Chance the Rapper Delays Tour to Support His Wife After Birth

Chance the Rapper has postponed his upcoming tour to be a better dad and a better husband.

It’s been a big year for the rapper/singer/activist. After years of dropping mixed tapes, he released his first-ever album in February, got married to longtime girlfriend Kirsten Corley Bennett in March and last week celebrated the birth of their second child, Marli, who joins 4-year-old big sister Kensli.

Chance was scheduled to go on tour to promote his album starting next week, but just made the big decision to instead take paternity leave and stay where he’s needed most: at home with his family.

In an Instagram post showing him with his two daughters, he explained his decision, saying he’d been thinking it over for a week. After expressing gratitude for the greatest year of his life, he talked about the topic that gets asked of every woman on a red carpet but hardly any men: work-life balance.

“It has also been very strenuous having to divide my time and energy between family and work,” he wrote, then admitted that when Kensli was born, he went on tour just two weeks later. That meant that he not only missed out on some of her first milestones, but he also wasn’t there for her mom when she needed him the most.

“As a husband and father of two I realize that I can’t make that mistake again,” he wrote. “I need to be as helpful and available as possible to my wife in these early months of raising Kensli and Marli.” He bumped the start date of his tour to January 15 and told fans they can get refunds or exchanges for the tickets they’ve already bought.

This is clearly a man who gets it.

For new moms, the help of a loving partner is absolutely invaluable, and to have a world-famous dad not only acknowledge this but change his massive plans to provide it is a huge step toward change. Right now, the United States lags behind most other developed countries when it comes to parental leave, and paternity leave is still (sadly) not commonly thought of as a priority. With Chance recognizing that being home right now is beneficial for his wife, his child and himself, maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a boost in awareness about the need for paternity leave.

If the comments on his Instagram post are any indication, signs are pretty positive: His fans are posting support for his decision and applauding his commitment to his family. “As hard as I’m sure it was, you’ll look back on this as one of the best decisions of your life. Sending love to you and the fam. Everyone will be more than ready for you when you’re ready to step back out on the road,” one fan commented. “A big day requires big decisions. Love this,” another said. “Family first,” someone else posted.

Chance will still perform in Chicago, his hometown, on September 28, as well as keep a few of his already scheduled festival dates. But for the most part, until January, he’ll be right where he belongs: with his wife and kids.