I've decided to unclassify myself as a stay home dad. I've grown tired of the label -- in fact I've grown tired of labels all together. I've been at the job for a little over a year and a half and I can honestly say that the term Stay at Home Dad just bugs me.
Why do I have to be labeled as such when someone asks what I do for a living? I am first and foremost a dad, and everything else is none of your business. If you see me with my kids anywhere at any time of day, don't assume that I have taken the day off to spend time with them. Look at me as a father who is enjoying being with two of the people he cares about the most. Why we are at the park or grocery store together should be of no concern to you. I am a dad and that's it.
Why does a mom that works have to be labeled a working mom? You don't see dads who are announced as working dads. Can we all just please get over this? My wife works -- works her ass off really, probably one of the hardest working people that I have ever seen. She is not a working mom, she is a mom who happens to work. Just like there are dads that work. But for some reason we look at my wife and label her a working mom, as if that is some sort of bad thing.
Are we any less of a parent with these labels attached to us? I would think not. Regardless of what you do, you only want what is best for your kids. What role each of you plays in your family shouldn't matter to anyone else but yours.
So from now on, if you see me at the store or my wife getting on the bus to go into the city, instead of labeling us as a stay at home dad and working mom, just look at us as PARENTS doing what they know is right for their kids.
This post originally appeared on http://daddysincharge.com