To not think watching my husband push the toddler on the swings is family time.

[uisage]

We had a wee walk earlier which culminated in the park around the corner (2 mins from my house at toddler speed). I said to my husband I would go home and do something useful with my time, and DH got upset because he wanted to spend some time as a family.

Watching a 2yo being pushed on the swings (DS requires at least half an hour, he really loves the swings) isn't really quality family time in my opinion.

It's boring enough pushing a swing for half an hour (and I have done a lot of that since the parks reopened), let alone watching someone else push.

I went home, did some tidying and then read some of my book.

Wibu?

You I'm afraid.

Sounds like he wanted to chat for a bit and you told him to sod off. YABU.

I think pushing a toddler on the swing for half an hour would be way more enjoyable if there was another adult there to keep you company. On that basis I'd say YABU.

Well sort of not, but did you all go and do something else after the swing? You could have talked to your partner while he pushed?

I would have been realy upset if dp had left me in that situation. He probably wanted to talk to you whilst he pushed!

Sounds like the definition of family time to me. It's rarely exciting, esp with a 2 year old.

God I agree, I can never get anything done because the kids are always here and then we all have to go out for fucking family time.

I finally got DH to agree to take the kids to a park alone so I could de clutter and rotate the toys in the playroom. I got up before they went and got ‘kids, do we want mummy to come on our walk...’ of course they fucking do! So then he had to wrestle two upset kids into the car.

I stayed home though!

Sorry YABU

That said, I do accept your need for a break may have been greater than your need for family time. So if you never get any alone time then it's fine to expect your dh to deal with the toddler alone for a bit.

Then what is your definition of 'family time'? If the post were from a woman whose partner left her ta the swings to go and watch the Grand Prix would you be supporting him? Poor man!

Very unreasonable. Your child is two. What is better ‘quality family time’ than swings for a 2yo? You left your husband to do that while you went and read your book.

YWBU to just leave him. Ywnbu to not go if they were heading off together though.

That’s sad that your child loves the swings and you didn’t want to watch him enjoy himself because it’s boring.
I would class a trip to the park to play on the swings as family time.
We will often go to the park and play on the swings, then go for a walk and an icecream/hot chocolate.

Maybe you push him on the swings on your own most of the time and it was time for your DH to experience that for himself. I'm sure he coped. Maybe you needed to recharge your batteries with some alone time. No harm done. Unless someone is still pissy about it?

It's boring enough pushing a swing for half an hour

You sound like a bundle of laughs... Do you not chat to DS whilst you're pushing him on the swing?

I'd have enjoyed the time to talk to my DH and DS without any distractions. Definitely sounds like something we'd refer to as family time in our house.

How often do you usually have time as a family, and how often is it just you and toddler going to the park etc? Probably depends on that

yes - you have nailed what family time is, it's to prepare you for freezing your arse at various sporting events, sweating in small church halls for hours on end and queuing for hours at theme parks.

“Do something useful with my time.” Did you really say that? You’ve basically just told him being with him and toddler is a waste of your time. That’s a bit well, shit!

For me that is lovely family time. Watching my son enjoy himself on the swings and chat to him and my partner is lovely family time. I had a perfect morning doing this and feeding the ducks.

I understand the need the get things done and have some time to yourself but if you wanted that you should have just said so in the morning and not gone to the park.

I look after my son every day and he loves it when we are both there with him, it is special family time.

So it would be too boring for you, but surely even more boring for your DH with no other adult to chat to? And of course this is family time - what do you class as family time out of interest?

Pushing a swing is so shit, why wouldn't you talk to your DH and try and make it a bit less shit for him?!

OMG I hate taking my kids to the park. Hate it. It’s the most tedious thing on Earth. I swear time passes three times more slowly at the park

I wouldn’t gladly let my husband have some quality Daddy time and bugger off home instead of standing around watching them.

YANBU.

It’s definitely family time.

If you want some time off from family time, that’s a different issue.

I think saying that you'll stay home while he takes the toddler to the playground is totally fine and fair but just announcing that you're off to do something better while you'll all out together is pretty rude and I'd have been upset too. What exciting things would count as family time to you?

Depends how much alone time you’ve had this week.

Zero - I wouldn’t have even bothered going along with them

A bit of time to yourself - I would have stayed and chatted to DP