IS STAY-AT-HOME DAD ROLE FOR ME?

Dear Coleen

I took a pay-off from my job earlier this year. As a result, my wife went back to work and is earning good money doing a similar job to the one she did before our kids were born.

She actually loves it – she’s enjoying being in an office again and I’m happy for her. However, I’m starting to feel slightly uncomfortable about the situation, as if I should find another job and be the one to support the family.

It’s great spending more time with the kids and I feel my wife has taken to this role swap like a duck to water, but I’m not so sure. Am I being insecure?

Coleen says

Let’s be honest, I think it is harder for some men to accept the role of being the one at home or the one who’s doing the lion’s share of the childcare.

But you shouldn’t feel pressured by some notion of what other people expect of you – these days anything goes and there are many different types of family set-ups.

Why not embrace it and enjoy it while you can? My guess is you’ll go back full time soon enough, even if your wife carries on working, and you’ll wish you’d made the most of this time.

In a long-term relationship, it’s normal to have periods when one of you is earning more than the other and then the roles swap. Marriage is a partnership and you’re a team that pulls together, and your current situation shows things are working well. Celebrate that.