I am a SAHM of an 18 month old and my husband criticises EVERYTHING I do.
The way I play with our son (not long enough, don't talk to him enough, talk to him the wrong way, don't do the right games with him)
The way I interact with him (he is delayed because I don't interact with/ talk to him enough - I have been trying to socialise our son as much as possible, taking him to the children centre and to the park/softplay everyday, enrolling him in speech classes, following the workers' advice, seen a pediatrist, etc...etc... )
What I cook for him, what time I cook, the portions sizes (I either give him too much or too little according to him), how many meals I give him (I give him three meals and one or two snacks)
How I keep him busy when I'm cooking/cleaning (I shouldn't put cartoons on for him, I should make sure he is with me in the kitchen). I should also never leave him alone, even in safe places, and always be next to him and when he plays, always sit next to him
I shouldn't go on my phone
I should make sure the house is clean earlier
I should make dinner earlier
He criticises me when I tell my son off for something he shouldn't do (I am first, I don't yell at him) or when I swear to myself (not in front of our kid) even when I just say "for God's sake".
He gives me lists of things to do everyday
He asks me to give him a run-through of everything I did with our son at the end of his work day "for his peace of mind"
I often tell him I do my best and I feel he criticises me too much, but he doesn't change anything.
Earlier today I told him I was starting to feel like a shit mum, so he sent me videos of other mums' routine with their toddler and told me to watch them for inspiration and copy them.
He also insinuated he thought I was a rubbish mum once. He said "These past couple of days you've done really good, you've come a long way".
I try my best but I'm pregnant in my second trimester and I feel really tired sometimes and things just take me longer.
I feel like such a shit mum and wife and I cried about it a couple of times.
I don't know what to do. I know I'm not the best mum, but I do try and I know I can't get much better. I feel terrible for my son. I've also started not to enjoy parenting so much.
I feel like I'm walking on eggshells.
I don't know if he is right or if he is overly critical.
But I tried to improve and I just can't.