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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think most men wouldn’t survive a year living the life of an average woman?

932 replies

ThatRealLimeBee · 01/08/2025 20:12

The daily grind of sexism, safety worries, juggling expectations, emotional labour… Most men have no idea. AIBU to think they’d crumble under the load if they had to swap lives with us for a year?

OP posts:
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7
Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:44

SleeplessInWherever · 06/08/2025 13:43

My waste of space father has 7 kids to 3 different women, and doesn’t look after any of them. Maybe she lives near him.

😂
He sounds like a really good man

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 06/08/2025 13:43

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:40

Have a read about some of royal family and their experiences of pricey boarding schools- money often far from equals being emotionally nurtured.

But that’s not what people are talking about is it?
We’re all just normal families making sure we have enough money to feed and clothe our kids. You’re saying it would be preferable for them to live in abject poverty than have a mum who works. Sorry but that is fucked up.

SleeplessInWherever · 06/08/2025 13:43

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:41

Well it doesn’t sound like the pp’s ex that you labelled a good man has taken a leaf out of their book. And seven kids? Where do you live? Utah?

My waste of space father has 7 kids to 3 different women, and doesn’t look after any of them. Maybe she lives near him.

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:42

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:40

Have a read about some of royal family and their experiences of pricey boarding schools- money often far from equals being emotionally nurtured.

God it's like trying to have a conversation with a politician, why can't you just answer any questions?

Unloved rich children do not make neglect acceptable. Why would it?

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:41

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:38

I also don’t appreciate lazy stereotypes again lower income parents. I know many single Mums of 4-7 children who are either SAHMs or claim benefits who haven’t bought themselves any new clothes in ten years, but their children are always in the correct sized shoes, warm Winter coats, etc. They give whatever they have to their children over themselves, and I respect that.

Well it doesn’t sound like the pp’s ex that you labelled a good man has taken a leaf out of their book. And seven kids? Where do you live? Utah?

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:41

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:38

I also don’t appreciate lazy stereotypes again lower income parents. I know many single Mums of 4-7 children who are either SAHMs or claim benefits who haven’t bought themselves any new clothes in ten years, but their children are always in the correct sized shoes, warm Winter coats, etc. They give whatever they have to their children over themselves, and I respect that.

So what? I know of my ex husbands children. They are neglected. They don't have shoes that are waterproof and their clothes are too small. It's not a stereotype, it's what my aunt who works in the local school sees on daily basis. Neglected children. They are always unhappy children who are quite often struggling at schools and have emotional difficulties. It's heartbreaking to see. Their parents are failing them.

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:40

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 06/08/2025 13:34

Apparently it’s fine to neglect your kids as long as you are at home with them.
If you dare to try to provide for them financially then you’re abusing them.

Make that make sense!!

Have a read about some of royal family and their experiences of pricey boarding schools- money often far from equals being emotionally nurtured.

SleeplessInWherever · 06/08/2025 13:40

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:34

Everyone I know in real life has a great DH. They have literally nothing to complain about, but do. Their DHs treat them far more respectfully. I think nowadays men get the raw end of the deal actually. It has become fashionable almost to berate one’s DH and embarrass him in public in front of anyone. My DH actually received a text only yesterday from a friend’s wife supposedly inviting us to something nice for him which was actually the most resentful, passive aggressive, embarrassing, insulting way to speak about her thoroughly decent DH to his friends that we had ever read. Totally uncalled for.

You could not pay me to swap with a man!

I hope to God it was something like:

‘As you’re aware it’s my resident knobheads birthday, please pretend to be interested and come to this place I’ve half heartedly booked for the man I don’t care about. Cheers, miserable wife.’

Otherwise, I’m gonna assume it wasn’t that bad considering she’d clearly planned something for him.

Do you spend much time worrying about other people’s husbands? I didn’t think that would be on the full time wife/mother rota!

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:39

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:36

I don’t judge parents who are struggling to afford clothing in today’s climate, no. Ideally whatever clothing is affordable would be washed and ironed, and patches sewn up, but sadly society no longer values teaching anyone how to sew, hence the holes.

No, you just judge everyone else who sees financially providing for your child as the bare minimum for good parenting.

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:39

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:34

Everyone I know in real life has a great DH. They have literally nothing to complain about, but do. Their DHs treat them far more respectfully. I think nowadays men get the raw end of the deal actually. It has become fashionable almost to berate one’s DH and embarrass him in public in front of anyone. My DH actually received a text only yesterday from a friend’s wife supposedly inviting us to something nice for him which was actually the most resentful, passive aggressive, embarrassing, insulting way to speak about her thoroughly decent DH to his friends that we had ever read. Totally uncalled for.

You could not pay me to swap with a man!

You haven't answered the question. On brand.

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:38

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:31

You’ve changed your tune! I thought it was essential to run your home like a military operation and make sure your radiators were regularly cleaned. Now suddenly it’s cool if you can’t be bothered to buy shoes for your kids.

I also don’t appreciate lazy stereotypes again lower income parents. I know many single Mums of 4-7 children who are either SAHMs or claim benefits who haven’t bought themselves any new clothes in ten years, but their children are always in the correct sized shoes, warm Winter coats, etc. They give whatever they have to their children over themselves, and I respect that.

Disturbia81 · 06/08/2025 13:36

I think men just have different sets of worries and pressures to us. Look at all the suicide and andysmanclub etc
I would hate to be a good man living in a world where most murderers, rapists, abusers, paedos, war criminals, kidnappers, drug traffickers, antisocial behaviour, sleazy fuckers are male, and I was constantly under suspicion because I was the same sex.

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:36

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:31

You’ve changed your tune! I thought it was essential to run your home like a military operation and make sure your radiators were regularly cleaned. Now suddenly it’s cool if you can’t be bothered to buy shoes for your kids.

I don’t judge parents who are struggling to afford clothing in today’s climate, no. Ideally whatever clothing is affordable would be washed and ironed, and patches sewn up, but sadly society no longer values teaching anyone how to sew, hence the holes.

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:34

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:27

No, he wasn't trying his best for me. I worked the same hours as him, in a more demanding job than him, earning more money and paying more of the bills than him. Then he expected me to do all the housework too because it is women's work. Like his mother taught him. I was exhausted too, if he was trying his best he would have helped me. But he didn't, because he's a lazy useless waster.

Why are you so desperate to tie yourself in knots that men can do no wrong? Women should always serve them?

Edited

Everyone I know in real life has a great DH. They have literally nothing to complain about, but do. Their DHs treat them far more respectfully. I think nowadays men get the raw end of the deal actually. It has become fashionable almost to berate one’s DH and embarrass him in public in front of anyone. My DH actually received a text only yesterday from a friend’s wife supposedly inviting us to something nice for him which was actually the most resentful, passive aggressive, embarrassing, insulting way to speak about her thoroughly decent DH to his friends that we had ever read. Totally uncalled for.

You could not pay me to swap with a man!

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 06/08/2025 13:34

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:31

You’ve changed your tune! I thought it was essential to run your home like a military operation and make sure your radiators were regularly cleaned. Now suddenly it’s cool if you can’t be bothered to buy shoes for your kids.

Apparently it’s fine to neglect your kids as long as you are at home with them.
If you dare to try to provide for them financially then you’re abusing them.

Make that make sense!!

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:33

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 06/08/2025 13:32

@ThankYouNigelwhy do you find it so easy to criticise women who work hard providing financially for their family alongside ensuring they are cared for, fed, live in a clean house etc. yet fall over yourself to praise men who do the bare minimum?

Why do you hate women so much?

Why do you hate women so much?

And we've come full circle to the million dollar question.

Why don't you care about women's rights @ThankYouNigel ?

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 06/08/2025 13:32

@ThankYouNigelwhy do you find it so easy to criticise women who work hard providing financially for their family alongside ensuring they are cared for, fed, live in a clean house etc. yet fall over yourself to praise men who do the bare minimum?

Why do you hate women so much?

Glowingup · 06/08/2025 13:31

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:20

I know plenty of children like that at my DCs school, they seem happy to me. Children are usually less materialistic than adults. One thing I will say amongst my DCs wide-ranging friends- those from the poorest homes are certainly better mannered, less spoilt, less demanding, less self-centred and less entitled, that’s for sure!

You’ve changed your tune! I thought it was essential to run your home like a military operation and make sure your radiators were regularly cleaned. Now suddenly it’s cool if you can’t be bothered to buy shoes for your kids.

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:29

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:27

Feeling happy is hard to quantify though- you can be a millionaire and utterly miserable, or homeless but happy.

The gall! The majority of homeless people are homeless because they are suffering from mental illness health or addiction and are certainly not happy. They are not healthy or safe either, many homeless women are raped and many homeless men are victims of violence.

Why are you so desperate to make out it's fine for people to neglect their children as long as their mother is at home actively neglecting them and not out working trying to clothe her children?

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:27

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:25

Depends on his job. I’m
sure plenty of men who do extremely physically demanding jobs with extremely long hours (which women tend to avoid and look down on often) do arrive home absolutely knackered.

Also depends on someone’s ability levels. It’s a fact that people vary in intelligence levels, despite what our deeply flawed comprehensive system misleads people with (no, we are not all going to pass our exams with the highest grades, and why should we? We have different strengths and talents. Our current education system utterly fails working class boys). If someone is in a job which matches where they are at, that may be the maximum they are capable of, and they may feel they are working as hard as they can. That varies from person to person, and isn’t something to look down on.

Your DH, and many like him, possibly they were genuinely trying their best for you, only to be met with constant criticism, disdain, and never feeling good enough or that they can do anything right. That eats away at a person.

No, he wasn't trying his best for me. I worked the same hours as him, in a more demanding job than him, earning more money and paying more of the bills than him. Then he expected me to do all the housework too because it is women's work. Like his mother taught him. I was exhausted too, if he was trying his best he would have helped me. But he didn't, because he's a lazy useless waster.

Why are you so desperate to tie yourself in knots that men can do no wrong? Women should always serve them?

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:27

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:25

Having your basic needs met is not being materialistic.

Feeling happy is hard to quantify though- you can be a millionaire and utterly miserable, or homeless but happy.

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:25

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:20

I know plenty of children like that at my DCs school, they seem happy to me. Children are usually less materialistic than adults. One thing I will say amongst my DCs wide-ranging friends- those from the poorest homes are certainly better mannered, less spoilt, less demanding, less self-centred and less entitled, that’s for sure!

Having your basic needs met is not being materialistic.

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:25

SugarSoiree · 06/08/2025 13:20

Can I ask you @ThankYouNigel what, from the description of he was lazy and useless at home, thought all he had to do was work and complain he was tired from work makes you think my ex husband was a good man?

Is your bar for a good man that low?

Depends on his job. I’m
sure plenty of men who do extremely physically demanding jobs with extremely long hours (which women tend to avoid and look down on often) do arrive home absolutely knackered.

Also depends on someone’s ability levels. It’s a fact that people vary in intelligence levels, despite what our deeply flawed comprehensive system misleads people with (no, we are not all going to pass our exams with the highest grades, and why should we? We have different strengths and talents. Our current education system utterly fails working class boys). If someone is in a job which matches where they are at, that may be the maximum they are capable of, and they may feel they are working as hard as they can. That varies from person to person, and isn’t something to look down on.

Your DH, and many like him, possibly they were genuinely trying their best for you, only to be met with constant criticism, disdain, and never feeling good enough or that they can do anything right. That eats away at a person.

SleeplessInWherever · 06/08/2025 13:24

ThankYouNigel · 06/08/2025 13:20

I know plenty of children like that at my DCs school, they seem happy to me. Children are usually less materialistic than adults. One thing I will say amongst my DCs wide-ranging friends- those from the poorest homes are certainly better mannered, less spoilt, less demanding, less self-centred and less entitled, that’s for sure!

You’re quite right. They might be neglected (dirty homes, unsuitable clothing, holey shoes) .. but they’re happy and that’s all that counts!

🫠

Gowlett · 06/08/2025 13:22

This is why men get married…
And divorced men always move on to the next one!

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