Mr Mom

Can a man manage the household and let the fairer gender become breadwinner?

Would it lessen his manliness?

Would it lessen his authority in the household?

Could the father figure be the mother?

Can you confuse your child further?

I saw a depiction of this on TV once, oh so many moons ago, starring Michael Keaton, titled Mr. Mom (if I’m not mistaken). It started when he got sacked for becoming obsolete. So specialized was he, that he couldn’t land other jobs; over qualified, over aged, over the hill. His wife on the other hand ended up with a credible job, very promising and substantially paid, in a corporate giant. So sets the stage, where Mr. Mom endured the taunting, the stigma, and the confusion from his children, and their friends, and the local community, where house wives sit and chat. Attending PTA and sorts. The ending, to my surprise is though his company called him back for work, he refused citing, he already got a full time job of his dreams; being Mr. Mom.

Sweet you say … actually it is, well to me that is. To be fair, after 16 years on the payroll, I’ve started thinking. Is this all there is to it? I mean is this all one can do? Supposed climb the corporate ladder, jostling for that sacred position, and not forgetting the pay-packet. Is this all? What about taking better care of your Gods gift to you, your children? We accept albeit sometimes ridicule the fact that our children take after our maids. I still remember a friend relating that his son speaks fluent Javanese to his utter amazement and confusion! If language is the only thing kids pick up from maids, I am all for that, but is that so? What about mental perceptions of the world, of the society, of one’s religion? The bottomline, are maids our best bet to bring up our kids? Please note they are maids because they are unfortunate, not because they, like Mother Teresa, is committed to seeing a better world at the expense of one’s life.

Back to the matter at hand, can a man manage the household and let his wife become breadwinner? Personally I say it can be done. In fact I think I can become a good house husband. Note that my house hold is still served by the maid, and those routine chores are relegated to the maid. Leaving kids management to be openly contested by my wife and I. Guess who always wins? Well dear, not for long, because Mr. Mom is here, and kicking.

PS. BTW this is not an invitation to those successful single women, looking for and excuse in a husband. As the addage goes ... Saya tak mampu. Tsk tsk tsk.