I HEART HOUSE HUSBANDS
Look, I just loved Channel Nine’s House Husbands last night.
Loved it to bits.
I probably loved it a lot more than you did.
And that’s because my bloke’s been a house husband for almost 20 years now and a bit of respect and admiration for the men who choose to look after the children has been a long time coming.
Not only that, but those of us to have chosen to reverse roles – and I mean really commit to it for the long haul – need to tell our stories.
Because this whole life/work balance malarkey we bang on about is a conversation women mostly have with each other… and it shouldn’t be.
All the clichés – the woman who can’t trust a man to be in charge of a child without leaving a 10 page instruction manual; a man who doesn’t know one end of a baby from the other; career women who pine all day long for their children and weep at their desks; stay at home dads who feel inadequate because they can’t wear ties and go to board meetings – they’re all for the taking.
For every one of these stereotypes, there’s the woman who punches the air as she leaves for work and the man who longs to be home with a toddler sticking pipe cleaners on bits of paper with Clag. There’s the mother who leaves her children to go climb mountains and fight in wars. The father who misses playing in a footy grand final to care for a baby.
They’re all judged. And they shouldn’t be.
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency ( EOWA) director, Helen Conway said recently: “There needs to be a shift in Australian culture to make it acceptable for both men and women to access flexible working arrangements, without financial penalty, and still have the opportunities to progress their careers.”
Both mothers and fathers should be free to make the choice that suits them best and employers (and the rest of us) should recognise that. And understand that family life comes first.
As for the plot and casting ?
OK, the chances of finding four male “primary care givers” with children in the same class at the same school who all hang out together is pretty remote. And the plot line with the kids driving off in the school bus? Erm.
But, as I said, I loved it anyway. You’d have to be hard hearted not to enjoy watching fathers interact so lovingly with their adorable little ones. And a fabulous cast to boot! How much did I adore seeing Marg Downey on screen and the compelling Julia Morris, ( is there anything this gal can’t do?)
Can’t wait for the scene where she’s stomping around the house yelling: “What did you do with my new black bra?”
And he says: “It’s on the floor where you left it.”
Or the scene where she says: “ Come to bed for God’s sake!”
And he says: “No, I’ve got to finish sticking these chickens on this hat for the Easter bonnet parade.”
I should have been script consultant. I got a million of ‘em.
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24 Responses to this article
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Rajna barry September 3, 2012
I have so many too! Both hubbie and I work, but I teach dance at night so he does the dinner/bath/bed with our 2 kids most nights. Got a text the other night “once again your dinner is sitting here getting cold because you didn’t let me know you are running late from work “…..whoops!!! but I just love that he cares enough to ensure my dinner is ready when I get home. I’m so happy to be in a relationship where all roles are shared and we both get an opportunity to pursue careers and personal goals.
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TMH September 3, 2012
Still waiting for the”respect and admiration” for the women who choose to stay home and look after children!
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Aeron Winters September 3, 2012
I feel the same TMH…I hate the pathetic looks I get when I tell people I meet at hubby’s work functions that I’m a SAHM. One would think I suddenly sunk to second class citizen. It is definitely a conversation killer. I had a career, two in fact, and for awhile I was a WAHM running an online business from the flat at the back of the property, but my daughter needed me more than we needed the money, so I sold the business and concentrated on what she needed. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is for SAHD when they are asked what they do.
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The Huntress September 3, 2012
Oh, what I would give for a house husband so I could actually progress my career – I’ve always said ideally I would love to financially support my partner to stay at home and raise my son. Problem is I could never hope to earn what Mr. Huntress earns and as a Registered Nurse I could never earn enough for a family to survive on. Ah well, plough on…
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Karen Balstrup Baxter September 3, 2012
Love the one where he asks do you know anything about mashing pumpkin or pear …and they start saying you can add pear…pumpkin and pear, pear and broccli! Hilarious
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Karen Balstrup Baxter September 3, 2012
and thanks for making Firass run after the bus…we need the eye candy
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sherbetgirl September 3, 2012
Yes, gogirl – that’s the exact attitude everyone needs to take. I’ve been trying to find a way to articulate that thought for years and you have summed it up perfectly.
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Penny September 3, 2012
I loved it too, and the gender stuff aside, I just loved seeing my middle class suburban school-age-kid life being reflected on the screen. Crunch and sip? Check!
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Ron September 3, 2012
Agree wholeheartedly Wendy! as a part time HH (we both work pt) i was so looking forward to seeing these guys on TV and it didn’t disappoint, I think partly for the great casting (all of them) but also because the characters and plotlines aren’t actually that outlandish. I mean what about the premise and plotlines of Winners and Losers? Its not so out of the question for these guys to end up together- and it’s not as if they are the best of friends.
Anyway, I’m hoping Nine keeps the faith and holds onto this one- I think it could go far. Might even give birth to a new genre! -
Julie September 3, 2012
I found it a bit challenging to get past Underbelly: Househusbands, and the portrayal of the teachers was pretty off, but apart from that there were a few good moments.
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diane September 3, 2012
So nice to see blokey channel 9 do something different!!
Generational change is great for the modern man on tv that doesnt fit into that boring male stereotype
Have to admit im not a fan of australian tv dramas but this one is outside of the box
More please!!
Rhys is adorable and the cast isnt all Anglo either!!
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mel September 3, 2012
First The Slap on abc and now this
Things are getting better for our drama series!!
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SandsOfTime September 4, 2012
Picking up on the Huntress’s point, without closing the gender pay gap, or at least narrowing it to something less than the yawning chasm that it is, this is just not going to be an option for vast numbers of households. What a pity!
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Susan September 4, 2012
Loved it – although the ads confused my 6yo. He couldn’t work out why Rhys was on channel 9, when “Play School is on channel 22, mummy” lol
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NoComment of Nunawading September 4, 2012
Loved HH, loved it to bits… great alternative to so many (boring & repetitive) genres!
The “Bus” scene from Speed (or whatever that movie was), hilarious!
Closest we got to CSI was mixing “pumpkin & pear”, thank God!
Overall, no “badness”, lots of great lines and some good honest fun… can’t wait for next episode!!! Thanks to Channel 9 and the cast & crew for a great piece of TV.
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Heather September 10, 2012
Great to see support for Aussie drama and our fine actors given great roles. Hopefully, they’ll do another series.
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Melita September 10, 2012
I’m going to watch it! Sounds great.
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Daniella December 8, 2012
Loved the show….l must admit tho, sometimes l’m the one as SAHM who is a bit inept and l don’t quite get it right always. My bloke would love to be a SAHD, but l just wouldn’t be able to earn enough money as he as l’ve never been a particularly career driven woman climbing corporate ladders etc and l have not been able to get back into the workforce since l had bub #1.I too find it a little disheartening when women l meet ask me what do l do for a living, it’s amazing what a conversation stopper ‘ I’m a stay at home mum looking after a 3 year old and pregnant with our second child’ is !
