This past weekend, while women took to the streets advocating for their fundamental rights, fathers in Montclair, New Jersey, found themselves left to their own devices in cafes and parks. The New York Times felt compelled to cover this unusual scenario, with an article titled, “How Essential Are Women? This Town Found Out When They Left to March.” Seriously, what’s going on here?
In this piece, sports writer Ben Thompson chronicled the plight of Montclair dads, who were reportedly thrown off balance when their partners departed for the Women’s March on Washington, leaving them solely responsible for their offspring for an entire day. The article kicked off with a rather alarming observation about the absence of women at local Starbucks and yoga studios that day.
Oh, the drama!
The focus of the article revolved around the dads’ struggle to manage their children while their wives fought for gender equality, a sentiment that even some of the fathers interviewed seemed to dispute. One dad, Mr. Davis, remarked, “Doing everything by myself is not the norm,” not as a complaint but as a simple observation. Yet, Thompson narrated the day as if it were a catastrophic event: “Routines were completely disrupted as fathers tackled weekend challenges alone… birthday parties, dance classes, swimming lessons, and more.”
The horror!
One line even read: “Children’s growling stomachs required regular attention.” Really? Were these fathers completely unaware of their kids’ hunger? Did they need to rush to the ER at the sound of their children’s bellies? We assume that “kids needed food” isn’t exactly groundbreaking news.
What the fathers seemed to convey was, “I’m managing just fine, just doing my best,” but Thompson interpreted this as, “Fathers abandoned by their wives struggle to remember if kids need jackets.” There was one dad who chuckled at the irony of his wife advocating for equality while he missed a game and cleaned out the fridge, but he hardly represented the general sentiment among these fathers. Thank goodness for that.
This article is not only frustrating but also absurd for several reasons. First, if you’re going to discuss the importance of women, don’t reduce the conversation to just moms. Women contribute to society in countless ways beyond child-rearing.
Second, many women would call the daily task of caring for children from ages zero to five just another day at the office. Why are we still lauding dads for simply parenting? When did taking a child to ballet class become a heroic act? The accompanying images showed one dad helping his daughter with her coat and another playing with his kids in the park. Excuse me while I roll my eyes.
And let’s not forget the old stereotype of the bumbling dad. Today, many fathers, including stay-at-home dads, actively participate in raising their children. Yes, there are still men who don’t quite get it, but articles like this only serve to reinforce outdated notions that parenting is an overwhelming task for men.
But fret not for the fathers of Montclair—all returned to normalcy when their wives came home late Saturday night. As Thompson noted, “The local yoga studio reported full attendance, and many fathers sighed in relief.”
A pro tip for those feeling the need to vent: make sure the pillow you scream into isn’t the one your cat has been lounging on!
As for the mothers, they had a refreshing perspective: “He did great, and there was no expectation he wouldn’t,” said Ms. Carter. “He’s a parent, not just a babysitter. The kids are still alive.” That’s a gentle reminder that, really, it’s time for some dads to get over themselves and step up.
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In summary, the recent article in The New York Times misses the mark by depicting fatherhood as a Herculean task rather than a shared responsibility. Women are vital for many reasons, and it’s time we recognize that parenting is a joint effort, not a solo mission.