who works as a radiologic technician for Borg & Ide Imaging, takes over watching and caring for Landon, 4, who was diagnosed as having Down's Syndrome when he was born. While this situation has caused some issues for the Tumminelli's ("my wife and I rarely see each other during the week, maybe 10-15 minutes a day Monday through Thursday," says Chris), it has also served as a blessing when it comes to bringing up Landon. Thanks to some creative scheduling, there is always a parent around to care for Landon, and both Chris and Debbie have off Friday through Sunday. "It's not the 1950s and the days of the 'Leave it to Beaver', where the mother would stay at home and provide care for her children while the husband earned a living are long gone," says Chris, whose family resides in Webster. "Men have to play a bigger role in raising a child," Chris adds. "My wife and I work opposite schedules, but I'm home during the day and she's home in the afternoon so it works out great. For four days, we sacrifice and my wife and I don't get to see each other much, but then Friday rolls around and we have the best weekends ever. We have plenty of time to do some great stuff together as a family, and it's really reassuring to know that every day our child has both parents taking on an active role in his upbringing."
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It was terrifying at times, but once my son arrived and I held him in my arms I had no doubts about the decision my wife and I had made. Being a stay-at-home dad is not something I'm doing until something better comes along; I am a stay-at-home dad. It's what I am and what I do." — Scott Morgan When he was growing up, Chris remembers his mother handling the bulk of the child-rearing duties, and said he couldn't recall his father ever changing one of his diapers. Now whenever Chris and Landon head out for one of their favorite activities, an afternoon at the Seneca Park Zoo, in addition to checking out the latest animal exhibits, Chris and his father counterparts can be seen changing their children's diapers in the zoo's bathrooms. "The role of fathers has definitely changed, especially from when I was a child," says the 40-year-old Chris. "Back in that day it wasn't uncommon for the father to not even be present in the delivery room, and the mother was literally doing everything while the father worked and provided for his family," he adds. "Having a father who is active and involved will benefit the child now and when they are older; and as for me, I'm a better person for being a stay-at-home father. I have more patience, more love and more respect for life. I just want to give everything I have to Landon; he's my number one priority!" Scott Morgan is another of the growing number of men who classify themselves as a stay-at-home father. Scott and his wife, Julie, have two boys, Brady, 6, and Chase, 1, and while Scott definitely envisions a day when he rejoins the workforce, he is currently more than satisfied with the stay-at-home dad title. When Julie became pregnant, Scott planned on staying home during the day when Julie was working, and then Julie would watch Brady while Scott was at night classes for his graduCONTINUED >>> Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent • October 2011
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