Should he cook?

[minion246]

We both work full time. I have four amazing children and he is a good stepdad. The problem I've got is that he has booked a week off work next week (I'm still at work) and he said he doesn't mind doing the house work but his not cooking, I have to cook when I get home. I'm livid as i cook for the kids when I get home usually anyway (he is at work) but I don't feel that I should when he has a week off!!!!am I being unreasonable and if he still refuses what do I do? Advice would be very much appreciated :)

Can he cook it sounds as if he thinks he cant

I thought "the kids get looked after while I'm in work" meant paid for childcare.

If the other posters are right and I'm wrong, then no I don't think he should cook if he's had 4 kids all day!

It would of been expected of me if I had a week off, and before anyone says it yes they are my children but why should it be different that he is not the sperm donor. My kids see him as a dad and he has took them on as his own. So after my 9 hours at work I come home like usual and start another job lol. Would it be ok if it was the other way round? I had the week off and he has to come home and do stuff. I think I'm going to have to make changes to way things are done. If he wants food when he finishes work then he can cook himself so I'm not cooking twice as it's supposed to be an shared effort, yes?

You're being vague! Does he do anything else, ever? Or is everything your job?

Could he prepare dinner? Would you compromise that?

Is it normally an issue for you that he doesn't cook or is it just this week you have a problem with?

We have compromised now. We are going to take it in turns. He cooks one night and I clean when I get home and vice versa. Even if he does the very basic food it's a start. It's showing the kids that men can cook and not just down to women :)

How is cooking, childcare and housework usually divided?

If you took a week off would he expect you to do everything during the day and to just come home & do nothing?

I know you've got a plan sorted now, but just interested.

I'd be interested to know how what your normal housework routine is? Are you expected to share the cleaning but do all the cooking when you're both working?

I have a DH who doesn't normally cook but there's no way he would insist on me cooking if he'd been home all day!

It's not much of a holiday for him if he's having to cook and do housework.

I might get flamed, but he's taken on 4 kids, which many men wouldn't do and he's a good step-dad in every other way....I'd pick your battles if I was you.

We have compromised now.

Excellent.

It's certainly good to show the kids then men can and should cook too. But are you going to carry that on after this week? Cos it sounds like you've given them 2 years of learning that's not the case - so you have a lot to undo!