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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mad about DP refusing to do School Run

195 replies

LittlePeachh · 10/09/2025 22:48

As the title says, AIBU to be mad about the fact my DP is refusing to do the school run?

Before we would take turns, but he seems to think I should do it every morning as I’m off on Mat Leave. He WFH. Usually doesn’t start until after I return back from dropping DC off.

By this point I’ve done the night feeds, got DC up, made breakfast, got DC ready whilst feeding and changing the baby AND getting myself ready. He’s happy to be awake, in bed and for me to leave the baby. But I’m shattered, even completing the most mundane household tasks takes all my effort.
baby goes back to sleep just after 8am and usually just before leaving for school run. DP dropping DC off means I could pop back to bed for a little while which would help with getting everything done before pickup.

Am I right to be mad or do I need to put on big girl pants and get on with it?

OP posts:
NightDreaming · 11/09/2025 12:38

@LittlePeachh

i take it you both agreed you wanted another child?

• So you where the one who was pregnant for 9 months (admittedly he couldn’t have don’t this role)

• You were the one that gave birth (again he could not have done this role)

• you where the one whose body needs to recover from pregnancy & birth.

• you are the one having their nights broken to feed the baby (if breastfeeding he can’t do this role)

• you are the one that has also taken on additional parenting of all mornings/school runs

As for your partner;
he has been able to put his feet up and do less parenting by not doing his usual school runs.
He hasn’t stepped up and said “let me do the parenting of the bits I can do” and actually take on all the morning school runs, just for this first stage at least.

Pretty crap. Not really Co-parenting is he. I feel for you.

outerspacepotato · 11/09/2025 12:20

He's not going to be doing anything when you go back to work. Your maternity leave has given him the opportunity to turn you into the one who does it all while he flat out refuses to do parenting tasks. He's going to the gym and doing a hobby thing while you do it all.

Maybe it's time to separate in house and plan to split once you get back to work. It's not like he's a helpful parent, you're already carrying the full load. Stop doing his work, such as laundry or food prep.

SwingTheMonkey · 11/09/2025 12:13

LillyPJ · 11/09/2025 12:07

I didn't mean that DP would need to rest in the day.

but there will be times in the day when she can rest. DP can't.

But that’s exactly what you said? She can rest, dp cant. Why would he need to rest because he’s done the school run? And if you’ve realised how silly that sounds and have changed your mind and you no longer think he needs to rest, why is it unfair that he does some school runs?

SwingTheMonkey · 11/09/2025 12:08

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 11/09/2025 10:44

I don't know actually. He is working - you are at home with this kids.
I think this falls under your workload.
WFH is still working.

He isn’t working when the child needs to be taken to school. Or does he get a pass because he will be working later that day? Fuck me, the bar is low.

LillyPJ · 11/09/2025 12:07

SwingTheMonkey · 11/09/2025 11:58

I hope someone has asked this question already, but why on earth would her partner need to rest during the day because he’d done the school run before work?! Op needs to rest because she’s up with the baby all night. What the fuck am I reading here?

I didn't mean that DP would need to rest in the day.

DurinsBane · 11/09/2025 12:05

LittlePeachh · 10/09/2025 22:48

As the title says, AIBU to be mad about the fact my DP is refusing to do the school run?

Before we would take turns, but he seems to think I should do it every morning as I’m off on Mat Leave. He WFH. Usually doesn’t start until after I return back from dropping DC off.

By this point I’ve done the night feeds, got DC up, made breakfast, got DC ready whilst feeding and changing the baby AND getting myself ready. He’s happy to be awake, in bed and for me to leave the baby. But I’m shattered, even completing the most mundane household tasks takes all my effort.
baby goes back to sleep just after 8am and usually just before leaving for school run. DP dropping DC off means I could pop back to bed for a little while which would help with getting everything done before pickup.

Am I right to be mad or do I need to put on big girl pants and get on with it?

He shouldn’t just be doing some school runs, he should also be doing some night time wake ups.
And he isn’t paying for your car, you are married so all money is legally joint, you are both paying for your car

WeNeedToTalkAboutIT · 11/09/2025 11:59

Honestly, after your update, I think you should still consider leaving him to be very much on the cards for you. He sounds absolutely horrible, and not only in the short term.

SwingTheMonkey · 11/09/2025 11:58

LillyPJ · 11/09/2025 06:08

Unfair because he'd also be working all day? Yes, I know she still has the baby all day, but there will be times in the day when she can rest. DP can't.

I hope someone has asked this question already, but why on earth would her partner need to rest during the day because he’d done the school run before work?! Op needs to rest because she’s up with the baby all night. What the fuck am I reading here?

Icreatedausernameyippee · 11/09/2025 11:49

Lady, you need to put your foot down.
You're doing all pick ups because he's working. He should be doing all drop offs.
Don't ask him. Tell him.

Btowngirl · 11/09/2025 11:37

JustMyView13 · 11/09/2025 10:41

This man baby.
Regarding the car - invoice him for the childcare and let him settle the difference.
This relationship is clearly transactional for him.

This! The cheek of him, when the OP is driving his children around in it. Would he sooner have her walk with them 🙄

Lubilu02 · 11/09/2025 11:37

I have been doing 99% of school drop offs and pick ups, and everything before and everything inbetween.

Been unhappy for the unbalanced set up for years, the pressure really got me very down at times. Did DH help? No, said I had to suck it up and get on with it. Did I resent him for that? Yes!

Took 10 years of pleading for him to finally help with morning routine for drop offs.

Don't be a mug like me. State what you need and don't take any less. Hand him his coat and his car keys and say there you go.

You are being more than fair. Some partners just take the piss as long as they can and completely disregard the impact it can have on their OH mental health.

Sunnyscribe · 11/09/2025 11:23

Sounds like he doesn't do anything in the mornings before work, not just the school run.

When he isn't working childcare and household should be 50/50.

Yes he should do the school run.

Purplebunnie · 11/09/2025 11:21

Is this going to continue when you go back to work? You'll be doing a full time job plus all this shit whilst he swans down to his little office and preens about the place?

I rarely say this but I'd be contemplating getting the feathered friends in a line.

Strawberry53 · 11/09/2025 11:15

He should be doing ALL the school runs! You are on Mat leave to care for your baby not to do everything else as well!

I’m currently on Mat leave and only have one baby, my husband works from home and starts later so he gets up with the baby every morning and lets me sleep in an hour or two as I’ve been the one up with him during the night doing feeds. We are as fair as possible about these things across the board as we both chose to become parents. Sleep deprivation is torturous and you need to rest where you can. Definitely stand up for yourself here and wishing you well.

CurbsideProphet · 11/09/2025 11:14

It's quite sad really that this father doesn't want to take his child to school (before he starts work) and have a little one on one time with them. It doesn't seem like this relationship is a true partnership. He does what he wants and you do everything for the family.

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 11/09/2025 11:08

Honestly you would be better off without him.

InMyShowgirlEra · 11/09/2025 11:05

LittlePeachh · 11/09/2025 08:00

His work space is completely separate to the main house. Them being home makes no difference to his work.
He only pops in now and again.

Tell him no, firmly, and that if he doesn't take DC to school they won't go, then walk them to his work space and push them through the door.

nam3c4ang3 · 11/09/2025 11:05

And you had a second child with this fucking prick?! What are his good points op? He sounds absolutely awful. I feel sorry for you - can you get any help from anyone else?

NoSoupForU · 11/09/2025 11:03

What the fuck? You being on mat leave isn't free license for your partner to just opt out of any responsibility. If he were rushing to get to work or was in work before school drop off then fair enough, but for him to lay in bed whilst you run yourself ragged getting everyone up, ready and out after being up during the night is beyond the pale. I'd be fucking livid.

Yellowview · 11/09/2025 11:02

He’s not listening because he thinks you grew them your responsibility. I would write out a rota. Explain childcare is still work and you are up at night. I married a selfish arse like this. It was never down to him to collect ill children, do school runs because of his job, the list goes on. Even though I worked to. Divorced now…

Onthebusses · 11/09/2025 11:00

My ex refused to help me with the school run too. I'd have to not work in the mornings to do it. Now he has no choice but to do them when the child is at his.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 11/09/2025 10:50

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 11/09/2025 10:44

I don't know actually. He is working - you are at home with this kids.
I think this falls under your workload.
WFH is still working.

But if she was back at work, there would be an expectation that they shared the job of getting the kids out in the morning. If she's been up half the night with TWO non sleeping children and he is WFH, why on earth isn't he getting DC1 up every morning and getting them to school before starting work. He's had a full nights sleep FFS. That is next level selfish.

OP - he should either deal with DC1 night wakings [which will probably sort that quickly in my experience as they typically settle faster for a Dad] or the school run. You should present it as a choice.

I also think you need to start considering divorce and what he is actually adding to your life here. Does he participate in any real way in the load of two children?

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 11/09/2025 10:44

I don't know actually. He is working - you are at home with this kids.
I think this falls under your workload.
WFH is still working.

TheOtherAgentJohnson · 11/09/2025 10:44

RhaenysRocks · 11/09/2025 06:35

Well ok yes, but many many working parents do this all the time. When I went back to work I had a hour commute, the second half of it with two toddlers in the car. Id have to fight to keep my eyes open but I had no choice. Even sharing the load, with two young ones, everyone is tired. I'm not saying the op is wrong ..her P should be doing a couple of SR a week but doing everything tired is totally par for the course at this stage

Should it matter why someone is driving impaired if the outcome is the same? People go nuts on here at the mere mention of drink driving (with good reason), but it's fine to actually guilt trip OP to do effectively the same thing, just because you and lots of other people do it?

TheSandgroper · 11/09/2025 10:41

Nope. After your update, go back to what you were doing previously and leave.

@LittlePeachh you are a single parent so you might as well start behaving that way. And start figuring out how to either walk out of the door or get him to walk out of the door. Grit your teeth and get it done.

AND STOP LISTENING TO WHAT HE SAYS. Honestly, he threw a hook and you bit it AGAIN. You know what he is like. He shouts it by his actions every, single day.

He is not a nice man.