Stay-At-Home-Fatherhood On The Rise (video)
Here's the video for the news story that Nate and I participated in.
Enjoy!
Stay-at-Home Fatherhood On the Rise from TommyG Productions on Vimeo.
The text of the story follows:You could call Brian Berliner a lucky guy. Now, I am sure there are many reasons for that, but the one we're talking about is this.
Berliner's decision to become a stay at home dad for newborn son Nate was voluntary.
"We had the opportunity so we decided to go ahead and take it," says Berliner.
It just made sense, Berliner says, for his family at this time...For his wife to continue working...And for him to stay at home.
And that makes him lucky...Because for many men these days, staying home isn't a choice. It's called being laid off.
Jeremy Smith has just written a book about the stay at home dad phenomenon.
"You lose a job and you are losing income and your family's existence is threatened in a very direct way," says Smith.
He says it is something that has been building for years, but this economy has put things in overdrive.
Male dominated industries like cars and construction have been among the hardest hit.
82 percent of all layoffs have been men. Forcing many of them into a role they never dreamed of.
"They go through a battle. A psychological battle with themselves and sometimes the people around them, and that's really tough stuff," Smith says.
But Smith says society has done them a favor.
It is more accepting now of men staying home with children than ever before.
"And that just means when a father loses his job, society still says to him you are still valuable to your family and you still have a role to play and this is a strength that many fathers are bringing to this economic crisis," says Smith.
And here is what's really interesting. This change in roles may be permanent. It may not end when this recession ever does. Smith says it's like Rosie the Riveter. She symbolized all the women who joined the workforce during World War Two to fill the jobs left by men going off to fight. Well once the war ended did women stop working? Of course not. But while society may make it easier to be accepted as a stay at home dad, it doesn't make the job any easier.
"I thought it would be easier. Absolutely, yes," says Berliner.
Twenty years ago when Berliner had a daughter from a previous marriage...Neither he, nor society, seemed ready for stay at home dads.
But, it seems both have changed, lucky for him.
"I'm proud of all the guys that have come before and paved the way," says Berliner.
Berliner's decision to become a stay at home dad for newborn son Nate was voluntary.
"We had the opportunity so we decided to go ahead and take it," says Berliner.
It just made sense, Berliner says, for his family at this time...For his wife to continue working...And for him to stay at home.
And that makes him lucky...Because for many men these days, staying home isn't a choice. It's called being laid off.
Jeremy Smith has just written a book about the stay at home dad phenomenon.
"You lose a job and you are losing income and your family's existence is threatened in a very direct way," says Smith.
He says it is something that has been building for years, but this economy has put things in overdrive.
Male dominated industries like cars and construction have been among the hardest hit.
82 percent of all layoffs have been men. Forcing many of them into a role they never dreamed of.
"They go through a battle. A psychological battle with themselves and sometimes the people around them, and that's really tough stuff," Smith says.
But Smith says society has done them a favor.
It is more accepting now of men staying home with children than ever before.
"And that just means when a father loses his job, society still says to him you are still valuable to your family and you still have a role to play and this is a strength that many fathers are bringing to this economic crisis," says Smith.
And here is what's really interesting. This change in roles may be permanent. It may not end when this recession ever does. Smith says it's like Rosie the Riveter. She symbolized all the women who joined the workforce during World War Two to fill the jobs left by men going off to fight. Well once the war ended did women stop working? Of course not. But while society may make it easier to be accepted as a stay at home dad, it doesn't make the job any easier.
"I thought it would be easier. Absolutely, yes," says Berliner.
Twenty years ago when Berliner had a daughter from a previous marriage...Neither he, nor society, seemed ready for stay at home dads.
But, it seems both have changed, lucky for him.
"I'm proud of all the guys that have come before and paved the way," says Berliner.
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2 comments:
Nice! Man, Nate has a lot of hair!
Esri:
Yeah, Nate never lost his "new baby" hair. It just kept growing, and getting lighter. We thought it would fall out.. but no. It's long, and a bit curly when wet.
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