I wouldn't say I was brought up in an environment of strict division of labor. Both of my parents worked, and although my mom was the default cook/cleaner in the house, my dad did his share. And still, I wasn't prepared to be the first one to stay home with the kid and switch centuries-old norms. I still felt that salary defined men. And even if I could overcome that, the loneliness, and the weight of feeling like a pioneer in this unknown territory was debilitating.
And that's why the At-Home Dad Network is so important. Beyond the advocacy they do, and the annual convention that brings many of us together, simply the page on the site, listing all the local groups of stay-at-home-dads is a life-saver. It tells us we're not alone--there are many like us: men who didn't expect to be stay-at-home-dads, but do it now, because it's what they need to do, and that for me is the absolute definition of strength. A weak person, I've come to realize, would have stayed at his job because of fear, but by staying home to raise my kids, allowing my wife the opportunity to concentrate fully on her career, I was being a freakin' superhero. Hey, at least in my head.
This year, the convention is in Denver. There's a very good chance I'll be there, because it's important. And because it's fun. And because when else am I going to be in Denver? Click on the picture below to go to the site, where you'll be able to see me in the header image, my face completely hidden behind text. Hey, I understand.
See you in Denver, hopefully!
