Apr 17 2010
Househusbands And Stay-At-Home Dads Wanted For The Househusband Guide
Are you a househusband, stay-at-home dad or work-from-home father?
If so, then The Lazy Househusband wants to hear from you!
For more details, go here: Househusbands Wanted
I am currently in the process of putting a book together called “The Househusband Guide” – a practical guide that will be written by, about and for househusbands and stay-at-home dads!
WHY CREATE A “HOUSEHUSBAND GUIDE”?
Three years ago, my wife and I switched roles. She went back to the corporate world and I became a househusband and a stay-at-home dad, looking after our three young boys and managing the home. I have to be completely honest here and say that I have not only struggled for most of this time to keep up with the responsibilities of looking after a home and family, but I have also had to deal with frequent bouts of depression and issues that continue to challenge on an almost daily basis my identity as an individual person, a man, a husband and a father.
I have also experienced some amazing, positive and joyful moments too, just by being around my kids more.
Research figures show that there are over 200,000 househusbands in English-speaking countries alone and that the trend for men to stay home and look after the household and family is increasing.
I am sure that I am not the only one struggling with this highly challenging and demanding role.
I believe that a resource like “The Househusband Guide” can offer practical tips and useful information to both men and women who are either considering reversing their roles, or who are currently struggling with the role of being a househusband / stay-at-home dad and can benefit from the real-life experiences of others in a similar situation.
HOW THE HOUSEHUSBAND GUIDE WILL BE CREATED
I’ve recently come across an interesting concept called “crowdfunding”. Crowdfunding is not new – this is how most churches and not-for-profit organizations have been raising money for worthwhile projects for hundreds of years. What is new and exciting, however, is that great ideas in need of funding can now be put out to the largest audience on the planet … the online community!
So, I’ve set up a project to raise funds for “The Househusband Guide” on Kickstarter.com and I hope to raise enough money to cover the costs of creating and printing this book by making the project available through a fantastic online community of people who provide financial support to great ideas.
Once the project is completed, the book will become available both as a downloadable e-book and in paperback format.
Here’s the promo video I created for raising the money (warning: this video contains graphic images of domestic unmanageability that might deeply offend some viewers):
You can read more about this project here: The Househusband Guide
HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING “THE HOUSEHUSBAND GUIDE” A SUCCESSFUL BOOK …
I would like to interview a number of househusbands and stay at home dads. The interviews will be done mostly via email and will focus on the personal experience of househusbands, stay-at-home dads and work-from-home fathers as the primary domestic manager and main family caretaker.
The interview questions will cover most aspects of being a househusband – from how you first became involved in the role and how you handle juggling daily domestic responsibilities such as housework, cooking, looking after children, shopping, managing finances, etc. to dealing with social perceptions and factors such as identity issues, coping with isolation and depression, etc …
If you are a househusband or stay-at-home dad and would like to be part of this project as a collaborator and contributing author, then please go here: Househusband Guide – Contributing Househusbands.
Thank you for your support.
The Lazy Househusband
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[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gerry Schroeder, Matt. Matt said: Househusbands And Stay-At-Home Dads Wanted For The Househusband Guide: Are you a househusband, stay-at-home dad or… http://bit.ly/9X0cpg […]
[…] PS: I am currently working on getting a book for, about and by househusbands created and published. If you’re a househusband or stay-at-home dad, or know someone who is and who would like to be part of helping to create the book, please refer them to this page: The Househusband Guide. […]
Hi,
I am a house husband, and I resent your use of the word “Lazy”. It is impossible for a House husband to be lazy, and it does not give a positive view to the ignorant concerning the grave consequences of becoming a demoralised and negative man. I am not picking at you, because as a House Husband myself I am looking for answers in how to deal with the plethora of mental and emotionaly problems in being trapped at home, in the hope too that I can help others. Your book is profoundly necessary, because it could help men like me, but only if it is done correctly. We need a book that will help men deal with their personal struggles. Which will help them to remain positive when everything seems negative. A book which will help men to be constructive when the outlook of things are over or underwhelming. How is a House Husband supposed to get back into the working environment? Especially, when his skills are lost? How does one deal with the loss of income or of independence? What can be done when an agreement with the wife on who is to stay at home backfires, with the wife leaving the husband and taking the children? And so on and so forth. I hope the best for your book, but I do not want any negative expectations concerning it to be realised.
Hi. I am not a househusband, but once had a househusband. I had put together the structure for a book and interviewed househusbands too, but then realised that it was behind me and didn’t feel like taking it further. My problem was also which market to target, as I am not US based, and whether to write a scholarly book or a self help one. So let me add to the previous comments. What about linking with others to ensure that the “old boys” networks don’t die so that when you are ready to go back to work you can reactivate them? How do you recommend keeping some kind of activity so the guy doesn’t get brain dead so that when the wife comes home there is other conversation than the kids nappies and your latest jogging exploit (same problem some men have coming home to some mommies)? How do you give value socially (particularly in some countries in Europe) to the stay at home parent when in many circles it’s considered worthless? If one considers that the UN figures that a stay at home parent is worth some 800 dollars (you can check the right figure as I can’t remember it) it shows you how much value is put on the stay at home parent. Are you dealing with addictions too – alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, whatever a bored Housedaddy can get up to? What about the Desperate Housewives syndrome, where the woman wears the pants in bed too and so poor Tom can’t even have sex anymore without resenting her for being successful and simply can’t perform? The successful models I interviewed were successful because they made a pact to review the agreement every year. They were also successful because some of them could measure the contribution to the household (e.g. roof repairs saved X thousand dollars to the household coz Mr He did it). They had also clearly agreed on the lines of battle – laundry, shopping, cooking, weekend shifts, so that each had time out for his or her own pursuit of happiness. They are also willig at any time to compromise on financial gain. I’d be interested to pursue the discussion.