Stay-at-home mothers are still more common than stay-at-home dads, but things have been changing over the years. It used to be assumed that a mother would remain home with the children and a father would work. These days, more and more fathers opt to be the caregivers and their wives pursue their careers and provide financially for the family.
Despite this, stereotypes exist. Some of these include:
- The mother would rather be home, but cannot do so for some reason. The father resents his role.
- The father just watches television and does not interact with the children, even when he’s around them.
- Men do a poor job watching the children, which could have a negative impact on their health and happiness.
- A man who does stay home with the kids does not want to be there, so he must have been fired or he must be between jobs.
None of this could be further from the truth. Many fathers relish the chance to stay home with the children, they do a great job raising them and they don’t want to be doing anything else — just as many mothers are thrilled to work and pursue their professional careers.
However, when the couple breaks up, these stereotypes could come into play. Is the father less likely to get custody? Are the courts going to assume he can’t care for the children, even though he has been? Will it feel like both parents do not get treated equally?
Equality is important in these custody cases, and that’s why both parents need to know all of their legal rights. An experienced advocate can help make certain that your relationship with your child is given the respect and protection it deserves.