Stay at home dad: Good or bad?

When one thinks of a stay-at-home parent, it’s almost always the mom that comes to the mind. But when a husband decides to be at home and take care of the household chores and look after the children, it isn’t looked upon, like a great job by society. More than the society if you wish to be a stay at home dad, are you and your spouse on the same terms? Will you both enjoy the reversed roles? There is a lot of stigma around men staying at home parents and women being the breadwinners. It requires a lot of guts to quit a job and be a full-time stay at home dad.

Are you ready?

This cannot be a forced decision. It has to be a well-thought decision. The husband needs to take care of the daily household chores, looking after the children, attending guests, preparing food, getting work done from maids, buying groceries and other items. Working round the clock could be a very tiring process if you are not used to the routine.

Is your family ready?

Remember you are going to break the stereotype. Is your family ok to see their son full time at home and doing all the household activities and taking care of children..? Forget men, women in the family might not be able to digest the fact. Most importantly has your wife agreed to the decision?

Finances

Is your wife earning pretty well? An analysis should be done as you are going to lose on the extra income. Is it okay for you two and will all the expenses like personal, household, loan, school fees, insurance, rent would taken care of your wife’s salary easily?

Reversed roles

Your wife may do a 9-hour job but you need to be at work all the time. Right from dressing up the children for school, taking care of babies, changing diapers, feeding them, helping them with homework, preparing food, cleaning the house, playing with them, making the children sleep and acquire some more skill sets which you are not aware of.

Emotional change

A stay-at-home husband may feel burdened to work 24/7, look after kids and handle people’s questions which will likely make you feel the burnout. Also, you may feel lonely. It is a stressful job to handle the children and perform all other activities. One needs to prepare himself before taking this huge plunge.

Social Acceptance

Women who prefer to be at home can get engaged in varied activities like gathering with other women (who prefer not to work) and indulge in kitty parties. Since most of the men are working, stay at home dads do not have anyone to go and talk to which can make them feel lonely and depressed.

Hence before getting into the full-time stay at home job, think not twice, but ten times as it’s going to affect you and your family emotionally, physically and financially.

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