Good for the Goose…
A short-short story
I probably shouldn’t feel embarrassed but I do. Let me explain what happened.
I’m VP of HR at a nonprofit, but my husband has been able to land nothing better than gypsy professor: driving from campus to campus in ever-worsening traffic to teach just one course, usually Intro to Sociology. Across the three universities, he ends up with only about 40K, no benefits, while I make $165K, full benefits, but it seems right he contributes something.
I got invited to speak at a three-day Women in Power training. Because it was during the year-end holiday, my husband had no classes to teach and agreed to take care of our two kids, one and three.
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When I got back, he said that he found being a stay-at-home-dad surprisingly easy and fun. He said something like this:
Yes, there were things to do — from laundry to diaper changing — but I found those easier than preparing for courses and dealing with overconfident students. And there was enough time to do fun stuff: get together with other parents, watch TV, take walks, And on the infrequent times I needed to go somewhere myself, I was usually able to get a good babysitter. I want be a stay-at-home-dad. Gypsy-professor teaching pays almost nothing after you subtract the commute costs and child care, and it feels important to be there for Zoe and Justin, and I want to enjoy seeing them grow up.
I found myself wanting to object, but how could I when, in the gender-equity seminars, including in that Women in Power training, we all stress that women should have the power to work full-time, part-time, or be a stay-at-home mom.
I said okay but inside, I’m churning. It’s feeling a little embarrassing.
I read this aloud on YouTube
Marty Nemko is an award-winning career and personal coach and author of 32 books , including Relationship Stories. You can reach Marty at mnemko@comcast.net
