Dadding
Working Dads Need to Step It Up
A new study suggests working mothers spend more time multitasking around the house than their working father counterparts, picking up the slack on tasks like dinner, chores, “interfacing” with the children (yeah, one of the authors said that and I cracked up: “Come on, let’s go interface while we logically place blocks together!”).
NPR has the scoop on the study, pointing out that when working moms multi-task, they are getting crap done around the house, while when working dads multi-task, they are generally doing more jobby work while, say, also playing with the kids. That has to be annoying not only for the moms but also for the kids. Indeed, moms report a lot more stress in these roles while dads seem to be ok, according to the study.
I’d really like to hear from families with two working parents. I can understand when one stays home, that parent is probably expected to pick up most of the household duties. But if both are working and only one picks up the majority of house stuff, how’s that work out? Of course there’s going to be stress. And probably resentment. And feelings of stabby stabby stabby.
How do you juggle household duties in a house where both parents work? Does the mom still pick up most of the slack?
*photo credit: NPR story.
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7 Comments
Tricia commented on Dec 03 11 at 10:17 amMy husband used to help out more but the last few months the feelings of stabby have come back. Being home with the kids in the other room -quality time does not make.
Doug commented on Dec 03 11 at 11:03 pmMy girlfriend and I both work although she often has time off during the day. The boy is in daycare full time so while she’s at home alone she does a lot of chores. Then while she’s at work in the evenings I am alone with the kid – feeding him, bathing him and putting him to bed. She certainly does the lion’s share of the household chores but the trade off is that I have to look after the kid alone most evenings.
Bree commented on Jan 22 12 at 8:20 pmThe reason for this is simple MEN DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MULTITASK. They can’t do it, more then on thing at a time is overwhelming for them.
Bree commented on Jan 22 12 at 8:20 pm
Ron Mattocks commented on Jan 23 12 at 8:48 amI hope you’re joking Bree, because that’s 1) sexist and 2) BS. Come hang with me for a day. I’m a multi-tasking ninja.
Dawn commented on Feb 01 12 at 9:28 amWhen my husband and I both worked full time, I still did almost all of the housework, and being a teacher, I had to grade papers at home, too. His idea of helping was taking the kids to visit his parents so I could have alone time (which meant I could clean uninterrupted). That always made me want to do bodily harm to him. I see his point that he is working all day and getting his Master’s in the evenings, but this behavior started long before he started school. This past academic year, I decided to stay home because all of my income was going to childcare anyway. I still do all of the housework, but at least now when I sit in bed I don’t plan my revenge any more.
Joy commented on Feb 20 12 at 8:56 pmI only work PT, its 8 hr shifts but only 3 days a week and my husband works 8 hr shifts 7 days a week and he helps out A LOT but he gets pretty much zero interaction with our oldest DD who is 6 (shes at school when hes home and hes at work when shes home and he works weekends too) so he spends tons more time with our youngest DD who is only 8 months old, and hes very budy buddy with her which is cool cuz dads usually like older kids and not babies but I feel like my oldest can tell hes playing favorites and he needs to get in some genuine undivided attention with our oldest and fit it into our busy hectic lives somewhere! Im constantly reminding myself to not overlook her for the baby because she was an only child and had all our attention for a long time.
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