On Father's Day a survey gives thumbs up to a stay-at-home-dad becoming more of a significant fixture in Canadian culture.
Bank of Montreal released a 21st century sign of times that guys choosing to do house-work and mind children are less rare.
As feminism isn't such a big issue anymore, 59 per cent of Canadians think there is gender equality around roles at home and work.
Which is interesting because only a generation ago, even being a single dad was almost unheard of in most parts of western culture. Only a few of my parents friends, almost none at my church and out of many clients of their daycare were single dads.
Not being the main bread-winner is hard on pride, especially when 31 per cent of guys have taken home-maker role after being put out of work during the recession.
"It made a lot of sense for them [fathers] to stay at home and raise the family," BMO spokesperson Larry Moser said.
A stay-at-home dad isn't exactly a topic that comes up after church, being the largest segment of this reporter's social circle.
There are plenty of families where both parents are out working, yet as with most financial planning, there are pros and cons.
If benefits plans of both spouses over-lap enough, it doesn't impact family, nor does kids having a parent at home to have reassurance that someone is always home to talk to about problems or help with school projects etc.
"If the woman is probably going to be promoted very shortly and start receiving a higher and higher salary, it's just common sense that the dad should stay at home and look after the kids from a financial point of view."
The BMO press release had some good advice regarding finances:
-- Plan, plan, plan - Start the conversation at least two years in advance so that you can adequately plan, prepare and take time to evaluate your decision.
-- How to choose - When trying to decide which partner should stay home, take into account each other's salaries, benefit packages and any prospective career advancements on the horizon.
-- Weigh the costs - Research local daycare or nanny costs and compare them against your salary.
-- Track everything - As part of your evaluation process, track your expenses, create detailed budgets and revisit your financial plan to ensure it is aligned with your new goals.
All good advice which sounds like this reporter's father would give as an independent business-man. Which is something the study doesn't take into account of how many guys have home-based businesses as well to look after their kids better.
So as Father's Day rolls around, we thank the guy who raised us and supported mom. Single dads work so hard to make it up to their kids like single moms do with a bit more of a harder mission from society's view-point that mom should be main child-raiser.
The role of fatherhood may be changing and adapting to what goes on, but manly men might be in charge of the house-hold in a different designation. Raise a beer for dads everywhere anyway.
-- PLR --
am admitting to taking a short-cut by re-quoting the BMO dude, but just thought it was an interesting piece of culture. photo came from same article
original article re-post
As feminism isn't such a big issue anymore, 59 per cent of Canadians think there is gender equality around roles at home and work.
Which is interesting because only a generation ago, even being a single dad was almost unheard of in most parts of western culture. Only a few of my parents friends, almost none at my church and out of many clients of their daycare were single dads.
Not being the main bread-winner is hard on pride, especially when 31 per cent of guys have taken home-maker role after being put out of work during the recession.
"It made a lot of sense for them [fathers] to stay at home and raise the family," BMO spokesperson Larry Moser said.
A stay-at-home dad isn't exactly a topic that comes up after church, being the largest segment of this reporter's social circle.
There are plenty of families where both parents are out working, yet as with most financial planning, there are pros and cons.
If benefits plans of both spouses over-lap enough, it doesn't impact family, nor does kids having a parent at home to have reassurance that someone is always home to talk to about problems or help with school projects etc.
"If the woman is probably going to be promoted very shortly and start receiving a higher and higher salary, it's just common sense that the dad should stay at home and look after the kids from a financial point of view."
The BMO press release had some good advice regarding finances:
-- Plan, plan, plan - Start the conversation at least two years in advance so that you can adequately plan, prepare and take time to evaluate your decision.
-- How to choose - When trying to decide which partner should stay home, take into account each other's salaries, benefit packages and any prospective career advancements on the horizon.
-- Weigh the costs - Research local daycare or nanny costs and compare them against your salary.
-- Track everything - As part of your evaluation process, track your expenses, create detailed budgets and revisit your financial plan to ensure it is aligned with your new goals.
All good advice which sounds like this reporter's father would give as an independent business-man. Which is something the study doesn't take into account of how many guys have home-based businesses as well to look after their kids better.
So as Father's Day rolls around, we thank the guy who raised us and supported mom. Single dads work so hard to make it up to their kids like single moms do with a bit more of a harder mission from society's view-point that mom should be main child-raiser.
The role of fatherhood may be changing and adapting to what goes on, but manly men might be in charge of the house-hold in a different designation. Raise a beer for dads everywhere anyway.
-- PLR --
am admitting to taking a short-cut by re-quoting the BMO dude, but just thought it was an interesting piece of culture. photo came from same article
original article re-post
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