Mad Men = Bad Parents? My Essay on Babble
With another season of Mad Men over, my wife and I are left with a big hole to fill in our entertainment schedule. This constitutes a real problem. We're talking about Mad Men — not some cream-puff comedy easily replaced by a few rounds of Wii bowling. Night after night we have sat on the couch, she holding a tumbler of scotch, the day's newspaper folded neatly in her lap, and me in my apron, swirling my third glass of merlot. If that sounded backward, then allow me to explain. While my wife brings home the organic, hormone-free turkey-bacon, I am a stay-at-home dad (or SAHD). Our dynamic is not atypical for today, but back when the word "stereotype" might be confused with a brand of Hi-Fi radio and helicopters were odd enough without associating them with a type of parenting, the concept of a father as the primary caregiver would have raised the suspicions of both men and women. Read the rest at Babble...
11 comments:
Great article Ron, I've never watched Mad Men, but the point came across very clearly. Very cool.
Props to you for taking on the care giving role! I commend you, sir!
Thanks!
Sorry I haven't been around much... more info to come.
I've gained a new-found respect for the mothers out there that have been doing it for years. Thank you ma'am. =-)
Nice work, Ron. Guess I'm going to have to try watching this.
you're probably thinking I'm obsessed with this show right about now... okay fine.
Maybe just a little.
I was voted "most likely to be a house husband" in HS. I wanted to do it, too, but never made it. Did it for a 2 week stint 2 Summers ago, and loved it.
They have that as a category! Mine was most likely to succeed... I did that for a 2 week stint - give or take 6 years - and hated it. =-)
Insightful and beautifully written. I am a big fan of the show, and the many commonalities played out in domestic life today. I do recall this period of time, as a child. Betty's behavior towards her children was certainly commonplace. And I agree, Don's parenting - potential and actual - is light years ahead of the reality of paternal involvement at the time - physical or emotional.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I really keyed in on fathers, but your point about Betty made me think. My grandmothers were very much like Betty too. Thanks again.
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