d rather try this than be all worried about “When I get done with this product I have 6 more to weld”.I am not a fast paced person and supervisors tend to get upset with me alot.I think we’ll try this.
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18 Comments
January 28th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Great, it makes sense, know lots of dads that do. But whichever parent is staying at home, it ends up being more housework than childrearing. Im in full support of working part-time too, and paying someone to do the housework if possible.
January 28th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
whatever works for you guys My husband though it was what he wanted once too It lasted all of about 3 weeks (then he begged me to let him go back to work)
January 28th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I feel like if it’s the best situation for your family, and both you and your wife are pleased with the arrangement, then great! More power to you!
It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it! Idon’t want a stranger raising my kids for me!
Good Luck!
January 28th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
There is nothing wrong with a stay at home dad. If you can afford to stay home, do so. Your child will benefit from you being the one raising her and you will create a bond that is unbelievable. As far as the messes go, she will grow out of it. Try now to teach her to clean her messes up when she is done. Make a game out of clean up time and just enjoy your baby girl.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Well, my husband just lost his job and we are going to try that for a while I believe that is the best thing to do, spend time with the kids, although it is tiring, cleaning here and there as they get older they will HAVE to learn to clean up after themselves. I say good for you!!!
January 28th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
My hubby was a stay at home dad for a year. I think it is a great way for a father to spend time with his kids. I Used to be the family bread winner, but now am a stay at home mom. It is a hard change at first, because the whole mess thing you have learned about. But you will eventually learn how to handle everything. It can be tough, but this will help you gain reaspect for the “at home” parent. It is really a tough job, harder than average work. But just as possible to get done. Give it time for you to get a pattern going. I have been a stay at home mom for over 8 months now, and just found my nitch. slow, but it finally came. Keep up the great work, and remember soon those kids will move out and not want you around alot anymore. Give them all the atention they want, while they want it. Being a great father/mother is in how many times you tell your kids you love them. It will all work out, and you will figure out how to make things work. Just tell your wife, you are trying and it is not easy to be a stay at home. If she used to be a stay at home, well mabey tell her how much you respected what she did around the house. she will apreciate it. good luck daddy.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I have been a daycare provider who supports a parent staying home. One of my dad’s quit work to stay home cuz his wife made more money. Join a club for stay at home dads. BUT, have a plan for when the kids are in school full time. Welcome to the role of house husband- it is hard work isn’t it?
Tip- get organized, do a little eery day so that things do not pile up
on you,and have dinner ready when your wife comes home from work, she needs a break before taking over.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
I think it is great, not enough Dads spend time with their kids.
Your daughter is 2, she is old enough to start learning to help, she can become part of the cleanip process, she can help pick up her toys, make a game of it.
To avoid major messes, confine her to a part of the house or the room you are in, so you can control activities.
Don’t worry, once you get the hang of it, you will do great.
If you don’t have a crock pot, run to walmart pick one up and a cookbook.
This thing is a life saver, while your wife is playing with your daughter at night, spend 15 minutes putting together the next days dinner, put in refrigerator. Get out of bed the next morning and start the crock pot. Dinner is done- A nice beef stew, or soup and one less thing to worry about while dealing with an active 2 year old.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
i think it’s good for the kids to spend time with their dads. this may be good for both u and your daughter. it’s true that it’s hard to keep up w/ messes, but this will prepare you for when she gets older and help u deal with things easies if you are prepared. good luck witj your daughter and enjoy your new life.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I think stay at home dads are great. I know a good friend of mine who i used to work with,she left for overseas. Her husband was a stay at home with two daughters & he used to do everything from waiting for them to wake up,breakfast,morning activities,snaks,going out,lunch,nap time,with theolder one they used to have time together to & they used to get ready for dinner & when the little one woke up they would all start getting ready for dinner so when my friend got home they all used to be together putting final touches together.. So it used to be family time.No matter how tired she was. I thought that it was so cute.
Also prob because i hardly spend time with my dad or chat to my dad. Even though we stay under the same roof.If we have a conversation for more than 10minutes that something wrong. 5minutes beating it to sometimes
And i still think its great. I think stay at home dads are great.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I think you will ultimately have more respect for women that stay at home. You’re right, you get one mess cleaned up and there is more waiting for you. You’ll get the hang of it. Kids will test you in so many ways, but if you learn to have fun with her and keep her busy you’ll learn the messes are less. She’s old enough to sit at the table with you and draw or color, try that for a while, and other activities that will help you and her get closer together, as well as keep your housework down. It is a tough job, but very rewarding.
January 28th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I think it’s absolutely wonderful for parents to be at home with their children- you can teach them a lot more I feel. I am a stay at home mom during the week and work weekends, my husband works all the time.
Here’s how I go about all of this- take care of your children first- make sure they are happy, and when you get a chance, then do some cleaning. I know when my son takes a nap, I either have to sleep when he sleeps, take a shower, or do some cleaning. Cleaning isn’t the end of the world if you don’t get it all done. So enjoy your time with your 2 yr old daughter. These are moments you’ll cherish
There’s always something that needs cleaned… so do that when you have time… there are some days when I just can’t get anything done. Our home is never a disaster, it just needs picked up here and there… but by the time my husband gets home and he watches our son, it gives me a little freedom to do the cleaning I wanted to get to that I couldn’t.
take care, Happy Holidays! And enjoy your children
“Live, Love, Laugh”
January 28th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
My situation is very similar to yours. My husband stays home with my 1 yr old and I went back to work after I stopped breasteeding him at 9 months old. I also make more money than my husband, that’s why we decided that it was better for us if I went back to work. This kind of arrangement had a lot of advantages for us: now my husband, who never did chores does most of them; he is now more attached to our son and becoming a better parent, and our relationship seemed to had gotten a lot smoother, and lastly we learned how to work as a team. At first, he didn’t want to quit his job and stay home because he was worried of what other people would think of him, he had a sense of inferiority and felt he wasn’t providing for his family, but in contrary, what he’s doing is VERY IMPORTANT! If he wasn’t staying home taking care of our son & home then I wouldn’t be able to go to work and earn money. So he is contributing just as much as I am. Good Luck to your family and kudos to you!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Stay-at-home dads are awesome. It’s not easy to stay at home with young children, but babies need their daddies just as much as their mommies. I say, if you enjoy it, keep doing it. Your children will thank you, your wife will thank you, and we thank you, too. You’re much more likely to raise responsible, caring, generous children. And besides, it sounds like you’re much happier. Go be happy and raise a happy family!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I’ve been a stay at home mom for over 8 years, and it’s the same here. (my kids are 8,6 and 2)…it’s gotten easier since the two oldest started school, but my 2 year old is a messy fella. What I do is I have 2 laundry baskets with toys…after breakfast, he plays with toys in basket #1, and before his nap he helps me put them back in. After nap time, we play with basket #2….until the older kids get home, then it’s movie time, etc.etc.etc… The key is to develop a schedule, and stick to it. Develop time blocks during the day that work for both of you…it takes a couple weeks to get used to, but once that is in place, you won’t feel so “jumbled”. Schedule any Dr’s appointments, shopping trips, outings to the park, etc. for the same time every day…nap times at the same time every day…etc…. and your days will be easy.
She’s also old enough to help with cleaning up whatever mess she makes. If she throws toys all over the floor, give her a laundry basket and have her pick them up. She could hold the dustpan for you while you sweep…involve her in the things you do, and she’ll be more than willing to help.
I think it’s GREAT for you to stay home with your daughter (as my friend with three kids would say “it’s about friggin’ time!” ) Lots of kids don’t have that bond with their father that your daughter will. Right on!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
My husband has been a stay at home dad for 10 years and it works out well. Men and women are equals and when in a stable relationship they must work as a team. It also depends on finances (i.e. whoever earns more $$$). I firmly believe that one parent must be home in order for their child to develop properly.
TO ALL MEN OUT THERE WHO HANDLE THEIR BUZNESS: MUCH RESPECT!!!
January 28th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Congrats and good job! There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to be a stay at home dad! In fact, children can gain all kinds of benefits from dad that they don’t get from mom. Do what you have to do for your family, and if that means that mom works while you stay home with the kids, then that is great! Good luck and have fun! Check out websites for stuff to do with your two year old, such as on perpetualpreschool.com to get your daughter involved and get her in gear for school one day.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I think it’s great!
Hey.. as long as one parent can stay at home with the children that’s really the best scenario.
Yes it *is* hard.. but well worth your child’s well being.