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?

Having done this twice today with my husband and 18 month old, YABU. It's the nicest family time I can think of.

Of course it’s family time! We went to the swings last week with toddler and it was lovely to spend the time as a family.

However leaving them at the park because you were bored was a bit shitty

Do you have your son full time and wanted some time alone? If not then yes this is a family outing, I love watxhing my kids on the swings.

You had family time walking around. Leaving early and letting them spend quality time together is nice. As is you getting a wee break.

I may be projecting my friends other half. She works part-time and goes to the park with the DC a lot. At the weekend her DH insists on her going out with him for family time. Essentially he does not ever parent his own DC without some.one else being there. She doesn't stop, he gets plenty of free time.

If my dh said/did that I'd be pretty pissed off to be honest.
Obv it's not like we all go to the park because us as adults love it but we do it for the kids, they enjoy it and it's nice tk see them enjoying themselves and have distraction free time with them and dh. Of course there is 100 other more useful things I could do but it's nice and important to spend time with the family.
Yabu

I think you were rude to be honest. You could have chatted to your DH whilst he pushed the swing. If dh did that to me I’d feel annoyed. It’s different if dh had already agreed to give you some time to yourself etc

YABU ...

On the weekends I hate it if my husband asks if he "has" to go to the park with my daughter and I. Yes you do have to fucking come, this is what she enjoys and I do it alone 5 days a week. Pull your finger out and contribute to family time.

I’m sure there’s more to it but pushing a swing for half an hour is so boring, could you not take turns, 10 mins each?

Unless it’s the only childcare he does all day? 😬

I think even if OP is a SAHP who goes to the park everyday and desperately needed some alone time it should be discussed rather than her just announcing that she's bored and will be off now. I don't mean some summit/negotiation, but just a quick agreement that that was what would happen. I took DS to the park alone this morning so DH could relax and sort out the house before we had guests over and I didn't mind at all but I'd have been cross if he'd been with us and just announced he was leaving to go home with no prior discussion, even though I agreed in principle that he needed a break and to get some stuff done.

@Porcupineinwaiting

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

Absolutely this.

It doesn't take two people to push a swing. You need a break. I am also sick of family time. It translates as mothers having the kids alone (standard time), fathers having the kids with back-up from mothers (family time).

Yabu

YABU. You should have done 15 minutes of pushing each and chatted to keep each other company.

@ChloeCC

It doesn't take two people to push a swing. You need a break. I am also sick of family time. It translates as mothers having the kids alone (standard time), fathers having the kids with back-up from mothers (family time).

I agree with this.

YABU

Is this a reverse?

Yabu

Family time isn't incredibly exciting with very young children

"Family time" means the whole family together. Mummy should also get "Mummy time" to herself but this should be clearly delineated from family time.

If this was reversed and he’d done that to you no doubt you’d have people telling you to leave him and asking if he was always so inconsiderate...

@ChloeCC or maybe both mothers and fathers have the kids alone some of the time and family time is when all the family is together??
We don't know that op dh doesn't have the dc alone, or that they do 50/50 childcare

@ChloeCC

It doesn't take two people to push a swing. You need a break. I am also sick of family time. It translates as mothers having the kids alone (standard time), fathers having the kids with back-up from mothers (family time).

If this is the case, then I agree with you.

@Laaalaaaa

If this was reversed and he’d done that to you no doubt you’d have people telling you to leave him and asking if he was always so inconsiderate...

No, they really wouldn’t.

If you've been solo swing-pusher day in and day out for months, I can see your point of view, it is desperately dull.

You sound nice.

You’re so right @ChloeCC