19 Comments

  1. Thena
    06/01/2017 @ 12:25 pm

    I’m so lucky that my husband is such a great stay at home dad! It’s so important. Great post!

  2. Caitlin
    05/31/2017 @ 3:25 pm

    I’m so lucky to have an involved husband who actually works from home, so we are both very hands-on in our children’s lives. <3

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/31/2017 @ 3:40 pm

      You and your kids are blessed Caitlin!! Your children have a very bright future if you and your husband are all in!!

  3. Mish | tiffindrama
    05/31/2017 @ 1:11 am

    This is a very powerful post. I think being a present and participating dad (and parent, really) is super important. It forces you to break the habits that you don’t want your kids to follow, which in turn, allows for a lot of introspection!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/31/2017 @ 1:16 am

      Agreed Mish. Kids are naturally going to mimic what they see. Kids are learning how to view the world and we need to show them the right way from day one! Thanks for commenting!

  4. The Momproviser
    05/30/2017 @ 10:01 pm

    Very insightful. My in-laws do not understand why my husband occasionally takes time off from work to stay home with out daughter when she’s sick because they assume things like that are the mom’s job. Well, this working momma does not have all the time off in the world. Also, moments like that are when my husband and daughter bond the most. She even prefers “dada” at times when he’s been around more. Thanks for advocating for dads to pull more weight!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/30/2017 @ 10:27 pm

      I have had those same conversations. I posted a picture of my husband wearing the baby sling with our 3 month old and I got a lot of “wow, he is helping you! That’s so nice.” I responded that dads are not babysitters. He is not helping me; he is being a father and taking care of his kids just like I do. I want to educate people that the title working-mother also applies to working-fathers. We both have dual roles, not just mothers. Thank you so much for your comment. May we continue to give our little ones our very best as parenting teams!!

  5. Namrata Singh
    05/30/2017 @ 4:47 pm

    What I liked the most- Dad’s are tuned in, raised up to provide for the family. Financial responsibility does become the prime thing for them but parenting doesn’t stop at just ‘providing’.
    Liked it. Am glad my husband is a kind of a man who participates in other responsibilities as well and that is what I will be teaching my child.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/30/2017 @ 5:14 pm

      That is wonderful to hear Namrata. Your kids are fortunate to watch a tag team parenting approach.

  6. J. Ivy Boyter
    05/30/2017 @ 2:30 pm

    I’m pleased that my husband and I take our roles as parents seriously, and we understand how important it is that we work as a team.
    Thankfully he’s not all about all the fun stuff but gets involved in the harder decision making. We both take on the responsibility of raising good humans!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/30/2017 @ 5:16 pm

      That is wonderful Ivy. Raising good humans is all about wonderful collaboration. Thanks for commenting!

  7. Ryan
    05/30/2017 @ 1:13 pm

    This is a great post! I love seeing dads getting more and more involved.

  8. Opher
    10/28/2016 @ 6:56 pm

    I think males can bond with children just as much as females. It is also only fair that they tajke on 50% of the tiresome duties as well. That seems just plain fairness.

  9. Nina
    10/28/2016 @ 1:54 pm

    This is great and I totally agree! When I was pregnant, I constantly reminded Eddy, that I shouldn’t be the only one spending time with our precious child. Him spending quality time with our child matters as much as my input. Although, I had to return to school after a week I gave birth, it worked out perfectly. I got a reason to get out of the house and my better half got a complete alone time with the baby. I’ll admit, that when the moment came for me to actually leave them for the first time, I did concider staying home. But then I pulled my self together – it has to start somewhere. The bond I see between them only after a year is amazing and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

    • Bethany Edwards
      10/29/2016 @ 7:39 am

      It is so hard to leave our babies, but I completely agree, the father’s bond needs time to be cultivated and cannot happen if we as mothers are always there! My husband takes our daughter out on dates just like he takes me out.:) I have to be honest though, when my daughter wants my husband to tuck her in at night I get very jealous… intellectually I know it’s wonderful, but like you said, it’s physically painful to feel any separation. Thanks for commenting!!

      • Opher
        10/29/2016 @ 1:47 pm

        My babies are all grown and flown. I carry the imprint of their cuddles.

  10. Opher
    10/28/2016 @ 7:39 am

    I think it is really important for Dad’s to play an active role. It takes a lot of people to bring up a kid. It’s a big job and a father’s input is so important – emotionally and physically. It is important that they relate, bond and help children grow – important for them and the child. Also taking a 50% share of all the work involved.
    This is an anecdote I wrote in one of my books concerning taking an active role back when disposable diapers were not an option. –
    https://opherworld.wordpress.com/2016/10/12/my-weird-sixties-surreal-book-reality-dreams-chapter-39-a-shit-day/

    • Bethany Edwards
      10/28/2016 @ 8:41 am

      That is too funny; Jessica and were just having the diaper conversation yesterday; she uses cloth diapers and I am willing to spend $2500 in the next two years so I never have to touch laundry that is covered in my daughter’s feces.. to each their own right?! Thanks for the comment!

      • Opher
        10/28/2016 @ 8:44 am

        You’re welcome!
        I think the experience of having babies lowers the threshold for contact with urine, faeces and vomit. No matter how careful you try to be there is an inevitability.