Busy stay-at-home father, brimming with tasks and overflowing with affection
In the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, Andrew Cattanach, a freelance writer, has been the primary carer for his two daughters, Isla (one-year-old) and Catriona (five), for five years. This role change came about when his partner's work became busy, and his own did a dry-up.
Cattanach, a stay-at-home dad, doesn't hear women expressing the difficulties of full-time childcare around him, but he assumes they do. He confesses to facing challenges himself, such as the lack of adult company and the sense of suffocation from soft play and SpongeBob. One of the "fundamental" challenges he faces is holding on to his identity outside of parenting.
However, Cattanach doesn't regret his decision. He finds being a stay-at-home dad to be one of the best jobs in the world. He cherishes the experiences he has with his daughters, including watching them play together and hearing them point out things in books.
Cattanach was able to carve out time for creative writing when Catriona was young, albeit at an ungodly hour of the morning. Now, he works during nap times and weekends. Despite the challenges, he hasn't had a meal on his own or gone to the toilet on his own in a while due to his busy schedule.
People, especially mums, are increasingly comfortable with children being present during video calls, according to Cattanach. He has found a supportive group of parents at playgroup and in the park. His experiences with older generations, however, reveal some resistance to the idea of men as primary caregivers, with comments like "women should take care of the kids" and "he could never have done that".
Cattanach's work as a stay-at-home dad has made him more empathetic towards primary caregivers, particularly women. He is optimistic about looking back at his experiences as a stay-at-home dad with delight in the future. Despite the challenges, he considers it one of the best jobs in the world.
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