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?

Some of my most favourite memories are of playing in the park with my dad and brother. My dad is really tall so he’d pull me high up in the swing. Playing in the playground makes great memories. I’d just leave your DH to it

when a kid is 2 family time is pushing them on a swing! He wanted to be with you and spend time with you and your child - that's what family time is - doing things together. By saying you are ditching them to do something useful with your time is really rude! You have said that spending time with them isnt good use of your time which is pretty crap.

Have there been times i havent wanted to go to the park yet again... yes more than i can count but it's time playing and that is essential to a 2 year old and watching them laugh and play is essential to making you feel a part of their world and enjoy them being so young and carefree. to say tidying and reading a book is more important than chatting with your husband while kid happily swings is pretty grinchy. I would love to have time as a family like that, sadly my ex was an ass and im pushing that swing alone everytime. I would love the company and be really pissed that the other half would rather tidy.

Family time isnt all about days out and flash stuff - its the little things too - stories on the sofa, crafting, park time, jumping in leaves, collecting conkers.... family time is time you take out of your day to spend on others, time to bring you closer together and appreciate each other. What you just did is refuse to give time out of your day for your family.

I'd have agreed minus the bailing out half way. I liked my time with kids leaving mum at hame for a couple of hours taking 2x DS to various parks. Drive to park.... Walk.... Swings... Picnic.... Drive home... Simples.. 50% of the time they were knacked when we got home so me n wife had a while to relax. Crikey needs 2 for a nappy... No.
My wife went to another part of the country several times looking after family and I was at home looking after kids Dd7, ds4 & ds3 as well as doing usual stuff. Sometimes think jumping in at deep end is easiest way for learning to cope.
Just don't bail half way....dont go.

Well I'm curious to know what you think is family time if this isn't it. Doing things with children is often boring but this is pretty much the textbook definition of family time.

Well there's nothing wrong with wanting time away from your family sometimes but perhaps this is something that you need to set out in advance. I would be upset if we were in the middle of a family outing and DH left to do 'something productive' basically implying that family time is a waste of time.

Of course activities that a 2 year old enjoys are going to be repetitive but you do them in order to spend time together. Dh and I often had our longest uninterrupted day time chats when DC were on swings.

I voted YABU because that does count as family time...however YANBU to want a bit of space to tidy up/have a cuppa that's actually hot/read a book or whatever else you want to do with no one else around.

The hardest bit of lockdown for me is the zero alone time I get. Time alone is just as valuable as time with family for your mental wellbeing for most people who aren't my husband

Honestly; I think ANY time you spend with your family at home or away - with no other distractions IS family time.
During lockdown we started to do movie night on a Saturday. Popcorn and milkshake for the DC (6&10) and a glass of wine each for DH and I. DC have loved having a "sleep over" downstairs with their pillows and quilts (HD and I go off to bed). We have considered this very important family time as it gave our DC something to look forward to.
We also do Pizza Friday.

I cant belive you left the park to go home and do chores! That's what family time is! Time WITH your family away from everything else that occupies your mind the rest of the day.
I consider watching my DH ruff and tumbling on the floor with our 3 boys as family time and I take tons of funny pics.

YABU!!

Of course that's family time - your poor DH!

That is family time! You were at the park, as a family! YABU

Thats what family time is about ,going to the park ,seeing ur kids have fun whilst chatting together,maybe u should of said before leaving the house that u have a few things to do whilst daddy takes baby for an hour,i would of been hurt if we had left together and then my partner left to read a book lol ,its hard to say really tho with out knowing u as ur parner could be some one who never takes baby out so u get a break .x