Everyone is really nice to me when I have my kid(s) alone. The guy at the corner store where I get my beer almost always gives a free candy bar, middle-aged women touch my arm and say "good job, dad".
My wife seemingly gets none of this, and if anything maybe some subtle judgement. Is this a universal experience?
Yeah, this seems like a likely answer. The bar is, in my experience, below sea level for dads and parenting.