What it’s Like to Be a Working Father

Actor Chris Tuohy captures the heartbreaking sexism of being a working mom and dad.

How difficult it is to be a working mum with a career at the top of her game isn’t the issue. Even though working women in the US are the least highly valued women in the work force, after taking into account their work hours, real earning potential, and skills level they are actually given less money when they’re making the same amount of money that their male colleagues bring home. They also get paid less in child care costs, overtime pay, and bonuses. In fact, working mothers are often given more slack when they take time off to care for their kids, while fathers are less likely to do the same.

This is just one side of working parenting. As Chris Tuohy, actor, comedian, writer, executive producer, and co-creator of 2 Broke Girls, has proven, men are in a similar position of being heavily reprimanded for caring for their kids when they aren’t at work. He explains why the “I’m at work” card should be left on the shelf, having mastered the art of being honest in the tough parenting trenches:

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I work and try to make dinner or leave for work on time. The kids come first and I try to make the play date on time. But sometimes I skip a nap and end up going to bed with a newborn, and that’s when I’m just falling apart. Some of the weirdest times I’ve had are with my kids at the dentist, when my wife gives a standing ovation of gratitude because the tooth fairy came, but I’m not here.

He also noted the ridiculous advice women receive. Rather than take some time off for their kid’s sake, they are warned about the retaliation they would face if they leave for a day.

I get a ton of texts from people with their daughter in the playground, asking “what are you doing?” and I have to be honest, and say, “Girl I’m just going to take this girl out to go sit in a tree with Superman and Batman.” Even the women who know that I’ve gone to the dentist don’t like it. “I’ll tell you when you get home.” And the worst of it is they make it about you. “But I know you hate that dentist, you wanted me to see them all.” So they alienate you. And the worst part is after the kid graduates, they say, “I know your dad did not love your dentist, I can tell by all the ‘undesirable’ things your dad had to say about it on Facebook.” And the worst part is when they’re in preschool, they’ve started to imitate all the horrible things you were saying about your dental visit. That girl can appreciate a good X-ray of a kid’s femur!

See how amazing he pulls it off, and who other men can relate: