Competent Dads on TODAY
Earlier this week, the Today show aired a segment on the 60% rise in the numbers of stay-at-home dads in the last four years. Featured in the piece were Aaron Rochlen, associate professor at the University of Texas/Austin and premiere at-home-dad blogger, Brian Reid. You can watch the piece on Reid's blog site, rebeldad.com.
Watching the clip, I enjoyed seeing dads represented as competent parents and particularly liked the statement by one dad that he didn't feel like sitting in an office all day was any more masculine than caring for his kids. There was also a companion written piece by Brian Reid which has pointers for dads considering staying at home. Brian includes a list that is applicable to all parents from an ESP perspective as well:
Step one: Find the goalposts - How are the household chores divided?
Step two: Be aware of the implications - Why did you choose this lifestyle?
Step three: Run the numbers - How much will this lifestyle cost or save your family?
Step four: Build in some outs - Take care of yourself. Enjoy your life!
Step five: Consider an exit plan - Keep investing in your career.
Step six: Shoot for greatness - Competence is bliss.
The piece then goes on to outline workplace and government changes that would help dads be more involved. One particular suggestion is attributed to law professor, Joan Williams. She suggests "that workers be allowed to work part-time, with an accordingly pro-rated salary - and benefits and advancement...parents could each work 25 hours a week, make as much money as - and collect the benefits of - a single worker pumping out 50-hours weeks, all without anyone sacrificing their home life."
Now that sounds like a winning plan!
posted by Marc @ 12:22 PM
2 Comments:
hey Marc and Amy: This is uplifting that mainstream media is picking up something other than the 'bumbling dad' stereotypes...Very cool.
You have some fabulous resources here, I can't wait to get a 'parenting' section onto an expanded Shaping Youth website and cross-promote these important ideas.
Meanwhile, thanks for giving us all hope that there's a new generation of thinking out there willing to sort out the 'gender vertigo' and get us all on a bit more stable ground. It will no doubt serve the kids well!
Amy, pleasure meeting you, and let's keep in touch; my head is still reeling from the CCFC summit of research overload and next steps!)
Would you two like to crosspost on Shaping Youth at times? These articles are fab...
Hi, Shaping Youth Amy! I'm so glad to have met you at the CCFC summit too. It would be an honor to crosspost on the jam-packed, amazing Shaping Youth site if you start a parenting section.
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