Women's eNews (https://womensenews.org/tag/parenting/)
Fathers and father figures are doing—and are expected to do—more of the child care and housework. But this revolution is highly unequal. “State of America’s Fathers 2016” suggests how lawmakers can help fix that.
Parents and teachers do not need to demonize apps like Periscope or Twitter. Instead, we must consistently remind kids to carry the same set of values between real life and social networking.
Child care for infants and toddlers is in short supply in most of the country. At the same time, providers lack training and are working long hours for low pay. It doesn’t have to be this way.
They are going to become our presidents, doctors, teachers and soldiers. Their statistics are better than boys and they are charming and fun. I don’t want to hear any more parents telling me their “boys are so much easier.”
You would hardly fathom from the portrayal of two-parent families as optimal that single parents are not necessarily failures. We need to change this mindset and start matching the realities of family life.
Women are still taking much more time off work than men to care for their children. Economically and culturally, the status quo incentivizes that. But this can change with paid parental leave and paid sick days policies. Innovations such as nontransferable time off available just to fathers may especially help.
Young people should not lose their right to education when they become pregnant or parents. But this is what happens when adults in their schools and communities subject them to harsh judgment.
When I started writing this commentary I was a lot more downbeat. Now, in time for Thanksgiving, along comes billions of dollars in aid and federal subsidies to low-income families to help them pay for child care.
Working moms need afterschool programs that keep pace with our jobs. Despite a huge leap in enrollment since 2004, nearly 20 million children lack needed spots in these programs.
Working moms need afterschool programs that keep pace with our jobs. Despite a huge leap in enrollment since 2004, nearly 20 million children lack needed spots in these programs.