All Dolled Up

The clothes may be a bit formal for many on this particular occasion, but the plastic smile and hint of nervousness in the eyes of this week's objet d'eBay, a dolled up father to be, pretty much captures the mien of most men pacing on the cusp of a new offspring.

Although there is some overlap between expectant and under fire, so far dolls are staying in one father category or the other, thanks to two North Carolina-based moms who created hugahero dolls — sorry ladies, apparently only men go to war ... or at least get dolls to celebrate it — incorporating the father's face and voice.

But even as there are male dolls being created, the conventional wisdom is that future fathers won't play with them unless you call them "action figures," since dolls are for girls. Not that AF is a particularly useful name except for marketing purposes. As metal maniac Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister said of the action figure created in his own image, if it's not anatomically correct, ".. then it's not going to get much action then, is it?"

Is or was the FOB doll anatomically correct? The picture gives no solid hint.

** Once they really were action figures, now, for most fathers, it's just an in their mind game. Alas. **

SAHDly

Thankfully, the daddytracker battles over the work/kid balance can be dealt with by talk not actual fighting. And both sides can claim to be doing their best for their children. Because when fathers actually go to war, sometimes they don't return. A tragedy now commemorated (?) with daddy dolls (now, "hug a heroes").

Not that a dad should necessarily stay at home once he returns. An experiment in SAHD credibility had a sad result. A pop who only has to go up or down his home's stairs to his office reduces his credibility unless he doesn't let anyone know.

** Everyday is a struggle, but mortality is not always a consequence. **