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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be frustrated by my husband interrupting me while I work from home?

106 replies

Messydesks · 27/08/2026 09:21

Am taking a quick coffee break as have been working since 8.

I am just feeling frustrated as DH is off this week but kind of mooching around the house with the teens. The teens know to leave me in peace when I am working but DH is constantly popping his head round the door to tell me some random thought hes had or ask me some random question

My work involves periods of intense focus (hence the coffee break!) and it really stresses me out to be interrupted. I have tried telling him so many times. I don't get why he can't respect it

Just want to hear from both people WFh /people at home while their spouses WFH about how to handle this

Nb I don't mind them being noisy in the house etc. I shut the study door and I am good at zoning out from background noise

OP posts:
Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 27/08/2026 09:46

Noise cancelling headphones, door shut. If he does dare to intrude, point at the headphones and turn back around.

AbzMoz · 27/08/2026 09:45

Just tell him. “Dont interrupt me unless it’s an emergency or you’re putting the kettle on; I’m having lunch at 12:30 and we can speak then; the door is shut as I’ve got to get this report done today and I’m hoping to finish work at a reasonable time.”

Alternatively get creative with the errands and chores he needs to do.

AmandaHoldensLips · 27/08/2026 09:45

Next time he interrupts you, ask him why his random thought is more important than your being able to concentrate.

magicalsummereve · 27/08/2026 09:44

No, he’s an adult and he should know better, for sure,

With that being said, I do have a slightly more sympathetic outlook than I think most of the comments here will have. I have found my husbands working from home extremely challenging. It was OK when it was a couple of days a week, but now it is all the time and if I am honest had I known this at the start of the relationship and how I would feel about it, I don’t know if I’d have committed myself.

I don’t really have the answers here as of course you’re not unreasonable but I also do have some sympathy for the one on the other side.

Phineyj · 27/08/2026 09:42

He has no respect for your work. Sorry. Do you have an office you can go to? I had to put a lock on my home office door during Covid but that was for DC, nor DH!

whippersnapper55 · 27/08/2026 09:41

Tell him very firmly to stop interrupting you! If he continues tell him you're putting a chair under the door handle so he stops opening it (I presume you don't have a lock on the door!) My DH works from home and if the door is shut I assume he's in meetings and leave him alone - it's not hard!