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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find this disrespectful?

32 replies

Amoregelato · 29/08/2024 18:16

I took a term-time only job this year to fit better around our family. I used to be a SAHP but have worked FT for the last 4 years and PT before that for a few years. Youngest DC is starting secondary next week and eldest is starting 6th Form. DH is self-employed and primarily WFH. He earns a lot more than me. We had a two week family holiday at the start of the summer holidays.

When I started working FT, DH had to step up in terms of helping around the house. It is a general bone of contention and tends to go in phases. He does a lot with the day to day but doesn't do the unseen bits (i.e will make dinner but wouldn't think to clean bathrooms or change beds etc).

My job is very inflexible. I start at 08 30 and finish (if I'm lucky) at 16 30. My day is full-on with no time for anything other than work. I also do the school run so leave at 07 15 and get back at 18 00 ish. DH has a more flexible job - he can take appointments, go to the gym and often goes to lunch with his family. We are a very busy household and someone has something on most, if not every, night of the week and most weekends. It is exhausting but ultimately that is the way we have chosen to live our lives so we get on with it.

Over the holidays, DH has stopped contributing in any way towards the running of our household. I get that I am technically off work (I have done some additional work but only 5 days) and for the most part I don't begrudge this. However, it's not like I've been sat on my arse. Most days have been taking DC to various things as well as trying to do the jobs that I never can in term-time I.e. decorating and clearing out etc. He has literally stopped doing anything. I have been out for two full days for an activity for DC and there has been a load of washing sat in the machine since then. He hasn't hoovered, cooked, emptied the dishwasher or reminded DC to do homework. Everything has come to me. We've had it out this afternoon and he thinks I'm being unreasonable. He said that he made the assumption that because I'm off then I'll do it all. I think that if you know I'm not going to be in then you'd at least empty the washing machine and dishwasher rather than leave everything piling up for me to do and that his attitude is really disrespectful.

OP posts:
Amoregelato · 29/08/2024 18:31

IntrepidCat · 29/08/2024 18:23

I agree that it’s really disrespectful. However, with two children of their ages, and 13 weeks of the year off, I would have though you could have accommodated decorating, clearing out and housework into the time off in a more balanced spread over the time you aren’t spending 48 hours at an activity for your child.

Sorry my post wasn't clear. We have 4 DC, the eldest is actually 19 but is not at home at the moment so isn't impactful on the day to day.

I've also only started this year so have actually only had Easter and Summer off although I went on a school residential at Easter for most of the first week. I'm also doing a 5 day residential for a voluntary activity I help with in October so it's going to be a pretty straight run through until Christmas.

OP posts:
Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 29/08/2024 18:31

Yes, disrespectful.

Even when I am away (not often) for a social/fun thing my DH is decent enough not to let me come home to a sink full of dishes or general mess.

And although I do most of the home stuff, he does pitch in and if he sees I’m struggling he’ll do more.

I don’t think it’s acceptable for an adult to purposely leave or avoid household tasks if they could do it fairly easily around work commitments, particularly when the other one is out/away.

Tbskejue · 29/08/2024 18:29

I’d be annoyed too; DH and I took different weeks off for our DC over the summer and still did our normal jobs when the other was off work with communication if we wanted the other to help

DoreenonTill8 · 29/08/2024 18:28

IntrepidCat · 29/08/2024 18:23

I agree that it’s really disrespectful. However, with two children of their ages, and 13 weeks of the year off, I would have though you could have accommodated decorating, clearing out and housework into the time off in a more balanced spread over the time you aren’t spending 48 hours at an activity for your child.

Sorry but this. took a term-time only job this year to fit better around our family so he's probably thinking, 'I'm at work, you're not, these things are why you're not working full time'? Get a full time job and he'll need to do more.

LostTheMarble · 29/08/2024 18:27

Doesn’t stop also being his home just because it’s your ‘time off’. You’re not his employee, the house isn’t your summer job. If he wants a summertime maid then he can pay for one in lieu of the housework he should be doing.

SummerSplashing · 29/08/2024 18:27

Whether you're off or not, he still needs to pull his weigh as he lives there. You're not his mother or his house keeper

IntrepidCat · 29/08/2024 18:23

I agree that it’s really disrespectful. However, with two children of their ages, and 13 weeks of the year off, I would have though you could have accommodated decorating, clearing out and housework into the time off in a more balanced spread over the time you aren’t spending 48 hours at an activity for your child.

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