New Dad Urged to 'Put His Son First' After Prioritizing Gym 6 Times a Week

A dad going to the gym six days a week despite having a 3-month-old son has been slammed online.

The mom took to Mumsnet to share her partner's fitness regime, under username jsmith1234, as she revealed he works out for two to three hours each time.

The post, which can be read here, amassed more than 110 responses since being posted on Sunday.

Baby's Schedule

It's common knowledge that a baby causes an upheaval in both parents' lives, and new routines need to be worked out.

Website The Baby Center says: "You both need to adjust to the idea of doing things on your baby's schedule rather than your own."

Each parent may find themselves focusing on different tasks, such as moms breastfeeding, with the site saying this could mean dads are on diaper duties.

Ultimately, it says: "It's easy to fall back on safe (but limiting) traditional roles. But doing so can leave one parent feeling resentful and the other left out in the cold.

"If one parent resents the other's involvement (or lack of it), everyone, including your baby, suffers."

Despite that, it is still important to find time for yourself, with the U.K.'s National Childbirth Trust saying: "Looking after yourselves as a couple and as individuals is important.

"It may be simplistic, but if you are happy, you are more likely to be happy in your role as a parent too.

"Take some time out with friends or on your own, doing something you enjoy or find relaxing."

But in the post, the mom revealed the extent of her fiancé's hobbies. She explained the 23-year-old started by lifting weights at home, saying: "Before he joined the gym he used to video game for at least 9-10 hours per day so I'm glad he's found a healthy hobby, however he still doesn't help much with the baby and housework.

"I can tell he thinks he's making more effort with the feeds and comforting baby to make up for his time spent at the gym, however he is still just doing the bare minimum.

"Therefore we've tried to fit him going to the gym 6 days a week around the babies needs but I'm still the one doing everything."

She claims she suggested going five times a week instead, but her compromises fell on deaf ears.

"I've tried explaining that now we have a child, we both have to make sacrifices and compromises," she said.

The mom claimed her jobless fiancé's response was she should find a hobby, go out with her friends, or they go to the gym together, none of which she felt were workable.

Compounding the situation was the recent death of a loved one, and she was dealing with health issues following the birth, as she added: "Therefore I've been struggling a lot emotionally and have been feeling really alone at home, he knows this."

She acknowledged there may be an underlying reason for his gym visits, saying: "I have a feeling some comments may suggest that he's playing video games/going to the gym so much because he's feeling over whelmed by the responsibilities of fatherhood and is avoiding it, which I believe is true to an extent with my fiancé.

"I've kind of spoken to him about this he expresses that he finds it hard work and tiring looking after the baby, I said so do I but we have to put our son first!!"

Asking whether she was unreasonable to ask him to spend one more day at home, she added: "I've spoke to him about going to the gym less or at least helping out ALOT more with the baby and housework, but he just won't compromise and I'm really struggling.

"He left us to go the gym last week when I was feeling unwell, then got really angry when I rang him and asked him to come home as I felt faint."

'Absolutely awful.'

Numerous people thought the dad was going too far with his hobby, with Whiskeypowers saying: "He sounds absolutely awful. The best way to resolve it would be to separate as he is neither a partner nor a father."

Fupoffyagrasshole thought: "Honestly I'd just leave him. Your life will be easier without him—he already doesn't help and doesn't contribute to anything. So essentially you are a single parent already."

While Pinkflipflop85 added: "He's completely checked out of parenting and your relationship."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.