We Should All Be "Involved" Parents

Let’s face it. For the most part, the image of what a “family” should look like has changed, big time. So have the traditional roles of parents, including the level of involvement of each, as well as single-parent households and those with same-sex parents. At this point, I don’t think we could get much farther from the type of family portrayed in the classic TV shows such as “Leave it to Beaver” if we tried. Especially with the research out there that illustrates how much children flourish under the attention of their fathers.

I love being a mom, truly I do. But I’ve also enjoyed the different work opportunities I’ve had over the years. I consider myself lucky to have been able to experience the joys of both. While my husband is what the author of this post would call “an involved dad”—I also agree with his main point—that we should do away with the term because dads are only doing what they should be doing, helping to raise their children alongside Mom.

The author brings up an interesting point. More often than not a dad will take his kids out in public on errands or to an event and he will be praised for being such a “good, involved dad.” Moms with kids are rarely acknowledged except for the occasional unwelcome parenting advice from others. If someone called me “an involved mom,” I would be fighting mad. I would think to myself, “Of course I’m involved! That’s my job as a parent, whether I have an 8 to 5 job or not.” In our household we consider ourselves a parenting team. If one can’t make a school event, the other does. We sometimes have to take turns staying home with sick children. There have been times over the years, when due to work schedules, one parent had to pitch in a little more than usual. It all comes out in the wash.

What do you think? Do you think in today’s progressive society the term “involved dad” is an unnecessary label? And what about the dads out there who remain “uninvolved?”