life after having kids

Re: life after having kids

Pardon my bluntness, but based on what I read here, the biggest issue you two have is unnecessary egos. You guys are not the first couple who have little kids and both husband and wife are full time working. You guys are also not the first couple where wife is making more than the hubby. Instead of you two counting your blessings that both of you have full time jobs, both are earning enough to afford a maid, or have families who are though not perfect but available to help out with kids, you two are fighting and questioning each other on everything.

Of course in this thread it looks like that it’s your hubby’s fault. But if we give him a chance to come to this thread, it will very soon appear that you are at fault too. Its not because you two are not perfect (as no one in this world is), but because you two are on a mission to find faults in each other.

Sorry to say, but more than your kids, you two need to grow up.

Re: life after having kids

Agree with TLK.

Re: life after having kids

what TLK said.

Re: life after having kids

Whenever, you want someone to watch your kids, you give them a time when you will pick them, you don't say call me when you are tired. Someone watching your kid is doing a big favor to you, so how about being a little courteous.

Re: life after having kids

I did not ask her to watch them she said she really missed them and wanted to see them. I asked what time should I pick them up so she said she wants to keep them for a couple of hours. So I told her to call me whenever. Then I texted her within 2 hours to see if I should come pick them up... and she said no she wanted more time with them.

Re: life after having kids

I kind of figured that you make way more them him. Many men get insecure with wives making more money and perhaps it is his insecurities that are making him criticize you. A woman in this society has more power, a wife that is a mother also has a huge say in things and a wife who is a mother who also makes twice as much should probably be the major decision maker so where does he get to force you to visit the in laws, keep the house like so and demand fresh rotis.

Re: life after having kids

He seems to be nitpicking just for the sake of it. He should be happy your job covers the healthcare for the kids. What is his aim by running you down? If God forbid anything were to happen to you how would he support you and your kids? He should be making your life easier not making absurd demands.

Hire the maid, take some annual leave, relax, get better and don't put up with his crap after 12 hr shifts. And if he says hr was joking tell him you don't find his passive aggressiveness funny and to give it a rest.

Also it seems like you are getting annoyed easily too. The comment about "so you wouldn't pick them if she doesn't call you" wouldn't bother me. Just tell him it has been pre arranged and walk away. Don't rise to every comment and don't don't it to heart.

Re: life after having kids

But then he had made promises and commitments that he did not want to keep. The domestic laws here are that you cant pressure your wife to do anything she don't want to do. She doesn't want to cook roti or clean learn to put up with it or if she don't want to go visit your pappi.

Re: life after having kids

I don't need any explanation, however it depends how you talk to your husband. If your conversation was along the lines of your initial post, no wonder you got the reply that he gave you. Like TLk said you both have big egos, if both you and your husband start talking polietly with each other, things will get better pretty soon.

Re: life after having kids

Why does your husband want you to do your masters now, at this stage? All the baby books I have read say that if housework is sliding let it go for a while, but it seems as if there is too much pressure being put on you. Its hard having a baby and two is harder. Kudos to you. Your husband should not expect you to bear the major brunt of housework and it being done perfectly.

Re: life after having kids

The way she handled criticism here shows that she is very down to earth, she is being subjected to psychological and emotional abuse and wanting abuse to stop is not ego, she has an obligation and duty to make it stop as it is very harmful for babies

  1. Humiliation, degradation, discounting, negating. judging, criticizing:
  • Does anyone make fun of you or put you down in front of others?

  • Do they tease you, use sarcasm as a way to put you down or degrade you?

  • When you complain do they say that “it was just a joke” and that you are too sensitive?

  • Do they tell you that your opinion or feelings are “wrong?”

  • Does anyone regularly ridicule, dismiss, disregard your opinions, thoughts, suggestions, and feelings?

  1. Domination, control, and shame:
  • Do you feel that the person treats you like a child?

  • Do they constantly correct or chastise you because your behavior is “inappropriate?”

  • Do you feel you must “get permission” before going somewhere or before making even small decisions?

  • Do they control your spending?

  • Do they treat you as though you are inferior to them?

  • Do they make you feel as though they are always right?

  • Do they remind you of your shortcomings?

  • Do they belittle your accomplishments, your aspirations, your plans or even who you are?

  • Do they give disapproving, dismissive, contemptuous, or condescending looks, comments, and behavior?

Re: life after having kids

He agreed to do just that so let's hope that changes your situation a bit. One of the two things will happen, he will realize how much work it is to raise two kids and he will begin to appreciate your efforts or he will begin to resent you and taunt you even more for running away from your respinsibilities. I think you should get a maid and explain to your husband that you need help until your kids grow a little bit older and he should focus on building his career until he can make enough to cover all expenses and then you can be a SAHM. That way he will see you do care about his concerns and you are seeing thinga from his perspective. He won'the have a choice but to let you hire a maid. Talk to him about your longterm goals and where you two see yourselves in 5 years or so. If he says he would rather look after the kids himself and go go part time then he would only have himself to blame because you left it up to him to decide.

Re: life after having kids

I guess when I was not a mother and we just had a small apartment, we got used to attending dawats, a spotless place, and fresh rotis.... he is having a hard time letting it go. It is my fault too because I look to him for approval and that is setting myself up for failure. He knows he is my only friend besides my mom and he knows I depend on him for almost all my emotional support. If he gets disappointed or makes remarks, I need to stop focusing on it.

I don't have any Leave/PTO left as I used it all for FMLA after I had the kids.

Today when I got back from work, the first thing he said to me was "you say you have been been cleaning the kitchen counters... I just cleaned them." I politely said thank you.
Then when I was cooking, he said "why did you put oil in my paratha? Fry them without oil." So I told him I will make one without oil... he ended up not liking that one.
While setting the able, he asked me to feed our son so I told him that food will get cold and let's eat first as it has been 8 hours since I had lunch and I am starving. So he started talking to our son and saying, "see mommy is going to eat first before feeding you. Sorry baby." So I told him I am getting really sick of the taunting 24/7. He said he was joking and he can't even joke with me anymore. So I told him that he keeps making these passive aggresive comments all the time and they don't feel like a joke. He said sometimes he is giving me tanay but this time it was a joke. I told him it is all the time so it is hard to tell when it is a joke and when it is not. Even if it is a joke, it needs to stop because I do not find it funny.

You are right. I have become oversensitive. It just feels like everything he says is meant to hurt because it is quite alot of jabs per day. I need to stop taking it to heart because I feel I ke he doesn't appreciate anything I do.

Re: life after having kids

This is a great idea. I will talk to him when we r both off.

Re: life after having kids

You are right. Perhaps I should have explained it to him. I will work on being more polite... it may improve his passive aggressiveness too. Thanks

Re: life after having kids

If that were my husband I would have told him where he can stick his paratha. Good luck to you... he doesn't sound like an easy person to live with.

Re: life after having kids

You are handling yourself remarkably well given the circumstances. From your recent post you are being very accommodating to your husband. Hope he sees some sense aoo.

Re: life after having kids

I am actually shocked that a guy expects and in fact demands fresh and garam, garam rotis from a wife who works full-time (and that too, 12 hour shifts in one go) and is raising his less-than one year old twins, as well keeping the home tidy.

Your priority is to raise your kids and to provide for your children. You do not need to pander to your husband and his expectations of a clean home and fresh meals. If it happens - great, if he has to eat left-overs and pick up on the cleaning himself - that's for him to do. Do your best, but don't let him make you feel like a lesser person for being human.

Re: life after having kids

^ he expects it because he didn't want her to work. She is working because she wants too. Also, we don't know the deal and conversation they had when she decided to go back to work. Maybe OP made promises to guaranteed him that nothing will change from her working.

Re: life after having kids

I feel she is doing more than her fair share. House cleaning, gram rotis and food are too much. This guy is a Saas in the shape of husband.
Joking on PPD, because this is probably very foreign to most Pakistanis, he will never admit it. Take a few months break from work, and work on your health.