📰 Dadhood Newsletter: Are Fathers Just Babysitters?

Sound familiar? This past weekend, I took my three kids — a 6-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a 7-month-old — to the local funfair. While many parents were enjoying the day with their families, I found myself repeatedly questioned about where my wife was, and whether I could actually manage the kids on my own.

Let’s be clear: Fathers are not babysitters. We’re parents.

These seemingly harmless comments reflect a deeper issue — the low expectations society has for fathers. When a mother takes care of the kids, it’s normal. When a father does, it’s extraordinary. Why?

Here’s what’s problematic:

• It doubts a father’s capability to care for his children.

• It assumes that mothers are always the default parent.

• It undermines the role of fathers in the home.

In my household, Sundays are my wife’s day off from the kids — a rhythm we’ve followed for years. From camping trips with toddlers in nappies to solo funfair runs, I’ve taken care of my children alone — not as a babysitter, but as a father fulfilling his role.

This isn’t extraordinary. It’s what fathers can (and should) do. But somewhere along the line, fatherhood became optional, secondary, or hands-off — and part of that is on us as men too.

Let’s change the narrative.

Fatherhood is not just about presence. It’s about ownership, responsibility, and being active in your child’s life, even when no one’s watching — or praising you for it.

🗣️ Have you ever experienced this kind of response as a dad? How did it make you feel? Reply and share your story — let’s spark this conversation.

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• How to lead your family without shouting

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