For example, maybe you’ll cook dinner on the weekdays, and they can cover the weekends. Maybe they work from home 1 or 2 days a week and could handle those nights, too. You could team up and do daily chores as a family. After dinner, they could do the dishes, you could put food away and, if they’re old enough, your youngster can wipe down the table and counters.

Sometimes, a working spouse may feel left out of the decision-making process. Creating a clear parenting strategy together can help you both adapt to your roles and prevent disagreements. For instance, decide bedtimes, set rules about watching TV or playing video games, try to anticipate potential misbehavior, and establish punishments for specific broken rules. Unless a situation needs immediate attention, try to hold off on making any big parenting decisions without getting your partner’s input.

All parents, whether male or female, make mistakes, and there’s no such thing as a perfect superdad or supermom. Don’t be hard on yourself if you need pointers on changing diapers or testing the temperature of formula. Men who are more confident in their parenting skills tend to be happier about their roles as full-time parents.

Whether being a full-time parent is a personal choice or a matter of finances, try not to worry about what other people think about your decision. Take pride in the fact that you’ve stepped up to the plate for your family.

Venting and getting a pep talk from your partner might do the trick. For example, you might say, “I need to be honest about how I’ve been feeling lately. I love being a dad, but I miss working, and I get insecure whenever I have to answer the question, ‘What do you do for work?’” While these feelings are normal, remember that being a stay at home parent doesn’t have anything to do with masculinity or femininity. If anything, caring for your kids makes you even more of a man.

If you have an infant or toddler, for instance, they might get up at 7:00 a. m. You might feed them shortly thereafter, then get them dressed and brush their teeth. A late morning routine might include playtime or arts and crafts, and you might try to work a bit while keeping an eye on them. After lunch at noon, they’ll nap for at least an hour (a younger toddler will probably need 2 daily naps), then have an afternoon snack. Running around outside, going to a playground, dancing, or another form of exercise can come next so they can burn off some energy. That way, it might be easier to get dinner ready, feed them, bathe them, and get them ready for bed.

Suppose your child is sick. They’re cranky, it’s a 20-minute struggle every time you give them medicine, you’ve spent all day trying to soothe them, the house is a mess, and you didn’t have time to make dinner. Stay calm, order delivery, tidy up as best you can, and try to get some rest. If your kids can communicate, it’s helpful to keep them in the loop about changes to the routine. You might say, “I know we usually play with blocks and draw pictures in the morning, but we have to run some errands today. Don’t worry, it’ll be like an adventure!”

Don’t worry if you do things a little differently than your spouse. Maybe they had time for daily trips to the park, but you work from home and can’t spare the extra 45 minutes to drive to and from the park. You can go to the park now and then, and find other ways to keep your kids active on a daily basis.

For example, your office hours might be before they leave for work in the morning and after dinner. On the weekends, your partner could spend quality time with the kids while you squeeze in a few hours of work.

Suppose you work from home and have a conference call at 5:30 p. m. Let your partner know; they might be able to come home early to watch the kids or grab some take out since you won’t have time to make dinner. If your partner has to work late, they should let you know so you can plan the kids’ evening routine accordingly.

Maybe you’re not great at brushing your child’s hair, or you just can’t figure out how to put them down for a nap. Don’t get down on yourself. There’s a learning curve, and you’ll get the hang of it in time.

Eat a healthy diet packed with fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean protein sources, and dairy products (or calcium-rich dairy alternatives). Do your best to get as much as sleep as you can. While it might seem impossible, aim for 7 to 9 hours each night. If you’re short on rest, try sleeping when your child sleeps or naps. Stay physically active, and get some exercise every day. A 30-minute jog around the neighborhood after dinner or before your partner leaves for work could also provide valuable me-time.

If you love to read, grab a good book and read a few chapters while your child naps. Maybe a sibling or friend has kids, too. They could take your tykes for an afternoon, and you could return the favor another day.

Try looking for a local dad group on the National At-Home Dad Network: http://athomedad. org.