30 hours free childcare - partner earns almost over the threshold

Does anyone have experience with HMRC calling to talk about this? My partner works on commission and may earn over the threshold to be entitled to it this year. I don’t know what to expect from the phone call.
Are they helpful? Or are they doing their best to take the childcare hours away from us??

in our community

Why do I feel like a single mum when I’m not

Since my baby was born I’ve been pulling all the work, I don’t mind to do a bit extra but my husband works from home which means he can help more. When we met we talked about that he will be an involved father but I feel like I always do everything, every feed, every nap and every bed time my baby is nearly 9 months. Also he always moans how tired he is and yesterday I pulled a 15 hour shift looking after our daughter and he didn’t do anything I’m exhausted mentally, physically and under appreciated .

I don’t know how long I can go on.

What do you do when you don't think a child is good to hang around with?

So my 3 year old has a friend who likes to lie/ get him in trouble / aggregate him etc etc. I feel she bring out the worst in him. He's much calmer around all other friends. I'm sick and tired of defending him and have no fun on these play dates. I find the mom extremely hard work and she thinks her kid is never in the wrong.

Mother in law

My mother in law is due to stay with us from tomorrow for a week or so.
There's an event that I've been excited about for a month now that we can do as a family (mum, dad and baby)
I don't particularly want my mother in law to come with us because I just want it to be a family thing we do as we don't do too much as a family of three.
Am I wrong to be thinking like that or asking my husband?

Would you rather a WFH husband or one that works from the office/out of the house?

I love my husband but he works from home, the last 9 months we’ve been at home together with the baby and I am sorry to admit that I am kind of sick of the sight of his face and the sound of his voice!!! I love him but I feel like I just need a degree of separation and space!! I used to go to work every day full time so we would only be together on evenings and weekends… this much time together is too much!

Feeling like a failing mother

I don’t really know how to say this without sounding silly, but I just wondered if anyone else is finding it really, really hard at the moment?

I’ve got a 2 year old and a 7 month old, and my partner is working all the time so I’m on my own with them most days. Some days I look around and feel like I’m failing at everything—like the house is never clean enough, I’m always rushing, and I feel so lonely even though I’m never actually by myself.

And honestly? Money is so tight right now I don’t know how we’re going to get through the next week. We’ve barely any food left for the little ones, and nothing coming in until the 9th. I feel awful admitting it, like I should be managing better somehow.

Just wondered if anyone else is in the same boat, or if it really is just me struggling this much lately? 💛

Normal toddler behavior?

My 18 month old is pretty rambunctious! She prefers to run, climb and play rather than sit still in a circle. We’ve been to a few indoor toddler play classes, and she doesn’t spend as much time watching the teacher as some other little ones do. She likes to be on the move.

I’m thinking about taking her to a library class in the morning but I’m nervous she’ll be more interested in playing with whatever’s available and getting into everything than listening to the story. I don’t know if I should feel embarrassed by her behavior, like I’m doing something wrong?

Is this normal? At what age do they start to follow instructions more consistently? I’m a first time mom. 😅