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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
HowardTJMoon · 08/08/2025 17:53

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 17:26

Clearly one many aren’t doing 😂

Oh, we did it, we just think that writing it down as some kind of accomplishment to justify the "professional" nature of being a SAHP is embarrassing for you.

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 17:26

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 17:14

Because you made out it's a whole thing when it's a 5 minute task.

It's one of the more ridiculous things in your list of tasks that apparently makes keeping a house clean a full time job

Clearly one many aren’t doing 😂

SleeplessInWherever · 08/08/2025 17:17

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 17:14

Because you made out it's a whole thing when it's a 5 minute task.

It's one of the more ridiculous things in your list of tasks that apparently makes keeping a house clean a full time job

There was actual lasagne on my walls. I would have cleaned it up sooner, but the handmade/artisanal toilet roll tube models needed rearranging.

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 17:14

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 16:48

Wow people really are touchy about the photos and art work 😂

Because you made out it's a whole thing when it's a 5 minute task.

It's one of the more ridiculous things in your list of tasks that apparently makes keeping a house clean a full time job

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 16:48

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 15:35

You sound like an inspiration to your children.

I don't think that limiting their opportunities in life to rotate the art work would be in their best interests either.

Wow people really are touchy about the photos and art work 😂

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 16:45

4timesthefun · 08/08/2025 15:09

Gah the post of Nigel’s didn’t post - either way, this is a response to the claim that parents can’t work and manage the demands of more than 1 kid properly, like illness and going to sports carnivals.

I’m finding it hard to know whether you have very real struggles with perspective taking and appreciating other views. Surely, it’s pretty obvious that everyone is different. Alternatively, maybe the posts are deliberately to bait people.

This one is a bit ridiculous though. I have 4 kids, and work for myself. Most years I have earned between 65-100k, depending on what else has been going on in life. Of my 4 kids, all are incredibly sporty, so I attend ALL the sports carnivals, and then the subsequent assemblies etc where they get awards. They then make at least the next 2 or 3 levels of competition, 2 of 3 have competed at a junior national level in different sports, which requires a parent to travel with them for 7-10 days. I would estimate that each school year, I spend time (or a whole day) at different school related sports or activities on at least 30 different days. Then there are all the other events and parent volunteering stuff that I tend to do. Yes, with 4 kids, illness and medical needs is multiplied by 4. My boss (me) sometimes does get irritated by the demands, but it has been very possible. Don’t get me wrong, my husband earns well and we could afford a nice life if I was a SAHP. However, the addition of my income has 100% made a positive difference to their lives and circumstances. I can see your perspective on the value of a SAHP in some circumstances, the fact you can’t see that combining work and family can sometimes be done very successfully by other people is puzzling.

I posted earlier about reducing hours as family needs are increasing with adolescence, and their sporting commitments…. But I’ll likely reduce to earning around 50-60k a year, which will remain a great balance and advantage to the children.

If you would find it hard to juggle both, that’s understandable. While we would have a nice life if I learnt $0, it would be the end of the high level sporting opportunities 3 of my 4 are chasing (the youngest is too young, I have no doubt it will be 4/4). I don’t think it would be in their best interests to limit their passions so I can match the Tupperware monthly rather than yearly and refresh the art on the walls more regularly.

Edited

That’s great to hear, but surely you can appreciate you are yourself are a high earner and have a greater sense of autonomy as your own boss. That is completely unattainable for many for a multitude of reasons. Many people will never be the boss, let alone their own boss and/or have much control over their work diary. Zero flexibility, zero WFH, requests for leave denied if no cover, etc.

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 16:39

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 13:50

It the Genevieve child that was smothered face down on a beanbag at nursery

And her parents are now raising awareness of the sharp rise in serious injuries being caused, both through neglect and deliberately. OFSTED data backs this up. This increase is partly down to much worsening staff ratios and working conditions, and there’s lots of evidence of staff covering things up and putting on a good front when they are inspected, but in reality there may be 1 adult left with 10 babies. It is extremely concerning.

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 16:05

HowardTJMoon · 08/08/2025 14:20

Oh look, you've once again confused the specific for the general in order to bolster your weird opinions. What a surprise.

I was replying to the person who said they didn't have time to look up the names. So why wouldn't it be specific?

And I gave no opinion at all - weird on not on it.

Feel free to quote my " weird opinion"

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 15:35

4timesthefun · 08/08/2025 15:09

Gah the post of Nigel’s didn’t post - either way, this is a response to the claim that parents can’t work and manage the demands of more than 1 kid properly, like illness and going to sports carnivals.

I’m finding it hard to know whether you have very real struggles with perspective taking and appreciating other views. Surely, it’s pretty obvious that everyone is different. Alternatively, maybe the posts are deliberately to bait people.

This one is a bit ridiculous though. I have 4 kids, and work for myself. Most years I have earned between 65-100k, depending on what else has been going on in life. Of my 4 kids, all are incredibly sporty, so I attend ALL the sports carnivals, and then the subsequent assemblies etc where they get awards. They then make at least the next 2 or 3 levels of competition, 2 of 3 have competed at a junior national level in different sports, which requires a parent to travel with them for 7-10 days. I would estimate that each school year, I spend time (or a whole day) at different school related sports or activities on at least 30 different days. Then there are all the other events and parent volunteering stuff that I tend to do. Yes, with 4 kids, illness and medical needs is multiplied by 4. My boss (me) sometimes does get irritated by the demands, but it has been very possible. Don’t get me wrong, my husband earns well and we could afford a nice life if I was a SAHP. However, the addition of my income has 100% made a positive difference to their lives and circumstances. I can see your perspective on the value of a SAHP in some circumstances, the fact you can’t see that combining work and family can sometimes be done very successfully by other people is puzzling.

I posted earlier about reducing hours as family needs are increasing with adolescence, and their sporting commitments…. But I’ll likely reduce to earning around 50-60k a year, which will remain a great balance and advantage to the children.

If you would find it hard to juggle both, that’s understandable. While we would have a nice life if I learnt $0, it would be the end of the high level sporting opportunities 3 of my 4 are chasing (the youngest is too young, I have no doubt it will be 4/4). I don’t think it would be in their best interests to limit their passions so I can match the Tupperware monthly rather than yearly and refresh the art on the walls more regularly.

Edited

You sound like an inspiration to your children.

I don't think that limiting their opportunities in life to rotate the art work would be in their best interests either.

4timesthefun · 08/08/2025 15:09

Gah the post of Nigel’s didn’t post - either way, this is a response to the claim that parents can’t work and manage the demands of more than 1 kid properly, like illness and going to sports carnivals.

I’m finding it hard to know whether you have very real struggles with perspective taking and appreciating other views. Surely, it’s pretty obvious that everyone is different. Alternatively, maybe the posts are deliberately to bait people.

This one is a bit ridiculous though. I have 4 kids, and work for myself. Most years I have earned between 65-100k, depending on what else has been going on in life. Of my 4 kids, all are incredibly sporty, so I attend ALL the sports carnivals, and then the subsequent assemblies etc where they get awards. They then make at least the next 2 or 3 levels of competition, 2 of 3 have competed at a junior national level in different sports, which requires a parent to travel with them for 7-10 days. I would estimate that each school year, I spend time (or a whole day) at different school related sports or activities on at least 30 different days. Then there are all the other events and parent volunteering stuff that I tend to do. Yes, with 4 kids, illness and medical needs is multiplied by 4. My boss (me) sometimes does get irritated by the demands, but it has been very possible. Don’t get me wrong, my husband earns well and we could afford a nice life if I was a SAHP. However, the addition of my income has 100% made a positive difference to their lives and circumstances. I can see your perspective on the value of a SAHP in some circumstances, the fact you can’t see that combining work and family can sometimes be done very successfully by other people is puzzling.

I posted earlier about reducing hours as family needs are increasing with adolescence, and their sporting commitments…. But I’ll likely reduce to earning around 50-60k a year, which will remain a great balance and advantage to the children.

If you would find it hard to juggle both, that’s understandable. While we would have a nice life if I learnt $0, it would be the end of the high level sporting opportunities 3 of my 4 are chasing (the youngest is too young, I have no doubt it will be 4/4). I don’t think it would be in their best interests to limit their passions so I can match the Tupperware monthly rather than yearly and refresh the art on the walls more regularly.

HowardTJMoon · 08/08/2025 14:20

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 13:50

It the Genevieve child that was smothered face down on a beanbag at nursery

Oh look, you've once again confused the specific for the general in order to bolster your weird opinions. What a surprise.

SleeplessInWherever · 08/08/2025 14:08

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 13:50

It the Genevieve child that was smothered face down on a beanbag at nursery

Absolutely harrowing story.

Also doesn’t prove that nurseries are intrinsically dangerous places.

I’ve worked with many children who came to school filthy, unfed, some of them didn’t have basic utilities like electric and water, nevermind a proper bed. That doesn’t mean none of us should have children.

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 13:50

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 13:19

Nope. I'm a busy woman. If you are going to claim something outrageous, like nursery is child abuse, the burden of proof is on you.

Find it, make sure it's been peer reviewed and proven in the scientific sense, present it here and I will read it. I won't go on a wild goose chase for something I don't believe exists just because you claim it does.

It the Genevieve child that was smothered face down on a beanbag at nursery

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 13:49

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 13:23

It was found that Sure start centres were used most by the parents that needed them the least because they really cared for their children and provided everything their children needed anyway.

They had relatively little impact on the neglected children because the children who needed sure start centres the most unsurprisingly had parents who didn't give a shit so didn't take them.

I do remember that.

MsSmartShoes · 08/08/2025 13:49

Stripeysockspots · 01/08/2025 20:53

But they have typically had women to prop them up.

The men who are most successful in my work all have women who are picking up EVERYTHING for them at home. The women who are most successful are outsourcing the same things to other women.

THIS!

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 13:23

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 12:08

Hmm sure start were around when I had my DS. Wasn't aware they were just for SAHP. In fact he attended a surestart day nursery from 6 months while myself and parents of all the other kids worked

It was found that Sure start centres were used most by the parents that needed them the least because they really cared for their children and provided everything their children needed anyway.

They had relatively little impact on the neglected children because the children who needed sure start centres the most unsurprisingly had parents who didn't give a shit so didn't take them.

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 13:19

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 11:54

Google Katie Wheeler and John Meehan- they are publicly raising much awareness about the dangers of nurseries after their 9 month old was killed at one.

Nope. I'm a busy woman. If you are going to claim something outrageous, like nursery is child abuse, the burden of proof is on you.

Find it, make sure it's been peer reviewed and proven in the scientific sense, present it here and I will read it. I won't go on a wild goose chase for something I don't believe exists just because you claim it does.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 08/08/2025 12:19

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 12:12

Google baby P. He would've probably been safer at nursery

There are bad and neglectful people who will hurt or kill kids. Just because one case happened at nursery doesn't make them all inherently unsafe

And Victoria Climbe - whose death prompted the labour government policies which included the introduction of Sure Start.

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 12:12

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 11:54

Google Katie Wheeler and John Meehan- they are publicly raising much awareness about the dangers of nurseries after their 9 month old was killed at one.

Google baby P. He would've probably been safer at nursery

There are bad and neglectful people who will hurt or kill kids. Just because one case happened at nursery doesn't make them all inherently unsafe

RubySquid · 08/08/2025 12:08

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 10:19

You also seem incapable of acknowledging that any SAHPs out there are doing a fantastic job.

We should encourage people to be positive and inspire them do better, instead of criticising and putting them down. There used to be far more local Sure Start Centres to support those at home.

Hmm sure start were around when I had my DS. Wasn't aware they were just for SAHP. In fact he attended a surestart day nursery from 6 months while myself and parents of all the other kids worked

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 12:01

Glowingup · 08/08/2025 11:55

I have tried. The thing with people who are narcissists is that there is no point in these conversations. They will rewrite history and in their minds they were perfect parents. Both my parents think they were fantastic parents. They really really weren’t but in their heads
they were because we didn’t go to nursery or have the MMR jab or have lollipops or watch TV. But there is zero point debating it - it’s just upsetting.

Even in dire circumstances, good parents can care for their children emotionally. Whereas even with all the material wealth in the world, shit parents are shit.

Sure- I’m sorry to hear it’s been upsetting, or if these debates generally have brought back upsetting feelings.

its5oclocksomewheresurely · 08/08/2025 11:55

Don't forget periods.

Still going at age 55 here. When will it stop?!

Glowingup · 08/08/2025 11:55

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 11:51

I actually wasn’t seeking to defend her, but to understand. Yes, I wondered if you had spoken about it to her directly. I say this as someone who has had some difficult conversations with my own parents to seek to understand them better, and it helped. It may not help.

I have tried. The thing with people who are narcissists is that there is no point in these conversations. They will rewrite history and in their minds they were perfect parents. Both my parents think they were fantastic parents. They really really weren’t but in their heads
they were because we didn’t go to nursery or have the MMR jab or have lollipops or watch TV. But there is zero point debating it - it’s just upsetting.

Even in dire circumstances, good parents can care for their children emotionally. Whereas even with all the material wealth in the world, shit parents are shit.

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 11:54

SugarSoiree · 08/08/2025 11:23

How dare you try to make excuses for another perons abusive mother! Like you try to make excuses for my neglectful ex husband.

All people you have never met yet you assumed are angelic and misunderstood just because they fit your narrow view of the good/man woman.

You're not getting the point that your view of the good man/woman is heavily skewed by misogyny even after all this talk. Come to think of it you still haven't shared any actual proof that nursery is abusive. You scarpered away from that very quickly when an actual education professional, like in the real definition of professional, took you task on your bullshit claims didn't you?

Google Katie Wheeler and John Meehan- they are publicly raising much awareness about the dangers of nurseries after their 9 month old was killed at one.

ThankYouNigel · 08/08/2025 11:51

Glowingup · 08/08/2025 11:39

Do you mean have I spoken to my mum about it? Because I have spoken to a therapist about it and so have my siblings.

Needing a break? Overwhelmed by self-imposed pressure? It was her choice to have a very large family. It gave her a degree of attention and made her “different” and I think she thrived on that and that is why she had so many. But at the end of the day she shouldn’t have been a parent because she has narcissistic tendencies that caused great harm to me and my siblings. My dad was/is an overt narcissist- grandiose and self-important. My mum was/is a covert narcissist and operated through passive aggression, guilt tripping and other forms of control. Lots of people external to the family thought she was great, such a good parent, so involved with her kids etc but something fundamental was missing.

She also rewrites history so that certain traumatic events never happened according to her even though we all remember them and even our dad admits they happened.

It’s interesting how you seek to defend parents who are demonstrably shit. I wonder why that is.

I actually wasn’t seeking to defend her, but to understand. Yes, I wondered if you had spoken about it to her directly. I say this as someone who has had some difficult conversations with my own parents to seek to understand them better, and it helped. It may not help.