...to be a father, and be able to sleep through the baby crying and not feel the need to jump up as soon as he starts stirring and whimpering. Ugh! I know there are a couple of posts about dads/husbands and how much (or how little) they help. All day long, whether he's home or not, I'm taking care of our baby because all he wants to do is nurse and sleep. Sure, he changes a few diapers, picks him up and holds him if I need to pee or take a shower or eat. But the baby cries and looks for me, so I get him right back. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my baby. I just keep trying to explain to my husband that him waking up with the baby at night is so important. That's why I make those bottles so he can feed him, then he gets to bond with baby and maybe the baby won't cry so much when he holds him. But, I have to try to wake him at least 2-3 times, and sometimes he doesn't even get up. It's so hard not sleeping or being able to just take a nap during the day simply because I'm on the couch and my eyes get heavy (like my husband does). Nope, I'm awake holding our son, feeding our son, changing our son, playing with our son. And he wonders why he cries every time he holds him. Ive said this so much I feel like a broken record now. I'm so frustrated I could just scream. I get that it's different for mothers, we are instinctively going to care for our kids. It would just be nice if I didn't feel like a single mom some days, trying to hold a wiggly, crying baby and warm his bottle at the same time. I just needed to vent! Sorry for the long, complaining post.
Re: It must be nice...
I'm alone with a 12 year old and my 8 week old. Her dad is gone so I'm struggling to do it alone right now.
It's not so bad because I just keep in mind it gets easier
I'm blessed in other ways. My grandma is young abd healthy and so is my dad, so I've never had to worry once about child care for either one
I can understand the frustration. I do sometimes feel like I am the primary caregiver in my daughter's life, but right now I am. I nurse, my husband works, but we know the roles will switch soon when school ends for him and I restart work. And I know my husband is a bit jealous of the time I spend with our little girl: I get the smiles in the mornings and he gets the fussy evening hours after work. I am trying to cherish these moments as much as I can because I know that the sleepless nights will come to an end, but so will the cuddles on my chest.