For Men: Would you be a stay at home father?

[Genesis315]

I would do whatever is best for the family! However, I would definitely need to work on my housekeeping first…

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

AHapka:

Yes, in a heartbeat if my wife was making enough. I find myself looking forward to my days off taking care of my son instead of working a high stress job. I’d be lying if I said I love it, but God gave me this job to provide for my family and I see working at it as bearing my daily cross. The Lord made it abundantly clear to us after Adam’s sin that we would have to work in life, and Jesus made it clear that he didn’t care about our occupation, only our response to him (See Luke 18:9-14).

Andy

Why not find a way where you can make it and both you and your wife stay home. This is the 21st Century, plenty of way of making money that don’t require you to plant your fanny in a cube farm for 9 hours a day.

 

[chevalier]

Generally, men are supposed to be providers and women to be homemakers. I wouldn’t like to revert these roles. Also, headship of the husband is not always reconicilable with relying on his life for material support.

If I were still providing support, I might stay home, why not. You can work through the internet from your house. You can design webpages in your house, you can do translations and teach people languages in your house. I could do that. I’m a law student and lawyer’s trade is one you can exercise in your house as well as in an office.

However, a single-income scenario with the woman providing… no, I couldn’t do that. I could probably change my opinion faced with a life situation in which she would have a job paying much more than mine, but I would have serious issues with that. Headship and all, you know, the power of the male ego…

 

[dnewbern]

Absolutley not–violation of the Book of Sirach, Capter 25.

 

[lancelink66]

I would if it was the only option. I believe that women, in general, are given a gift that men do not come by naturally. That gift is an ability to nurture young children. I say this after many years as an educater of pre-school and elementary aged children, and a few years as a parent. In watching men with younger children it has been my experience that they are too cerebral and logical and lack the emotional presence and understanding that women seem to come by naturally. Men, on the other hand, in an educational setting at least, tend to work better with older children, especially children 9 years and older. This is not to say that men do not have an incredibly important role as a nurturer in the home. It is simply to say that men have a different role.

This is a volitile topic these days as we live in a very fragmented culture where men are seperated from their families during the work day (if they are living with their families at all) and there are very few “present” male role models. Many children grow up today with only women role models. Most of their teachers at the early childhood or elementary levels will be women and if someone is staying home it will most likely be mom. What we need to focus on as Catholic fathers is making sacrifices (financial ones especially) to be home working side by side with our wives. I believe that the answer that comes up again and again is to follow the example of the many saints that have come before us. We are given a vocation as mothers and fathers and this is our primary purpose, not getting the next promotion or driving the nicest car on the block. My heros as fathers are those who have and continue to put themselves on the cross for their families. Our children need to see their fathers providing for their families and laying down their lives for their family (denying promotions and “outside” glory, living simply, spending more time at home, and working side by side with their wives).

With that in mind, my family has recently woken up and I am sitting here on the computer. Time to go listen to my own advice.