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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend and his priorities..

203 replies

backtoplana · 18/02/2026 14:46

AIBU?

My boyfriend and I moved to a different country a year ago, and due to trying to sort accommodation, jobs, visas etc, I’ve found it really hard to make friends here and am actively trying to branch out and meet new people.. but right now my boyfriend is the only person I have here and so I am not currently filling my ‘spare time’ with any girlfriends.

For the next month, we have been given reduced working hours so both of us are due to finish our jobs at 3pm instead of 5pm. I had asked him recently what we should do with our afternoons, and he told me he’s not leaving the office early and he’s going to stay there to continue working until the usual finish time.

I asked him why and he said he is trying to continue his learning and up spilling - which i understand and its commendable - but this is where I struggle to control my disappointment…

every evening without fail he will go on an evening walk, usually takes around 2 hours whilst I’m at home cooking dinner, cleaning, tidying up - and he often doesn’t get home until 7-7.30pm at the earliest.

EVERY. Single. Night.

I have tried several times to explain that I struggle with the fact we don’t really have any time together, he seems to prioritise work and the things that makes him happy whilst I stay home and make sure things actually get done - I always have his clothes clean, dinner on the table when he returns…

He says I’m being controlling and I should accept that he wants to spend his time his own way.

out of interest I asked him what the situation would be if in the future we had children.. would he still stay late at work when he doesn’t have to, go on his evening walks etc? He replied ‘yes of course I will do the things I want to do’ so I’m feeling really torn.

I am just sad that he doesn’t seem to prioritise or value me.

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
noctilucentcloud · 18/02/2026 14:51

You're not being unreasonable. He sounds like he's having his cake and eating it. I'm also sorry to say but it sounds like he's happy with how things are and has no intention of changing things - do you want to be in the same position in 2, 5, 10 years?

toomuchfaff · 18/02/2026 14:50

I echo the previous post. Yes you are being utterly unreasonable. Allowing yourself to be treated as an inconvenient skivvy to a misogynistic prick

Your his maid not his partner.

Why is it your responsibility to be cooking dinner, cleaning, tidying up while he gets to go for a walk and destress?

says I’m being controlling and I should accept that he wants to spend his time his own way.

Please note that spending his time his own way DOESNT INVOLVE YOU. hes telling you everything; listen to him.

Dunnocantthinkofone · 18/02/2026 14:50

Yes you are being utterly unreasonable. Allowing yourself to be treated as an inconvenient skivvy to a misogynistic prick and not leaving? Yes totally unreasonable to stay and put up with that sort of shit I’m afraid