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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In wanting sahd dh to get a job

189 replies

witcheshats · 01/01/2018 19:26

So today dh and I have been discussing our plans for 2018. He has been a sahd since we had dc (youngest now 5 and eldest 7) mainly because he had no career and I did.

When we first married he had some regular work to do with foreign students and it was regular and quite well-paid. He earned about 18k working about 4 non-consecutive months, so that on top of my salary (teacher) was great, and it mainly took place in school holidays so we had no childcare to pay as family helped out for the few weeks when it didn't. I thought this a near-perfect arrangement but he often moaned that he hated the work (boring apparently) and the people were so dull and conventional (unlike his stoner musician mates) and we could never have a holiday - we can't really afford one anyway.

Over the years, the work has fallen away and for the past two years he hasn't worked at all. I believe he had some sort of fall-out with his boss but I'm not really sure what happened. He thinks he's been treated unfairly, I think he may have antagonised her and done something wrong, but obviously will never really know.

I said nothing about his lack of work initially because it kind of fell away gradually and anyway he was at home with the dc. However, they are now both at school so I would like it if he started earning. We haven't discussed it much, but whenever we do he gets very defensive and says I don't care about him, want to see him stacking shelves etc etc. He has no real qualifications, aside from in the very specific field he appears to have cut himself off from, so I suppose he is quite limited in what he could go for, but that isn't my fault.

He is writing a book, has been for years, has had a few articles published in local magazines, plays in a band etc etc and I know he wants to expand all of that stuff, but meanwhile I am left with sole responsibility for bringing in money.

Anyway, today he revealed he has no intention of 'wasting time' on a 'shitty' job this year and instead would like to do a masters degree in creative writing. Obviously, this would have to be paid for out of my salary. I am devastated and just feel so lost and helpless. When I said I wasn't sure he got angry and said he would support me in anything I wanted to do, but that has a hollow ring to it somehow. He's now up in the attic and his fucking music is on and I'm pissed off.

If it's relevant and so as not to dripfeed, he is a good sahd and has done a fair bit with the dc in terms of playgroups etc, and he also loves cooking and does a lot from scratch - I rarely cook. He does most day to day cleaning/laundry and I do very little, though I pretty much take over with the dc when I'm home. I would obviously do more if he worked. He also has MS, though is not impaired by it atm and hasn't had an attack for three years.

AIBU or is he?

OP posts:
formerbabe · 01/01/2018 19:29

I think it's reasonable if you are both prepared to find/organise/pay for wrap around childcare and school holiday childcare.

oblada · 01/01/2018 19:30

He is. You need to compromise: could he get some form of work so as to pay for his masters and you will support him in that direction? Completely unreasonable for him to expect you to pay for his masters on your own.

pinkyredrose · 01/01/2018 19:32

Have you posted recently about him? Sounds v familiar.

Cindyloo99 · 01/01/2018 19:34

Is it at all possible that his MS is worse than he is letting on to you and that's what's worrying him as far as finding work ? Just a thought.
Has he mentioned doing the masters before or is this a new thing ?

Callamia · 01/01/2018 19:35

I recently covered household expenses while my husband took a year out to do an MA. It was part of a career change for him, and we agreed that doing it in a year was best. He took a loan to cover tuition fees. It was hard, but manageable for us.

What is this MA for? Creative writing doesn’t necessarily lead to a well-paid novel (although, it’d be lovely if it did!). Can he do the MA part-time and work part-time? This is entirely manageable, and probably quite nice for the family too. He only needs a ‘shitty’ (tell him to stop being a dreadful snob, work is work) job to cover his MA, so it’s not going to be the work that defines him.

In short, you’re entirely justified to be annoyed with him for springing this on you. But I think you can work it out. You are even more justified to be annoyed with his adolescent response. He needs to grip the fuck up there.

lurkingnotlurking · 01/01/2018 19:36

You both need to be happy with your family dynamic. He could have really helped himself by using some of his time off to get qualified in something other than shelf-stacking.

NewIdeasToday · 01/01/2018 19:37

Most Masters courses won’t start till September. Suggest he could find a job from now till then that brings in enough money to enable him to study a Masters part time over two years.

KarmaStar · 01/01/2018 19:37

If he would support you in what you want to do...tell him you want a year out too...see if he is still so supportive....

TrojansAreSmegheads · 01/01/2018 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Msqueen33 · 01/01/2018 19:38

I’d like to think everyone got to follow their dreams but there’s that great big word compromise. Especially when you have kids unfortunately you need to sacrifice. Is he scared of getting a job having not worked for so long? Or has he always been a bit of a dreamer? Could he not doing a long distance creative writing course?

Redcliff · 01/01/2018 19:39

My DH is a SAHD and unless we were very well off I don't think I would fund a masters but if he wanted to fund it himself then I would support him.

RadioGaGoo · 01/01/2018 19:41

Both parties have to agree for one to be a SAHP. YANBU

wowbutter · 01/01/2018 19:42

Can he not do a !A through the open university? That way his post graduate loan will cover his fees totally, and won't impact you at all.
TBH the idea of a masters when he has never had a proper job sounds like a way to piss away more time.

Bluntness100 · 01/01/2018 19:44

He's being really selfish, he has responsibilities it's not up to uou to earn all the money and yes I'd say the same if it was a woman. Both partners need to agree to someone staying home.

His argument that he would support you is a lie. Because you want h S support in earning for the family and he is refusing. He simply wishes to do as he pleases.

I think you need to sit him down and have a proper discussion with him. You want his support in financially providing for the family. Will he or will he not provide it by getting a job?

Viviennemary · 01/01/2018 19:45

I too think both parties must agree for one to be a SAHP. It's up to them. But I'd rather be in a household where financial responsibilities and childcare and household duties are shared and not one person do all the earning and the other doing all the care. It may work in the short term but not as a permanent arrangement unless there is plenty of money sloshing around and only one person needs to work and household help can be afforded.

NoSquirrels · 01/01/2018 19:46

He needs a school-hours or similar job to cover the MA fees, with a view to starting in September.

Not for you to cover it out of your salary (which will affect the whole family). A Creative Writing MA is nit going to lead to a new mega-bucks career, but if he’s passionate about it he should do it - but he needs to find a way to finance it alongside his obligations to childcare, like any other SAHP might need to do. He’s lucky you’re a teacher, as he’ll at least know childcare in the holidays is covered, opening up more options.

YABU to expect him to want exactly what you want, but he’s being more U to expect you to finance a bit of a pipedream with new effort towards the tuition costs himself.

ButchyRestingFace · 01/01/2018 19:47

Anyway, today he revealed he has no intention of 'wasting time' on a 'shitty' job this year and instead would like to do a masters degree in creative writing

Then he should get saving.

Have you posted about him before - in relation to a holiday?

Caselgarcia · 01/01/2018 19:47

I would want him to start making some kind of contribution to the finances, so rather than say no to the masters, I would say as long as he brought some money in from his music/writing it would be do able. Mention that kids are only going to get more expensive as they get older. If he's happy to work as well as study you will support him.

Viviennemary · 01/01/2018 19:48

Didn't read your whole post. I apologise. I think the fact he has MS shines a different light on things. But even so he should make a financial contribution if he can and you are not happy to carry on being the sole earner.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 01/01/2018 19:50

He would support you in anything you want to do? Brilliant. You want the option take a lower paid job. Or the option to do a Masters yourself. Or the option to jack in your job if it pisses you off. Therefore you need him to build up the family savings for a year by working and to do the course with the OU or other distance learning or part time methods.

What job does he think the creative writing masters will get him? How much money has made from writing so far?

Chaosofcalm · 01/01/2018 19:51

PP have made some good points about getting a job until September and suggesting the does the MA part time while working part time.

witcheshats · 01/01/2018 19:54

I'm glad I'm not being completely UR. Think my views are also coloured by his history of not committing to stuff. The book he's been writing for years and still not nearly finished. I have a very hardworking colleague who has one completed novel she is sending out to publishers and another one already begun. she has a fraction of the time dh has had over the years and it's still not done.

Also, he did a proofreading course a while ago and took one two jibs then declared he didn't want more. Before knowing me he dropped out of his degree just a month or two before sitting the final exams. So these are more reasons why I don't want to pour money into this.

I did suggest him working towards it, but he wasn't happy as it would take forever with his earning potential. And I don't actually see why he should keep all his money for himself anyway. I should have also added we have some credit card debt from my second mat leave when his income dried up completely, so more reason not to want this.

OP posts:
PoorYorick · 01/01/2018 19:54

Have you posted about this before? The creative writing MA sounds familiar.

I don't think it's unreasonable for him to want to do the MA but given the kids are now at school full time, I do think it's unreasonable to expect you to continue to be the sole earner if it's not financially comfortable (I'd say the same to a SAHM. That kind of thing needs to be a joint decision and it won't work if either person isn't happy with it). Lots of students have part time jobs (he could do the MA part time) and it hardly matters if it's 'shitty', it's simply to bring in money. Shitty jobs can be very good artistic inspiration for observant and imaginative people.

How much actual writing does he do?

TheSconeOfStone · 01/01/2018 19:54

My DH recently graduated in a part time MA with distinction while working nearly full time (one afternoon off a week for lectures part time MA). I am so proud of him as he has arthritis and probably fibromyalgia. Neither of us is prepared to support a SAHP so I don’t blame you for being upset with your DH’s plan.

PoorYorick · 01/01/2018 19:55

Cross post...so he doesn't do much writing off his own bat?

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