what do you think of stay at home dads?

Question

i worked to support wife all through her nursing career, now that she's done,instead of me going back to the workforce, she insists i stay home and watch our daugther, which is better than a daycare..you never know how a stranger is going to care for your kids....my wife makes around $8,000 to $9,000 a month..stayin at home includes cooking (which i do by profession anyway)cleaning, which i dont mind, and tending to our two yr old....i do however game alot and watch alot of movies and cartoons and what not....my daughter and i do go out to the park, the mall, to eat out....but everything is as it should be, i mean nobody complains, i just get wisecracks every now and again from people, i dont mind the work at all....

i failed to mention, that im a business student as well, my wife and i fix our schedules according to each others agendas, im a full time student working on a bachelors degree, but i only go to school tuesdays and thursdays all day.....4 classes each day

women are super sweet in how they feel towards my situation, men however i have found are i guess jealous?....i mean what guy wouldnt want to stay home and game all day, watch movies, and sports? and the only thing i have to do is cook dinner for wife and other things that have to be done anyway....i do oil changes, rotate tires engine maintanence, regular car care...i do it all.....but i have lots of fun with my daughter too....watch lots of elmo's world though.....

ok, i didnt mean all guys are jealous and mouth of wise cracks.... just the ones that dont understand a stay at home dad's job, because i see some men have answered me as well along with some other stay at home dads too.....and their answers are great....thanks to all for your inspiring answers,and for your best wishes....!!! cheers!

keanu, very good advice. however divorce is out of the question, we are not religous or anything like that, we just believe somebody should honor what they vow nowadays, after all it is a promise you make to stick together bad or good...am i wrong...and i have offered many many times to work...i do get bored sometimes....but she insists...if it came down to it, id have to find a way to do even more....like you. very admirable to raise 4 kids alone...i do think of the future alot, and i know things will change fast, i imagine what my little girl will be like as a teen, and i worry over how kids are these days, some not all,....one day at a time.....good luck with yours buddy!!!! and good business advice about the catering...

Cing- Awesome father. mine worked his whole life, im only just getting to know him now that hes old.....sad. but yeah man, thanks for the support and story. Wife makes that much because she's employed as a Hemodialysis Nurse at a hospital, and works as a field agent nurse for a home health care provider...as you can see, health care is the way to go...as for me, im afraid of needles....cant stick anyone.....b.t.w she just bought me a new ford F150 XLT about three weeks ago.....its nice to be appreciated....thanks again.

Answer 1

Dude, I would love to be a stay at home dad. Heck, I'm not married anymore and I don't even have kids, but I think it is the coolest thing ever.

Check it, my mom is a nurse. She only worked 2 days a week while I was growing up so she could be a stay at home. The other 2 days I stayed with my grandparents. Well, my Dad was/still is a general foreman for the local Iron Workers Union. You know the type of guy that is a man among men. However, like any other trade, during the early 80's he spent alot of time without work due to the lack of it...thus, during that time my mom would work lots more and, by situation, he was at home. I was only a young kid at that time, but I learned more about being a man during the time he was home than I ever would have had he not. You see, we had a farm as well. Thus, my dad had me out splitting wood, fixing fence, running cattle, riding on the tractor, working on machinery, etc. when I was just a small boy. However, I was also right there by his side whenever he was folding the clothes, cooking, cleaning, etc. Furthermore, he would take me back and forth to school; go to school activities; coach rec sports; help with other kids if need be as well, (he did all of this stuff while he was working as well, just at a grander scale.)

If a family decides that they want a stay at home parent, I would think that it wouldn't really matter who stayed at home. I think the wise decision would be to have whoever would be more financially viable work. I work in the healthcare field, and if a nurse can rake 8 grand a month, I say she should work, because that is an unordinary income for a rn.

Stay Up Playa. Any man that bad mouths you is surely jelous!

Answer 2

Ask children who are latchkey kids and they'll tell you that they will give anything to come home to a parent. Any parent willing to stay home and take care of their kids while the other works is a marvelous soul provided they take their stay at home role seriously to add to the harmony of the family. Nothing like coming home after a hard day and the house is a mess, the kids cranky, and the parent ranting a litany of complaints. Many parents would love to have this type of situation, one at home with or for the kids but life has gotten too expensive to even consider the idea.

Answer 3

I commend you. For a father or even just a man to do that is great. I just sat and watched wifeswap and let me tell you I wanted to slap the wife of the hick because she believed a man should get his hands dirty and be out doing work as a hands on person. If a man chooses to stay at home and tend to his kids then more power to him. So what I am getting at is that I wish you the best of luck and hope you and wife live a successful and happy life.

Answer 4

Awesome .......
But lucky *** you, what happens if you get a divorce...not being wierd or anything, but there are already a few single parent Dads out there who do all of that plus work.
Stay home with your daughter and enjoy the time buddy, because life changes and will continue to change. Heck, why don't you start a home business....catering, or renovate the home, . Kids grow up fast so trust me, in five years you will be wishing it wasn't over.

Answer 5

Persona;;y i think it's great and if you actually want to be a stay at home dad then don't let society get the better of you. It will never mean that your professional life is over, its just on hold. If you ever feel the urge to go back to work, let your child go to creche, kindergarten or some sort of child care. Good on you for even thinking it though.

Answer 6

I think it is wonderful that you are a stay at home dad. Alot of children don't get to know their dads growing up. You are giving your daughter something special. I am sure your wife enjoys coming home and not having to do the chores. I think you are a wonderful father. Keep up the good work

Answer 7

who cares what other people thinks. There are a lot of sex offenders and sometimes you dont even know they are in your neighborhood. Maybe when you daughter is old enough to be left alone, you can start a catering business or something. Good Luch and God Bless

Answer 8

if it works for you then don't worry about what other people have to say about it. i have a friend whose husband was out of work for a while and she loved having him at home to watch the baby. (she's a nurse too). as long as your wife doesn't have any problem with it and you don't mind doing it, keep it up. the wise cracks come from people who are too immature to understand a real relationship. it's about give and take and compromise. it doesn't matter who does what as long as both partners agree on it.

Answer 9

I think it is awesome! I wished more guys would let women work and take care of things. I think it helps the men to appreciate the women more, if they ever switch roles. Some men think that a womans life is easy! It isnt!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

i think that is super awesome! although im sure that if my dad were to decide now to stay at home..i would go crazy..keep in mind im 17 almost 18 and a lil more independent than when i was lil..lol..who cares what ppl think?...if you and your family are happy..then do what you gotta do...you are enjoying life..have fun!!