Park Slope Dads Finally Helping Watch Kids

Hey, pretend it's the '50s and you're reading this article in a newspaper titled "Who’s That With Baby at the Y? Why, It’s Daddy." Wait, shouldn't daddy be at the office with his briefcase while mommy is with the baby at the Y, or preferably in the kitchen making dinner and starching shirts?

Anyway, seems that the Prospect Park YMCA in Park Slope had to change the name of their "Mommy and Baby" classes to "Parent and Baby" after the men started showing up. But why even single out fathers in the first place? Supposedly at the end of last year, a lone father would occasionally show up at a "Baby Boogie" class, but after seeing he was the only male, "he would become so uncomfortable that he disappeared quickly." But, it's 2009 now and everything has changed. In fact, just this week at the class "6 of the 22 parents bouncing babies in their laps were men." It's thought that the change is a result of "the economic downturn, a generational attitude shift concerning fathering, and a neighborhood where many residents have jobs with flexible schedules."

But ladies, let's keep the breastfeeding talk for our Tupperware parties okay? Reportedly "words like 'nipple' make the men blush."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on July 8, 2009 11:27 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

If men were meant to do this shit, why did God make money clips?

infomofo

No consideration given to the increasing incidence of gay adoption?

Gothampc

Just what we need, an article on p*ssy whipped men. Do you think John Wayne ever took Dakota or Courtney to Baby Boogie? In my day, we had a name for rough, rugged penis-persons: they were called Men.

dwarbi

I'm a man, and I've been thinking about taking my little one to "Mommy and Me" yoga just to see how strange it would seem. Mostly the strange-feeling would come from the yoga, I think.

I should also try breast-feeding in public to see what sort of trouble I could stir up.

theboneranger

DO IT!

and be sure to eat a can of refried beans before you go.

JanetG

"Just this week" = the summer. All the teacher daddies have the summer off, just like every other summer. Hardly a trend.

matty

If I was one of these dads I would breast feed from a bottle attached to my manbrest just to see how these chicks like it.

Felix Hoenikker

It's probably a great place to score work-widow MILFs.

'Sweetie, you and Johnnie watch Dora while Mommie 'visits' with Johnnie's daddy in the other room.'

dbc

Speaking of Tupperware, I guess you guys didn't see this:

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/breaking/57747/

gtraindelay

what?

KiljoyWasHere

I think that this article could make sense, but is so cheeky I can't wrap my head around it.

A head which now can't get the word "nipple" out of it.