Fatherhood in the balance

I have to admit that I scoff at fatherhood initiatives. While the PR people might tell dads to buck up and take time for the kid, his work place tells a different story. Well, except that dads are the great winners in the wage gap war. Anywho, another celebrity became a daddy this week - Tom Brady.

The whole world seemed to know that his ex-girlfriend and baby mama was about to give birth. It was reported that Brady asked for some time off to be at the birth (which he missed by minutes) as well as afterwards to be with his child. I cant' find any reports if he's taking paternity leave, but he was back in the game for a pre-season game on Friday. Thus, one of the biggest names in professional sports can't even get a week off to be with his new baby? What kind of message does that send to all the dads & young men watching the game?

In a different show of fatherhood responsibilities, Tony Snow, White House spokesman, has quit his $168,000 job because it's not covering all the bills. Um, yeah...I snorted too when I first read that. Somehow I doubt it's medical bills because, well, unlike millions of Americans, he has health insurance. College tuition? I bet most of the parents of the students I work with don't make that much. Sure, Snow's gonna go back to spewing on the TV for bucks, which I'd do in a second if offered. But come on...at least give us a better reason! One that doesn't make us look at our tiny bank accounts and think, "Dude!" OTOH, maybe by spewing on TV, Snow will have more time to spend with his family.

Ah, celebrity fatherhood.

Technorati tags: Tony Snow, Tom Brady, football, NFL, fatherhood, family leave