Part time stay at home Dad

[QwertyGirl]

But its still not preferable, right? Though God may want that for some families given their situation

My husband and I did a good job of sharing parenting, on all levels. However, my job kept me away from home more during the hours my child was up and about. My husband was home more during this time. It worked perfectly for us. I would have been driven up the wall having to stay home all the time with my child. It just wasn’t my calling. My child would have been miserable, too. I made it a priority to always be home for dinner and to leave my work at the office. We loved the time we did have together and have always been very close. My husband loved being home when she came home from school each day.

The only “right” here is figuring out what works best for the family and working together as a couple and as a family to make it work. There is no right or wrong, other than to make everyone’s well-being the priority and keeping a happy and healthy family.

 

[Cruciferi]

All I know is that my Mother stayed at home and my Father worked. It was wonderful but it’s obviously not possible for everyone nowadays.

 

[QwertyGirl]

All I know is that my Mother stayed at home and my Father worked. It was wonderful but it’s obviously not possible for everyone nowadays.

Me too. We had a lot of kids. Mom was always crabby. She did do a good job of taking care of us, though. I often wonder if she would have been a happier person with a different balance of things.

 

[Cruciferi]

My Dad worked with a bunch of married women with kids. They were still crabby at work and usually making phone calls home to check on everyone

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

With all due respect women face that reality constantly.

That really shouldn’t factor into their decision. It could happen to her also so is a mute reason.

Acknowledging social norms don’t make them right, it is what is. The truth is that while employment gaps are tough on women, they are brutal on men.

Having a part time job in the chosen field, however, can mitigate that.

 

[on_the_hill]

Both of my grandfather’s parents worked outside the home in the late 1890s and into the 1920s.

Plus they helped establish two churches/parishes.

I doubt Pius XI would’ve been unhappy with their accomplishments.

 

[on_the_hill]

Same here. My life would’ve been completely different had my mom worked outside the home.

Yet, she had such a sharp mind, good with numbers, an eye for detail, that it’s a tragedy she never got the opportunity to take advantage of her gifts.

 

[lilypadrees]

Back then, the man was the breadwinner. Women didn’t have to work unless they chose to. Things have changed greatly since then. It now often takes the combined incomes of both husband and wife to support a family.

 

[Convert3]

I think the key word is “should.” In a perfect world it would be great for the mother to stay home to care for children and the home chores. There aren’t many families living in a perfect world these days. My wife was widowed with a two year old son, who was age sixteen when I came into the picture. He had ADHD and was a handful for her. She struggled to raise him and to get her education so she could improve their financial well being. Child care has never been cheap and raising an ADHD child without a father was a real challenge. He fell into drug addiction in high school. After shaking the addiction, he was still slow to launch into college or a career path. He finally went to college and received his degree in graphic design. The internet has pretty much chased those type of jobs out of the country. He has worked honest jobs, but been unsuccessful in getting into a career path. He married his long time girlfriend who had the same degree. She had some retail/fashion experience and secured a job that has growth potential and pays better than my step son. They recently had twins. There is no way they can afford child care. She makes more money and has benefits, so it’s a no brainer for him to stay home and raise their kids. They are both great parents and I love watching them with the twins.
I hope no one judges families that may not fit the perfect family profile. It’s a tough world out there. My wife and I praise God for our children and grandchildren. God Bless

 

[KCmedtech]

This thread is gonna get shut down pretty quick…

At the end of the day…women don’t fit nicely into the circles the tradationals would like to force us into.

I have an important job that pays well. I have three kids. I will continue to work fulltime because I want to.

I’m far happier knowing my patients need me than giving it all up to stay at home with the kids.

I tried the home thing for 2 years and hated every second of it.

 

[Arkansan]

Back then, the man was the breadwinner. Women didn’t have to work unless they chose to. Things have changed greatly since then. It now often takes the combined incomes of both husband and wife to support a family.

I know, the current situation is a grave injustice.

 

[KCmedtech]

It stinks but it’s reality for a lot of families.

I work full time but my husband and I have a schedule that means someone is always at home at some point…so we don’t do the daycare thing. The kids go to school and come home to a parent. If they are sick they stay home with a parent.

I’m usually the one who is tired because i work overnights but we make it work.

Not everyone has that luxury.

I’ve discovered that I’m far happier and my family is far more stable and productive with two working parents. Money is less of an issue, health insurance is not an issue and we are more stable with less stress.

However, I know plenty of women who want to stay home and that means the whole family.needs to work extra hard to make ends meet so that they can make it happen.

I have a good friend who had to give up homeschooling and go back to work because her husband is now unemployed and has few marketable skills to make a living to provide for their family of 7.

It is what it is…and I pray they can figure it all out.

_