Family: Stay-at-Home Dads

Stay at home dads can be role-models for good or role-models for weakness and low self esteem — depending on the situation. And by the way, the same is true of moms.

Here are some situations and the impact of the situation on the dad’s psyche/esteem:

*Widowed dad who stays at home. A widowed dad who decides to stay at home to support his children for a year or six months until everyone overcomes the tragedy, is a role model for good self-esteem. This has got to be a good thing for a guy’s psyche and for his kids’.

* When poor dad marries rich mom and has kids, and dad stays home because mom brings home the bacon, the reason for dad not working or not making money is crucial. If dad feels he can’t compete with mom’s earning power, he’s going to be a model for low self esteem and a damaged psyche. If dad feels he is doing what god put him on the earth to do, by being Mr. Mom, then he’s a role model for good self esteem and a strong psyche. If dad is just mooching off mom (Anne Heche’s ex husband), then he’s going to impart his own low self esteem and week psyche to himself and his kids.

* When dad stays at home for a temporary stint, the amount of time he’s at home (three months, four months, a year) will enter into the equation. If everyone knows why he’s staying home, it’s a good reason, and the boundaries on when he’s going back to work are clear, this can be a fine state of affairs for everyone. If the boundaries are blurry and an excuse for something not expressed, bring on the low self-esteem.