Please or to access all these features

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:
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.

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.

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.

ThatLilacTiger · 25/08/2026 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

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.

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

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.

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

moodybluehpc · 25/08/2026 12:46

You must be so Insecure. I pity you

Stelladid · 25/08/2026 14:08

Bunny65 · 25/08/2026 12:17

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.

Yes, but they decided on a school and the children were/are established in the school!

Bunny65 · 25/08/2026 14:14

I’m assuming the OP has binned the “care pack”. What a cheek. Dunno bout moving schools, think I’d want to move house. She sounds horrible, cadging lifts, moving her stuff into the car and blanking OP.

riceuten · 25/08/2026 14:43

Bunny65 · 25/08/2026 12:17

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.

Strokes chin

ConstantlyFuriosa · 25/08/2026 16:04

I did originally think it was an overreaction but subsequent posts saying how much easier it would be for wraparound care and you to do the pickups etc made me think fair enough.

But that frankly bizarre ‘care pack’? Your instincts are correct to be bothered by that.

dh280125 · 25/08/2026 16:34

WTF? Crazy.

DeeLasVegas · 25/08/2026 20:02

“So I decided we would change dc school”

No, you decided you would change dc school.

Absolute unreasonable control freak 🤦🏻‍♀️

Mummyof32023 · 26/08/2026 10:12

Seriously? Moving children schools just because dad is being nice and offering a neighbour and her child a lift. You sound really insecure. I feel for your DC because they are technically being punished just because dad was being nice. Moving schools is a huge thing for a child and shouldn't be taken lightly as they'll be leaving teachers, classmates and be the new kid. Its not a nice place to be.

Moseyonby · 26/08/2026 12:12

i thought you were over reacting initially. But I'd be annoyed if a neighbour stuck a 'care pack' of toiletries in my car in case hubbie gave them a lift and looked at me daggers whilst being friendly with hubbie. I suspect you can see an 'under-mining' threat that men are often oblivious to..... given that it's a better school and easier for you to do drop off's in future plus the wrap around I'm inclined on this occasion to think YANBU

Mitzuko · 31/08/2026 12:30

If this woman’s vibe is ambiguous in the way she deals with your husband I think you did right. Maybe imposing boundaries to your husband if something doesn’t feel right could have been the first move.

Her reaction sounds like she’s very close to him, which for me doesn’t feel good.

How did he react?
I would keep an eye, to me feeling insecure is not the same as protecting my family unity.

I’m sure as a woman you felt something wrong going on.

so YANBU

Imightbeinthewronghere · 31/08/2026 12:34

Schoolchanging · 24/08/2026 08:07

And yes I have insecurities but I won’t post about those as probably not relevant but I do feel out of place here . Will
hide the thread now as had so many responses and reading more is unlikely to help.

You have more than insecurities
You're bloody bat shit crazy

Bunny65 · 31/08/2026 15:41

I think the neighbour is the insecure one, parking her "care pack" in the car and being rude to the OP. What is she trying to prove, that she's irresistible to all men and hates women? As the OP is perfectly happy with her husband's other female friends I think her instincts are spot-on here.

MeSeM · 31/08/2026 15:58

Bunny65 · 31/08/2026 15:41

I think the neighbour is the insecure one, parking her "care pack" in the car and being rude to the OP. What is she trying to prove, that she's irresistible to all men and hates women? As the OP is perfectly happy with her husband's other female friends I think her instincts are spot-on here.

Immensely intuitive apt comment
Yes completely concur with you

EmailsaysOOO · 31/08/2026 17:20

Bunny65 · 31/08/2026 15:41

I think the neighbour is the insecure one, parking her "care pack" in the car and being rude to the OP. What is she trying to prove, that she's irresistible to all men and hates women? As the OP is perfectly happy with her husband's other female friends I think her instincts are spot-on here.

Can you explain the part about her hating women please?. I don't get why you're saying that..

Bunny65 · 31/08/2026 17:24

EmailsaysOOO · 31/08/2026 17:20

Can you explain the part about her hating women please?. I don't get why you're saying that..

The OP says this woman blanks her and is rude for no apparent reason while sucking up to her husband, expecting lifts and putting her stuff in their car without asking. Hardly neighbourly behaviour and suggests she has a problem with other women. You may disagree, that is my opinion.

EmailsaysOOO · 31/08/2026 17:27

@Bunny65 ok yes I see you mean it shows she hates the woman who is the OP. Doesn't really show us that she hates women in general. No worries

Bunny65 · 31/08/2026 17:29

EmailsaysOOO · 31/08/2026 17:27

@Bunny65 ok yes I see you mean it shows she hates the woman who is the OP. Doesn't really show us that she hates women in general. No worries

It shows an attitude which is unlikely to only be directed at the OP. I am not talking literally about every woman in the world obviously but if you want to take it that literally it's up to you.