June 12, 2007
I KNOW MORE THAN THE OTHER MOMS, BUT NOT MORE THAN YOU, SWEETIE:
‘Momblocked’ mothers feel edged out by dads: Caregivers can clash when stay-at-home fathers step up their game (Victoria Clayton, June 11, 2007, MSNBC)
Two months after giving birth to her daughter, Jen McClure-Metz received a phenomenal job offer. If she wanted to become a producer on a hit television show, she’d have to start in a month.McClure-Metz and her husband talked it over and made the same decision many families are making: Dad would stay home full time and take care of their daughter.
“While I never thought that I would end up staying home with Sarah, I knew that I was fully capable of doing so,” says Brian Metz, McClure-Metz’s husband.
But almost four years into it, McClure-Metz began to feel her husband was maybe too capable. He had become more competent and assertive in the child-care arena and it showed in small ways. Metz took over when his wife struggled with the car seat, or put the kibosh on plans when he thought their daughter needed down time.
“Basically, he was the parent in charge and I often felt trumped,” says McClure-Metz.
More and more dads like Metz have become so confident in taking care of the kids that moms can feel edged out, or "momblocked."
What guy hasn't figured out that the key to comity in a marriage is that she's always right? Posted by Orrin Judd at June 12, 2007 11:13 AM
At my wedding, the photographer (my cousin, with a video camera), stopped a married couple (rare among our friends at that point) and asked:
Cousin: "What's the secret to a sucessful marriage?"
Him: "Do whatever she says."
Cousin, to Her: "And what do you say is the secret to a successful marriage?"
Her: "Do whatever she says."
They, too, are still married.
Posted by: Mike Earl at June 12, 2007 1:02 PMWhen a young male cousin of mine got married several years ago, the priest asked the happy couple to clasp one another's right wrists while they repeated the vows, the groom's hand on top. Once bride and groom got the hand-holding right, the priest said to my cousin, "I hope you're enjoying that, now, [name], for it's the last time you're ever going to have the upper hand."
Posted by: Random Lawyer at June 12, 2007 3:17 PM