Statistics have shown that at-home dads have children who are smarter and who focus less on gender issues- such as putting a Boys Only sign on the clubhouse.

Any anecdotes to back up that research?

The biggest place I see the Mom's divide is between those that stay at home and those that work.

For instance, One time I overheard a conversation between two mom's during a morning gymnastic class. They were talking about how much better the morning classes were than the evening classes, because the evening classes were very busy with the working moms. I didn't think much of it because I had to agree that the morning classes were quieter and more relaxed. Somehow I mentioned that conversation to my wife and she went ballistic. She had to post about it on her "mother's web site" and the other mothers there started calling the gymnastics's moms words like "bitch" and the like. Maybe it shouldn't have, but this surprised me.

Rather than saying "alpha group" of moms, I should say "clicks"? The Mom's seem to have stronger opinions of each other and become more jealous/envious of each other than men would in the same circumstance.

Who knows, I'm making this up as I go along.

I definitely think being an at home dad is way cooler than being an at home mom. Completely agree with JMCs two points. Like Backpacking Dad I've not gone out of my way to hang out with other dads AND the one time I did go to a Donuts With Daddy thing on a Saturday it was really awkward all the way around for everyone involved.

I've managed to "infiltrate" a great group of moms who have no problem with me being a man. They have commented that there seem to be a couple of "mom clicks" out there:
1) The group that is competing to see who can be the best mom ("I've never turned the TV on for Tyler and he's never eaten refined sugar")

2) The really beautiful women who seem to be really wealthy, have beautiful kids who will be cheerleaders and/or beat up our kids in High School, and who are really just stay at home moms because that's what they were "born and bred" to do. These are the ones busy talking while Chauncey the 3rd is standing on a chair about to bust his head open.

3) The group who maybe made some sacrifices to stay at home with their children and while not perfect parents they also definitely don't mind hanging out with a dad who made the same choices.

I do sense some tension between these three groups that I don't have to deal with being a man. I clearly belong to group #3. Group #1 is pleasant enough to me, but not really going to get too close. Group #2 wouldn't have had anything to do with me before we had kids or were in High School, so I'm not really hurt by them now!

I'm also starting to suspect a 4th group- the nannies. I'm not sure how their dynamics work with the other three groups, but I've noticed that most nannies don't announce "I'm a nanny" right off the bat, and most tend to be friendly with me, making me think that they're closer to group 3 than the others.

The previous comments is GREAT! I have 2.5 year old and a 1 year old. I have to go in the handicap stall with the double stroller and take a seat just to pee. It was odd at first, but now it is just funny. You get used to the little changes in life.

One thing I notice is all the "looks" I get when in a sahm environment. Like, what am I doing there. It bothered me at first, but now I just focus on enjoying my girls having fun. Once you get past the stares, its a blast.

I don't really hang out with sahm or sahd groups. We just do our own thing.

I find that hilarious! I realize that both of you have girls, which makes it a bit more necessary when they are older (like yours are), but would you sit down if you had boys? Just curious... I have a son who is 14 months. While I haven't thought that far ahead (> 2years), I know that at some point we have to introduce privacy. Right now, however, I stand to pee, hoping that he starts to pick up the concept.

Well, I am always hearing about women who stay at home all day with their kids, cooking, cleaning, yelling, etc. etc. etc. and at the end of the day they don't feel sexy, and if the hubby is in the "mood" when he gets home, he's outta luck.

But hey, we're GUYS! We're ALWAYS in the mood whether we feel sexy or not. I do my fair share of doughty housework, changing diapers, laundry and stuff, and sometimes it completely wears me out, but I have yet to even think about turning away my wifes, uhmm, advances when the lights go out ;)

2 parents, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats...Eight is Enough!

Hi, I'm a home dad from the UK...

Doing your own thing is fine, but don't you think that your kids need to be able to play with their peers?

Simon