Hi everyone,
I'm feeling quite torn and conflicted about a situation at home, and I'm not sure if I'm overreacting or if my concerns are valid. I hope you can offer me some advice or perspective.
Background: I'm a stay-at-home mom to our two children, a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. My partner works full-time and is generally a loving and caring father. However, there's an issue that's been bothering me for a while, and I don't know if I'm being unreasonable about it.
The problem lies in my partner's involvement in parenting. While he does spend time with the children, I feel like the majority of the childcare responsibilities fall on my shoulders. I handle the day-to-day routines, discipline, appointments, and all the emotional and physical labor that comes with raising kids. My partner tends to be more of a "fun" parent, playing with the children when he's available but rarely taking on the less enjoyable tasks.
Now, I understand that our roles may differ since I'm the primary caregiver. However, I often feel overwhelmed and exhausted, and it would be a huge help if my partner could step up more and share the load. I've tried discussing this with him calmly, but he doesn't seem to understand the extent of my frustration and how it's affecting me.
Recently, I raised my concerns again, expressing the need for more support. His response was that he works hard to provide for our family and feels entitled to relax during his time off. While I appreciate his hard work, I can't help but feel like I'm being taken for granted and that my partner's lack of involvement is unfair to both me and our children.
Am I being unreasonable in expecting my partner to be more involved in parenting? Should I accept that this is just the way things are? I love my partner, but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to handle everything on my own.
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.