What’s it like to be a SAHD?
I got an e-mail the other day that asked exactly that:
“My wife and are are twenty weeks pregnant, and she thinks I should stay home when the baby is born. I’ve found a ton of stay-at-home dad sites, but no one jsut answers, What’s it like to be a stay-at-home dad? I like kids, but I never ever thought I would be the Mr. Mom or anythig. What do you think?”
Well, you know, he’s right: that’s a really hard question to answer with just an adjective or two — it’s kinda what this whole blog is about, and a whole lot of others, too. And there’s overlap, too: I have a lot of experiences common to at-home moms and working dads, just as the particulars of my at-home-dadness might be completely unlike another at-home-dad.
Still, though, I want to answer the question, although I’m not sure I can. But I’m going to try — once a week or so. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
- Lonely. On having a social life as a SAHD.
- Creative. Every day is different — and that’s not always so great.
- Scrutinized. Everyone’s got an opinion, all the more so when you’re a SAHD.
- Taken for Granted. In which I’m forgotten when dessert comes around.
- Liberating. I can be goofy — really goofy — and get away with it now!
- Replaceable. What’s with this idea that just about anyone could do our jobs as well as we can?
More to come, as they strike me!
February 27th, 2008 10:10 am
What’s it like to be a dad? I don’t have children.
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Pingback by Doodaddy » What’s it like to be a stay-at-home dad? Answer 1: Lonely. — August 15, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
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Pingback by Doodaddy » What’s it like to be a stay-at-home dad? Answer 2: Creative — August 23, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
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Pingback by Doodaddy » What it’s like to be a stay-at-home dad? Answer 3: Scrutinized. — October 12, 2007 @ 1:54 am