- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Parenting after 35
mtnrider
member
Well I guess I'll get the FFFC thread started...
mtnrider
member
I told DH it was ok for him to go on an all-day enduro ride with his buddies but now I resent him for taking the whole day off work and leaving me alone with Sponge Bob Fussy Pants! (molars are making S really fussy) He could at least do a half day ride and spend the other half with us. He barely takes a day off anymore (works 7 days a week) and I've been taking lots of days off to spend time with S now that work is slow for me, and I'd like us to have at least 1 family day a week. But DH complains that Simon is too young to do anything fun yet and he can't wait till he's older so they can do stuff together...he wants him to hurry up and grow up! I agree that there's not much a 16 month old can do yet, but I still enjoy playing with him and watching him run around and explore things. DH just keeps saying "I don't know what to do with him! He's too young to really play with toys yet." Don't get me wrong, DH is a great hubby and a responsible dad, he helps out a lot with feeding and bathing Simon, does all the daycare dropoffs, and he handles all the night wakings, but I just wish that he would slow down and try to enjoy this age and not be in such a hurry for S to get older! Are all fathers this anxious for their kids to grow up?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Well I guess I'll get the FFFC thread started...
Wasn't it John Lennon who said "Life is what happens when we are making plans." Encourage your DH to slow down and enjoy Simon right now. He will never be this age again. Just sitting on the floor playing "peek-a-boo" can be just as enjoyable as playing ball. I bet Simon likes to wrestle and climb and play "airplane" and roll a ball back and forth and all kinds of other things.
And if this does not work, put on Cat Stevens "Cat in the Cradle" and make him listen to i.
I wish my husband could read my mind too ; ) My husband struggles with Keegan too. He adores him but he can take the older boys with him to do fun stuff (like go to home depot - oh my the boys get a kick out of it). Last weekend, he was going to just take 1 of the boys to the store but they fought over who was going to go.. so he ended up taking both of them. I think as they get older it is easier for men to build that bond with children - because they can talk back about their interests, & show interest in everything that daddy does ; ) It's like a little ego following around my husband.. your the best daddy! Hee hee.
OMG, I have to catch up with you....still owe you an email.
Can I just say that your Sponge Bob Fussy Pants has me laughing so hard right now?
He would get along with my Sponge Bob No Pants today. I'm having him air out due to 3 poops before 11am resulting in red bottom.
Big - 1 year old
Bigger - 6 years old
Biggest - 13 years old
Weird. My H finds plenty of stuff to do with M and really seems to enjoy him being a toddler.
My own FFFC is that every night we all go up stairs to put M to bed and, before bath time, M grabs a cardigan his great-grandmother knitted him and a handbag I never use(it was a gift) and runs around to use up the last of his energy. The confession is that DH and I call him "tiny granny" as he walks around in a cardie with a handbag.
My Blog
DH loves Adrian's age (he's 17 months), he loves all the stages actually. And he does lots of stuff with him, I don't understand why your DH can't find something fun to do. DH takes him for walks around the neighborhood, to the park, to the zoo, to lunch. Or he'll just play in the house with him, we have a tunnel, a couple of balls and other toys. DH will just sit in LO's room and they play together. Or they will read a book together, or watch a cartoon. Sometimes they do Skype with DH's relatives, which are overseas. DH doesn't spend much time home so he relishes the time he spends with Adrian. Granted, I'm the one that wakes up at 7am every day and the one that does most of the feedings, diaper duty and bathing, but that's b/c I work only 15 hrs a week. So DH's time with Adrian is mostly pure play time.
When I'm off work I always find plenty of things to do with Adrian. I belong to a mom's group and there are tons of events each week. We go to playdates, to lunch, to Gymboree, to the library, etc. This weekend we're all going to see the rodeo. Last weekend we went to the fire station b/c one of the moms had arranged a tour for the little ones. If the weather's nice we go for long walks.
If your LO was a newborn, I would understand, but there's a lot you can do with a 16 month old. Maybe you can give your DH some ideas and he'll go with them? I hope I gave you some good ones too. Good luck!
OMG - OMG - OMG... Tooo funny! PIP please! And for heaven's sake, get the boy some pearls!!!
How the heck is that flamable? Good God girl, you're aloud to feel a bit beet up looking after Action Baby whilst gestating Action Baby II!
My Blog
Well, I try to be positive and not dwell on what I look like, but today I am being hard on myself. Yeah, I guess that's not really flameful.
And I can't believe I spelled it "beet." It's like I'm distracted by a small, loud person or something.
My Blog
Tiny granny cracked me up, too funny!
Mtnrider, I understand where your DH is coming from. I always felt kids starting at around 4 were the most fun. My DH is similar, he can't wait to be able to take Sarah biking, running, to games etc.
My FFFC - I am tired. There, I said it. I usually never admit to being tired, but it's been a long work week, and I haven't been sleeping well the last few nights. I'll blame it on pregnancy.
Great song! But if I tried that he would consider it to be manipulation, which he doesn't respond well to. He also doesn't respond to nagging, guilt trips or leading by example, LOL!
Interesting theory. You know, DH does get a kick out of it when Simon shows a lot of excitement when he comes home from work. Maybe you're right about the ego thing.
Thanks for the ideas, some of them don't work because we don't have a zoo or gymboree and some days it's so cold we have to play inside. DH just follows Simon around from room to room while Simon explores and jumps on the bed and stuff. I kind of agree that this is a tough age because most of the cool toys are for ages 3 and up. DH set up a train set for him but he just destroyed the track; we set up a little model barn and he destroyed that too. He's not into books or puzzles, so short of lego, there aren't many toys that are appropriate for his age.
FWIW, I think it is very common for men to not get too into thier kids until they are older. I was talking to my BIL who is all about his kids about having more kids. He said he would really like more, but if only he could snap his finger and make them three years old. He really didn't like the baby years because they "don't do much". he is a very outdoorsy kind of guy who likes to take ATVs/dirtbikes out and stay in the desert for weeks playing with his toys.
I think it is less common, but not at all "abnormal", to see mom's who don't love the baby years and dad's who just eat it up and adore babies. My DH has really enjoyed M, and has played with her in age appropriate ways, but I think he will really enjoy her more as she gets older and I have been the one who does more for/with her. However, our neighbor guy, who is childless, melts into a puddle of goo when he sees her. Which is perhaps one of the most delightful things in the world.
I completely agree about the ego thing. DH beams like the mid-day sun when she says "no" when he leaves, gets excited when he comes home or mimics him.
Video please!