Millennial Fathers

And how they are breaking generational cycles

I saw a statistic that said Millennial fathers are spending three times more quality time with their kids than their fathers spent with them. The same statistic shared that in 1982, 43% of fathers states they had never changed a diaper. Today, that percent is now down to less than 3%.

Millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, got a bad rap a few years back. They were labeled as lazy, entitled, selfish, and immature. Now, the labels seem to be turning into more positive ones as they are coined as being technologically savvy, influential, creative, frugal, and optimistic.

Whatever labels you use to define them or whatever stereotypes Millennials (like me) feel they fit into, we have to admit that they are breaking generational cycles when it comes to fatherhood. A news article in 2023 even termed them the best generation of dads in history, stating that 57% of millennial dads look at fatherhood as a fundamental part of their identity.

You can come up with your own reasons as to why these Millennial dads are stepping into their roles as fathers unlike ever before, but I’ll tell you my thoughts: they get it.

Simply put, Millennials dad get the importance and weight of what a present and active father can mean for a growing child.

Part of our Millennial mindset is to be present. It’s the optimistic, live in the moment, better our mental health by not stressing out attitude, positive energy kind of thinking that makes us want to be present. Yes, we are technologically savvy and spend way more time on technology devices than other generations but that’s because we have more access to them. When you strip everything back to its rawest form, I see these Millennial dads (like my husband) just wanting to be there, wanting to be present in the memory making, not wanting to miss out, wanting to be more involved than their fathers were.

Millennial fathers are prioritizing taking paid time off work to spend with family or (like my husband recently did) spend their child’s entire birthday with them. They are present and active during bedtime routines and getting on the floor to play. They are taking parental leave which was wildly not used as frequently or popularly as it is today, partly because the United States still does not require parental leave at every workplace.

Millennial dads are there. They are present. They are being fathers, not babysitters. They are instrumental and fundamental parts of their child’s life in a way that we haven’t seen in past generations.

And us mothers see it. We see it and we recognize it, and we appreciate it. We are in a generation where fathers are making motherhood easier just by fulfilling the role of fatherhood. They are making the newborn phase easier by helping with those midnight feedings or diaper changes. They are making every phase after easier by simply being a father - being present and involved and active.

I love my husband and who he is as a father to our girls. He is doing an amazing job. And if you’re reading this and you’re a millennial father (or a father like this), I want to say thank you. Thank you for what you’re doing in your child’s life and thank you for how you’re making it easier on your child’s mother too.

Thank you for breaking cycles.

Thank you for being the best generation of dads in history.

Let’s continue the conversation:

1. What are your thoughts on how fatherhood is evolving through generations?

2. Why do you think this new generation of fathers are fully stepping into the role of fatherhood?

3. How do you see these changes impacting you or your children?