I think when she was talking about how they husband bashed, she was referring to their "working" husbands, not sahd's. That said, she's obviously part of a group that is very protective of themselves, probably insecure, and don't know how to properly handle a progressive situation. The "mom groups" that I have been to, first started out that way. I don't think they laughed at me when I left, but it was a long time before they seemed to really relax enough around me to have fun conversations.
It sounds like they equated to a group of stuck-up cheerleaders laughing at the poindexter. Later

North Carolina Dad's Group
http://lindsaybeans.blogspot.com
http://oneredsquirrelinstatesville.blogspot.com

I'm annoyed with this article mostly becuase there's more truth to it than not.

The athomedad.org site has helped me and I'm also blessed to be in a city that has a few sahd's that don't mind meeting/playing and talking. I don't see how thats against our nature. I never stayed holed-up in a corner of my house or anywhere.

Joel
Madison, Wi
Dylan-2, Surprise-April 30, 2008

http://grateful-joel.blogspot.com/

The comments on the article are almost all by women whoj are either supportive of the dad or are wives of SAHDs. There is a defense up there.

And if we were looking to Nashville to be at the forefront of accepting a change in gender roles? Come on. It's one of the reasons I never want to move to the suburbs or more conservative states....Im sure the level of acceptance drops precipitously.

And by the way, can we stay away from name calling. We sound like the Mean Girls. Again I usually shake my head at stuff as if we expect everybody to welcome SAHDs with open arms...heck WE"RE AN ANOMALY....DEAL WITH THAT! Heck we're all astounded that we might, MIGHT, elect a woman or black president....let's not pretend the country changes with the speed of light.

Josh

SAHD Since August 2005

Wow, I can't believe the shit she's spewing about AHD's. The "bitch" must be stopped...........

>The SAHD Truth
You think being a stay-at-home mom is hard? Try being a stay-at-home dad.

We have our MOMS and our MOPS and our playgroups and our Mommy Mixers and hundreds of other outlets where we can share our joys and frustrations with putting our careers on hold in order to take care of the kids. But the dads? Well, they pretty much have... nothing.

Not only that, but they're viewed with something akin to disdain by much of society. I mean, what kind of man would let his wife make the money, many people wonder, while he sits around watching soaps, changing diapers and eating bon bons? What's wrong with him, anyway?

It's SAHD, really.

Anyway, I explored the difficult and lonely plight of the stay-at-home dad in this week's Nashville Scene edition of Suburban Turmoil and heard some crazazy stories about the guys in the process. Check it out, then come back and tell me if you know any SAHDs and how they're coping. Being a stay-at-home mom might not be that hard, but being a stay-at-home dads just might be one of the most difficult jobs out there.

Tim E

A bit harsher in your tone than I would have been but I agree with what you put...and posting the full post was good. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that we often turn into defensive, paranoid, over-worried men over some comments.

My wife is happy with what I do. My son is a smart, well-adjusted, and "normal" kid. And I have a friendship with every mom on my block....so I'm happy and fortunate.

What did you think would happen when you became SAHDs? People can't win around some of us. I've heard people complain when moms have said, "I wish I had a husband like that" and again when moms shun us....Were you this cranky and sensitive before you were at-home?

I think we need more hobbies....cause with our attitudes I don't think we'll get more SAHDs if they (or their wives) keep reading all these angry, ranting, vulgar posts.

Josh

SAHD Since August 2005

You don't like all the angry, ranting, vulgar posts around here? Get over it. That's just the way things are.

Isn't that what's being said about my reaction to this piece? How is that any different? Why is it perfectly acceptable to tell a stay-at-home dad to suck it up when it comes to pieces like this, but if the same type of piece where written about exclusion of moms from anything, then the story would immediate break on CNN and the mommy in question would have a book deal with Oprah?

It's unacceptable gentlemen. Double standards don't help anyone, least of all stay-at-home dads. Had I written an article about the exclusion of moms from a playgroup and the subsequent laughter than ensued, I'd immediately be labeled an insensitive asshole and would be chastised for it. But a woman does it to a SAHD and I take offense to it, well I just have to suck it up.

We vent here, use profanities, and rant because it's the only outlet many of us have. Those of you that live in areas with vibrant SAHD communities, great, I'm envious of you. But many of us don't have that connection. We only have this place and this band of brothers.

-Will
http://www.gamingwithbaby.com all your diapers are belong to us
fatdadcooking.com coming soon!

I fully expect my son's first words to be "go right ahead asshole." And this story does bother me. Old stereotypes of the South aside, Nashville isn't some rinky dink hick town. I live in the crossroads so to speak and as such anything that happens in Nashville, Atlanta, Birmingham, or Memphis affects me. That's part of the reason this has my goat. And I'm not the only one that's more than a little pissed about it.

-Will
http://www.gamingwithbaby.com all your diapers are belong to us
fatdadcooking.com coming soon!

pp