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If your husband worked these hours how much help would you expect?

778 replies

Woister · 06/09/2024 10:19

I am a SAHM. Dh works long hours. I basically do all the childcare and house work. In fairness when Dh is off he will take care of 85% of childcare ie take kids out swimming, bowling etc.

So the day before Dh got home a 8pm, then left the following day at 12pm to be home at 3 am. He will be leaving today at 12pm.

how much help would you expect from husband with these hours?

OP posts:
Dogsbreath7 · 07/09/2024 20:37

I think you come across as a bit entitled you are only a SAHM because your OH works to get the income to allow you to afford to do so. You have 3 children - why? The world’s a mess it does feel indulgent to have that many ( and then whine about it). If you hadn’t had the third you could have gone back to being an executive and paid for help so no need to fret over dishwasher or laundry.

plenty of women have to do 100% childcare, housework and hold down a job plus all the school drop offs etc. (On their own as single parents).

if OH wasn’t helping at weekends at all you would right of complaint.

Goldbar · 07/09/2024 20:19

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2024 20:07

I bet he wouldn’t. I bet he’d have a cleaner and send his laundry out. He wouldn’t be keeping four other people either.

But he has CHOSEN to have children - 2 at least. And presumably keeping the baby was a joint decision too.

So I'm not sure the relevance of what he'd do if he lived alone would be.

Living alone isn't an option - he has a family.

When I lived alone, I frequently worked 16 hour days and ate microwave meals. That has no relevance at all to how my DH and I live now we have children.

ASpritzOfMyFavouritePerfume · 07/09/2024 20:11

Lollipop81 · 07/09/2024 19:35

Having read all your posts just because he works shouldn’t mean he gets a free pass and doesn’t do housework. If he lived by himself he would work and do chores so he should still do some chores of course.

FFS, he may not do much housework BUT he entertains the kids most of the time, takes the did for their walks and cooks food. Give the guy a break.

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2024 20:07

Lollipop81 · 07/09/2024 19:35

Having read all your posts just because he works shouldn’t mean he gets a free pass and doesn’t do housework. If he lived by himself he would work and do chores so he should still do some chores of course.

I bet he wouldn’t. I bet he’d have a cleaner and send his laundry out. He wouldn’t be keeping four other people either.

Goldbar · 07/09/2024 20:04

masterblaster · 07/09/2024 18:00

so he has to do all the work and half of the house stuff? That doesn’t seem at all fair.

He does half the home stuff WHEN he is at home.

Not half in total.

Goldbar · 07/09/2024 20:04

PicturePlace · 07/09/2024 16:28

@Goldbar Wow. Comparing people choosing to be SAHPs with slavery? Crass and offensive to black people. You do know that being a SAHP is different from slavery, right? In that you can end the arrangement at any time.

And sorry, who do you think pays for a SAHP? Do you think they get magic money? It's the working partner. And there are no formal employee contracts for SAH work because then there would be deliverables and standards and performance management. SAHPs would not like that. In being a SAHP, you have your entire life paid for by the working partner. In return for that, doing the housework and childcare is the expectation, no?

I'm not saying this applies to the OP's situation, but modern slavery is an ongoing problem worldwide and it is not infrequently dressed up as 'marriage' to hide it. Married relationships can be abusive and exploitative. Women who are SAHPs are at risk of exploitation due to their diminished economic power compared to their partners. Just because you 'pay for someone's keep', as you put it, doesn't entitle you to expect them to work 24/7 with no pay and no holidays - what exactly would you call that?

In terms of expectations, the expectation should be that each partner makes a fair contribution to the relationship. Not that the SAHP does all the housework and childcare. Since the other parent doesn't work 24/7, the SAHP shouldn't be working 24/7 either.

Zanatdy · 07/09/2024 20:03

EightChalk · 07/09/2024 10:47

A very unpopular idea I'm sure, but how many of these men would have had (as many) children if they were single? I don't think the "if he was single he couldn't have this life" comparisons necessarily hold up. As a child-free woman I've had lots of conversations about decisions to have/not have children with all kinds of people, and I think a lot of men have children/more children because their partners really want to and they are happy to or indifferent, rather than because of a burning desire of their own. Especially these kinds of guys who are devoted to their careers. Saying you're enabling someone to have a certain kind of life only makes sense if they would have sought that life out anyway.

How many men want more than 2 children? Mainly the ones with more was because their DW wanted them. I’d expect many men would be happy with 1.

gardenflowergirl · 07/09/2024 19:45

I think your household needs to pay a cleaner to come in weekly to clean everything to lighten your load and then you'll be less resentful .

redskydarknight · 07/09/2024 19:43

Lollipop81 · 07/09/2024 19:37

wow, the man does his own laundry’s poor poor man 🤣🤣 come on. She looks after his children 24/7 while he is at work, doesn’t mean she should do all housework and laundry. She isn’t a skivvy.

Edited

He's not at work 24/7.

The 2 older children are at school for a chunk of the day.

I'm not saying that being on your own with a baby all day is a walk in the park, but let's not resort to hyperbole about the situation.

sunraze · 07/09/2024 19:40

@PicturePlace - I'm not sure what has happened to you in life to reduce you to this, but your comments are pitiful reading. Maybe consider some therapy to work things through?

Lollipop81 · 07/09/2024 19:37

Familylimbo · 07/09/2024 19:08

You don’t do his laundry? Wow this will be a why is my husband leaving me post in a few years- he works all those hours as a fucking pilot!! and does his best with the kids when home and you want more!! You however don’t work and are a SaHM wow just wow!!

wow, the man does his own laundry’s poor poor man 🤣🤣 come on. She looks after his children 24/7 while he is at work, doesn’t mean she should do all housework and laundry. She isn’t a skivvy.

Lollipop81 · 07/09/2024 19:35

Having read all your posts just because he works shouldn’t mean he gets a free pass and doesn’t do housework. If he lived by himself he would work and do chores so he should still do some chores of course.

JennyBG · 07/09/2024 19:32

MissUltraViolet · 06/09/2024 10:38

So he leaves at lunch time, gets in at 3am - bed about 4? then back to work at lunch...and you're annoyed he won't put the washing on, on his way back out?

You have 2 out of 3 children in school all day and on his days off you say he takes 85% responsibility for the children by taking them out, engaging them in activities, cooks the odd meal, walks the dogs.

Presumably he's also bringing in some pretty decent money?

Yeah, i'd swap with you.

I think she’s got things pretty easy if you ask me.
She says her husband is a pilot.

Well I for one would prefer to be piloted by a man who is not tired or stressed and be safe on my flight.

I think he does pretty darn good if he does 85% when he’s off.

Toptops · 07/09/2024 19:12

He sounds like he's pulling his weight.

Familylimbo · 07/09/2024 19:08

You don’t do his laundry? Wow this will be a why is my husband leaving me post in a few years- he works all those hours as a fucking pilot!! and does his best with the kids when home and you want more!! You however don’t work and are a SaHM wow just wow!!

TiredTeaBag · 07/09/2024 18:35

Woister · 06/09/2024 10:35

Dh does absolutely 0 housework. If he has 2 days off consecutively in that time he will likely cook one meal and do the dog walks.

My kids have flown the nest... but my husband doesn't work, and I do. I do 0 housework, I don't cook meals, I don't do laundry, bins, grocery shopping, or anything like that. He walks the dog and does all errands. I carry mental load for all family admin, including support for youngest who, while left the nest, is still actively being supported.

I suppose my point is that you need to agree to your division of labour together. You clearly feel it is unfair, but it does sound like your DH is working shifts. When my husband did work it was similar shifts and we had to take account of the recovery time from unsocial hours which meant that he was often a bit useless with the kids or anything else for that matter.

The main thing is to approach this like a team and support each other with understanding.

I know from experience that it is way to easy to slip into a competition over who is the most exhausted or put upon, and lose sight of being kind to each other.

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2024 18:31

masterblaster · 07/09/2024 18:00

so he has to do all the work and half of the house stuff? That doesn’t seem at all fair.

It isn’t.

Kellph83 · 07/09/2024 18:14

Personally I wouldn’t expect help during the week much at all. If he’s working and taking care of the kids when off I feel like that’s enough. I realise SAHM is full on but no more than if you were working full time as we both wrk full time in our house and tbh most of the childcare falls on me even though I work 8-5 and dh works 10-7

masterblaster · 07/09/2024 18:00

Camembertcufflinks · 06/09/2024 10:23

I would say half of the load is still his. I was a SAHM for several years and just looking after the kids and entertaining them is tough and a job in itself. If they are school age and you are at home it's a bit different and in that instance it would be fair for you to do a bit more. But if they are home with you all the time the housework etc should be a 50/50 split.

so he has to do all the work and half of the house stuff? That doesn’t seem at all fair.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 07/09/2024 16:37

This reply has been withdrawn

Post withdrawn at author's request

PicturePlace · 07/09/2024 16:28

@Goldbar Wow. Comparing people choosing to be SAHPs with slavery? Crass and offensive to black people. You do know that being a SAHP is different from slavery, right? In that you can end the arrangement at any time.

And sorry, who do you think pays for a SAHP? Do you think they get magic money? It's the working partner. And there are no formal employee contracts for SAH work because then there would be deliverables and standards and performance management. SAHPs would not like that. In being a SAHP, you have your entire life paid for by the working partner. In return for that, doing the housework and childcare is the expectation, no?

CovertPiggery · 07/09/2024 16:15

Fluufer · 07/09/2024 15:28

So his loving family miss him and want to speak to him? The poor lamb.
A job with that much travel and he opts of family life further? Moaning that his wife calls him? Jesus. What an arse

Agreed.

Imagine being annoyed because your kids are excited you're home or your wife calls you when she thinks your child might have broken their arm.

Fluufer · 07/09/2024 15:28

EI12 · 07/09/2024 10:23

Some of posters here display same understanding as my 5 y.o. niece - when asked what does your dad do, she invariably says 'oh, he sits in the big office all day'. He has a super stressful and super responsible job.

Our family friend is a conference interpreter, freelance. He lives out of a suitcase, v. successful, earns a fortune, US, EU, Africa, etc. His sah wife has a cleaner and is 'tired'. They have 2 children. She has no understanding of how exhausted he is and every time he walks into the house (his words) he gets ambushed by the children (school news, in-fighting, etc.) and by her (she has no adult to talk to, so dumps on him too the moment he arrives). He is a decent guy and does not take it up with her, so when he arrives back in the UK, he books one night in the airport hotel to relax, on his own, before facing the ambush. She also calls him when he is abroad and unsettles him with 'A is ill, he is off school today' or 'I think M broke her arm, should I take her to A&E or to GP'?

Overall, there is very little understanding on the part of sahp what it takes to be the sole provider.

So his loving family miss him and want to speak to him? The poor lamb.
A job with that much travel and he opts of family life further? Moaning that his wife calls him? Jesus. What an arse

Goldbar · 07/09/2024 14:02

PicturePlace · 07/09/2024 13:47

SAHPs don't really get "paid" the market rate for their services though, do they?

If a SAHP is providing a "paid for" service, like a nanny or a housekeeper, then surely they'd get their board and lodging provided, and then the market rate on top of that, plus paid holidays and time off.

Well I would suggest that a SAHP is entirely paid for/paid by the working partner. Board and lodging plus all expenses (clothes, meals out, luxuries, household items, all bills, car, phone, plus all holidays are paid holidays). Time off I would expect to be negotiated in most families.

But remember, "time off" for us workers is what SAHPs are describing as "work", so time off is an interesting one!

Slaves are entirely paid for by their masters too, aren't they? What you're describing would be viewed as exploitation outside the family context.

There's a reason why employment relationships are regulated to such an extent. SAHPs are not employees and should not be viewed as such.

PicturePlace · 07/09/2024 13:47

SAHPs don't really get "paid" the market rate for their services though, do they?

If a SAHP is providing a "paid for" service, like a nanny or a housekeeper, then surely they'd get their board and lodging provided, and then the market rate on top of that, plus paid holidays and time off.

Well I would suggest that a SAHP is entirely paid for/paid by the working partner. Board and lodging plus all expenses (clothes, meals out, luxuries, household items, all bills, car, phone, plus all holidays are paid holidays). Time off I would expect to be negotiated in most families.

But remember, "time off" for us workers is what SAHPs are describing as "work", so time off is an interesting one!