“Don’t call my husband the babysitter!” That’s what I say to anyone who undermines his parenting role.
When my husband told me that his co-worker asked if he was babysitting our daughter, I could see how annoyed he was. “How do I babysit my own kid?” he asked.
Now that I think about it, I’ve heard this dumb statement before. To this day, I don’t understand it. Even if parents are separated or divorced, I just think it’s down right in appropriate to call a dad a babysitter.
There are times when I’d ask my hubby to watch the kids while I go to brunch with friends, and I do the same when he has something he’d like to do. But, I don’t consider it babysitting. It’s called being a parent.
I spent years as babysitter as a teen. I may ask my mom to babysit while we enjoy a couples night out. But I cringe when I hear someone refer to a dad who is with his own children as the babysitter.
Another pet peeve of mine is when people applaud fathers because they’re out and about with their kids alone. Meanwhile back at the ranch, a mom does the same and you hear crickets. Why are men praised for doing the same thing a woman does with kids. When moms spend time with their kids, it’s just viewed as normal.
I think all parents should be praised for what they do. Raising kids is a tough job and we all deserve credit. My hubby does an excellent job with our kids and that is expected because he’s their father.
So the next time you hear someone make that ignorant statement, please let them know being a dad doesn’t mean you’re a babysitter, it means your a parent and that’s what parents do.
How do you feel when someone calls a dad a babysitter?
I agree with you 100%!!! I know mine often comments on how when people see him pushing the stroller or out playing with the kids people are amazed or feel the need to comment on how great that is, but for him (and us) that’s how it should be, he is the DAD! And yes, that’s what PARENTS do!!!
I personally hate the term “babysitting” in reference to dads. It’s assumptive that it is NOT the dad’s job to watch the kids. Men NEED to realize that it is their duty as much as the mothers and in the same way, women need to stop shouldering tasks that men really can and should do by themselves.
I have a full-time stay-at-home hubby. It’s been quite the experience to watch him evolve over the past two years. I would NEVER call him a “babysitter” now, but I will admit that it felt that way in the beginning. Men have got to step up…and that is not just fathers, but also other men in their perception of what a father actually does (a.k.a. “parenting”).
This is great. Amen to the entire thing!
I totally agree with you! My husband is very hands-on and people always make comments about it… I’m like, “Helloooooo they are his children!! Why is this shocking??”
Thanks so much for chiming in ladies. This is one of those topics that I find annoying. Chantilly, props to the hubs for being a SAHD. Hey, he should write about it and shed some light on this topic. I tried asking my hubby, but he doesn’t want to. Maybe we’ll chat about on WAMTV. I love reading about Dads perspectives.
You guys have a wonderful little family! I would totally feel the same way!
Thanks so much Constance.
I agree with you. Dad did have a part in making the child and a babysitter gets paid to watch children. There is no payment for dad.
totally. referring to him as babysitter is weird!