Although
not directly related to equal parenting the following Toronto Star
editorial gives light to the growing clout of stay at home dads. I left
comments to give light to the dysfunction of Family Law in Family Courts
and wanted to show the sheer discrimination by gender going on. As a
former 10 year stay-at-home parent I have direct experience. It is not a
ticket to equality if your spouse is after sole custody and its
entitlements.
I was a stay-at-home dad for 10 years raising 2
girls from infancy and, as it turned out, very good at it despite my own
initial trepidation. As a boy I grew up in an era where dad was
provider and there were different gender roles. My transition was not
without some fear I might lack certain ingredients to be successful. I
worked from home as the tech guy and
graphics producer. On the weekend and some evenings and holidays I
worked behind the counter in the retail side of our business. My day was
flexible allowing for volunteer time at schools and handling client
work after the kids were in bed.
I blogged about some of this
going back to 2003, mostly for two older daughters who lived a great
distance from us but could get updates on dad's new adventures.
Having said all that if one gets divorced and has a non-cooperative
female spouse who won't equally share parenting after divorce most dads
are out of luck and will be marginalized by Family Law Courts.
In over 90% of cases, in Canada, mom will get sole physical custody of
the children, marginalizing dads, including those who raised his
children. Mom can be cleverly hostile, aided and abetted by lawyers, but
appear to be quite affable and cooperative to the judge. The very fact
she will not share equally the custody of children with a fit dad is
hostile. This usually involves making dad the stereotypical bad male who
can be abusive and not to be trusted with children.
Family Law
is not as quick to change as are companies marketing a product,
unfortunately. A lot of this is directly related to Lawyers who almost
everywhere it is proposed, oppose equal shared parenting. Their feminist
cohorts, such as LEAF in Ontario do likewise.
There is one
thing I have discovered through my own experience, research, and
observation. Men are the most versatile of all life forms on the planet.
You will find us in the most dangerous jobs on earth and nurturing our
treasured children.
"Blogger dads for truth in diapering: Editorial
Dads who devote their days to their kids
have created a powerful online community that is rapidly getting
attention from marketing companies.
"Blogger dads for truth in diapering: Editorial
Dads who devote their days to their kids
have created a powerful online community that is rapidly getting
attention from marketing companies.