Communicate, communicate, communicate. You can’t let this fester.

Hey. I hear you. If you ever need to talk, I am sincerely here to listen. You do not have to go through this by yourself. And I echo @someguy3@lemmy.world’s sentiment: communicate with your wife about how you feel. If need be, seek marriage counseling.

Good luck OP! Again, you are seen and heard and not alone!

Is she bringing in enough money for the household? Can you afford to be a stay at home dad? Because it seems that’s what she wants.

I relate to this so hard. My SO travels all over for weeks at a time for work, comes home and tells me how much fun they are having, and I am stuck home effectively being a single parent 3/4 of the time.

If anything is broken or messy it stays that way until I personally clean it up. But I am ‘not fun’ because I am sleep deprived and occasionally depressed, so I have to project positivity through sheer force of will.

My little brother’s wife had little interest in raising kids so it all fell on him. Without him, there may have never been love felt by his child. Her only interest was her career and living the high life. Having kids requires so much sacrifice which can make it very challenging when only one parent accepts the sacrifices. But he’s reaped the rewards. His wife doesn’t have much of a relationship with their child now that they’re an adult. And she’s kind of okay with that. Right now. The future has a way of biting us for the sacrifices we chose to pass on to others. I imagine as she ages, she’ll have regrets that can’t be walked back any more.
If you put in all the effort, the kids will remember. The future you’re sacrificing for may bring greater value than what you sacrificed. She may even see and hear about all you do together as a family, minus her, and want to become more part of what she’ll be missing.
None of that makes it easier now, and not having any free time to decompress really sucks. With all the micro time management you’re going to be doing, hopefully you can find time for yourself to fill your wants and needs.
If your spouse doesn’t appreciate you or consider your needs, that’s another issue to find a solution for that kids certainly complicate. Relationship issues are tough to work through and if either or both people don’t look at themselves in a mirror it can be insurmountable for the time. Then your choice becomes going into a holding pattern or finding someone else who can fill your needs you spouse won’t fill, or last; walking away which won’t make anything easier even if it can solve a problem

You are an amazing man helping your wife through a big transition. But the dialogue has to be there to discuss balancing work, family, and personal lives. From what you described you’re basically doing everything for the family. Once the dust settles in her change there will have to be adjustments to responsibilities.

I’m a father of 3, and I am the only income in my family. My wife stays at home as the home maker, she knows her duties. I know mine. And if they change we are both doing it together. Things are getting expensive here, so financial decisions are made by us both. Not just me. Even though I make the money. And family decisions are made by us. Even though she’s spending the majority of the time raising the kids. It’s a team effort. A family effort. If she’s stepping away from being part of the family that both of you helped create then there needs to be communications on the next steps. Whether you do it together, or a 3rd party via therapy.

It seems you’re highly supportive but your side isn’t being heard.

I’m confused about the kid pick-up and your WFH days. Wouldn’t it be easier to do that on a WFH day?

Have a meeting and allocate the work better and if you can, get help with cleaning or childcare. We get house cleaned to have weekends free, and my kids have done babysitting for other families so that the parents could get stuff done.

You are going to feel overworked with 4 kids, I’ve been there. It does get better as they get older. But if you are both working, use some of that money to buy back some of your time.

Hey congrats you’re doing literally everything she clearly used to do. Lots of people have to do all this shit, it’s called being an adult and a parent. Maybe you shouldn’t have had 4 goddamn kids, but if you never thought you’d be the one doing all this work then it’s no wonder you probably thought it was no big deal. Suck it up buttercup. If you’re whining about it, it’s no wonder she doesn’t care. Get a therapist if it’s so hard. Try couples therapy if you think it’ll help. You mostly sound entitled though. I can’t help but wonder about the circumstances leading up to you marriage and kids.