It might have something to do with the name, but mothers groups don’t inspire too many fathers to join their ranks.
“And there really isn’t an equivalent group for fathers,” says Albion stay-at-home dad Dinesh Jayasuriya.
“The one my wife goes to, the other fathers don’t seem to be as interested [in joining]. It might be that they’re not the full-time parent. But that isolation that mothers used to feel, fathers feel as well, that’s how mothers groups came about.”
The sustainability engineer largely works from his home office, which has allowed him and his wife Kristy, a teacher, to juggle the caring responsibilities for their four-month-old daughter Sam.
But while Kristy meets regularly with other mothers in her local mothers group, Mr Jayasuriya takes Sam to the park, the library, or the coffee shop, on his own.
“I know there must be dads around here, there just isn’t a way for us to get together,” he says. “Even if you don’t think you need it, there might be a time when you need that support,” he says.
So he’s put the wheels in motion for a “3020 Fathers Group” that would meet weekly, whether it be in a park, the cinemas or a nearby café.
Already 20 dads have expressed interest in joining. They’re yet to lock in a weekly meeting time, but have a Facebook group, and an official name is in the works.
To join visit http://bit.ly/2oXfKHN or call Dinesh on 0481 363 115.
Alexandra Laskie
