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I work a busy FT job and I do the daily dishes, clean/sanitize bottles, walk the dog, bathe baby, feed/burp baby, and put baby down for bed every night because my wife pumps.
Your husband can do better.
I just transitioned to a SAHP from biglaw for a bit while we moved to a new area. SAH is rough. Let me offer where he is coming from by breaking it down.
Let’s say your kid sleeps 10 hours a night, and you are doing 3 hours/day (you do wake up and bedtime, but let’s be honest, sometimes you stay for a late filing or happy hour). That means he’s responsible and “on” for 11 hrs/day… he’s working 55 hrs during the week or more - without that crucial adult interaction. This doesn’t include the weekend, when you are likely also working, and want to have family time (which can feel like just an extension of the week for a SAHP if you’re still childminding). You wouldn’t ask — or want— a nanny to work that much (and could not ask an au pair to do so).
There’s also a Venn diagram of childcare, cleaning, and cooking. I found only two are feasible, and I assume you’ll want your child to have at least three meals and a snack a day.
Cut him some slack, and get him a cleaner or send your kid to daycare a morning or two.
This sounds like you're part of the problem here, and there's a disconnect between you two on standards. Have you tried ... talking? If you have to "clean daily not to rage" that says more about you than him. If you can swing it, I'd suggest getting someone to clean weekly. It'll save a lot of strife.
We've talked endlessly. He says he can't do more. I feel my standards are pretty low. Example: When we finish eating dinner, he'll leave the dirty plates and dishes on the table. My request is to just stack the dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter. I do this with my dishes but I obviously can't force him to clean after himself.
Sounds like you need to have a frank conversation of what the expectations are for each party. And have alternatives, like if you can’t maintain house etc, you need to go back to work in order to afford to pay for child care, maid, etc…
How old is your child and is your husband responsible for watching them all day Monday through Friday?
It’s hard as F to be a SAHP. I was one for 4 years and it’s more exhausting and thankless than working in big law. If you can afford it, buy more help (cleaning and childcare). You shouldn’t be providing so much daily parenting, unless you want to, and you shouldn’t expect your husband to maintain a spotlessly clean house in addition to parenting a 1 year old. When I was a SAHP, I probably cleaned the bathroom twice a year (right before my in laws came to visit).
Just reread your post and realized you said you have 1 kid, not a 1 year old. My answer changes depending on the age of your kid.
I get it. I totally do as I hate mess too. But, in marriage, I’ve found it helpful to just gracefully accept what the other is able to offer and either compromise your own standards or pay for extra help. If you’ve already had numerous conversations with him, it doesn’t sound like there’s any way he’ll change. Either he doesn’t have the skills (lack of executive functioning skills) or he doesn’t have the emotional/time bandwidth. And, in the grand scheme of everything marriage and family, this is really a minor problem.
Get a cleaning lady. Working in this profession is not easy and we make enough money to get help from outside the home. You won’t regret it.
When during the day are the 3.5 hours that you solo parent? Mornings and after work? How old is your kid? Does he prepare the meals?
I grew up with a SAHD and let me tell you, it’s brutal for them on many different levels not least of which is the emasculation that comes from not providing financially for the family
My husband watches our 6 month old while I work, 8-5, M-F. I have her almost 100% the rest of the time, and I nurse her at lunch every workday in addition to pumping twice. I also do all of our grocery shopping and meal prep (while caring for the baby). My husband just told me it's unreasonable to expect him to have the kitchen clean from my meal prep by Monday night so apparently I'll have to do that myself if I want it done. It sucks and I'm exhausted. Most of the house usually doesn't get clean.
Except for severe inability to get tasks done, he is a good partner, I love him, and he does a terrific job with our daughter. I would much rather her be with him than at daycare, so I choose to be ok with this situation. We're only having one kid, so I remind myself this season won't last long. Also, when I get past my clerkship we should have enough income to hire more help.
Still ... I'm exhausted and it sucks.
Can you hire a cleaning person?