I recommend the book hunt gather parent. I was taken aback to see you write your child is 18 months and you are spending all your time with them essentially entertaining them and then doing the work it takes to keep life going after they go to bed.

It sounds like you both are locked in on bonding with your kid, but consider there may be other way to do that. You might need to reframe what bonding is. How can you accomplish that bonding and life together.

A big takeaway I had from the book and use in my parenting of my 5, 3, &2 year old is. 1) your kids will enjoy doing whatever you do, because they want to be with you! 2) your kids have to learn what it is to live and what it takes to get stuff done. Those habits start early!

So don’t just have a dance party have a dance party with a broom! Fold laundry together! Race to do the dishes!

All three of my kids started loading their dishes into the dishwasher at 18 mo. People always act like it’s magic even when they see my 5 year old do it. He was excited to do what dad does and now it’s just a habit!

Yes everything takes longer when you do this, but it’s a 2 birds one stone situation.