Hey Ladies, We Aren't As Stupid As TV Makes You Think We Are

Oh the New Year. It always kind of depresses me after all the hype of Christmas. The New Year just seems like a sober slap in the face to snap you out of stupor that Christmas put you in. Although to be fair I was sick as a dog Christmas day and work phones got stuck forwarding our call center to my cell phone. Fun times.  

Right before the holiday I wrote a that spurred some discussion on Facebook by the awesome . Basically I was griping about how Dads have come to be portrayed on TV and other media. It used to be that there were lots and lots of great examples of Dads on TV. There was Tom Bradford, Cliff Huxtable, Tom Corbett, Mike Brady, etc. Now I see a bunch of morons with a few good ones sprinkled in here and there.

I mean have you seen the dolts and disinterested dads on TV lately? It's no wonder ladies think us dads are idiots and can't do anything right. You've got the dad from The Middle who is basically clueless about what's going on in his kids lives and doesn't really seem like he cares. You have Ray from Everybody Loves Raymond. Nice guy, but can't parent worth a hill of beans. Phil Dumphey, my main man from Modern Family; he's going to kill his son if he's not careful!

There are many more I could name off, but it gets to be a little bit sad. Is this how dads are thought of in general? Goofballs that mean well, but ultimately need to be bailed out by their wives? Jerks that only take time out for their kids when their wives guilt them into it?

I wouldn't really care one way or another, but I think these characters are starting to make our lady friends think that this is actually how American men are. I've heard lots of stories from other dads getting unsolicited advice; super basic stuff that the woman (always a woman) seems to think he doesnt' know (you know how to change a diaper, oh my, how progressive!) or advice that they feel the need to share because that poor man would be helpless without it. 

I have a message for you ladies that feel the need to give out advice in public to dads. WE ARE NOT AS STUPID AS TV MAKES US OUT TO BE. Yes, there are lazy, incompetent dads out there, but there are just as many moms that share those traits. It's hard enough to be a dad today with all the weird looks folks give to men out by themselves with kids.  

Society has made it so that men out with children by themselves are either skeevy or helpless and single (because why would a married man be out with his child by himself, doesn't he need his wife to take care of that child?). We don't need the condescension or the advice. We'll ask for it if we want it. And while we are on the subject of men out by themselves with kids; just because a guy is by himself with a kid doesn't mean he's single. I've been hit on in the baby section of Target more times than I can count. I'm just trying to buy more diapers!

Am I off base here? I'd love to hear your stories about being a dad in public with your child. Do you moms have similar stories about your husbands? 

Last Successful Meal
Cheese Quesadilla cut into fun shapes
Mix of applesauce, pearsauce with pureed broccoli, peas, carrots, and squash (he hates veggies and it's the only way we can get them in him)
Yogurt

Current Favorite Books
"Olivia Goes to Venice" by Ian Falconer
Assorted DC kids books by DC Comics
"I'm Dirty" by Kate and Jim McMullan