Would you trust a man's parenting advice?

January 7, 11:25 AMParenting ExaminerTerreece Clarke

Previous Next

7 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Parenting Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 

The year 2009 is bringing big changes and I'm not talking about our new president. It seems men are shattering the pink ceiling in the world of parenting. News of Nick Friedman being named the first male Editor-in-Chief of Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine hit headlines from the New York Times to blogs everywhere. BITCH Magazine set up a poll to see if women minded their parenting advice coming from a man. 

Now comes news that Charles J. Saylors will become president of the national Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The Motherlode blog at NYTimes has a great write up about it with some pretty interesting comments following the post.

Some wonder why wasn't a more qualified woman picked as men only make up 10 percent of the membership, many said "About time," and others supported a more inclusive role of dads.

I have to wonder - what is the big deal? Since when did having a 'Y' chromosome immediately disqualify someone from being an effective parent that other parents can look to for solid advice and leadership? It's the same as saying that having a vagina immediately makes you a parenting authority. I've seen plenty of examples where that is not the case.

My husband and I both work from home. He recognized our daughter's first ear infection, not me. He takes her to school more often than not and when one of our kids has a medical issue or behavioral issue a tag team Google search happens in our home and our lifestyle is not much different than other families around the country.

For as long as I can remember, mothers and the media have always lamented the lack of day-to-day involvement of dads in parenting. Yet we shudder and wonder if men are capable when they attempt to do what they feel called to do and what is asked of them.

When we take the children for visits to Urgent Care or to a new doctor, they talk exclusively to me as if my husband doesn't exist. When we go to Home Depot for one of my projects, the fellas there talk exclusively to my husband as if I don't exist. Both are accepted, but unacceptable gender stereotype issues.

"But he won't be able to relate to childbirth stories," some cry. Not all women relate to all childbirth stories - women who have adopted, women who had surrogates, women who have had vaginal delivery versus cesearen and vice versa. The idea that men, who often endure being turned into houseboys once they enter the birthing room with all the dirty work and lack of glory, can not offer a perspective that can contribute and enhance the world of parenting is ridiculous, sexist and down right annoying. Both the media and moms who are against it need to get over themselves.

More on Dads and Parenting:

• Fatherhood Rising: Men on the Obama team balancing family and career 
• Want Dad's help with the baby? Stop nagging.
• When poor, parent?