Stay-at-Home Dads: Changing Times, Changing Roles

This Sunday, we cheered for moms on Mother’s Day. But let’s not forget the stay-at-home dads. Some of them might feel a bit left out. They often do the same moms’ jobs, but people don’t always notice. The pandemic has made things even more mixed up. Many parents share all the house and kid chores. We’ll talk more about this in a future post. Today, we’re focusing on stay-at-home dads. Let’s bust the myths about them.

Time to Welcome Stay-at-Home Dads

We often hear that moms should take care of the kids. That’s old thinking. As times change, our views on stay-at-home dads should too. But change is hard. Dads feel the push to work hard at their jobs. They miss out on time with their kids. And some people give stay-at-home dads a hard time for not being the “money maker.” But more dads are helping at home. That’s a good sign.

Dads love Home Life

Here’s the good news. Dads at home are getting to know their kids better. They’re also growing closer to their partners. They want to be different from their dads. They want to be there for their kids. As moms do more at work, dads are stepping up at home.

Caring Dads are not Wimps

Some people think stay-at-home dads are less manly. That’s not fair. Ask any mom. Taking care of kids and home is hard work. It’s like running a business. You must care for money, meals, cleaning, and kids’ needs. You have to plan things, take kids to activities, and always be there for them. It’s not easy.

It’s Okay to Show Feelings

It takes a lot of guts for dads to show feelings. Especially when they’re doing things people don’t expect. It can feel lonely. That can make dads think they’re doing something wrong. We need to stop thinking that way. It keeps dads from enjoying this special job.

Balancing Work and Home Life

We need to help dads balance work and home life. Some dads might not want to be at home all the time. But they can still find ways to spend more time with their family. Things like working from home make it easier. It means dads can help more around the house.

Support is Key

Stay-at-home dads need people to lean on. This could be their partners, family, friends, or dad groups. Having people who get it makes a big difference. In some places, stay-at-home dads meet up each week. They get to talk to others who know what they’re going through.

Counseling Can Help

Talking to a counselor can be a big help for stay-at-home dads. They get to talk about their worries and hopes. It helps them stay focused on their goals. Therapy can help with coping and talking skills. It can also help them find the support they need.

Therapy takes work. It can be hard. But having someone to guide you can help. At CPA-Counseling, we can help. We’re in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and the Robinson area. We’re taking on a few new patients. Check out our videos to see how we can help bust the myths about stay-at-home dads.

 — Image Credit Adobe Stock

Dave is one of our many therapists that work with dads, and Dave is a dad himself. Dave has had the honor and privilege of working in the mental health field for the past 20 years.  His experience ranges from family systems work to individualized focus. His clinical orientation ranges from client-centered, solution-focused, humanistic, and Existential approaches. Dave believes in providing a strength-based, supportive, authentic, and non-judgmental approach to the therapeutic process. We all face various challenges and can reach our personal goals given the independent choices we make each day.