Comments on: Pet Peeve: Dads Who “Babysit” Their Kids

By: On Dicks (Specifically, Michael Lewis) - The Pursuit of Harpyness

On Dicks (Specifically, Michael Lewis) - The Pursuit of Harpyness — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:02:09 +0000

[...] pain of childbirth, etc. Calling it “taking one for the team” is about as ridiculous as men who use the term “babysitting” to refer to taking care of their own children. It’s your job, dude. You don’t get a [...]

By: Daddy Duty « Bebehblog

Daddy Duty « Bebehblog — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:50:30 +0000

[...] 2009 in Uncategorized There have been a lot of articles written (here and here for example, or here from the lovely Harpies) about how fathers are celebrated for parenting in a way mothers never are. [...]

By: » 80’s Revival Time The Pursuit of Harpyness

» 80’s Revival Time The Pursuit of Harpyness — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:00:50 +0000

[...] don’t “babysit” their own kids, nor should they ever, ever be referred to as “Mr. Mom.” Are these [...]

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:50:17 +0000

My father parented me and my husband parents our kids. Neither parent the same way their wives do. This is what I think is the real struggle. I had to restrain myself with my first child at my mothers advice. He won’t dress the kids the way I dress them. He won’t change diapers to avoid rashes until he learns that it makes a difference. He won’t interact the same way. He’s not me. And that’s why he’s the Daddy. My kid’s get to experience a different style that I don’t always agree with. I think not enough women have enough restraint to let go and let the father be a father.

By: fern chasida

fern chasida — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:42:01 +0000

ditto ditto ditto! this is a peeve of mine as well and whenever a man says he’s babysitting his kids i launch into the “it’s not called babysitting when…” speech. i actually did this to our rabbi in synagogue when he said he was babysitting the kids so his wife could go somewhere. can one be too snarky?

By: Weekly News Round-Up « Women’s Health News

Weekly News Round-Up « Women’s Health News — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:55:01 +0000

[...] From The Pursuit of Harpyness, Pet Peeve: Dads Who “Babysit” Their Kids. [...]

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:13:27 +0000

As you can see, PepsiCoke, I call women out too.

By: PepsiCoke

PepsiCoke — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:39:39 +0000

I just wanted to add that it is not only the men. I’ve often heard women say “My husband’s babysitting tonight” as if their husbands are 14 year old girls.

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:55:18 +0000

Jessica, I did not suggest that to my co-worker. I merely told him, “Dude, you don’t babysit your own kids,” and when his buddy got indignant I made a joke about the potential divorce in his future. We’re friends at work; it was not a comment made in seriousness.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:48:50 +0000

I haven’t heard anyone use this terminology in ages (about 20 years). When I was a little kid my dad would pointedly correct people who asked “oh, are you babysitting?” with “No, I’m parenting.” But I’m surprised to hear that anybody says that anymore.

That said, I don’t see that it’s helpful to suggest to your co-worker via Facebook message that his wife will _divorce_ him for using that terminology.