Partner wants me back to normal immediately and I'm not having it

Dec 281 min read

This is a rant but I need to get it out. My wife keeps hinting that I should stop taking so much paternity leave and "just come back part time" or whatever. We have a 4-month-old. I was planning to take the full 12 weeks and honestly I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of this dad thing. I'm not trying to be a deadbeat but ngl it feels like she wants me out of the house. Is she bored of me? Are we in trouble? Or am I being dramatic? We've been weird with each other since the baby came and I hate it.

5 comments67 views

Comments(5)

PPete S.RegularDec 29

Parenting newborns takes everything you have. If your wife is pushing you to get back to work mode immediately she doesn't understand how depleted you probably are. You're not the problem here.

KKevin M.RegularDec 31

How long has it been since the baby arrived? Because the expectation needs to match the reality of what your body and mind are going through right now. Six weeks looks way different than six months.

CChristopher T.New DadDec 31

You just became a father. There's no timeline for getting back to normal because normal literally changed. Your wife needs to understand that parenthood is a marathon not a sprint.

AAndrew T.New DadDec 29

Your partner might be struggling too and expressing it wrong. New moms sometimes push dads away because they're tired and touched out, not because they actually want you gone. Have you guys talked about what's really going on?

JJoeNew DadDec 31

The paternity leave push back from partners is real and honestly kind of awful. You're allowed to use what's available to you. Set that boundary now or you'll burn out.