Ok, as a husband, can I chip in here??
I agree with most of you actually. I think its amazing what you go through for nine months, then the birth then the next couple of years!
If I worked all week and only came home at weekends I would look forward to getting stuck in. Especially as I get to sleep for the rest of the week.
Me and my wife have a bit of an arrangement - I get up in the mornings when I am around (I work shifts) to see to our oldest daughter of 20 months. That means I am up by 06:30 hours most mornings. My wife is up in the night only once or twice but gets to lay in as long as she needs with the new-born (actually 8 weeks).
We all then lay in bed with Cbeebies on with tea, juice, cereals and toast. If its a good day, the oldest will be hapy to lay there, if not she will be a bit of a pain but its all good.
There are two schools of thought regarding work, though. I have to go to work, be somewhere, do something, I can't come home or eat when I feel like it but my wife can up to a point. It is difficult and stressful looking after one, let alone two young children but its also hard getting up at 5 a.m. for a 10 hour shift, sometimes without much rest (at least you can rest when baby sleeps). Please don't shout at me!!
The other school of thought is that its actually quite nice to go to work for a break - no nappies, no endless crying, no feeding, no nagging, no arguments. Just me, some colleagues and being able to get up walk around, drive and other stuff without too many ties.
i am undecided on which I prefer... Bread winning or being kept... I mean home making and child care.
I applaude you all and I mean it.
Stu