My Sunday Photo: Baby Disco

As I write this I’m sitting in the back of our car with N as Clare goes in to Tesco to buy us a picnic for today as we head to Lotherton Hall (yes again lol!). We’ve a pass for a year so why not?!

We’ve just come from a baby disco though! What’s a baby disco? Well in essence there is dance music (not that loud though!), dance lights, soft play things to sit on, slide down, jump on. There was also a ball pit (which N really enjoyed), mirrors and tunnels to crawl through (not that he can do that yet). Clare did challenge me to crawl through one…maybe next time!

It really was great, and it was a taster session to get some interest so it was free which is always beneficial.

However the thing that struck me is why there way only one other Dad there. I don’t get it. I just don’t understand why there were very few dads there. Surely if your baby is having fun you want to be there? Our weekend family time is so precious and I love it. It just confused me.

This comes after yesterday when we went to a baby and toddler sale where, again, there were very few Dads indeed. It seems that the shopping was being left to the Mum. It just makes me wonder why. It makes me wonder if I’m so different from the majority of dads as it would never cross my mind to not go to such an event if we decided it was worthwhile. I just don’t get it. I’m sure there are valid reasons such an a sleeping baby, or an ill child or multiple children to look after, but so often at the exact time of this baby and toddler event?

It highlights to me the different roles of parents in different families. I find it impossible to not be involved in pretty much everything to do with N (and I’m sure Clare gets frustrated at times, but I can’t help it). It also makes me think about when I see comments online about ‘useless dads’ from disgruntled mums…why is this? Is it because of the roles they’ve chosen/assigned to each other? Is it dads purposefully or unconsciously taking a back seat? Mums unconsciously making dads take a back seat on child related decisions by not involving them? Society pushing stereotypes on families and people ‘conforming’ to it?

I don’t know the answer, and every family has to do what works for them. I just think it’s a shame that so many dads were missing out on such a great time with their babies.