ESL Podcast 937 - Being a Stay-at-Home Dad

stay-at-home dad - a father who does not work outside of the home, but instead takes care of the children and the home

More and more men are becoming stay-at-home dads while their wives go to work.

to be laid off - to be dismissed from a job; for an employer to say that one no longer has a job

If the company closes the factory, about 200 people will be laid off.

full-time - working 40 or more hours per week

How do you manage to be a full-time employee and a part-time student and still find time to sleep?

breadwinner - the person who earns most of the money used to pay for a family's expenses

Xavier is proud to be the breadwinner for his family, but he often worries about what would happen if he lost his job.

househusband - a term used to describe a stay-at-home-dad, sometimes used disrespectfully or to show one's disapproval

Meghan's husband told her that if she gets the promotion and raise, he'll become a househusband and take care of their kids.

to put it that way - to say something in a particular way, especially in a way that one hadn't considered before

I never realized those paintings could be offensive, but now that you've put it that way, I guess I can understand that perspective.

caretaker - a person who takes care of something or someone, making sure it is safe and protected

A caretaker looks after their home in Wyoming each summer while they're in Florida.

household chore - a duty that must be performed in the home to keep it clean and working correctly, such as washing dishes or vacuuming

Once the kids were old enough, we assigned household chores to each of them so that everyone was helping out in our house.

feminist - a person who believes in the importance of helping women feel able and powerful, and reducing inequality (not having the same opportunities, benefits, etc.) between men and women

Janice is a feminist who advocates for women's right to vote around the world.

sensibility - a way of thinking about something; an ability to feel a particular way about something

Even as a young child, Jacques seemed to have artistic sensibilities.

radical - very extreme; not standard or common

Jamie has always had radical political ideas, believing that no government is necessary in any society.

lifestyle - a way of living, referring to how one spends money and what activities one participates in

People who live in this area tend to have a healthier lifestyle, with greater balance between work, family, and play than in many other parts of the country.

to change up - to alter something in an unexpected or unusual way; to switch something around

After the merger, management decided to change up a lot of our internal policies and procedures.

gender roles - expectations about the behaviors and responsibilities of men and women

Karina grew up in a family with traditional gender roles, so her dad always did the yard work and her mother always cooked and cleaned.

nowadays - in modern times; these days; currently

Nowadays, it seems like everybody has a cell phone.

recipe - written instructions for preparing a particular type of food

These cookies are delicious! Could you please give me the recipe?