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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to change schools over my husband helping a neighbour?

434 replies

Schoolchanging · 23/08/2026 11:46

Dh had always done school drop off and pick up due to my work hours and over the last 18 months I’d got increasingly irritated by him walking with or giving a lift to a neighbour whose child goes to the same school.

So I decided we would change dc to a different school a little further away and they are due to start there in a couple of weeks.

I didn’t want to spend time on discussions and boundaries and wanted to just eliminate the stress on our relationship. I told him I wasn’t comfortable that I’d asked him to stop and as he wasn’t I was changing schools to which he said ‘fine that’s your choice’. Dc are ok about it as we know people who go to the new school as well.

Neighbour has just spoken to us as we were leaving at the same time and she said to dh ‘back to the usual routine soon then!’ And I said ‘actually no, dc are going to be at a different school so all change for us !’ To which she turned to dh and said ‘why haven’t you told me this already?’ Which I found odd.

OP posts:
moodybluehpc · 25/08/2026 12:46

You must be so Insecure. I pity you

Mammalaria · 25/08/2026 12:41

I'm sorry this is weird behaviour towards your Husband and unfair to the Child, you are making their lives miserable

Bunny65 · 25/08/2026 12:17

riceuten · 25/08/2026 10:50

This is beyond bizarre. But I assume you've ascertained this from the responses, but it bothers you none.

I'm just appalled that 14% of respondents think that changing schools on this basis is reasonable

But the OP has said they are new to the area and didn’t get their first choice of schools and it works well to move the kids.

riceuten · 25/08/2026 10:50

This is beyond bizarre. But I assume you've ascertained this from the responses, but it bothers you none.

I'm just appalled that 14% of respondents think that changing schools on this basis is reasonable

Cheesemaker26 · 25/08/2026 10:31

Schoolchanging · 24/08/2026 08:05

He has friends and colleagues who are younger / more attractive. Difference being they seem like decent people, the female friends come round, chat to me as well. No issues. He goes running with a female colleague, she is lovely and I don’t get any bad feelings whatsoever but with our neighbour I just can’t cope she gives me a really unpleasant concern. She looks at me horribly, she looks at dh like he’s amazing and it’s weird. She barely can say one word to me ever. She had put her own ‘care pack’ in the car for when she gets a lift (tissues , lip balm, gum why do that ?)

Maybe it’s partly because im perimenopausal but I don’t feel this way about any other female dh talks to?

We got no choice with schools when moved here and the new one is better anyway so it’s a positive change

Good for you for not pretending it's all normal, and for seeing her for what she is.

I'd never forgive him for humiliating you in the first place. He obviously knows she's heavily interested in him and has been reciprocating at least verbally. It must feel very satisfying to pull the rug right out from under her in this way.

But if he's determined to fuck her/continue flirting with her, he will. As you say though at least you won't have to see her at school.

ThatLilacTiger · 25/08/2026 10:10

This reply has been deleted

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Nettie1964 · 25/08/2026 10:00

After reading your OP and replies, I find it funny that mums net always say trust your gut then turn around and slam you for trusting your gut. If your husband wont listen and shes blanking you and leaving stuff in his car thats weird. Why do both of them need to do the school run? Trust your gut she wants something.

Aiming4Optimistic · 25/08/2026 09:15

No - stop making the husband's poor management of this situation, the OP's fault!
She has already stated that her h has other female friends and there's no issue. Neighbour has been way out of line and h has not had his wife's back. This is on him for failing to shut down the neighbour.
Personally, I would struggle to remain married to someone who, at best was weak and pathetic and at worst, disloyal.

Teenmumgoingcrazy · 25/08/2026 09:10

Couple of things. I mean obviously everyone has already pointed out how wild this is! But have you ever spoken to her to address her over familiar-ness? The car pack is odd and I’d question that for sure, but actually to her. Also have you ever thought how this looks to your DH? The level of distrust it implies? That you’d uproot and move your kids school because you’re concerned he’d have an affair with a neighbour ?! The fact he didn’t challenge this move makes me wonder just how much of your insecurities he’s having to manage. You’re effectively pushing him away.

Raraaa · 25/08/2026 08:06

Your later messages definitely add important context- you seem to believe that the new school will be better for DC anyway plus will be easier for you if you end up having to do majority of drop offs but it does seem that you have just avoided the bigger problem.

In terms of the neighbour, a 'care pack' is monumentally weird and disrespectful to you. I think your instincts are correct BUT his behaviour is his behaviour. Would he be happy if your roles were reversed? As others have said, your DH priority should be you and he should be making clear to the neighbour that he isn't interested.

DiscoElysia · 25/08/2026 07:38

I spent the whole thread thinking OP was unreasonable until I read about this woman's car 'care pack'. Immediately convinced that this neighbour is so annoying that any course of action that creates a pain in the arse for her is reasonable.

NavyBee · 25/08/2026 05:41

I mean seriously?? What’s wrong with being neighbourly? I took a neighbours child to school throughout one of my children’s time at primary School. We had a car they didn’t it was a bit far for walking

Seaglasscat · 25/08/2026 01:06

My DH sometimes walks with his Ex girlfriend when picking DS up as she lives near us and has a kid at the same school.

never batted an eyelid as a trust my DH totally

Bunny65 · 25/08/2026 00:42

It is certainly strange the neighbour having her own "care pack" in the car. Surely DH could have just told her to take it out as it's really not appropriate? I wouldn't dream of parking my stuff in someone else's car like that just because they gave me school run lifts. Sounds like stuff she could just keep her in her bag. DH seems to be very passive in this whole neighbour thing. That would have disturbed me.

SpectacularlyLost · 25/08/2026 00:29

Your guts are certainly hearing the alarm being set off and something must have felt odd for your to change your kids school due to being this uncomforable. Maybe 18 months is a long time for your husband to be over- friendly (?) with another woman. He is not the best of fathers as he should have listened to your request and never allowed you to go as far as taking such drastic action. It's obvious your marriage would bebefit of some counselling. It looks as if he is used to normalising stepping over your boundaries in teltion to contact with ither women. Men should spend time with other males. Big red flag here. Good luck.

TroySwoosh · 25/08/2026 00:19

16 pages lol, well done

Well Done Clapping GIF by MOODMAN
Vodkafairy99 · 25/08/2026 00:12

Bit OTT O.P
Does that reaction not seems a little intense?

FaceIt · 24/08/2026 23:29

You are being extremely unreasonable.

On gods earth, what is wrong with walking/sharing lifts. The kids are your next door neighbours!!

Stelladid · 24/08/2026 23:18

Alittlefrustrated · 24/08/2026 20:13

To be fair to OP, how many people here would feel comfortable about a neighbour blanking them, staring adoringly at DH, and creating a "personal care pack" in his car. The latter being very strange behaviour indeed.
I think it might be a case of having to meet this woman, to understand.

I agree with your point, but to address it by taking her children out if school and sending them to another one is appalling!

Wooky073 · 24/08/2026 23:13

The child’s needs should come first

AmberPeaches · 24/08/2026 22:32

Wow, just, wow. Did you move from wales to North England to escape a similar would-be temptress acquaintance?

Endorewitch · 24/08/2026 22:28

Bizarre behaviour on your part.
She is still a neighbour though. So your DH can chat to her.

GoldenSandy · 24/08/2026 22:09

Why on earth did your husband allow her to leave lip balm etc in his car. A pack of tissues I can understand, if it's winter and DH never has those kinds of things in his car and she has got fed up of asking but surely she can just keep it in her handbag.

She's lonely and single. Not worth changing schools over.
I'd be wondering why DH is entertaining it?!
My DH would tell me immediately and we'd think of a way to let her down gently.

If she was fawning all over my DH I would find it hilarious as he would be so embarrassed and probably a bit terrified 😂.

Honestly OP the focus needs to be your DH. Why does he want the attention of other women?!

Bedtimeread · 24/08/2026 22:02

Schoolchanging · 24/08/2026 08:05

He has friends and colleagues who are younger / more attractive. Difference being they seem like decent people, the female friends come round, chat to me as well. No issues. He goes running with a female colleague, she is lovely and I don’t get any bad feelings whatsoever but with our neighbour I just can’t cope she gives me a really unpleasant concern. She looks at me horribly, she looks at dh like he’s amazing and it’s weird. She barely can say one word to me ever. She had put her own ‘care pack’ in the car for when she gets a lift (tissues , lip balm, gum why do that ?)

Maybe it’s partly because im perimenopausal but I don’t feel this way about any other female dh talks to?

We got no choice with schools when moved here and the new one is better anyway so it’s a positive change

I agree putting that in his car is weird and over stepping, I don’t understand how he doesn’t see this and wouldn’t just stop it.

GreenTraybake · 24/08/2026 22:01

What if the neighbour moves their child to your new school?

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