为人爸爸妈妈并困难，有的父母选择把孩子送到托儿所或请保姆照看，而另一些则在家全职带孩子。全职奶爸 可能曾被视为另类，但现在这一身份开始被更多人同意。
There arent many parents who would say that raising children is easy. For many people, having children can force parents to choose between career and family. Sometimes it comes down to finances sending a child to nursery or hiring a nanny can be a huge financial burden that is unsustainable, while others may feel its better to be a hands-on parent. These days, more and more men are choosing to stay at home to look after their offspring. So why are more dads opting2 to put their careers on hold, and what does the job entail3?
With more women working outside the home than 70 years ago, if the need is there for one parent to stay at home, it could simply come down to who earns more the biggest breadwinner. And with attitudes changing towards a mans role in the family, it seems to be easier for them to enter full-time4 parenthood. Sadly, though, many men still face stigmas5 by choosing to raise their child. A 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center found that 51% of people thought children were better off if a mother is home and doesnt have a job, while 8% say the same about a father. But what do parents have to do when they choose to stay with their kids?
In the early stages, a baby is totally dependent on a carer. The changing of nappies, burping after milk and making sure they feed on time are just some of the vital 24-7 activities an infant relies on. During this period, many parents take paternity and maternity6 leave from work. But as a child gets older, it can become less about necessity and more about choice. Rather than opt1 for a creche, which can prove expensive, either parent may remain at home to educate, protect and play with their child to help them develop and grow.
Its a difficult job, with a demanding boss, but it can also be incredibly rewarding for those willing to do it. And with attitudes changing towards who should stay at home, maybe more and more fathers will choose to become stay-at-home dads.
