Dad was called 'superhero' for stepping out with kids alone and running errands—his top-notch response is a lesson for all

It is often said that people are being sexist or stereotypical with their actions and mindset. However, even statements and words can subconsciously contribute to the stigmas society has. Moreover, how we respond to these statements can also play an impactful role. Similarly, a dad and nutrition coach, Jeff Dalzell – who goes by @jeffdalzellfitness on Instagram – revealed that when he went out with his kids to run a few errands, he received all kinds of compliments, most of which were indirectly sexist. However, the dad had a fitting response to render, which is a loud and clear message for parents and society. 

Dalzell revealed that he went out to do a few chores with his children. Since the mom was not with them and the dad was looking after both kids, he received many compliments. Some of them were, “Look who’s babysitting today!” “So nice to see you babysitting,” “How nice of you to give mom a break!” and so on. "I get these comments almost every time I go out with more than one of my kids," Dalzell said, per Newsweek. "Sometimes, I'll get them if I'm just with one, but when I have all three, I get people telling me I'm a superhero,” he remarked.

He noted that he was grateful for people appreciating his work, but remarks like these were adding to the bias already present in the parenting world. “I’m not babysitting. They are my kids!” he said. “I’m not giving her a break. It’s part of my job as a dad,” he noted. He added that the standards set for dads when it comes to looking after their kids were “abysmally low.” He insisted that “dads do better” and put in more effort so that their duty is normalized. “It should not be a surprise to people that I’m just showing up and doing stuff with my kids,” he pointed out. The dad further mentioned that such comments can feel demotivating.

“[It's] like they expect me to fail or not bother trying. Those low-level expectations can make it feel like even my effort to be present will always appear to be trying too hard,” he explained. Sharing another perspective, Dalzell explained that moms deserve as much appreciation for doing the very same things and more. "While I think that there are roles within the family dynamic, and moms often take on the primary caregiver and household logistics coordinator roles, that doesn't mean that they don't deserve recognition and credit for doing an invaluable, difficult, and often isolating job well and constantly," he noted.

In his caption, he highlighted, “I’m not the world’s best dad by any metric, but I’m tired of people looking at me like I just discovered fire when I take my kids in public. Let’s raise the bar a bit, shall we?” Many parents, especially dads, resonated and agreed with Dalzell’s point of view. @sacred.origins noted, “When the absence of fathers is the norm, your mere presence is an accomplishment.” @emondsam said, “Nothing ruffles my feathers more than a backhanded comment like that. No, my son and I are best friends and I take him everywhere.” @kairi221b added, “Protect this man at all costs and teach a class."

You can follow Jeff Dalzell (@jeffdalzellfitness) on Instagram for more parenting content.