Comments on: “Can Men Have it All?”

By: Babylune » Is Sunday Fathers’ Day in Japan Too?

Babylune » Is Sunday Fathers’ Day in Japan Too? — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:57:24 +0000

[...] “There’s Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day, so how come there is no Children’s Day? [...]

By: kbaggott

kbaggott — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:59:16 +0000

Yes. Celebrity dad is a problem here. Imagine never having to say No to your own child?

That is the major reason I want to get back to work.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:55:21 +0000

I used to be bitter about the Celebrity Dad phenomenon. C wanted to spend time with us, but work took up most of the waking hours of the weekdays. When he came in, the room lit up, the kids flocked to him, and mom was chopped liver. To be honest, I think that is what motivated a tiny bit of my desire to return to work (well, that, a paycheck, mental stimulation, a break from the house, financial independence, etc etc). Not that I wanted to leave the kids, but that I wanted some equality and not to be taken for granted — by them, by him, etc.

It always kills me that when I man takes the afternoon off with a sick kid or changes a diaper he’s a hero, while we’re at home doing it all day everyday. Even for the more evolved dads, there are miles to go.

By: kbaggott

kbaggott — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 12:49:56 +0000

Helen, I really do wish my huband were a bit more family-oriented. Your family is lucky to have a man who is part of the family instead of an occassional playmate.

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:49:31 +0000

I guess my children are really really lucky and blessed because their father spends every waking moment he can with them, with all of us. I could not cope with someone who simply was not there and away working and doing all the work related things that you mention like golfing, drinking, video games etc.

Years ago when I was younger that sort of thing would probably have impressed me enough to get me hooked into that sort of life and I even would have been keen to cook dinner parties for the weekends and such.

Now I expect more, much much more when it comes to the attention that children need from their mother’s and father’s. It is the little things like sitting talking with the little ones for a while which does not take up loads of time but is a lasting calming and comforting thing to do for the child and for me as it is something lovely to see happen. More men should be active and involved in the normal day to day things that come with having children.

Not trips out like to the park or zoo but the mundane things that go on within a household with children every single day.

Being a father may not be the perfect career choice but the family benefits far outweight the lack of corperate benefits. Most would argue that there is nothing like being a Dad even those hardened career minded people who spend most of their waking hours in the office and doing work related things.

Helen

By: kbaggott

kbaggott — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 15:43:13 +0000

Miles and miles to go, Mama, but I think I see some movement on the horizon.

By: Mama-feminista

Mama-feminista — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 15:34:34 +0000

Just heard a great debate on ABC News about the Family Medical Leave Act. The host was stating it should be completely ok for employers to ask a woman if and when she is going to start a family, but the same question did not apply to men. A female caller then debated successfully that both men and women should be ask because men’s priorities and lives also change drastically with the birth of a child. This was of course a more conservative show as I don’t believe anyone should be asked and the workplace should change to be more accepting of working parents. We have a long way to go!