Ok, Dads.. Explain this, aren't they your kids too?

thank you! I have often wondered the same, my guy will say I am babysitting, I am like they are your kids!! as a SAHM I have them 24/7 & it is rare to get a break. I thank you for this post! =)

My husband would be sleeping in the garage if he ever said something like that! Seriously, though, it's not a real issue with us. My husband wanted to become a parent. And, when it happened, he gladly jumped into the role of dutiful dad to our child. Sometimes I think that he's as good at parenting as I am. The two of them hang out all the time. They're real buddies. I couldn't be happier! It makes my job as a mom easier. As far as what other men do, I'll never understand their hands off approach to parenting. They just don't know what they're missing. Maybe it's just a guy thing, though. Guys know that they're not really babysitting their own kids. They just use that terminology.

It's funny, but though I don't use that expression myself - my wife actually says it of me...'he's babysitting today' or something similar. I regard it as a joy and pleasure to look after my toddler for the day, and never hesitate to take a day off work if my wife needs to go out for the day. We took a (joint) bold step more than a year ago to try to survive on just my income - so I do feel the burden of responsibility, whereas my wife is experiencing the freedom and joy of full-time Motherhood. I understand fully how tiring that can be, and feel obliged to jump into the breach as soon as I get home no matter how tired I am. This can be very exhausting for the wage-earner and whilst I would not advocate the stay-at-home partner running round after the wage-earner providing meals and fetching slippers, the partnership can only work if each partner respects the others contribution. I am proud beyond measure of my little girl and and delighted to have the privilige to spend time with her (don't get me wrong, she's a child and has the inate ability to drive me nuts!). I cannot understand any other way to treat your own children, and to those Fathers who can show indifference towards their own child - I really feel very sorry for you, and I don't comprehend you or your attitute... if these Fathers are part of the 'guys club' -they can keep it - very much their loss!

I have often wondered this myself . How anyone could figure that taking care of their child meant they were babysitting . You don't babysit something that is yours . As a babysitter this means that one is not entitled to make decisions for the child on anything of an important nature . As a babysitter one gets to go home at the end of the day ( not stay home ) and as a babysitter , you don't have the same love for a child . You can't love a child the way you can love your own child so then it is not consiered babysitting . You can't babysit your own child .

That drives me crazy, too. My husband never says he is babysitting our son. But people at my work used to ask me if he was while I was there (I only worked Saturdays, and my husband was ALWAYS home with our son). I would tell the girls I work with "How can he babysit his own kid?" and they would still ask. Same thing with guys he works with. If one of them wants him to hang out and he says he can't, they always tell him he shouldn't have to "babysit" so much. He usually tells him "Hey it's my kid, I like spending time with him." I know I'm lucky to have a husband that is so involved. He doesn't even mind changing a diaper or two a night. :)

Those kind of men aren't dads. They are sperm donors!

You said it! I get so irratated when I hear a man say he's babysitting his kids or when he says he's helping his [working] wife with housework. It is his kids and his house! I'm hoping that younger males are coming to understand that they are full partners, not just breadwinners.

It seems that society has a lot to do with this. When my husband had some health issues and could not work for 18 months, our son would stay home with him. All of his friends and a lot of the guys in his family would ask him what he was doing playing Mr. Mom. I think it has to be a joint effort otherwise it doesn't work. I am glad that my husband is the way he is and does not mind watching our son or any of the neices and nephews that we have at the moment. He does not feel like it is an imposition it is just something that a father does. He is now working a full time job, and me only a part time job, but still he does not get upset or make me find a sitter when I want to do something by myself. I am very glad for that, I would have to change his way of thinking if it were any other way! LOL!

My wife used to chew me out on this, I always said that I was babysitting. But I like when my kid would screw up I would tell my wife that her kid screwed up. She would say who's kid? I'd say your kid! I really can't explain why we do it, we just do!

I would promote you to head of the guy club for this. I wish all men had the same compassion as you do. I agree 100%. I have had this same arguments over and again. I really would like a male point of view to truely justify their side in 'babysitting' their own kids. THANK YOU for trying to get this out there to all the men out there. I hope it hits home and opens their eyes