A recent census shows that 154,000 men are now stay-at-home dads, and the number is climbing. For a marriage or relationship, there are pros and cons to this role reversal:
Pros:
- Dads get the chance to bond with their kids in a way they may not have had the chance to bond with them before.
- Dads can balance being a homemaker with work if they work from home or have a part-time job.
- Household chores can be divided much differently and in a way that might work better than if the mom were at home.
Cons:
- Even though dad is at home, studies show that women still do 70% of the housework. That can lead to resentment and stress on the relationship.
- If Dad is staying home because he’s unemployed rather than because he chooses to stay home, this can be a blow to his manhood and self-esteem, which can affect the state of the union.
- Men can struggle with boredom and isolation. There are play groups and blogs for stay-at-home dads, but guys need to be proactive to stay connected.
To learn more about how to make a stay-at-home dad situation work for you, click here.