My friend Daddy John over at BlogTalkRadio was pretty pumped up a few weeks back when he was contacted by the folks at BusinessWeekTV. They were interested in talking to him about his life as a work-at-home dad, and the dads group he pulled together in his New Jersey neighborhood. Here at DadLabs, we’re always excited when we hear about mainstream media covering the change in fatherhood, even when it’s not about us. It’s better if it’s about us. But we were excited anyway because John is a cool guy and a seriously committed dad.

The segment that BusinessWeek produced was good, if somewhat behind the curve (Old TeeVee). Still just a hint of surprise that guys would be interested in staying home with the kids. Just a whiff of “Offbeat News” about the whole thing, but overall a balanced and boring look at the challenges of balancing family and career for modern dads. Plus there were lots of shots of John’s cute kids tearing up his sofa.

Everything was fine until right at the end. After putting a tag on the story, the weasel/anchor drops an offhand comment that completely undoes whatever good this segment had managed (how many people watch BusinessWeekTV?). In a moment of what can only be described as utter douchebaggery, dude pulls back the veil on what primary caregiver dads are up against. Please watch this video all the way to the end to engage your indignation reflex.

The dumbass should have read this article about the work of University of Texas Psychiatry Professor Aaron Rochlen. Right here in the DadLabs’ back yard, Rochlen has been carrying on research looking into the impact that cultural norms and stereotypes are having on stay-at-home dads. His results on the satisfaction and happiness of these dads is interesting, to say the least.

I think that the implications of the study have broader application. Every dad out there that is taking an active role, making career compromises and sacrifices, nurturing, can relate to the forces described in the article.

I’m going to meet with Dr. Rochlen next week to interview him for a feature I am writing for Fit Pregnancy (I know, I know, I’m neither fit nor pregnant). My hidden agenda: convince the good doctor that DadLabs is no threat to his professional standing, and lure him into the studio for an interview.