A couple have revealed how they were “forced” to switch roles – now she’s the breadwinner and he’s a “tradhusband”.
Sharon Johnson often hits the headlines due to her large brood, including six kids aged 15, 13, 12, 10, eight and six [not named for privacy reasons].
The former stay-at-home mum admitted to wearing earplugs to “drown out” her children and had strict rules in place, such as limiting screen time to one hour a week.
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Now, though, all of that has changed ever since husband Kerry, also 39, lost his job.
The pair have switched roles, with Sharon the breadwinner and Kerry a stay-at-home dad or “tradhusband”.
“I love being called a ‘tradwife’ or ‘tradhusband’ – it’s a badge I wear with complete pride,” Kerry, a former healthcare administrator, told What’s The Jam.
“It’s such a rare thing in the circles we run in and it’s been such a positive change for our family.
“I can’t imagine seeing it in a negative way.
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“Before, most days were tremendously stressful and I found myself pretty dissatisfied with the amount of time I was spending away from home.
“I felt very disconnected from my wife and kids and that created a lot of tension.
“I also didn’t feel like I could willingly leave the job that was bringing in the money to feed my family.
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“So I was very unhappy overall.”
Sharon and Kerry were brought up Mormon; where typically, the wife stays at home to bring up the kids and take care of the household and the husband goes to work to bring home the bacon.
It was all they knew; until they were “forced” to make a change.
Kerry said: “The company I worked for laid off a number of workers in various positions, including mine.
“This was not the first layoff I had been part of and each time presented us with the reality that we enjoyed having me home more.
“It made us question whether we continued to follow the traditional route and I found new employment – or if Sharon should give it a shot.”
Sharon, at this point, was already earning money through creating content on her social media.
The pair both knew the switch would ultimately be positive for their family.
And it’s proven to be just that.
He said: “It’s had its difficult moments, but I enjoy this much more than the work I was doing.
“I don’t feel any less masculine for the change – quite the opposite, actually.
“The idea that I can help my family in whatever way they might need is quite powerful.
“Sharon has been given a strong sense of independence and reality, which can very much get buried with women.
“[Especially] with the mentality emphasised at church.
“It takes her away from the family more, but the time she has with the kids seems to be higher quality time.
“We no longer participate in the Mormon religion, but our friends and neighbours continue to be part of that community.
“It’s been very amusing to hear from them, particularly the other men, that I seem happier than ever.
“I find myself wanting to share how I feel, because the teachings of the church tend to direct you to traditional roles.
“We’ve broken that norm and it’s going better than we could have imagined.”
Sharon and Kerry have grown to feel more like a team in this transition.
And while not everyone agrees with the decision, it’s one they don’t regret one bit.
Kerry, from Brigham City, Utah, US, added: “There are reactions across the board, though we don’t really pay attention to them.
“I enjoy that our kids have an example of a strong, independent woman providing for them.
“And the perspective we’ve gained has been great.
“Sharon has a greater appreciation for the pressure that comes with being a breadwinner and how challenging it is to stay connected to the family.
“I’ve learned how tough it is to keep a house running smoothly.
“If you are operating in the traditional sense, if making the switch is half as positive as the change has been for us, then it’s absolutely worth it.
“I love being a tradhusband.”
