Quote:
Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers
Yes. Yes it is.
Most of the complaints in here sound like people not stepping up to the task of being a partner. I don’t necessarily believe you need a paying job to be a valuable part of the household. But if the opinion of you by your spouse is “they just sit around watching TV” then that’s another issue than just not earning an income. That’s clearly not sustainable.
Also, the curb clip is funny but I think 99% of people would think that the woman there is insane. People don’t actually act like that.
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That’s an uncharitable take on the matter. I don’t think anyone is denying that caring for young children is a tremendous amount of work. And you’re assuming the dads here haven’t taken on a fair share if that work. We have twins, and I took an equal share in bottle-feeding, changing diapers, dressing, etc since day 1. And ever since they started going to pre-school, I’ve been the one who gets them up, dressed, fed, and out the door every morning.
But because I’ve been hands-on since day one, I’m aware of how dramatically the amount of work necessary to raise kids drops off as they get older. By age five, they’re in school most of the day. By 12 they’re doing their own laundry, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, making their own lunch, helping make dinner, etc. If I had quit my job to become a full-time homemaker when the kids were two, my wife would have been impressed and grateful. If I did it now, she would be pissed.