How do dads parent differently?

omahahomedad
omahahomedad's picture
Posts: 323
Joined: 2008-08-18
Dad Points: 621

I'm working on a blog for Momaha.com, a social networking site for Moms in Omaha, for Father's Day and I thought a great idea would be to explain to the moms how dads parent differently than moms.

Moms always express frustration with their husbands about how they parent the kids or clean the house. It's probably time we explain to them that we do things differently and it is okay.

So, help me out. How do you parent differently than your wife or other moms?

Al Watts
Vice-President, Daddyshome, Inc. - The National At-Home Dad Network
www.daddyshome.org




TopDog
Posts: 176
Joined: 2010-02-11
Dad Points: 188
Parenting

Don't believe there is much of a difference really.  Dads might do more maintenance on the dwelling where they live, and the cars.  Though, am sure there are moms out there that can work a hammer, or a wrench, as well as a dad. 



tnrlex
Posts: 10
Joined: 2010-06-07
Dad Points: 14
Focus is different in our homes

I'm not sure it is completely gender related, but my wife and I have very different focuses on what we teach our two girls. I tend to focus more on structure, like a morning routine or what we do with dishes after eating, that sort of thing. My wife is more focused on them educating themselves...writing the alphabet for the oldest, going through the list of body parts for the baby. Such tasks on my end are typically reading time, which is also some quality time we spend together.

As far as cleaning goes, I'm over the top with that sort of thing. Anti clutter and super clean. My wife is less focused, but she wants to relax after work.

I will say this:  When she was on maternity leave this place was wrecked (and understandably so), and all my projects seemed to keep getting delayed. Since I've been home with the kids I've fixed so many things I had put off. Painted the baby's room, got all the nick-nacks hung however they needed to be, lots of little repairs that were annoying me have been fixed, and the yard always looks great!



omahahomedad
omahahomedad's picture
Posts: 323
Joined: 2008-08-18
Dad Points: 621
Disagree

TopDog, I have to disagree. Dads do parent differently. Think about a given situation in your household. How would your wife handled it? I bet it would have been different.

For example, suppose your daughter falls down and scrapes her knee. Do you pick her up and cuddle her and all that, or do you give her a pat on the bottom and say, "You'll be alright."

Al Vice-President, Daddyshome, Inc. - The National At-Home Dad Network www.daddyshome.org



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