Internet Divided After Man Insists Wife Take Care of Son for 16 Hours Per Day: 'Stop Keeping Score'

A husband asking whether he was wrong for expecting his wife to care for their infant son for 16 hours a day has divided online critics.

The Reddit post by the 30-year-old man, aka user Flashy_Protection987, an epidemiologist, explained that he works remotely from 3 a.m. to 12 p.m.

He also takes care of their 2-month-old baby during his working hours before handing off full responsibility to his wife for the remainder of the day.

'She still complains'

While the original poster (OP) insists that the arrangement is fair—citing that he also handles household chores and their two dogs—his also 30-year-old wife disagrees, arguing that she is shouldering an unfair burden.

"She sleeps a full night every night and doesn't have to work," he told Redditors.

"This is a much better situation than literally every stay-at-home mom we know, but she still complains," he wrote.

The post quickly gained traction, with Reddit users split over the couple's division of responsibilities.

"Stop keeping score in your marriage," criticized one person, while others sympathized with his frustration, but warned that the couple's arrangement would not hold up as the child grows.

'Parenting is a 24-hour job'

Many noted that raising a child is an ongoing commitment, not a fixed schedule, such as the user who wrote: "Umm, both of you are his parents. Ain't no division of time.

"God forbid one of you drops dead, then what?! You're a parent now, that's a 24-hour gig, deal with it."

An individual pointed out the looming challenges as the child grows, especially once he reaches the toddler stage.

"Y'all have a baby. Even with two parents in the home helping, expecting anything more than an hour or two a day in free time is laughable," the individual continued.

"You can care for a baby and work now, but be prepared to be flexible with that arrangement.

"I can assure you from personal experience that working while caring for a toddler will not end well. They like to scream and squeal. If they are quiet, then they are doing something dangerous or destructive."

Some users also questioned whether the OP was truly engaged in parenting while working, suggesting that his argument of "watching the baby" while working wasn't the same as actively caring for him.

Balancing Parenting and Household Responsibilities

The situation underscores a common issue in relationships—how to fairly divide parenting and household labor.

Two parents from Ohio have gone viral on TikTok after sharing their exemplary handling of a tricky disciplinary call while managing not to laugh at their misbehaving child. The mom told Newsweek about the principles behind their model parenting.

Meanwhile, another Newsweek article highlights the strain that uneven household responsibilities can place on a relationship, citing a woman's shock when her father made a last-minute, life-altering decision without consulting her.

Though the circumstances were different, the underlying issue—expecting one person to handle the burden without full agreement—chimes with the OP's dilemma.

Fairness or Partnership?

Many Reddit users pointed out that OP's approach—viewing parenting as something that can be evenly divided into shifts—might not be sustainable. Parenting, they argued, is about teamwork rather than rigidly splitting time in a way that feels "fair" on paper.

Relationship experts suggest that successful co-parenting often involves fluidity rather than keeping strict track of hours as the OP was accused by some critics of doing.

Newsweek's analysis on relationships notes that partners should focus on supporting each other rather than debating who does more.

Small efforts, such as showing appreciation and actively participating in responsibilities beyond assigned roles, can help ease tension.

Newsweek has contacted Flashy_Protection987 for comment via Reddit.

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