Parenting a baby is hard, and sometimes one parent feels like they're doing all the work. When this dad feels just that, he takes to the popular Reddit forum to ask:
My wife works at a company that gives 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, I only asked her that during that 16 week time period that she take care of the baby during the midnight hours while I sleep.
I have to wake for work M-F. I told her that after I get off work I will take over entirely, do all chores cook, take care of the baby and even more so on weekends where I have no issue staying up late, waking up early or multiple times in the night for her to catch up on all of her needed rest.
I also know that some nights even if I’m working I will stay up with the baby, but she still thinks it’s unfair if it’s not an even split, which I disagree with. Be honest I may be the asshole I just want opinions. AITA?
crystalqueen3000 writes:
YTA. Parenting is a full time job and should be done by both parents. She gave birth and is recovering from huge and painful physical changes, she’s producing milk to feed your baby. She’s in pain and exhausted, she needs you to step the fuck up, that includes during the night.
funmacaron34 disagrees:
NTA. Speaking for myself, i tried as much as i could to let my partner sleep during the night while on leave. Considering he is a courier, and drives around all day... Him being sleep deprived is a hazard. So if OP is working heavy machinery, or driving around all day... I don't think his request is unreasonable.
Frontrain7644 writes:
NTA. I don't know about this. I'm on maternity leave at the moment and do the overnight waking up because (1) we're a unit and at this stage one of us should be investing in their career (2) I am breastfeeding, pumping is a hassle. I can soothe baby back to sleep without him even waking up properly.
makewithrocks83746 writes:
YTA. It always boggles me that taking care of your super fragile newborn baby is not something some men think women should be well rested to do? You really want a sleep deprived mess holding your baby all day??? You don't think that's important?