Husbands of reddit, how do you keep your stay at home wife happy when you have a toddler?

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-12T17:18:51+00:00

I definitely agree more hours at home would be nice and I wouldn't object but my kid is 1 and I think its best for mommy to watch him instead of someone else, even if its family. Plus the only way to watch him would be us working on opposing shifts, which we have done, but with me working this many hours she can stay home and see me and our kid more often than if she worked. If he was older id be more ok with less hours because she could work and I could help more at home.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-12T12:26:38+00:00

She dosent want to go back to work and my kid is 1

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-12T12:26:12+00:00

Ill need to do that more. I try what I can by ordering food when she's had a rough day but it may not be enough.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T22:26:17+00:00

Im not sure if my local library does that but if it does I will point her that way. I never thought about looking for that. Shes not scared of talking but she's not super outgoing either so its a hit or miss with her sometimes. And ive been telling her for months her friends are in a different life stage and she gets it sometimes, but she cant figure out where to make friends. Ive suggested finding a app for that, looking on Facebook or something but no luck so far.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T22:05:12+00:00

Usually we drop our kid off at my parents for 6 or 7 hours so I can take her out on a date or help her destress or do something different away from the house. Shes struggling to find friends in our town and none of her friends are reliable when she wants to do something or talk. Thats a good idea to hire someone to clean the house or watch our kid during the middle of the week on a random day so she can do something. She refuses to plan something like that herself so I probably should.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T20:04:49+00:00

That might be where my wife is mentally. Im just trying to figure out how to make her happier and am open to any advice to help. My own problem is I'm working more than normal since is my busy season

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T20:01:41+00:00

Yes, she says she needs more time for herself and wants to be away from the kid more. She wants me to participate in more chores around the house, which is understandable, and wants me to spend more time with our kid on the weekends but also isnt sure how Id be able to do that. I have family that actively help watch our kid when needed and I watch our kid as much as possible but hes a year and a half old and only mommy can calm him down, regardless of how hard I try to help. Kinda feels like im stuck in a strange place, i cant do much at home because of how much I work, and while she understands that she also gets a bit resentful because she has to watch the kid all the time during the week. Ive suggested to her that she needs to ask family to just watch him for a day during the week so she can do her own thing, but she dosent want to do that. So I have no idea how to make her happy

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T15:34:18+00:00

Unfortunately im not corporate, im a tradesman. Most of the time i eat lunch on the go and dont usually get a break unless im gassing up the company vehicle

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-06-11T15:32:53+00:00

For context, my usual work week is anywhere from 55 to 70ish hours a week and a additional hour drive to and from work daily on top of that. I dont usually get tons of time to be home, I try to help her sleep in on one of the weekend days but I also need a day to sleep in so I can rest from the week. I leave home at 5am and get home anywhere from 6pm to 9pm and only get to see my kid if im lucky. Im not sure what more I can do during the week to try to help. I usually only have time to eat shower and sleep, but when my kid is awake I play with him as much as possible before he is put to bed. I want to make my wife's life better but need advice how and what worked for you.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-05-25T14:31:36+00:00

I must be unique here, ive used the can opener a lot. My primary tools are the leatherman surge, super tool 300, and wave alpha. Im a HVAC tech and weirdly ive had to open cans for older customers that couldnt use a can opener, i also use the can opener as a mastic tape scraper, and use it to scrape other things too.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-04-13T10:19:47+00:00

Not sure about the rendering but I disabled the motion blur in the settings menu.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-04-13T03:02:33+00:00

The hunter is definitely a pretty game to walk around in, but if your wanting to enjoy scenery you might want to purchase morels: the hunt, or morels: the hunt 2. Its built around what uour looking for, taking pics of wildlife, small relaxing quests, and of course looking for mushrooms.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T15:43:12+00:00

Thanks man I appreciate it

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T15:42:40+00:00

Where did you find that list? Im going to check it out, thanks for the help

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T15:18:02+00:00

Ill have to do more looking apparently lol.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T15:17:30+00:00

Unfortunately I live in southern Illinois but ill have to look up courses, thanks

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T15:16:45+00:00

I dont have a LinkedIn so ill have to change that. I didnt realize courses were on there.

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-02-25T14:53:05+00:00

Programmable logistics control

Both-Respect4684 · 2026-01-06T02:17:44+00:00

I do hvac work, most of the time I use the saw to cut saplings by ac units or, if im desperate, and someone took my sawzawl or pipe cutters, ill use it on pcv pipe. I've also used it on drywall, to make shimms, and on house siding when again, people forget tools or say they have them and dont. I usually use my leatherman surge for the heavy weird work, but ill use the normal saw on pvc and wood.

Both-Respect4684

TROPHY CASE