Study: Helpful Dads Damage Mother’s Self-Esteem at Home – Mental Health | Illness | Disorders – FOXNews.com.

Ok, this one bothers me.

I’m a helpful Dad … on the continuum, I’m the guy other Dad’s secretly hate because I manage to make the time to do the things with my children that I know I would regret not doing in later years.

I’ve had other Dad’s literally tell me to stop.

I’ve heard stories of wives using me against their husbands in arguments.

I’ve felt bad, I don’t want to be a gender-traitor, but I refuse to change my values to suit others.

Now we see there’s a study that can be used against guys like me.

Certainly, I don’t want to be the cause of my wife’s mental health demise.

But as I look back at my life, and I look back at my wife’s mental health, I have to say that this study leaves out an important factor.

I’ll get to that, but first allow me to fill in some blanks.

My wife’s self-esteem is just fine.  She has no issues pertaining to her role as a wife and mother.

Why did she escape unscathed from the clutches of a husband’s overzealous involvement in their children’s lives?

Good mental health.

1 in 4 Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder.  This could be stress, depression or relationship issues – those are the most common.

Point being, once you’re behind the 8-ball, it doesn’t take much to send you over the edge.

Let’s not use this study to support the notion that Fathers should be lazy.  Let’s instead support the notion that new mothers, no matter how mentally healthy, need additional support.  Having a child is stressful, and yes, there are social pressures.  The answer is therapy, not lazy fathers.