The art of house-husbandry!
iVillagers discuss the merits of stay-at-home dads and how it has worked for them
I'm a househusband, although I do use part-time childcare to help manage my life. My wife has a good career, which she didn't want to lose, and also earns more than me. Our solution was for me to stay at home and for her to keep her job. I work from home, use the part-time childminder two afternoons per week, and we also employ a cleaner.
It has worked out really well and everyone has benefited. I would recommend it, though I have to say not all men would like, or be able to adapt to living this kind of life, especially as it means being in a female environment most of the time. I am the only man who goes to the various activities I do with my daughter, Victoria.
cl-grinningdad
I am a nurse, and my partner is self-employed. He looks after our daughter two full days a week, and she goes to a creche two days a week. I work four days a week, so I look after her the fifth day. It's great because my daughter gets the best of all worlds. She has children her own age to play with at the creche and, when she is at home with either of us, she gets full attention from both parents. I think that people should do whatever works for them, in order to earn the financial security for their family as we have done.
kateburton57
My husband stays at home all day to look after our daughter, and has done so since she was about a year old. She's now three and a half. He works at night and has negotiated reasonable hours. I earn more than he does, so, much as I would like to give up work, it would just not be sensible for us. Having a `househusband' does take a lot of the worry out of being a working mum - if my daughter is sick or has an appointment I know that I don't have to take time off.
mossstitch
My partner is a sort of half househusband! My job is not that flexible, as I'm a veterinary surgeon, which unfortunately involves working evenings. My partner's job is more flexible so, during the week, he is usually at home 50% of the time, which allows him to do some of the housework in his spare time. He also looks after our daughter in the evenings, when I am working, and catches up on any extra work or study after he has put her to bed.
chicklettz
I returned to work at the end of my maternity leave, and my husband stayed at home. It was hard leaving him to begin with, but things are working OK for us now. It does get easier, especially knowing that he is with his dad and that he could eat/sleep, etc. when and how we wanted. In the future, I am planning to take one day's holiday per month to spend some more quality time with my son. Under the new legislation, I am also planning to ask my employers for flexible hours and see if I can adjust them slightly, so I get a few more hours with him. This never looked to be an option when we first decided to go this route, so you never know what may happen.
oliversmum2002
Why not share your opinion or experiences of house husbandry by joining the discussion. Have a look at some of the other issues being discussed LIVE right now on the message board:
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Created: 12/01/2004 Updated: 12/01/2004
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