Now that good old Sarah Palin is on the cover of last week's Newsweek, this is once again topical.
Am I the only one who's ever wondered why Todd Palin is not a stay-at-home dad? And am I the only bothered by the fact that he's not?
Think about it. Mommy is a politician, arguably a contender (implies Newsweek) for leader of the Free World (yikes!). Her political weight (says Newsweek) stems from her role as champion of conservative family values, both in her private and public life.
Um, who's taking care of the kids? A nanny of course, if the political gossip pages are to be believed. Which raises three issues: 1) How in the heck do you connect with soccer mom voters who can't afford nannies? 2) If you were to ditch the nanny and walk the talk, how in the heck do you stay abreast of public policy? 3) What the heck is daddy doing if mommy is out running for President?
Not as if it would ever earn Sarah Palin my vote, but Todd Palin could really do me a favor and become a SAHD role model.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Once again, for mommies only...
Today I experienced a blip of embarrassment that only a SAHD could experience. Again.
There I was, the only daddy at the public library's baby-and-me weekly play group. Everyone was packing up to leave when someone said "see you tomorrow. I asked what "tomorrow" was and got the reply "our mommies' group". I politely said "oh" and then went back to the conversation I was having.
No big deal, really. Sure, I was disappointed, but far be it from me to barge in on a women's group. Sure enough, I soon overheard talk about antibiotics affecting milk supply and knew that this time "mommy group" REALLY meant "women only."
But here's where I get bent out of shape. The last time I was told "mommies only" was for a meetup.com club that advertised all kinds of neat stuff for babies to do with their caretaker. By the looks of it, the "mommy only" aspect of it was incidental. By not allowing me to join, my kid missed out.
Bottom line: if you say your group is for babies, please include daddies. Otherwise, please specify it's a group that focuses on women's issues. Don't disadvantage my child.
There I was, the only daddy at the public library's baby-and-me weekly play group. Everyone was packing up to leave when someone said "see you tomorrow. I asked what "tomorrow" was and got the reply "our mommies' group". I politely said "oh" and then went back to the conversation I was having.
No big deal, really. Sure, I was disappointed, but far be it from me to barge in on a women's group. Sure enough, I soon overheard talk about antibiotics affecting milk supply and knew that this time "mommy group" REALLY meant "women only."
But here's where I get bent out of shape. The last time I was told "mommies only" was for a meetup.com club that advertised all kinds of neat stuff for babies to do with their caretaker. By the looks of it, the "mommy only" aspect of it was incidental. By not allowing me to join, my kid missed out.
Bottom line: if you say your group is for babies, please include daddies. Otherwise, please specify it's a group that focuses on women's issues. Don't disadvantage my child.
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