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Challenges of a Working Father

May 31 '01 Write an essay on this topic.

The Bottom Line The challenges that face a working father are just as hard as ones facing a working mother or working parents.

I decided to write about challenges facing a working father because I see them first hand every day. No, I'm not a working father, nor am I a working mother. I am a woman, with a wonderful husband, who works 2 jobs so that I can stay home and raise our son. Day after day, I see my husband work his tail off so I can stay home and be mommy.

The challenges my husband faces start with the minute he gets up and lasts until the time he goes to bed at night. And sometimes, he doesn't even get to go to bed until the following morning because of his second job.

First of all, he's usually tired from working 16 plus hours a day, sometimes more. My husband always works at least 75 hours a week. There are days he works around the clock and I may not see him for 2 days, other than him coming home to shower and change, then leave again. If I don't get to see him, neither does my son. And then, half the time he is home, my son is sleeping anyway. My husband makes it a point to spend as much time as possible with our son when he is home. Our son knows who his daddy is and loves him to pieces.

Then, if my husband is spending all this time working, and making time for our son, when does he have time for me? What about the yard work, projects around the house, or just relaxation? I don't know how he does it, but I do know why. It's more important to my husband for our son to stay home and be raised by me, than for a day care provider to raise him. Luckily we have that option, but it takes a toll on him.

~ Stress ~
Stress can be a major challenge for working fathers. They feel responsible for "bringing home the bacon." Most men have been raised to think that they are the soul providers for the family, and usually they are. This can add a lot of stress for a father. Not to mention, the stress they deal with at work.

~ Exhaustion ~
Even if a man has one job, working 40 hours a week, it's easy to get exhausted. Working 8 hours, come home, eat, play with kids, spend time with wife, maybe do yard work or projects around the house, then shower and off to bed. It never stops until their head hits the pillow . . . then off again to do it all over the next day.

~ Worries ~
With everything else that's going on in "DAD'S" life, how can he not worry? How to pay those extra bills, is he spending enough time with my family, is his job secure, is his family happy, is he happy? I'm pretty sure this list could go on and on.

~ What can a WORKING DAD do? ~

First of all, everyone needs time for themselves. A working father may not feel obligated to take the extra time for himself. I know my husband doesn't, but that's where I step in. I make it very clear to my husband that I appreciate his hard work, sleepless nights and extra pay so that I can stay at home. If he's exhausted, I don't bother him with the dog chain that broke or the trash for the day.
I give him "HIS" time to relax, play with our son or just lay on the couch to watch TV for a half an hour.

Second, don't over extend yourself. If 75 hours a week is too much, cut back. There are always corners to cut to save money, so the bills can still get paid.

And thirdly, relax. Not just physically, but emotionally too. My husband tends to worry about everything. If a man is working many hours and trying to spend his free time with his family, then make sure his free time is that . . . FREE. The less a father has to do when he gets home, the happier he'll be.

I've tried to make it as easy as possible on my husband. I know what he goes through every day, every week, every month. I could not fill his shoes. (They're too big for me anyway.) :)

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