How many men get this question?

[Disney1fan2002]

This is inspired by Daxx's "I am not a babysitter" thread. She is a Kindergarten teacher. She TEACHES 5 & 6 year olds.

Now, I ask, how many times, when a man is out without his kids does he hear " So, where's the wife? babysitting?" Probably NEVER. Yet, almost everyone I know has asked or been asked about a father being home "babysitting".

"Where's your husband? Is he babysitting?"

"Um, NO, he is PARENTING!!!" He is doing the same thing I do all day long, taking care of OUR children.

Isn't it funny how nobody ever asks if the mother is babysitting. She is just "home with the kids." But father's are always home "babysitting."

ARGH.

 

[Serena]

Not to start ranting, but my ex always thought of it as babysitting since they were my responsibility, not his. a sore point with me.

 

[CEDmom]

Honestly, I'm tempted to answer that DH is at home probably getting into more trouble than my 7 yo DD . I can understand Daxx being upset by what people said to her. It's just ignorance. But I think getting upset over people refering to your DH as a babysitter isn't that big a deal. It's really just meant as a light hearted remark.

 

[Art Vandalay]

Hey, on a regular basis, when I go out to eat with my daughter, I get "Oh, is it mom's night off?" No, every night is mom's night off, thanks for asking!

 

[katerkat]

I say it because usually DH is sitting with the baby. Or, more likely, at the neighbors with the baby because he's scared to be alone with him. The men go for safety in numbers in our group.

 

[tevagirl]

I've been saying this for years. Daddies do not 'babysit' their own children.

 

[steen995]

DH always refers to his watching the kids as "babysitting" You'd think after learning how much this annoys me he'd stop saying it. Hopefully his slow learning hasn't been passed on to the children.

 

[tmt martins]

Well DW owes me a lot of money if thats what I've been doing all these years.

I take DD anywhere with me I can because one day she will no longer want Dad to come along. I figured if she's use to it from birth she think it's normal for us to always be together and do things together.

And yes most of the times DW is with us as well but as I have way more vacation then her I get to do all the real fun stuff.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

I agree with the OP. When either DW or I am with the kids, we are being parents. When someone watches them on a temporary basis for me, for DW or for us, that's babbysitting.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

That's one thing that absolutly drives me crazy! A babysitter is someone who you pay, or maybe not, who is not normally there. If one parent is there, they're PARENTING!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Micca]

I don't remember ever "baby sitting" our DDs. I loved my time with them.

 

[MushyMushy]

Yes, that is something that annoys me.

 

[Kitty 34]

I never told people my DH was babysitting...I always said he was home with the kids.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It annoys the crap out of me when people say that to me.

 

[JunieJay]

I never told people my DH was babysitting...I always said he was home with the kids.

I don't think I have ever said nor has it been asked "Where's DH, babysitting?" He's home with his kids. It would annoy me if my husband or anyone else implied that he was "babysitting" his own kids.