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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Role reversal in our house. AIBU?

182 replies

Blondlittlelady · 24/03/2014 22:17

I've been a sahm by default more then choice for four years.

Dc 12, 9, 6 & 6 weeks. An old colleague has contacted me & offered me a great job from September but the down side, travel, hours & a long commute.

Dh job isn't particularly well paid. It's not a career, it's a job he took after being made redundant 3 years ago. It's not well paid, this is the main issue actually. I potentially could earn twice what he does.

Dh says he wont be able to cope with the dc. He works shifts & over 7 days so he'd need to give up his job or adjust his hours & become the main carer for the dc.

We've had a massive row. I think he's being totally selfish. He thinks I am.

I feel like this will probably be one of the last chances I have to get back into my chosen profession. I'm in my 40 's. I will be able to offer my family a better standard of living. I obviously feel guilty about the dc, especially the baby but I really believe dh can do all I currently do, he just choses not to.

So AIBU or is dh?

OP posts:
Blondlittlelady · 25/03/2014 18:14

He'd need to find a new job.He wouldn't be able to work part time in his currant job.
He doesn't want to do what i do in relation to the dc& house.

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 25/03/2014 18:17

I think he has been very unfair on you and the children. He could make this work he just doesn't want to.

Blondlittlelady · 25/03/2014 18:21

I'm not joking the next time he moans i will explode!

It's the inequality & selfishness I'm struggling with.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 25/03/2014 18:22

'He just doesn't want to* CrackFox is right.

I'm so angry on your behalf OP.

How about a 6 month trial would he agree to that?

Dancergirl · 25/03/2014 18:22

He's always saying he'd rather be at home

Ok I'm confused now. He's always said he wants to be at home and now he doesn't? Has he actually changed his mind about it now it could be a reality?

ikeaismylocal · 25/03/2014 18:23

Yanbu.

Why did your dp think it was a good idea to have 4 children if he doesn't like the idea of looking after them?!

What if something terrible happened and you were ill or not around to look after the dc?

What if you wake up one day and decide it's all too much?

I don't think either parent should be able to opt out of day to day care of their dc.

He would be finacially supporting the family by looking after the dc so you as the higher earner can go out and make double the amount of money than he does. By refusing to look after his own dc he is in effect taking away that money from his family and taking away the oppertunity for you to re-start your carear.

Could you use some of the extra money that you would earn to pay for a cleaner/mother's help so his role was less demanding in the home?

merrymouse · 25/03/2014 18:27

From what you say, it wouldn't be that difficult for him to find a similar job in six month's time whereas your opportunity is unlikely to be repeated. I don't think there is any argument not to at least try doing a 'role reversal' where you take the new job and he attempts to find a different job that would fit around childcare, being full time SAHP while he is looking.

Iggi101 · 25/03/2014 18:30

You are only looking at two solutions (either you are at home or he is) when there are three - some form of childcare that allows you both to work. That is the compromise position, not forcing you to turn down the job.

If you worked full-time for a while, would you then be able to reduce hours/work more flexibly yourself in the same role?

Your dh isn't even trying is he Sad

eightandthreequarters · 25/03/2014 18:34

What happens if you just can't cope with the idea of never having your career back? And so you take the job?

legoplayingmumsunite · 25/03/2014 18:34

I think your DH asking for parental leave is a good idea to try out being a SAHP and he could take some time to think about applying for another job/negotiating part time work with his employers. Would your friend's job offer be possible working part time or long days (e.g 5 days in 4)?

But really if you both want to work you need to find paid childcare. With 3 school age children an au pair is cheaper than wrap around care but of course you would need a room for them. If you don't have a spare room how about getting a local teenager (over 16) or student to look after the school age kids after school? Do you have any family locally who would provide childcare for either the baby or the older kids?

I guess since you have been a SAHP for a few years, particularly with a sick child who has lots of hospital appointments, it's hard to see how you'll manage with 2 working parents. But lots of couples manage it, you both need to work it out together and compromise and negotiate. That does involve continually monitoring each other to make sure, e.g. you do actually share out the hospital appointments and parents evenings etc. You'll not have much joint holiday time (DH and I both have very generous annual leave but still really only get a single 2 week holiday together, all other leave is used to cover school holidays/random child sickness) which might be a shock to the system.

I agree your DH is BU with his inital response but give him a time to think about it and then ask him what he thinks the best solution is to enable you to work and increase the household income. You need to come to a solution TOGETHER that enables you BOTH to work in jobs you enjoy. If he won't let you return to work that's a game changer to my mind. But the same is true of you insisting on him becoming a SAHP. If you can't compromise then you have to decide if the relationship is still worthwhile. Then as single parents with joint custody you'd both have to sort out childcare to cover you when you work. Is that what either of you want?

eightandthreequarters · 25/03/2014 18:40

Forgot to respond to Dancergirl. Yes, the childcare is much more complicated once they are in school (inset days!!!), but it's also a whole lot less expensive. I've never paid out near as much in after school clubs/childminders/lost days at work for school hols as I did when they were in nurseries and childminders. It was crippling!

OP, I don't understand why he can't change jobs. He's welcome to work FT (and avoid his children) in a more regular-hours type of job, but it's going to make for some interesting childcare. So he can work 40 hours/week, but not at his current job.

legoplayingmumsunite · 25/03/2014 18:41

Just read the OPs last few posts. Take the job and chuck him out, you'll be better off since he'll then have to do some of the childcare.

Topseyt · 25/03/2014 18:44

If you don't take the job then you could potentially regret it forever more. I speak as one who has been trying to get back into the job market even on a basic level after being a SAHM (also by default). I am 47 now, and starting to despair that anything will ever happen. I would give my right arm for the job offer you have had.

If you end up with regrets then there will be resentment. Where will that lead?

You need to bite the bullet with some form of childcare. Not a nanny, that is a ridiculous and unaffordable suggestion from people who don't inhabit the same financial world as the rest of us.

Your 12 year old is getting to the stage where childcare won't be too much of an issue for very much longer. Things do start to change a lot when kids get to secondary school. It won't be that long before your 9 year old is there too.

Take it if you want to, and stop holding yourself back.

temporarilyjerry · 25/03/2014 18:45

Last chance to work at this sort of level, due to age, out of work too long, lack of opportunity...

For this reason, YANBU. Please don't let this opportunity pass you by.

whereisshe · 25/03/2014 18:45

I'd take the job if I were in your position. It makes more sense financially, it makes more sense in the partnership (his turn to take a career hiatus). I would keep arguing until he saw sense.

It is wholly unfair of him to refuse to even try the child care / house management. How does he know he can't do it unless he tries? Presumably from the way you describe it OP you didn't feel a major calling to be a SAHP either, so why should he get to be the less reliable parent making fewer personal sacrifices? Having children requires a LOT of doing things that are boring and/or unpleasant, but that's life. He needs to man up and take on the home role for a bit. I don't see why it's beyond him, unless he's unwilling to come last which is a SAHP requirement?

StatisticallyChallenged · 25/03/2014 18:48

I would have absolutely no respect for DH if he behaved like this, I genuinely wouldn't. When we had DD, I had the greater earning power. I went back full time, he went part time. All options were discussed but it was the one which made financial sense. He's since been home full time for a while, and is now a childminder (see, men can juggle lots of kids Wink) but if he had refused to consider going part time or fixing his hours to work around childcare in those early days I think I would have lost all respect for him.

Evie2014 · 25/03/2014 18:49

Oh that attitude from your DH makes my blood boil.

So he'd rather stay in a crap job that he hates and moans about than find a new one that fits a bit better around the kids while taking responsibility for them? And he'd rather your family were worse off financially just so his precious ego isn't damaged?

Asshole. Sorry OP but that's how it seems.

HazleNutt · 25/03/2014 18:59

So if you suddenly died or left him and kids, he would put them up for adoption, as he can't cope? A parent who can't cope with dentist appointments, really.. Hmm

catsmother · 25/03/2014 19:01

Has he said what - exactly - it is about the idea of looking after his own kids which is so unappealing ? If it's a case of him being anxious about certain tasks then that is something that could be worked on with him being reassured and/or taught as necessary.

If, however, it's more "the idea" of it then it's going to be a lot harder to get him to agree. Is he super traditional ? ... does the poor diddums feel his masculinity would be threatened or something stupid like that ? Worse - does he feel "it" is "beneath" him ? ..... in which case, that means he regards himself as superior to you and too important to do what he probably sees as "subservient" and/or "drudge" work.

Really feel for you. There's this fantastic opportunity - not just for you - but for the whole family and it doesn't even sound as if he's prepared to sit down with an open mind, a piece of paper and a pen so all the pros and cons of each possible scenario going forward can be properly considered. IF, having done that sort of exercise, he could come up with concrete arguments against you taking this job, i.e. any negative aspects which would - overall - reduce the quality of family life (though it doesn't sound as if he would) then fair enough - then you might have to reconsider - or try to find solutions. But simply stubbornly insisting he doesn't like "the idea" of like some overgrown toddler saying "no" over and over is both ridiculous and incredibly selfish.

You - the plural you - are a family unit. No-one should be acting unilaterally and the two adults should be working together for the common good ... what's best for the unit overall. Christ knows most of us have to do that to a greater or lesser degree. That often means compromising, or accepting that you can't always have things exactly as you (singularly) want as if you were still a single person. Sometimes - with the best will in the world, it simply isn't possible for both parties to be completely satisfied with their lot .... obviously, in a good relationship, both parties work to try and make each other's lives as fulfilling as possible but real life often gets in the way and stuff like childcare and money means someone often has to take more of a "hit" so to speak than their partner ..... because, that sacrifice means that ultimately the family is going to be more secure, less stressed, and function better instead of struggling to make ends meet and chasing their tails.

Him giving up his current job doesn't mean he's on the scrap heap. It does sound as if there'd be some opportunity for him to work part time - for (more) adult company, change of scenery, personal challenge etc. and, for example, this could also perhaps be an opportunity for him to feel valued and sought after (if that's what's bugging him - though of course looking after his kids is very valuable indeed) by taking on a volunteer role in some capacity - not when he's looking after the kids obviously but when you're around ... something which might have been harder to contemplate when he was working FT.

And this whole thing doesn't mean that's how things are going to be FOREVER. Once the youngest starts school he might then be able to go back to work FT anyway as far less childcare would need to be paid for. etc., etc., etc. Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs because I'm sure much of this will have already occurred to you.

I think he's being awful - the very least he owes you is a thorough conversation - or conversations - and proper consideration of the various measures needed and resulting changes were you to accept this role. It's completely unfair that you've "done your bit" so to speak and now, when if he took over for "his turn" your standard of living would improve, that he's being so petulant about it. If it's not good enough for him, why is it good enough for you ? Someone has to look after the children ... and to say he "can't cope" with dentist appointments and the like is pathetic .... what - exactly - is too hard about that ? And why does the default position have to be you when if it was him it'd be far more advantageous for all of you ?

Are you going to be able to live with the status quo knowing what a fantastic opportunity has slipped through your fingers ? How will you be able to cope with the resentment you'll almost certainly feel towards him ?

Another thought ..... is this down to jealousy ? ..... because it's you being flattered with a great job offer and not him ?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 25/03/2014 19:01

So his idea of a compromise is that he doesn't make any changes whatsoever in his life and you give up your opportunity.

That is shit.

I wouldn't let this go to easily - I would hammer home to him that he can't just opt out of caring for the house and children. What gives him the right to delegate all of that to you. People have talked on this thread about you imposing your wishes on him but he seems to be happy to impose his wishes on you. Why should you facilitate a job he hates when he won't take any steps to facilitate a job you'd love.

legoplayingmumsunite · 25/03/2014 19:06

And to add to the anecdotes, DH is the most disorganised man in the world, prechildren he once went to work in odd shoes. Think absentminded professor. Despite this, he has managed to not lose or kill any of our 3 children yet on his days at home with them (we both work part time) in the last 6 years.

Your DH doesn't need to do everything perfectly, he just needs to not kill the children, any other benign neglect and not being as organised as you are is OK. Let him know that and let him know how hard you find it at times and tell him how much you want to work as well.

You have to take the job and he has to step up to the mark and does his share of childcare. I think on his next day off you need to get up early and announce you are having a day out and leave him to it. He needs to be a parent.

SybilRamkin · 25/03/2014 19:15

OP, I am furious on your behalf - your DH is letting his pride get in the way of what is potentially a better life for you and your family. What a knob.

Show him this thread.

olgaga · 25/03/2014 19:18

Equality means you are perfectly entitled to accept this job whether he likes it or not, and he is equally entitled to decide he doesn't want to be a SAHP.

Equally, there may be consequences arising from both your individual decisions

The only way to address this is to investigate childcare options in your locality, and the cost.

As for shared parental leave - that won't apply unless you're on maternity leave - otherwise there's no leave to "share"..

kim147 · 25/03/2014 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janey68 · 25/03/2014 20:06

Yes, I agree that it's a complete cop out to say he can't cope with parenting. Though why anyone would have 4 children with a guy who can't cope with parenting is beyond me...

Anyway, it comes back to the same issue. You've every right to expect him to step up and do 50% of all home and child related stuff if you both work. But it's not reasonable to pressurise a partner to stop working. If he makes it clear that he would rather continue working, you need to sit down, sort out childcare and plan the practicalities of running the house between you.

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