How many times have you heard a dad say he’s “babysitting” his own child? “Last Saturday, I was babysitting Mia and Jake so my partner could finally take a shower this week.” Or how often have you heard someone refer to a father caring for his own kids as the babysitter? No way! If you’re a father or legal guardian, you’re not babysitting.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “babysit” as “to take care of a child while the child’s parents are away.” So, it’s simply impossible to babysit your own child. The time dads spend with their kids—whether it’s filling plates, wiping noses, playing with Legos, or making sure they don’t lick strangers—is called parenting.
Sure, you might think it’s just a matter of word choice. But language matters. When a dad claims he’s babysitting, it undermines his role as a parent and suggests a temporary status. Bringing a child into your life, whether through birth or adoption, means you’re responsible for that child until they reach adulthood. Babysitting is temporary—a few hours, a night, maybe a weekend. Parenting, though, is a lifelong commitment that starts from day one and never really ends. It’s a promise sealed with a spit-shake, and spit-shakes are for life.
Implying that dads are merely placeholders for moms is unfair to everyone involved. It sends the message that women should be the primary caregivers, and if they can’t be, their partners are just unqualified substitutes likely to cause chaos. Leaving your kids with dad should not feel like a risky endeavor. It’s not like leaving them with matches and a gas can!
This narrative also suggests that the tough parts of parenting—like dealing with late-night crises or messy clean-ups—are solely the mother’s domain. Dads are more than capable of handling all aspects of parenting. They don’t need to feel like they’re walking a tightrope every time they’re alone with the kids, worried they’ll mess everything up while the house turns into a disaster zone.
Everyone suffers from this stereotype. It implies men are clueless and women should only focus on being moms. And let’s not forget, kids aren’t just tasks to be checked off a list. Referring to parenting as babysitting carries a negative tone that kids pick up on. “Stuck babysitting tonight, huh? And you won’t even get paid!” I overheard that in line at the grocery store, and the dad looked pretty taken aback.
Most dads, when given the chance and expected to be actively involved, will show up and tackle the tough stuff without hesitation. So let’s ditch the term “babysitting” and embrace the reality: Dads are parents, too!
For more insights on parenting and invaluable resources on pregnancy, check out this excellent guide on pregnancy and our post on home insemination. If you’re exploring options, consider using this fertility boost kit for your journey.
In summary, let’s recognize that dads don’t babysit; they parent! It’s essential to change the narrative around fatherhood and celebrate all caregivers equally.