by JAMES WILKINSON
Last Friday, James wrote a post for Mamamia where he asked the question “Does anyone look after their kids anymore?” (You can read that post in full here)
James argued that there is a ‘norm’ where it is acceptable for parents to ‘palm their kids off’ in child care and he questioned the benefits of this for children.
The response from the Mamamia community was intense, with the story attracting thousands of readers and hundreds of passionate comments. Since reading the comments from Mamamia readers, James has provided this response. He has changed his mind.
Dear MM readers,
Thank you all so much for your honest comments. I spent most of the weekend reading through every single comment carefully and can only express my extreme horror that I have managed to offend so many people in so many different ways with my own personal ramblings and sweeping generalisations.
What is blazingly clear to me is that I am completely out of touch with the community in general on this issue. That does not surprise me as the Stay at Home Dad (SAHD) does not belong to a community.
The general consensus is that I am judgmental and self-righteous, criticising others for their choices to make myself feel better. Looking back on the article I have to agree with you all but that was never my intention.
I wrote that post in my blog (you know, that place where you are allowed to spout all your hopes dreams and frustrations no matter how ridiculous) after a particularly degrading day as a SAHD. I had been told that I was lazy, that I should get a job and put our two year old child in care so that she would be better off and we could buy a house.