Anthony Anderson: “I want a better connection with my children at home”

Law & Order star Anthony Anderson is returning to the small screen in Guys with Kids, a new comedy from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jimmy Fallon about three 30-something dads who try to hold on to their youth as they face the responsibilities of having kids.  He chatted with CelebrityBabyScoop about how dads are playing a larger role in raising their kids:

“It’s crazy. There was a study on a news program that I was watching before we even shot the pilot, and they were talking about how stay-at-home dads are on the increase. There are more fathers in the Mommy and Me classes than ever before. There are more fathers who are making play dates than the mothers than ever before. A lot of people look at them and wonder, how could you send your wife off to work while you sit at home with your kids and be lazy, when, you know, it’s unquantifiable what a stay-at-home parent does? It’s only looked upon negatively when you say “stay-at-home dad.” Why can’t this husband and this father empower his wife and support her for going out and making a career, while he stays at home to raise the children?

I think that’s very admiral, for any parent to do, but more so than not, a father. I just think it’s a great thing. Since I’ve been working with these children on the show and getting into my character, it’s actually made me want to be a better father. It makes me want to have a better connection with my children at home, because all my children have known from me is that I am on location. They were born into my career, so that’s all they know. That’s all they see…me on a plane and them on a plane, going to exotic locations, working, and having fun. But now that I’m doing this show, I can look at my son who’s 12 and look at my daughter who’s 16 and realize that I’ve missed out on a lot.”