Being A Stay At Home Dad – Is It the Best Decision of Your Life or the Worst?

So, there’s a new baby joining your sweet little family, and you can’t quell your excitement, right? 

Well, I hear ya. 

Becoming a father is certainly a momentous achievement many people dream about. But take it from me – raising a child is no joke. It takes time, forbearance, and diligence. And, for that, at least one of the parents must stay at home with the kid. Otherwise, they won’t get the guidance they need to become a better individual.

Hence, if you are thinking about becoming a stay at home dad, I definitely feel you. Truth be told, there’s no shame in it as well. After all, this way, you’re both helping your wife to keep on working while taking care of your house and the toddler.

So, don’t go by a stay at home dad meme or something like that. You’re a well-oriented and responsible individual who puts his family in front of everything else.

But becoming a stay-at-home dad and continually performing excellently isn’t easy. Thus, in this article, I’ll talk about being a stay at home dad, the responsibilities you have to share, and the benefits that you may enjoy. So, let’s get started!

Becoming A Stay At Home Dad – An Overview

The concept of being a stay at home dad is becoming pretty common nowadays. According to a report published by Pew Research, almost 7% of men in the USA choose to be a stay at home parents. And there are five reasons influencing such an action –

• The person is suffering from a chronic disability or illness and, thus, cannot work on a day-to-day basis.
• They’ve lost their job and want to let their wife keep working, especially if she’s the primary earner of the family.
• It’s their personal desire or choice to care for their family.
• They’re currently working from home and, thus, want to become an integral part of their children’s life.
• They are in a same-sex relationship where one person has decided to become a stay at home dad and take care of the household.

There are several high-paying stay at home dad jobs where you get to work as a caregiver for a family too. So, that might tempt you to become a stay at home parent too.

Becoming A Stay At Home Dad – The Challenges!

Truth be told, becoming a stay at home father has become quite prevalent, primarily in the USA. In fact, they account for almost 17% of stay-at-home parents in the country.

However, there are still some challenges they do encounter as stay at home dads. Here’s what you need to know about them.

1. Stereotypical Comments

Almost every stay at home parent, at least once in their lifetime, tends to encounter stigmas or stereotypical comments from society. These generally include faltering judgments about their work ethic and masculinity. Sometimes, getting through such negative views can become unbearable for most people, and they give up on their responsibilities.

2. The Sense of Isolation

As a stay at home dad, connecting with someone else’s parent, especially the mother, can be tricky. It can also be quite uncomfortable to plan a one-on-one playdate with someone you’ve never talked to. Most meet-and-greets created by parents are mostly meant for mothers. Hence, fathers aren’t usually accepted there. These issues can sometimes lead to isolation.

3. A Lack of Support

The lack of support and prominence of negative judgment can make it difficult for anyone to work as a stay at home dad. This, in turn, might take a toll on their personality and behavioral conjunction. A lot of people tend to get extremely depressed due to the same reason. After all, it’s not easy to get criticized for everything, no matter how hard you try, right?

Becoming A Stay At Home Dad – The Advantages!

Yes, the task is, indeed, challenging and emotionally overwhelming. However, taking care of your child can also turn out to be a blessing in your life. Here’s how.

A. Stronger Bond with the Partner

Historically, the mothers are typically seen as the sole caregiver in a family. Hence, the father taking up the role can certainly instill a sense of empowerment in your wife’s mind. She’ll appreciate you becoming more proficient in more than one skill and helping her with whatever she seeks to achieve in her life. It’ll make the bond between you two much stronger and more beautiful.

B. Nurturing the Father-Child Relationship

If you had an upbringing like mine, you probably understand the importance of having a father in your life. Hence, if you don’t want your child to yearn for love and affection like you, it might be a great idea to become a stay at home dad. This way, you can nurture the bond and relationship between you and them while raising them precisely however you want.

C. Redefining the Societal Norms

It’s pretty common for a stay at home dad to hear something like – 

“Hey, I heard you’re babysitting nowadays, haha.”

… something that’s not really a mother has to listen to. However, it’s okay. Society will try to pin you down whenever you do something out of the societal norm. So, you can either give in to the course of undignified comments or redefine the communal standards in your way.

Don’t be that kind of dad who plays the role of a mere bystander and is only called upon during the time of emergency. Be someone who can positively alter the prevalent societal perception of caregiving, masculinity, and fatherhood.

Be The Change!

Being a stay at home dad can be both emotionally and financially challenging. However, it’s a great opportunity for you to become the best father that your child can ever get. 

Additionally, taking a large chunk of responsibilities from the shoulder of your wife can give a boost to the bond between you two too. Just make sure that you are weighing up the pros or cons of the job properly before taking it up. It’ll certainly help with your decision.

Read Also:

• 12 Things Busy Dads Can Do To Spend Some Quality Family Time
• Life As A Single Dad – 15 Tips To A Successful Solo Fatherhood
• Ways To Strengthen The Dad And Daughter Relationship