What are dads for?

[Daddster]

The lovin' spoonful (obviously).
Keeping Mummy sane (e.g. taking the kids out to the play park on a Saturday morning to minimise crockery breakage resulting from a tough week).
Reminding Mummy that she is not a bad parent (or at least giving her some assurance that she is in no way as laughably incompetent as Daddy).
Keeping the peace at the in-laws.
The money, the money, the money .

Any other suggestions?

and saturday morning cycling

this says it all imo
my dad

that book is lovely, Witch. DS says 'again, again' when I recite bits of it, and looks at his daddy with such wonder

Dads are for being in love with Mummy and keeping the family safe and stable.

Dads are for all the technical/physical shit that mums can't be bothered/interested to learn.

Dads are for teaching the kids how to take risks and explore things.

Dads are for introducing some new and interesting smells around the house.

Dads are there for mummies to have a shoulder to cry on or chew.

Dads are great!

For loving Mummy and keeping her strong so she can carry on

For coaching the sports team, and understanding what it means when DC scores a try/goal

For bringing some fun into the house when its all got a bit domestic

For carrying DC on their shoulders, and DW upto bed

To make us all feel safe and happy and loved

While there are many 1000s of posts on this site by mums about parenting or about being a parent or about things entirely unrelated to being a mum I can't imagine a mum or anyone else asking the question 'what is a mum for?'. But in my view dads are or can be just as important as mums. Like being a mum it's up to them and their partners and children and circumstances how they perceive, develop, negotiate and change their role. What a weird question.

It is odd - mums have a more defined role. Dads have a more evolving role at the moment and the variety of responses shows how diverse that role (and the expectations of that role) can be.

It was interesting that a book was written called What Mothers Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing by Naomi Stadlen to confirm to mums that all of the little things they do with their DCs really are vital to their development.

I am a new dad to a DS 7mths old after 7 years of trying for a successful pregnancy. This has been the most momentous thing that has happened to me. It has changed my life. However, knowing that it would change my life I had to really evaluate my working life. I got married a year and a half ago to my DW who I have been with for 13 years. Lying on a beach on the last day of our honeymoon I decided that I had to radically change my life in order to become a father. I could not devote the same commitment and time to my job and be a father that would make a difference. This dilemma had caused me an amount of stress that had built up over a number of years - I ended up in hospital with chest pains. My father was never around because of work, then divorce and I know that I missed out and so did he (he regrets this now). I decided to leave work and looked after DW during her entire pregnancy and now do the childcare with my mother. My DW is the breadwinner now. I will eventually change my career but that will take time and a massive pay cut. I have had to adjust but I am enjoying every moment and exceedingly grateful to my DW for the opportunity and her support in my decision.
Yes, it does irk me sometimes that I am not earning but I am coming to accept that traditional male roles may no longer apply, that there is equal value in childcare/ homecare and an ever increasing admiration for my DW and mothers generally. Another thing to note is the pitfall of isolation one feels as a care/ home provider. Having recently discovered mnet/ dnet it is a great way to break that isolation.

A very positve story newdad2 - lovely to hear you have a baby after 7 years of trying and a brave decision to become a SAHD. I hope you enjoy it.