I'm due to start full time work again soon which means my partner will be a stay at home dad to our 2 children. No big deal; he's their dad, he knows his stuff and he's been a stay at home dad before when it was just one kid, for about a year.
I understand it's a tough gig as a stay at home parent and I'm looking for some advice and tips on how I can help my partner. I just want to make things easier on him as he'll have 2 kids to care for, instead of the 1 (plus the housework during the day). I'm looking to do some meal prep over the weekends for the coming week to assist with dinners, as I work far out from where we live so generally won't be home at a reasonable dinner time to cook myself. Any recipes or meal ideas?
I'd like to also add our oldest will be attending daycare for 2 days and eventually moving to 3 days each week, so it'll be only 2 or 3 days he'll have both kids, but he'll still have the youngest (4 month old) to care for all week.
So stay at home parents, what are some things your working partners do to help or you wish they did? Any and all advice, tips, tricks etc is welcome.
Though I will add: don't give me the whole speel of how mum should be home with kids, and dad should be working. We don't care. This works for us and we love it. And it's 2017, not the 1950s.
4 Replies
Personally i think dont overthink it, we carry so much guilt and always want to make it easier for the men - get on with it and let him do it and I mean really leave it to him, trust him to have it and to speak up and delegate to you when he doesnt. take care of your own needs as an individual and encourage and support him to do the same and youll find the right balance and a nice lifestyle together. Thats the best thing my partner did for me, gave me free time and said yes to everything without hesitation or budget (and we were pretty poor so I had problems doing it for myself) new running shoes, nights out at dancing, joining a gym, hobbies.
The thing I'd appreciate the most currently is time to myself without the kids!
I know I love my son but just getting some time where I can be by myself is AMAZING. I get so much more done and have so much more energy when I've had an hour to go for a run, the gym, play sport, something where I didn't have to worry about the kid.
On the weekends freeze up up some slow cooker prepped meals, or even cook and freeze entire meals, slices, cakes etc so a lot of the food is done and dusted. We also prepare dry salads on a Sunday so we have fresh salads for lunch until halfway through the week, just add salads dressing and good to go. Other than that we really just tidy up after ourselves so that the cleaning is easier (both working).
Was there anything in particular he struggled with the first time around? You might be able to come up with strategies to head them off early.
I have a 2.5 year old and 9 month old. The things I most appreciate are 1. My alone time - often it's just a half hour walk with the dogs at night. When hubby takes the kids for an hour or two on the weekend is extra bonus points. 2. Help with the nighttime routine - hubby showers with our kids and does the bedtime story. Not only to help me out but it's a chance for him to have some one on one time with the kids himself. 3. The understanding that some days things just don't get done. I'm sure he sometimes gets home and wonders what the hell ive done all day but he's never been brave enough to voice that thought! 4. My husband gets up at 6 and leaves for work a bit after 7 - the kids usually wake at 6ish and he takes care of them and I get up at 7. Every now and then he'll get up with them on a weekend too (I usually let him sleepin) and leave me to sleep