Today, while waiting in the dentist’s office, I was thumbing through a parenting magazine when I came across an article regarding fathers and parenting. Intrigued, I began reading. No more than half a page into the article did I have to force myself to calmly put down the magazine instead of throwing it across the room and startling the nearby patients.

Why was I so irritated? Well for starters, this article begins by telling the reader that fathers ought to be congratulated when they “find the time” to bring little Johnny to the playground or “are able” to cook dinner for their families. (That was just the tip of the ice berg). As I continued reading, I could not help but wonder why fathers should be congratulated for raising a family and mothers expected to raise the family. Maybe if it were 1954 would I understood the place of the article but 2007?

Fathers should not be congratulated for spending time with their families. If I recall correctly, doesn’t it take BOTH a male and a female to procreate? Therefore, if both a man and a woman have decided that they want to start a family, shouldn’t both of them share the responsibilities equally? It should be expected that a father will spend time with his son/daughter. It should be expected that a father will help with dinner preperation, laundry and cleaning. Men are half the equation when it comes to making a baby. It is then there responsibility as fathers to share half the work of raising a child. With articles like this one still circulating around dentist waiting rooms nationwide, the idea that parenting is to be shared equally between both parents (single parents are left with playing both roles) will be cast aside.