Ask Kat: Lonely SAHD

As the mum of three small boys, an expert in baby products and a no-nonsense parent, resident blogger Kat Armstrong always seems to be called upon by friends, family and strangers to answer tough parenting questions. We thought it was high time she shared this knowledge with you, and her series Ask Kat was born. If you have questions for Kat, you can email her at askkat@ohbabymagazine.com.

Dear Kat,

I’m a stay at home dad who works part time and I find it very lonely sometimes. My wife’s career has her gone for weeks at a time, and because it’s something she’s passionate about, I happily took the role of full-time caregiver in order to help her advance in her career. Groups and classes in our community are focused heavily on moms and I often feel left out or like an outsider.

How can I find more like-minded dads to spend time with?

Simon, Toronto

Simon,

Stay at home dads have a hard go, eh? There aren’t many groups specifically for dads, as more often than not, moms tend to be the go-to parent. My husband also spent a few years as the stay at home parent, and what worked for him was to just embrace the fact that he was the lone wolf in the pack and just have fun with it. Obviously, not all groups and situations worked for him, but the more he just went with the flow, the more fun he had.

Don’t be afraid to try different groups and see what works. And don’t discount moms! Some of us are really hilarious and you’ll feel super comfortable talking about whatever you’re into.

Hang in there, dad!