A Father's Burden: Watching Every Penny

April 29, 2009 — -- It's a father's job to worry. For the dads in Waukesha, Wis., like thousands of others around the country, they are working hard butjob losses in the United States have hit men. And a new study from the University of Cambridge shows that job insecurity hits men harder than women.

Click here to see all of our "At Your House" coverage.

Schmitt is a dad to be. With Maas' help, he's started selling items on Ebay.

Dable said that while everyone worries about money these days, fathers have a unique burden, "making sure your family is provided for. Making sure there will be a meal on the table tomorrow."

Nacario and his wife, who also works, split their days taking care of their kids because day care is so expensive.

"Its hard for me right now, because I work in the morning and my wife comes home in the afternoon," she said. "She has to work because we don't have money for day care. It's hard for me."

And even though they are working, the Waukesha men said it's often not enough.

"Every day I fear that I'm not letting my kids do something, because we don't have the money," Jared said. "And that's not a good enough excuse for me.

For Schmitt, it hasn't yet come to pacing the floors at night, but he does keep a close eye on his money.

"We're tightening the belt, but I don't think it will be that bad," he said.

But, he admitted, it has started sinking in as he spends more time with men who have been fathers for years.

Dable said he was just 20 when he found out he was going to be a dad.

"It was 'Grow up now,'" he said.

But, he added, "No matter how bad it will get with late nights, the cryings, the feedings, every time that girl will look up at you and smile its all worth it."