NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Before Jessica and Lance Somerfeld had their baby, they decided it would make the most financial sense for one of them to stay home to raise him. Since Lance made a fraction of Jessica's earnings, he was the obvious choice.
With wages at a standstill and child care costs skyrocketing, Somerfeld is just one of a growing number of dads who are staying home with the kids.
Among fathers with a wife in the workforce, 32% took care of their kids at least one day a week in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which looked at families with children under 15 years old. That's up from 26% in 2002.
Of those with kids under the age of 5, 20% of dads in 2010 were the primary caretaker.
Not only has it become more necessary for men to pitch in at home, but fathers have also become more available to do so. "It's a combination of mothers going to work and fathers being out of work as a result of the recession," said Lynda Laughlin, a family demographer at the Census Bureau.
Men were particularly hard hit by the steep job losses during that time, losing 4 million jobs since 2007, while women lost just over 2 million during the same time period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While men have since gained back a majority of those jobs during the recovery, their unemployment rate -- at 8.3% in March -- is still above the national average of 8.2%.
Many find that having one parent at home does have its advantages, especially as child care costs continue to climb.
Couples do the math and realize that it makes more financial sense for one spouse to stay home with the kids. And while it's often the woman who decides to drop out of the workforce, more men are taking on the responsibility of child care as well.
A lot of that has to do with who makes the most money in the household. Even though the wage gap between the sexes persist, a growing number of women are out-earning their husbands. In 2008, 26% of women living in dual-income households had annual earnings that were at least 10 percentage points higher than their spouse, up from 15% in 1997, according to the Families and Work Institute's latest data.
I think it is smart to have the parent that makes less money stay home with the kids so they don't have to pay for day care.
ReplyDeleteit doesn't matter which parent stays home as long as they are the one who makes more money.
it makes more sense for the men to stay home if they lost their job.
Tim M
I think that if a parent loses their job, one of the things that can come out of it is spending time with your family. Family is an important thing to have, and people shouldn't neglect that. The men should spend their free time with their sons or daughters because they can grow up real fast.
ReplyDeleteJimmy P.7
I think that this is good news even though losing your job is not very favorable to a person, I think is more important to take care of your kids first, is more important to form your kids and educate them,than to make extra money to buy material things. Now I know the money plays a basic part in the life of a person, because it provides you from your basic needs, food, home, etc. But really the money is something that you can eventually get back if you work hard, and the time with your son or daughter is never be repeated.
ReplyDeleteLucy M7
I really enjoyed reading this article. The fact that the number of stay at home dads is rising shows that the female and male roles we used to see are changing. Also it shows that woman are now getting paid much more than some working males. It would be very empowering to be a female and be a bread winner for your family.
ReplyDeleteAbby D. P3
I think it doesn's matter if it's mom or dad, who stays at home. When one person makes much less money than another, it's wise for them to let one person stays at home instead of getting daycare for their children. The good thing of when parents stay at home, not only saving money, but can have memories with kids.
ReplyDeleteSeoHyun P, P1
I think it's great dads are staying home! It is such a stereo type that women do the 'easy' job and stay home with kids if need be. Kids are hard work and if the woman makes just even a bit more why wouldn't the husband who's pay is lower stay home?! Brilliant common sense kicking in people!
ReplyDeleteKatie V.3
I think that if one parent loses their job they should stay at home it does not matter what sex you are if you lost your job stay at home or apply for a new one. The parent making more money it doesn't matter what one it is should be the one working and the other should stay at home and take care of the kid. I agree with one parent staying home because of the really high cost for daycare
ReplyDeleteSid M.
P7
I think it is a great thing dads are staying home!It shouldn't matter what sex you are to deceide who should stay home. I agree that one parent should stay home because of the cost of daycare and the gas money. If you have a low income it doesn't really pay for you to send your child there. In the long run it would catch up with you and you would be spending more than you were making.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa C. P3
I also think its wonderful that their is a parent able to stay at home to raise their own child. Daycares are great, it gives your child experience with other children, but I do think that parents need to spend more time with their children. It was a wise choice to have the person who makes lower income than their spouse to stay at home with the child. Daycare is expensive now days, and it definitely was smart to have someone stay home.
ReplyDeleteSavannah T7
In my opinion, it's great if you're able to stay home and be home with your child. Day-cares do have good things like teaching kids to share with others. I think it's outrageous, though, that it's so expensive to have a child in day-care. It's pretty bad if you end up saving money by not working, because day-care is so expensive.
ReplyDeleteBarrett B.3
For kids growing up, I believe it is best to have one of their parents home to take care of them, whether this person is the mom or the dad. Obviously, that can't always happen but I don't think one is better then the other in this situation. It's great that dads want to stay home and let the moms work but really, the one working should be the parent with a better occupation and that receives a better income.
ReplyDeleteLiana H3
I feel if the family can afford for one parent to stay home with the kids it would be beneficial. But I do believe that it should be the one with the lower income who stays home. Yes there is always day care. Day care can teach your children great things but it can be so expensive.
ReplyDeleteCayla H1
It is great that dads are staying at home so they can play catch outside with there kids. But the person who should be working is the person with a better paying job. I do think that 1 person should stay home and do laundry or cleaning at least so your house isn't a complete mess when you get home.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that dads are staying at home so they can play catch outside with there kids. But the person who should be working is the person with a better paying job. I do think that 1 person should stay home and do laundry or cleaning at least so your house isn't a complete mess when you get home.
ReplyDeleteBeau Wilmer
If parents can work it out to stay home good for them. I think having that parental figure throughout the day is always a good thing. It helps lead you to make right choices. But, I don't think daycare is always a bad thing. By going to daycare you can interact with other kids and I think that is important to your growth as a person. The more people you can talk to the more friends you have, the easier it is in life. Friends help with everything. Either way you're getting something beneficial out of one of the choices so both work out fine.
ReplyDeleteElle O. p7
now I know that are economy is still not the best. dads stayin at home now thats crazy. I couldnt be a stay at dad. your the man your supposed to be the provider, but I guess with the newer generations comes different way of doing things
ReplyDeleteEthan A. p3
Being a stay home dad would have its ups and downs, the ups, being able to watch the cubs play during day games. Bonding with your kid. Not paying for day care. Getting chores done. And if you have a pet, letting it out, playing with it. But the Downs can be bad. Having less money for things. Having to cut down some stuff because you don't have enough money for extra stuff, missing out with on some bonding time with co-workers. So to me its kinda a toss up really, it'd all depend on how much the wife is making, and how much your missing out on.
ReplyDeleteAndy K. P3
I don't think it should matter who stays home with your children but I do think at least one of the parents should stay home because children need their parents growing up with them not a daycare. Yes I see that if both parents need to work then the child could go to daycare but I think that if one parent could stay home it would be a good idea for them to stay at home. I think that stay at home dads can do the same kind of job just as a stay at home mom. My brother has a job but when he is not working he is at home with his 2 kids and he does anything for the kids. I think that stay at home dads sometimes does a better job that stay at home moms because in my opinion dads are more calm then mothers at time. So i think that Stay at home dads are perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteLindsay F. Period 1
VERY LAST COMMENT!
ReplyDelete