In most industrialized countries,family patterns have changed in recent years. Families used to be large,and most mothers stayed home to take care of the children. They were usually entirely responsible for all the housework,too Fathers did not often see the children, except to play with them on the weekends. Now that families are smaller and many women are working,this has changed somewhat. Fathers often help with the housework. More importantly, they can be much more involved in the lives of their children. They may feed and dress their children and take them to school in the mornings.