My husband and I have been married for 10 years. We have a 4-year-old daughter who can be quite energetic and stubborn at times. Recently, I’ve noticed my husband becoming more withdrawn and less involved with our daughter. He no longer helps much with childcare or attends her activities.
The other day, we had an argument where he said things would be easier without our daughter. This really shocked and upset me. I’m worried he’s starting to resent her.
I love my husband very much, but I’m feeling stressed and don’t know how to handle this situation. Should I confront him directly? Suggest counseling? I want to improve things but I’m not sure where to start. Any advice would be appreciated.
Been there. My partner drifted from our kids when work got crazy. We started small family game nights. Just 20 minutes, but it helped reconnect us all.
Talking openly about what’s going on is tough but important. Maybe see if he’s open to that?
I’ve noticed my husband getting frustrated with our 5-year-old’s energy too. It’s hard when they don’t connect easily. We started having ‘daddy-daughter time’ for 15 minutes before bed. They read a book or play a quick game. It’s short, but it’s helping.
Have you tried setting up any special moments for them? I’m curious what activities your husband used to enjoy with your daughter before. Maybe bringing back something familiar could help?
It’s scary when your partner says things like that. I had to ask mine directly what was going on in his head. It opened up a conversation about stress at work spilling over. Not easy talks, but necessary.
What do you think is behind your husband’s withdrawal? Work stress? Parenting challenges?
I’ve had moments where my spouse seemed distant from our kid too. What worked for us was creating little rituals they could share. Like a special handshake or silly dance when saying goodnight. It gave them a fun connection point without pressure.
We also tried to find activities that suited both their interests. For my spouse, it was building with Legos. For our kid, it was making up stories. We combined the two, and it became their thing.
Have you noticed any common ground between your husband and daughter? Sometimes finding that shared interest can be a good starting point for rebuilding their bond.
It sounds like a tough situation. I’ve experienced a similar disconnect when my partner seemed distant during busy times. We found that simple, regular moments made a difference in reconnecting. Something like spending a few uninterrupted minutes together helped spark more natural interactions. We also sat down to have honest, calm conversations about our feelings without laying blame. Although it wasn’t a quick fix, these gradual efforts eased the tension over time.
Maybe consider finding a low-key way to encourage one-on-one moments for them. Sometimes, opening up that dialogue together can create space for understanding. Every family has its unique pace, so try to keep things gentle and see what naturally works for you both.
I remember going through a rough patch with my husband when our youngest was around that age. It’s tough when one parent starts pulling away. For us, what helped was carving out some low-key bonding time.
We started a ‘Saturday morning pancake tradition’ where my husband and our daughter would make breakfast together. It was simple, but it gave them a regular activity to connect over without pressure. At first, he was reluctant, but seeing her excitement each week slowly brought him back.
Have you noticed any activities your husband used to enjoy with your daughter? Maybe there’s a way to bring some of those back, even in a small way. It might help to ease him back into engaging.
I also found it helpful to talk to my husband one-on-one about what was really going on. Sometimes there are deeper issues at play. It’s not an easy conversation, but it can open the door to understanding and finding solutions together.