This Stay-At-Home Dad In Malta Is Breaking Stereotypes… And A Sweat
The phrase stay-at-home dad is a new one to the Maltese, but this father is challenging the idea that a mother should stay at home with the kids, and he’s picked up a few interesting pieces of life advice along the way.
Emil (aka Fatherologist on Facebook) is documenting his daily life with his son, Ean, and all the adventures the two of them get up to. Born in Iran, Emil moved to Sweden at a young age to flee the Islamic Revolution. But now he’s in Malta for a change of pace, and of course the sun and sea.
Many can testify that being a parent changes you, and one of the biggest changes Emil’s son inspired is a total revamp in his attitude towards fitness.
“For most of my life I considered indulging in food as something worth sacrificing 10 or more years of my life for. With [the birth of my son], all of that has changed.”
That’s how he came up with Toddlercise, the amazing way to stay fit as a father.
He’s also on a mission to make sure his child eats healthily – and so far its working like a charm. Since before the birth of their son, both he and his wife decided their kid wouldn’t be given any unhealthy or processed meals and treats, at least for his first year.
Now, at almost two years old, their son still feels bananas and raisins are “gods gift to mankind”. And seeing his son eat healthily has inspired him too.
But Fatherologist isn’t just fighting for fitness – he’s looking to break the mold in Malta… and across the globe. As a stay-at-home dad he experiences constant questions and queries from people who have some majorly outdated (or just plain sexist) ideals. “Oh, you’re baby sitting today?”
It’s these comments that make him even more determined to break that stereotype. “As a stay at home dad you will for sure be judged and questioned but you will also be celebrated and encouraged by those more evolved. My most important advice is, don’t get offended.”
And of course, through it all, he gets to have an amazing time watching his son grow.