Lifestyle » Connect with Kids

Stay at Home Dads
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT


In the morning after breakfast, there's something new going on in the homes of America. Now, more than ever, Mom picks up the keys to the car and heads for work and dad stays home. But, would more Dads stay at home to raise the kids if they could?
According to a survey by careerbuilder.com, 37 percent of working Dads say they'd leave their job and stay at home with the kids if they could afford it. Another 38 percent say they would take a pay cut to spend more time with their kids. Scott Earley, a stay at home Father, says "I know a lot of my guy friends who would love to be able to do this, but they can't. And they can't strictly because of monetary situations. Because whatever mom makes can't support them." But, is it good for the kids? Dr. Elaine Mateo, a Child Psychiatrist, says "It does not matter which parent is the one who is the primary caretaker as long as the needs of the child are being met." In fact, she says, there's not much more a mom can provide that a dad cannot, aside from breast feeding. "After that, there are more and more people that can come into the world of the child and take the mothering role, as long as they possess those characteristics that are essential. Those, I guess, what we think of as nurturing characteristics."
Experts advise dads who do work to turn off their cell phones and computers and spend quality time with their kids when they get home from work.

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