It's a role change for the 'new generation fathers'. Many of them from both the middle level and high profile families are now babysitting their toddlers while their wives are away for work.
Many young fathers, doing business like share broking or other online jobs, are happy to take care of their kids while their partners are out for work. These fathers are rewriting an old concept that 'fathers never can babysit'.
“It was my husband's decision to quit his job and opt for a home-based work to take care of my daughter. He is finely balancing his share broking business and childcare responsibility. I am a relived mother and I don't have any tensions while in office,” says Jeeva Jayadas, a media professional from Kochi whose husband Siva Sudeesh is babysitting their two-year-old daughter.
Some of her friends also belong to this emerging new category of families where daddy does it.
Contrary to the traditional concept, many young fathers are now ready to quit fulltime job for taking care of their toddlers and allowing their partner to stay in job.
Joy T, working in a courier company in Kottayam, is babysitting his child while his wife is away for work in a bank. P. Vijayan from Chenganassery, (names changed) who was working with an engineering firm, decided to quit his job and allowed his wife to continue her job as a village officer to take care of his kid.
Praveen and Neena, another young IT professional couple from Thiruvananthapuram, also belongs to this new category. Praveen decided to quit his fulltime software job to look after their child when his wife rejoined office after maternity leave. Rekha Raj, a women rights activist, says the trend of fathers babysitting their children is quite common.
