Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

SAHP and division of household tasks

28 replies

Theo92r · 08/02/2025 00:28

This might be in the wrong place, perhaps it should be in parenting or relationships?

I've been reading threads about how working parents split the load with the SAHP when at home/not working and realised that can't be further from the case for me.

I'm the SAHP. Partner WFH. 3 kids: newborn, toddler, and a teenager. I'm on shift 24/7 atm with nightfeeds, but even before the newborn was here, my day would start when toddler was up (usually 7am) and finished after I clean the kitchen after dinner (we eat late due teenager's sporting commitments 4 evenings a week) so I'd finish cleaning most days between 9pm-10pm). They also have a full day of sports every Saturday, so I don't get much respite then either. My partner would sometimes help with dishes, bedtime, laundry, very occasionally he'll cook. But this has always been infrequent and irregular, and often only if I asked. 90% of household stuff has always fallen on me regardless or whether partner was at work or not. He does all taxi-ing for teeneager mind you, and often is the one to drop us off at hospital appointments since I don't drive. During weekends, he'd rarely sort breakfast even on the Sunday we're all at home together in the morning.

I actually didn't realise other SAHP had a different set up! Stupid really. But I suppose I saw my mum and aunts do the same, and assumed it was the norm.

Just wanted to discuss with other SAHP!

OP posts:
Theo92r · 08/02/2025 00:40

CheezePleeze · 08/02/2025 00:36

Due to the large age gaps between my 3 DS, I stayed at home for over 20 years (although I also volunteered for 20 years).

However, during that time I made sure I got a lie-in on either a Saturday or Sunday and that my DH did some regular housework chores.

Then when the boys were old enough, I made sure they did some too.

It was important to me that they saw a division of housework between me and their dad, and that they didn't just see it as 'women's work'.

They're adults now and only our 22 year old DS lives at home, but he'll always do some housework on one of his days off if he's home, and I'm back at work full-time so it's shared equally between me and DH.

This is interesting! It definitely was more balanced beforw child number 2 came along. I went back to work between child 1 and 2 and me and partner shared the load (both financial and at home) more evenly. It hasn't been until became a SAHP that this disparity has arisen. Perhaps I need to get back to "real" work!

OP posts:
Mnetcurious · 08/02/2025 00:39

Being the earner whilst the spouse is a sahp isn’t a free pass to get out of all childcare/household responsibilities! Yes the sahp should take on the majority of responsibilities during the day when the other person is out at work but in the evenings and weekends, they need to be involved in household chores and childcare, however they choose to split that - eg specific tasks belong to specific people or just general mucking in. Yes they’ve been at work all day, but the sahp has also been working - on parenting and housework all day.
When you have a young baby it’s especially important that the working parent helps out as it can be difficult to get much done with a baby around and it can be utterly exhausting for the parent that’s with them all day long.

CheezePleeze · 08/02/2025 00:36

Due to the large age gaps between my 3 DS, I stayed at home for over 20 years (although I also volunteered for 20 years).

However, during that time I made sure I got a lie-in on either a Saturday or Sunday and that my DH did some regular housework chores.

Then when the boys were old enough, I made sure they did some too.

It was important to me that they saw a division of housework between me and their dad, and that they didn't just see it as 'women's work'.

They're adults now and only our 22 year old DS lives at home, but he'll always do some housework on one of his days off if he's home, and I'm back at work full-time so it's shared equally between me and DH.

Swipe left for the next trending thread