I just finished watching an interesting segment on Today about the changing role of dads and how many fathers have become ’stay at home dads’ while their wives returned to the workforce.  Profiling former high level executives from leading financial services firms, the segment showed how Dad’s have had to step it up and take responsibility for their children and their homes since losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn.  There are now ‘Daddy & Me” meetups in parks and get togethers for ‘Stay at Home Dads”.  The segment quoted that membership in the ‘Stay at Home Dad’ meetup group on Meetup.com has more than doubled in the last six months.  With 75+ members in the NYC group these Dad’s admittedly are just trying to keep things afloat until they find a job.  They all acknowledge how hard it is to stay home and have a new appreciation for the wives who once were home juggling feeding schedules, diaper changes, music classes and other activities.  I have yet to stumble upon these men on the days I spend in Central Park but I’m sure they are there.  In fact, I am seeing many more mom’s strolling the city streets with their little ones than ever before.  Slowly but surely I think we are seeing more and more stay at home moms or dads.  It will be interesting to see when the economy picks up how many will choose to stay home indefinitely vs. those that choose to return to the workforce.