But it seems that not everyone is quite as forthcoming about taking on a job that has been historically delegated to women. Some men find it emasculating to admit they stay at home to take care of their kid/s.
I found an article that goes into great detail about this. I'm not going to cover the entire article because it is lengthy. However, there are a few interesting details worth noting.
The first is that some men, and even their wives, will lie or cover up the fact that the man is tending to the kids while the wife works:
Others let their men pay for everything in public, including meals with friends, so they don’t feel emasculated.
To save their feelings, many wives tell the outside world their husbands are setting up consultancies, starting businesses, or playing the money markets — anything but calling them stay-at-home dads.
I understand that some would be self-conscious about this. After all, most men find their identity in their work (as do women). I think it's a lot different for a man because there are literally centuries of precedent of the man taking on the role of supporting his family.
Here are the two biggest reasons why I think people lie (or cover up) the husband being a stay-at-home dad:
1. For the reason I stated above: It goes against the traditional role of the man.
2. Men find their identities in their work. And their work signifies that they are financially supporting their families. As a full-time parent, this is all stripped away.
How does one get "over the hump" and fully embrace their stay-at-home dad job? It comes down to remembering that you are helping to support your family. After all, if you didn't take care of the kids, your wife wouldn't be able to work.
Finally, remember that raising kids full-time is much more than a job. And the satisfaction of raising a healthy young son/daughter yourself is worth more than any paycheck.
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