How To Be a Stay-at-Home Dad

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Being a father who stays home with the kids can be a great choice for the whole family -- but you need to know what you're getting into.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A clear division of labor
A support group
An outgoing personality
Sensitivity
Pride
Parenting classes

Step 1: Do some soul-searching

Make sure you're okay with your wife being the breadwinner, and discuss what you will be expected to do. Are you signing on to do all the housework, cooking, and childcare? Or are you just agreeing to take care of the kids?

Step 2: Consider your career

Think about how you might balance being a stay-at-home dad with your career goals. Consider asking your employer if you could work part-time and/or from home. Or beef up your resume during your hiatus by squeezing in a few business courses or working toward an advanced degree.

Step 3: Find support

Join a support group to avoid becoming isolated. Stay-at-home dads often find that they are not welcomed into the female-only coffee klatches. There are websites that will match you with dads in your area.

Tip: Get the neighborhood stay-at-home moms to warm up to you by hosting a dinner party so they can meet your wife and their husbands can meet you.

Step 4: Expect a little jealousy

If your wife exhibits a little jealousy when the children begin running to you with their problems, be sensitive. The arrangement may take some getting used to for everyone.

Step 5: Take parenting classes

If you are feeling unsure of your abilities, take some parenting classes. One study found that the happiest stay-at-home dads were the ones who had confidence in their childcare skills.

Step 6: Take pride in your work

Don't worry about what other people may think about your staying home to take care of the kids. Remind yourself that the work you are doing is important, and that doing it well is something to be proud of.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• child
• children
• daddy
• family
• father
• home
• homefamily
• house
• husband
• parenting
• stay

[parallelpinkparakeet]

Yeah, because staying home and taking care of your kids will magically make your penis smaller.

Grow up! If you're that insecure about your masculinity then you probably aren't mature enough to have kids in the first place.

[ARMOROID5000]

That was actually a good video.

I thought it was a gag at first, but it actually made me think about all the stuff my wife does for our little family.

I'm going to go cook dinner for her tonight.

Thank you for this little reminder to be appreciative to her.

[mycrazycatXD]

I was raised my mom stayed at home and my dad worked that's how I want my bf to be

[CanDoSeabee1]

I'm a stay at home dad but don't really agree with the message of this vid. I don't throw wine parties with housewives, I throw cul de sac parties with my kegerator. I don't drive a minivan, I drop my daughter off at preschool in a 66' Barracuda. I use power tools on hard to clean pans. Point is, you don't have to take on the characteristics of a housewife. Do it your way and make it your own thing.

[SugarHikaru]

wow the people who says this is ghey

loosers

i mean really whats so Looser about staying home with ur kids

im a girl if i get married i wouldnt mind if i had a stay at home husband because then i know someone can take care of my kids when im gone

loosers my foot

[SugarHikaru]

@4284842848 -_- hardy har har not funny

[riddick0846]

Now what if both parents work?

[jaredsshield]

This isn't biblical :o

[4284842848]

Women should be in the kitchen makin my dinner bitch!!!!!!

[SeaTownJoshTV]

Personaly i would just go with the higher a mexican, or daycare route.

[wopami86]

im a stay at home dad, i think its pretty cool, i get to spend some needed time with my daughter and because of that, me and my daughter have grown to being happy at the house