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Rock, paper, income: The life of a stay-at-home dad

Stay-at-home dad Kenny Messer on the challenges and rewards of being home with the kids.

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Kenny Messer with his daughter

Kenny Messer with his son

Stand-up comedian Kenny Messer came to our studios with his two young children in tow -- Lily and Jack -- to talk about life as a stay-at-home dad.

Messer said it was a logical step to stay at home, given his wife earns more than he did. But he said there was a steep learning curve.

"When the actual day took place, Jack was eight weeks old and she was going back to work, the sound of that door clicking, and there I am alone with this eight-week-old, it's food source is on its way to Glendale," he told Tess. "It was pretty crazy."

While there are some discomforts -- like being the odd-one-out in a mommy's group -- he said he enjoys being a stay-at-home dad. Take a listen to the audio above to hear more details about his life and what Lily and Jack think of having dad home all the time.

About the author

Tess Vigeland is the host of Marketplace Money, where she takes a deep dive into why we do what we do with our money.
tonsowgat's picture
tonsowgat - Jun 17, 2012

I enjoyed the piece with Kenny Messner, and I have enjoyed listening to the pieces speaking to the changing men's and women's roles within families. In my newspaper I read a brief commentary today by Armin Brott (who blogs at DadSoup.com) on how advertising at best ignores dads as parents, and at worst alienates them as consumers.
I'd like to hear him on your show.