More dads at home
In the 1983 film, "Mr. Mom," Michael Keaton plays a father who loses his job before he and his wife decide that it would be in their family's best interest for him to stay at home with the kids while she goes to work each day.
Though the film was a comedy back then, chances are a remake today would be more deeply rooted in reality, as more and more fathers seem to be leaving the executive boardroom behind, choosing instead to follow the lead taken by Keaton's character more than two decades ago.
According to the Census Bureau's 2004 report, there are now 98,000 stay-at-home dads in the U.S. alone. Of those nearly 100,000 fathers, 63 percent had two or more children younger than 15 at home with them. While the decision as to whom, if anyone, would be staying home with the kids was once a no-brainer, that decision has become more difficult over the years. For those dads considering making the move to stay at home with the kids, the following things should be considered before any decision is final.
This will probably play the biggest role in whether or not you'll be making the move to stay-at-home dad.Traditionally, women had a much more difficult time earning as much as their male counterparts, making the decision for women to stay home with the kids a relatively easy one. However, as women have begun to make more money, the decision as to who will stay at home is no longer an automatic one. Which parent makes more money, and who has the higher earning potential down the road, should be a chief topic of conversation during the decision-making process.
The primary benefit to be considered should be health insurance. Whoever has the better plan, not just for the children but for everyone, should be something else to consider.
Making the decision about staying home with the kids should be looked at as a long-term decision. Although nothing will be set in stone, examine and discuss who stands to lose more by leaving their job to stay home with the kids. If, financially, the decision as to whom is staying home will hurt more in the long run, then discuss if the short-term benefits are truly worth it. This is largely subjective depending on you and your wife's respective occupations, but consulting with others who have moved from work to home may help.
If you or your wife each work where flexible schedules are acceptable, that might be the best way for you to go. Also, if you can work part-time until your kids are old enough to fend for themselves, that's a great way to keep earning something while also keeping your career active. This is something that should help you find work or return to a bigger role within your company once your children have grown up a little.Also, thanks to numerous technological advancements over the years, many companies now allow employees to work from home most of the time, if not all of the time. This can help you maintain both your career and your finances, while also keeping you free from the daily commute.By Metro Creative Connection
