The Worst Things to Say

By Rebeldad Brian Reid

Last week, I wrote about some of the more frustrating questions and accusations that I had to field as a parent. The Wall Street Journal's Juggle Blog took up the topic a couple of days later, coming up with some of the most common doozies that they've heard.

But we're only scratching the surface. I'd like to present the top four worst questions for go-to-work and at-home parents, and I hope you all will top these with your own in the comments section.

The four worst things to say to an at-home parent:

Don't you miss adult interaction? (Compared to what? Sitting in a cubicle hammering away at a keyboard for 8 hours a day?)

Do you think you're being a good role model for your kids? (Yup. I'm happy. And I'm sure seeing a happy parent is every bit as important for role modeling as a breadwinner parent.)

What will you do when your kids go back to school? (Excuse me? Does the role of parent somehow disappear at age 5?)

Have you thought about part-time work? Or volunteering? Or school? (Maybe, maybe not. But it may be that I'm actually content with the choice to stay home.)

The four worst things to say to a go-to-work parent:

Did you know that daycare will mess your kid up? (Not unless there's some bombshell data that I'm unaware of.)

I guess you have to work, right? (Nope. Some of us actually enjoy what we do at work. And then we go home and enjoy that, too.)

Your husband/wife must stay home with the kids, right? (Maybe, maybe not. Does it matter? Should my care arrangements somehow impact my work assignments?)

Will you be babysitting this weekend? (No, when I'm with the kids, it's called parenting.)

Brian Reid writes about parenting and work-family balance. You can read his blog at rebeldad.com.

By Brian Reid |  November 1, 2007; 7:00 AM ET  | Category:  Conflicts
Previous: Political Babies | Next: On Balance Potluck

Name:

Comments: