Do you have a routine where one parent cooks while the other looks after the toddler?

I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband works from home or sometimes goes into the office. I’m with the 23 months old toddler all day, and after 5 p.m., when he’s mostly finished with work, I start cooking dinner.

And somehow, that’s exactly when he decides to call his family. 😂 The baby isn’t really included in the conversation, so while I’m cooking, I also have to entertain the toddler.

I’ve tried to bring this up, but he said what I’m saying is rubbish. Like, how am I supposed to cook and entertain the baby at the same time?

We ended up having a fight about it. I’m not saying he can’t talk to his family, but I feel like dinner time should be something we plan together, especially when there’s a toddler involved.

How do you guys handle dinner time? Do you have a routine where one parent cooks while the other looks after the baby?

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My toddler has learned to entertain herself while I'm cooking, sometimes she joins in with the cooking on her tower... or she just nags me if she won't do anything else lol. If she nags she nags, I have to cook either way. This has been the case since she was about 1, we built up to it cos I need to be able to cook- my husband isn't always available even though he does work from home half the week. He usually comes down when dinner is ready. However, does yours need to call his family every day? Surely not!! If he's able to be there to spend time with his child while his dinner is being prepared then that should be higher up his priorities list. Or he could come down some days, cook, entertain the toddler, and let you have a break! The family he's created should be the most important thing to him.

Our kids generally don't bug my husband too much when he cooks so he ends up cooking dinner often while I take a break. If I'm cooking, my girls are at my legs. The toddler I can tell her to go to something but my baby doesn't understand yet. If my baby is having a hard time then I just don't get the break and I go help with the baby while he finishes dinner. I will say, he loves to cook so thats just what works for us.

He can call them! With the kid around

My husband works up until 6, so I make dinner while he's working usually

If I cook and he’s home he entertains the kids . If he’s outta town which is our normal then my toddler has quiet play in the living room and my baby naps most of while I cook which helps me go back and forth but I do easy meals and my toddler is just shy of 4

He sounds like a typical SAHM’s husband 😂😂 but in all seriousness, I just start making dinner from EARLYYYYY…that way if my kids are clingy I have more time to get it done.
My hubby also loves to cook so he does a few times a week too. When we’re both tired it’s a takeaway!
I try not to rely on him to look after the kids for too long because…well, he can’t!! 🙄😂

in our community

Am I overthinking?

I have caught a sickness bug off my 2 year old and really struggling at the moment as I also have a 6 month old baby and my partner is working long shifts. I have been offered a hand from my in laws to take my toddler for a few hours whilst I try and get some rest but feel very 50/50 as in my head I do not want anyone assuming I don’t look after my kids when I have them 100% of the time. Probably just sound silly even thinking this, what’s your opinion?

Childcare dilemma

My little one will need 3 days of childcare when I return to work next year and we have already reserved her a nursery spot for these days. My mother in law has previously commented about wanting to have my daughter for 1 day per week but for various reasons I would prefer for my daughter to attend nursery for all 3 as currently planned, which is what I feel most comfortable with right now. My dilemma is the upset/ tension this would potentially cause and that my partner doesn’t seem to think it will be an issue and has not had this conversation with her. I can sense she is waiting for this but he feels otherwise.
I also can’t help but wonder if my reasonings are unreasonable or not for this decision.. or if they’re totally ok as I’m her Mum and I have to be comfortable with it. My partner is ambivalent on the decision and doesn’t mind either way. My reasons are…
1. I would like my daughter to have consistency in her week and not to be between my care, a relatives and then nursery (I’m aware many do this without issue)
2. I would like the flexibility of being able to drop off and pick up my daughter when I’m able to and early if i desire; it is also 5 minutes down the road rather than 25 minutes
3. My mother in law has been overly involved with my niece and tries to take over parenting (in my opinion) which I do not want to happen with us
4. I would not feel comfortable to challenge my mother in law if needed around the care she provided like I could with nursery
5. I don’t feel my mother in law is respectful of our parenting decisions and suspect she would go against these and seek to undermine them if looking after my daughter
6. I would rather my mother in law’s time with my daughter to be on a more informal basis; it will still be promoted, just around our lifestyle and what works for us

Has anybody made this decision for similar reasons?

Am I being unreasonable?

My wife and I are have a 3 year old daughter. My mother in law is clearing out her conservatory and wants to give some of the baby toys amd equipment to her son and his girlfriend who's baby is due in February. Of course that's up to her when it's stuff she had brought.
But I don't think it's fair we should be expected to give her the stuff we brought for her daughter that weve kept at their house because we are planning on having more children in the near future.
She says why wouldn't we buy our future child their own toys.
We're not made of money, we live within our means but my wife has disabilities and I'm her carer so we only claim benefits (UK based).
Am I being unreasonable by not letting my brother in law and his girlfriend have our stuff?

Would this bother you too ?

My partner and I are spending the weekend at my MIL’s with our 1yo, Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon, so only two nights. We don’t see her loads as she has a very busy life, although she’s not completely absent from our lives.

We’ve brought a handful of toys with us, about 6. She’s been playing in the lounge, so obviously that’s where the toys have ended up.
Last night before taking her upstairs for bath and bed, I put all the toys together in one section and tidied everything up.

Today we’ve been out shopping and then had a BBQ with a few guests over. My daughter was playing with a shoebox which was left in the lounge, along with some of her toys. When it was time for bath and bed, I had to take her upstairs with my partner, but because there’s no crib or bedrail, I basically had to stay with her in the room. My partner was then out in the garden catching up with long-time friend who came to visit.

Later, my partner came upstairs and told me his mum had been complaining that we’d left a mess in the lounge. I’m annoyed that she made a point of mentioning it.
I completely understand if we’d absolutely wrecked the place, but it was literally a few of my 1yo’s toys left in the area where she’d been playing.

If this was my house, I wouldn’t have said a thing. I’d actually see having my child's toys in the living room as a privilege and part of having her there. Obviously I appreciate that not everyone is the same and some people like their house kept a certain way.
But it’s left a really sour taste in my mouth and has actually made me think I’d rather just not stay here anymore.

Am I being unreasonable for being annoyed that she complained about a few toys being left in the lounge? Or would this bother you too?

Looking for some advice from other stay-at-home moms…

I recently became a stay-at-home mom, and while I’m incredibly grateful that I’m able to be home with my little one, I’ve been struggling with something I didn’t expect — not contributing financially anymore.

I know that being home with my child is valuable, and I’m so thankful that my family has made this possible. But I can’t help feeling guilty that the financial responsibility has shifted almost entirely onto my husband. I want to feel like I’m contributing to our household in some way, even if it’s only a little bit. ❤️

For those of you who are stay-at-home moms (or have been in a similar situation), what are some realistic ways you’ve been able to bring in a little extra money from home?

I’m not necessarily looking to replace a full-time income. Even making a little extra each month to help with groceries, bills, savings, or just taking some of the pressure off would mean a lot to me.

I’d love to hear your ideas — especially things that can realistically be done from home while caring for a young child, without needing a huge upfront investment or a traditional work schedule.

Thank you in advance! 🥹💜 I’m just trying to find a way to contribute while still being present for my family.

Thought? Asked my kids dad to watch her while I shower and kid other kids ready and I ask where she is and find her like this and he’s in bed on his phone having google make him a meal plan…

she’s barely 10 months old he said she needed entertainment