DH & I agreed before having kids that he would get up one night a week for me to let me "sleep through". It actually happened by mistake because we were talking with someone (cant remember who now, may have been his family?) & it came up about parenting etc etc & he said "Oh when we have kids I'll be giving Danielle a night off, it's only fair, it's both our children". He said it to look good but it back-fired when the time came around for us to have a baby & I reminded him of his promise for my "night off".

He wasn't happy but I made him stick to it, well for most of the time he has. He still complains about it & will often get me up to settle DD or DS back to sleep because they "wont settle for him". I also still have to wake him to get up to Tobias as he sleeps through it most of the time, so i dont ever get my whole night to sleep through.

He often starts saying on the Friday night before bedtime (his night to get up) that he's not feeling well or something along those lines so if he doesn't feel like getting up he'll use that excuse. I simply reply "Damn thats gonna suck when you have to get up to Tobias tonight". He quickly miraculously (sp?) recovers!

When DS arrived DH was obviously hoping to get out of the Friday night get ups. I got home from hospital on the Thursday & on the Friday night before bed I told him I'll push the bassinette around to his side of the bed. He asked what for. I told him "It's Friday night.... your night". He said "Oh, are we still doing that?" Ummm yeah! He rolled his eyes & huffed & puffed with his tanty (infront of my sister hehe) but I made him keep it up.

I often find myself reminding him that the kids are BOTH of ours, not just mine who he gets to show off when it suits him.

It is just a cop out when they say "He/she wont settle for me" blah blah blah. It drives me INSANE!!!! Wouldn't that be the life, being able to have a child when it suits you but when it all gets too hard someone else will setlle it for you & do all the hard work for you.

Anyway, sorry I've gone on & on but its a sore topic here too.

I suggest you sit down with Shel calmly & explain to her how you're feeling & try to work out a time that she can give you a break. Even if its in the afternoon once a week, she could take Jazz for a walk in the pram for an hour or so while you have a nap or a bath or whatever you want to do, but I believe you definately need a break.

Good luck getting through to her hun.