'Today's dads have a complete inability to discipline their

[Daanyeer]

Glenn Sacks

Source: mensdaily
'Today's dads have a complete inability to discipline their kids…Mom is the primary disciplinarian while Dad treats their kids as equals rather than children'
September 1, 2007 at 10:30 am · Filed under Vox Populi

Martha, a Florida reader, didn't like my column The Price of Fatherhood--a Father's Reply to Ann Crittenden's ‘Mothers' Manifesto' (Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Francisco Daily Journal, 1/10/02). The article details the sacrifices that breadwinner fathers make for their children. Martha's letter is below.

Price of fatherhood article

I don't know this "father" you speak of in your article. Most of the dads I know are unemployed or under-employed (not by choice) and if they are working, they sure aren't working a 60 hour work-week. Those who are unemployed aren't picking up the childcare role or even looking for work, but rather expect the mother's salary to cover daycare so the men can "find themselves" during the day.

If the kids are school-aged, they are latchkey kids even though Dad is unemployed. These kids come and go as they please around the neighborhood, with their own key to the house and cell phone. Half the time the parents don't even know where they are and will often call all the homes of their child's friends (if the parent is even aware of who these friends are) and ask you if their child is there.

Today's dads also, for some reason, have a complete inability to discipline their kids, especially their sons. Mom is the primary disciplinarian (if there is any discipline at all in the home), while Dad treats their kids as equals rather than children. This brings disastrous results when these kids become teenagers--I know because this is what we are currently living our household and many of my friends as well.

Martha