Publicity
Press Association article Week ending 20th June 2009
By Lisa Salmon
Father's Day is fast approaching, so it must be time for a feature on the changing role of dads, once again.
The article discusses a recent survey which suggests that dads are now doing an average of 53 hours of chores and childcare a week. This seems rather unlikely, to be honest, but there's some good stuff on how dads are much more involved with their children than in previous generations but aren't entirely confident about it due to a lack of role models. (There's also lots about DadsDinner!)
The article has been made available to 130 local newspapers but I have no idea how many have taken it up. If you've seen it in the wild, feel free to let me know.
Update: Found it in The Irish News!
BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey Mid Morning 19th June 2009
With Danny Pike
An earnest look at the changing face of fatherhood, involving the head of the Fatherhood Institute, a guy from Theladders.co.uk who finds jobs for people earning 50K+ and er... me. Even though I didn't get in any good vomit stories, I lowered the tone somewhat. Ho well, it was good experience and it got broadcast in Surrey so no one I know will ever hear it unless someone inadvertently slips them the iPlayer link.
Oh, hang on... Drat.
The Mail on Sunday - YOU Magazine 15th June 2008
When daddy is a domestic god by Jane Phillimore
Profiles of four fathers who have 'all stepped up to the mark to take on the role of primary carer'.
There's a section about my experiences as a housedad. It seems slightly odd to me because it's phrased in the first person but it wasn't written by me. It's not bad, though, and the title The Happy Housedad sounds like a good name for a pub. (I'd drink there...)
The article also contains the stories of a single dad, a stepdad and a widowed dad. They've all had a much harder time of it than me! There's not much comment from the writer - this is a Father's Day piece to illustrate that men can cope with kids too. I'm not sure I'd really consider myself 'exceptional', however. I'm in the same boat as a whole crowd of housemums.
Welcome to any Mail on Sunday readers who've made it here.
The Scotsman 3rd December 2007
Double the number of UK men now earn less than their partners by Shan Ross
At last, mention of myself and JK Rowling in the same article. Unfortunately, it's about how more UK men than before are letting their partners do all the work while they put their feet up. I did my best to add a little balance but the related editorial slagged stay-at-home men for watching Richard & Judy all day.
Oh, and the online comments are pretty scary, too.
Ho, well, never mind... Welcome to any Scotsman readers who've followed the link.
Psychologies Magazine November 2007
We can work it out by Anita Chaudhuri
'From house husbands to alpha females, how are men and women adjusting to so much change?'
Psychologies is a glossy, up-market women's magazine and really isn't my normal kind of reading material (honest!) but the article is a lot more sensible than the subtitle might suggest. It focuses on communication, expectations and the emotional side of things rather than the more mundane 'make sure you buy a high enough buggy' stuff you get round here. Worth sneaking a look at if the mag's lying around the next time you're at the dentist. (It's the issue with what's-her-name from Will & Grace on the front).
Blink and you'll miss the DadsDinner reference, so kudos to anyone who's followed it here. Make yourselves at home.
Scotland on Sunday 9th September 2007
Dad's the Way by Dani Garavelli
This article about housedads is a response to the partner of Wendy Alexander (leader of the Scottish Labour Party) cutting back his hours in order to take on the care of their young twins. Since they have a nanny, he's still going to be part-time and he's approaching retirement age, it's all a little bit of a stretch, but good luck to him, anyway. I suspect he'll be busy.
Most of the piece recounts the trials and tribulations of various housedads. It's informative and there's some useful advice. Worth a look.
Welcome to any Scotland on Sunday readers who've come this way.
The Herald 19th June 2007
Now men are putting babies before business by Stewart Paterson
Isn't that just the way? You wait months for some major publicity and then get two lots in the space of a week. (A week in which your house is full of giant air-blowers that are steadily driving you insane, I might add).
The article is mainly regurgitating some stats about more dads taking an active role in raising their children. Check out the case-study, though.
Welcome to all you Herald readers. No fighting with the Guardian readers.
Special thanks to Families Need Fathers for setting up the interview.
The Guardian 16th June 2007
The Paternal Instinct by Blake Morrison
Hot on the heels of a write-up in The Leith Gazette, DadsDinner.com gets some coverage in the national press in this very sensible article about stay at home dads. A version is available online at Guardian Unlimited. Shame the link to DadsDinner is broken but well done to all those who made it here anyway. Welcome!
UPDATE: The link's now fixed. Hurrah!
