Househusbands
Dear editor:
I read with interest the article on American families. In general I agree with it, but there are some important things it left out. It didn’t tell the reader much about the life of a househusband. It’s not an easy life. I know, because I’m now a househusband. Myself. A househusband has to change many of his ideas and his ways.
First of all, he has to change the way he thinks about time. Before I am a househusband, I work full time for the New York time. I was a reporter, and time was always important. We had to finish our article quickly and give them to the editor. Everyone was always in a hurry. This is the ways many other men work, too. Businessmen, lawyers, bankers, and doctors al have to work quickly.
At home it’s different. The househusband cannot be in a hurry all the time. If you rush around, you will make everyone unhappy! The children will be unhappy because they don’t understand. For them, time is not important. Your wife will be unhappy, too, because they are all unhappy. So you have to learn to slow down. That is the first and most important rule for a househusband.
There is something else the househusband must learn. You must learn to show how you feel about things. At work, men usually do not talk about feelings. If they do, people think they are strange. So, many men are not used telling anyone about their feelings. They do not know about how to talk about their anger, worries, or love. But children need to know how you feel, and how much you love them. If you are angry, they need to know why. Your wife also needs to know about your feelings. If you do not say anything, your family may get the wrong idea. Then they may be serious problems.
People talk a lot about househusbands these days. Usually they talk about men doing the housework, the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. But in my opinion, these are easiest things to learn. It was much harder for me to change the way I think and the way I act with my family. I think other men will also find this harder, but, like me, will find it necessary if they want to have a happy family!
Ted Diamond