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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a ‘Soft life’

772 replies

Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:25

And would you want it?

Has Dh, one young Dc and dogs, lives overseas by the beach and countryside, nice house with pool and sea views.
Works 6 hours per week from home. Does all drop offs and pick ups, food shop, dinners, majority to do with Dc and sorting bills. Has a cleaner.
Dh works Mon-Fri -finishes 4.30, no one works weekends.
Days are free based around Dc school drops, coffee with friends, Pilates, yoga, studying or reading if you like, watching Netflix all day if you like, shopping, beach, pool, garden

Would you call this a soft life? Would you like it, be honest?

OP posts:
HelenHywater · 29/07/2026 22:34

Yes it's soft (whatever that means).

Is that what you want to know? But as to whether it's fulfilling, only she/you can decide that. I don't equate soft with unfulfilling necessarily. I personally want to live a fulfilling life. My fulfilling might not be the same as hers/yours.

PancakeCloud · 29/07/2026 22:34

Kitkate21 · 29/07/2026 22:10

Sounds okay for a while but then I would 100% be bored. I like having a work life, having my own money, paying my own pension. I work 4 dyas a week. 35 hours and I look forward to my day off but if I was on my own a lot I'd be a bit meh.

bored, really? Wouldn’t you find a hobby or something?

Savvysix1984 · 29/07/2026 22:33

Sounds lovely!

ThatCyanCat · 29/07/2026 22:30

What are you really trying to ask us?

1985goingbackagain · 29/07/2026 22:29

If you are happy with your life OP, why do you need validation from this post? You have come back with justifications when anyone has expressed a view they they would be bored, but you asked for their personal view on it 🤷🏻‍♀️

(BTW I would get bored/struggle with a lack of purpose. Free time for me is enjoyable because it’s a change, and so you do something to make the most of it)

Springup24 · 29/07/2026 22:28

Yes please!

Blublablooo · 29/07/2026 22:26

Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 19:25

And would you want it?

Has Dh, one young Dc and dogs, lives overseas by the beach and countryside, nice house with pool and sea views.
Works 6 hours per week from home. Does all drop offs and pick ups, food shop, dinners, majority to do with Dc and sorting bills. Has a cleaner.
Dh works Mon-Fri -finishes 4.30, no one works weekends.
Days are free based around Dc school drops, coffee with friends, Pilates, yoga, studying or reading if you like, watching Netflix all day if you like, shopping, beach, pool, garden

Would you call this a soft life? Would you like it, be honest?

Sounds lovely as a temporary thing. Like a year out or something. As a permanent set up, no thanks. Us people need to expand constantly and meaningfully. Stagnation us not what we're built for. Imo.

Kingdomofsleep · 29/07/2026 22:26

friedaklein · 29/07/2026 22:14

This is definitely the husband, who is wondering why his trailing spouse is discontented with her 'soft life'.

Interesting theory! The tone doesn't sound like the typical mumsnet man though, he hasn't told anyone off or ranted about women in general

Lurkingandlearning · 29/07/2026 22:23

Well I guess it is a soft life compared to a hard life.

One aspect of hard lives is limited choices and time, especially lack of choice when it comes to earning money and having to spend so much time earning money there is limited time to enjoy life when you aren't too tired from all that money earning.

It seems to me the person you are referring to (and her husband) put in a lot of work to now be in the position to be able to choose how they live their lives. That is smart, not soft.

Charlize43 · 29/07/2026 22:23

I think I'd be bored after a week.

I enjoy working, challenges and interacting with lots of different people and rushing around - the push and pull of life.

That life seems unproductive, self indulgence and a bit like the lives of women like Millie Mackintosh & Louise Thompson, both of which suffer from mental health issues, have admitted to having been alcoholics, spend too much time on themselves and self obsessing about themselves and lead rather pointless lives.

I don't mind a week of this on holiday (although I do a lot of sight seeing, museums & galleries) but as a lifestyle it would do my head in.

Bellyblueboy · 29/07/2026 22:22

I have never heard the phrase soft life?

do you mean happy life? It all depends on the person. Do you mean easy life? Again depends. Could be very hard for some and idyllic for others.

confortae financially yes, time rich yes, good environment yes. Ticks a lot of boxes

Harry12345 · 29/07/2026 22:21

Sounds like my ideal perfect life, after bringing up 3 children and having health issues I’m exhausted and hate working. Being able to slow down and focus on family, dogs and my health would be bliss

minipie · 29/07/2026 22:20

As some pp have alluded to, I think a lot depends on whether this person has chosen this life

Some people would love this life, others would rather be busier and working lots more as this thread have shown. If you’re one type and “trapped” in the other kind of life then you’re not going to enjoy it no matter if others might see it as ideal.

Curryingfavour · 29/07/2026 22:16

This sounds like a very easy life indeed .
I know someone who has an even easier life than that ..she doesn’t even have her older kids at home because one is a weekly boarder and the other is gone most of term time at a different school.
Most people I know have a window cleaner but she also has a gardener , a housekeeper who comes frequently , and a handyman .
She isn’t out at work either but does on occasion help a friend with her small shop ,
Despite not earning she doesn’t skimp on spending , just buys whatever she wants and has regular days out and holidays.
My life is very different!!!

NK6b00ce26X1262421934b · 29/07/2026 22:15

Crushed23 · 29/07/2026 21:11

I would be bored shitless as it sounds quite mundane (I don’t like dogs, and raising children is typically full of routine and boredom), but it sounds nice for those who like a slow pace of life and don’t have many aspirations etc. I would worry about being financially dependent too. Hopefully the woman in question has independent wealth.

If this is your life, OP, and you and your family are happy, what else could possibly matter?

And

Gowlett · 29/07/2026 22:14

Sounds grand to me.

friedaklein · 29/07/2026 22:14

This is definitely the husband, who is wondering why his trailing spouse is discontented with her 'soft life'.

Swissmeringue · 29/07/2026 22:14

Sounds pretty good but I'd want more kids. I'm a SAHM, we have a cleaner, DH works standard office hours mostly from home. We're having our third shortly, I don't feel at all bored, or lacking in direction/focus and things to talk about.

Coffeeteasugar · 29/07/2026 22:12

Do so many people not have hobbies that they can’t envision a life without work? If I was independently financially secure I would love this. I was more productive and healthy during lockdown than I’ve ever been. I baked, I cooked proper meals, I walked, I exercised, I knitted, sewed, read, embroidered. I was happy and fulfilled with this life.

Soannoyingititchessobad · 29/07/2026 22:11

I didn’t know it was called ‘soft life’ but you’ve just described my life, however I work 10 hours per week and live in a lovely suburb of London not abroad and have 2 kids.

i love my life. My job pays very well but my husband earns our main salary. House is in joint names and feel financially very secure.

i do all the exercise things you mention and have studied and continue to study/train. However, it’s not enough for me. I volunteer lots of my time for a local charity which I love and often help out friends/family with childcare and odd bits. Each to their own but my brain needs to be occupied and my body likes to be busy!

Kitkate21 · 29/07/2026 22:10

Sounds okay for a while but then I would 100% be bored. I like having a work life, having my own money, paying my own pension. I work 4 dyas a week. 35 hours and I look forward to my day off but if I was on my own a lot I'd be a bit meh.

Esmeraldathe3rd · 29/07/2026 22:09

She's not exactly a lady of leisure. She's a SAHM who does the majority of the housework and childcare rearing. I wouldn't mind it. I'd get rid of the dogs, they're alot of work. We're cat people.

She has a pool and a cleaner. Lots of families have a cleaner, it's not like having a house keeper or a nanny, they make a limited difference. Pools are nice but create a lot more work, especially with kids and animals.

No, not a soft life, but not a terribly difficult one if DC is relatively well behaved, NT, without health problems, and DH is kind and loving.

ShanghaiDiva · 29/07/2026 22:08

Doingtheboxerbeat · 29/07/2026 22:05

Whenever someone wins big on the lottery, like life-changing amounts and they say they want to keep doing their piddly arsed job - because they'll be bored, and you wonder who the fck are these people , well look no further, because they are all in this thread apparently 😁.

I can think of so many exotic things to do with my time, with or without money, so you can guarantee I won't win , sadly 😒.

Yes, makes me want to shout- have you no imagination?

Anyahyacinth · 29/07/2026 22:06

Wellthatwasabrupt · 29/07/2026 21:27

Doesn’t take long and is the same as what everyone else has to do

That’s a sweeping statement about who carries that work.

How is this persons financial future protected?

Doingtheboxerbeat · 29/07/2026 22:05

Pallisers · 29/07/2026 21:58

My main issue with this kind of life is...sure you have coffee and pilates with other mums in the same position, but no one has anything to talk about.

Do people just talk about their work? What do retired people talk about? Their work 20 years before? Do you never talk about books, politics, history, gossip, the meaning of life? Just work? I'd find that deadly dull and would rather stick with the coffee and pilates mums who wouldn't be wanging on about what the accounts department said about your expense report or the latest development in insurance law or whatever.

Whenever someone wins big on the lottery, like life-changing amounts and they say they want to keep doing their piddly arsed job - because they'll be bored, and you wonder who the fck are these people , well look no further, because they are all in this thread apparently 😁.

I can think of so many exotic things to do with my time, with or without money, so you can guarantee I won't win , sadly 😒.