A coworker and I were pulling into the parking lot at the same time and I asked her where her baby was. She responded, “She’s at home with her daddy today.” And I laughed and said, “So is my baby! Who would have thought the women would be at work and the men would be at home with the children?” And that thought has stuck with me for a couple of days.

This generation of parents has made parenting their own thing.

Millennials, especially the men, have been stereotyped in the media as soft, lazy, and lacking common sense. And like all stereotypes, it’s not true for everyone. The millennial fathers in my life are all strong, hard-working men that are not easily swayed from their beliefs and values. While millennials get a lot of hate, I am here to tell you why millennial dads are the greatest.

1. They don’t let labels get in the way of parenting.

While this wasn’t the case in every home, for the most part in the past, mothers and fathers had very clear roles inside the family unit. The men were in charge of the home’s finances and the women were in charge of the children. That is not the case anymore. Men are regularly going on play dates and taking daddy-daughter dance lessons. They are making dinner for their families and helping with the dishes afterward. They realize that groceries need to be bought and laundry needs to be put away and it doesn’t really matter who does it.

2. They are staying home with their children.

Like I mentioned earlier, who would have thought that the fathers would be at home with the children while the mothers went to work? It just didn’t happen that often. But in today’s society, we are seeing fathers at home with their children on a regular basis. This is awesome for me because I don’t have to take him to daycare when I go to work. I know that my husband will be home and he and our son will spend some quality time together.

3. They’re involved. 

You’ve seen videos and pictures of new dads changing their babies’ diapers, giving their children baths, and potty training their sons and daughters. Millennial dads help with homework and go to parent teacher conferences. I’ve personally had my husband let me sleep through the night so I could get some rest while he woke up every time the baby needed something. Millennial dads are actively taking a bigger part in the upbringing of their children.

4. They are a true support system in a marriage.

Millennial dads get it. They understand that both parents work hard (whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working-in-an-office mom) and that it’s better to support each other instead of expecting things from each other. They understand when you’ve had a bad day and need a break. They sit and listen and give advice and, in my case, ground us and show us what’s really important in life. They see you as an individual with personal goals, not just as “Mom” and want to help you reach them. They appreciate that those goals are what makes a person well-rounded and see that the realization of them will only better wellness of the family unit.

Millennial dads have shown the world they’re prepared to roll up their sleeves and get down and dirty with parenting.

You may also like:

To My Husband: Thank You For Being A Great Man

Daddies, Your Sons Are Watching You

To My Husband—I Don’t Say It Enough: Thank You For Being Our Everything

And God Said, “Let There Be Daddies”