text: Today's Dad: Meetings with Clients, My Daughter's Pediatrician -- All in a Day | The Alexander Group
  Men in the workforce have increased their use of flexible work schedules significantly over the last few years. Indeed, one report by the Working Mother Research Institute found that 77% of men use flextime and feel comfortable doing so. Because of this, flextime is no longer viewed as only a "working mother's issue." Instead, flextime is now a common work benefit used by employers to help in employee retention and satisfaction. The Working Mother report also revealed, "The majority of men who flex say it improves their productivity (85 percent), morale (84 percent), loyalty (82 percent), and relationships with co-workers (77 percent), team communications (81 percent) and overall job satisfaction (86 percent)."
  Today's fathers are motivated to spend more time with their children than their parents spent with them. While 46% of today's dads report spending at least as much time with their kids, 48% of fathers believe they can still do better. This could be a contributing factor to the growing trend of fathers choosing to become stay-at-home dads. Of the approximate 2 million stay-at-home dads, 21% report that their desire to care for home and family was the driving factor, which is nearly four times the amount that said the same in 1989.
  Studies have indicated a direct connection between child development and the time a father spends with his children. In 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families found that children who spent quality time with their fathers had higher IQs, better social and physical health, and were able to handle stressful situations better than children who spent less time with their fathers. They specifically found that the early years of a child's life matter the most, the study suggests "Toddlers with involved fathers go on to start school with higher levels of academic readiness."
  Childcare participation will inevitably vary from person to person, but for me, I wanted to be as much of a part of my child's life as my wife, and this includes being present for events that are typically seen as being handled by the mother. This has been a growing trend over the past few decades, with more fathers (58 percent) viewing their role as a parent as a critical part of their identity.
  I have been present for nearly every one of my daughter's monthly checkups, dentist appointments, and am always home in time for dinner and bedtime. All of this has only been possible because of the support I have received from my employer, and the trust they have placed in me to do my job well, whether in the office or at home.