Love Notes: Daddy at home

Being the one at home can flip a relationship on its head – and we don’t mean in a good way.

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Schedule for a stay-at-home dad
Dads who stay home and look after the house and kids while their wives go to work have many challenges to deal with – including how to structure their day. Here some of them share their schedules.

“It’s easier to find the meaning of life than it is to get the kids into the car on time. Children live in a parallel universe where there aren’t 60 minutes in an hour. Instead, children see 60 dogs to pat or 60 sticks to throw. Having said that, children need a schedule because it gives them a sense of stability. A parent’s job is to construct a stable platform – which means set times – but at the same time allow the child to grow into who they want to be, which requires infinite patience. Parents of young children instinctively know all about the Theory of Relativity. While my children are at school, and before time begins to warp again at hometime, I do mundane day-to-day jobs such as grocery shopping.” – Bruce Clark, author of Love, Sex, Fleas, God: Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Dad (Random House Struik)

“Being a stay-at-home dad simply means I’m a glorified driver and social manager, ensuring that the girls have play dates during the week and are fetched and carried from and to school. And there are after-school activities like ballet, violin, netball, drama, choir and Italian lessons.” – Angelo*

“In the morning, I drop the kids off at school and keep myself busy until they’re out of class. The afternoons are devoted to homework and activities. My wife’s usually home by 6pm and she catches up with the kids until their bedtime. After that, it’s our time to relax in front of the telly.” – George*

*Not their real names.

To read the full version of this story go to page 96 of the September-October 2012 issue