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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:
MuseumOfCurry · 01/01/2018 20:26

Ugh. I couldn't tolerate this.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:28

If all dc are in full time school then he is no longer a 'SAHD'.......he is now unemployed and needs paid work at least during school hours!

I don't think a single person has disputed that, have they?

MyBrilliantDisguise · 01/01/2018 20:29

I've done that MA part-time over two years. It was one evening a week - 3 hours, though obviously we had to work other nights at home. I had two teenage kids and a full time teaching job at the same time. Although it was useful to me, it was mainly because it forced me to write every day. He's taking so long on that book that he wouldn't get taken on by a publishing house who would want one book per year! Most writers work full or part-time as well.

It sounds to me as though he's indulging himself rather than thinking what's best for the family. He could work part time and write his book. He could take out a student loan for an MA - you don't need to pay for it. If he earns enough afterwards, he will be responsible for repaying it, not you.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:31

Can you tell us which uni he is looking at OP?

A solution where he works PT and studies PT for two years would make most sense if that's available.

TheDevilMadeMeDoIt · 01/01/2018 20:32

Regardless of the subject, I'm another one wondering how he thinks he's going to get on an MA if he didn't finish his undergraduate degree.

BewareOfDragons · 01/01/2018 20:36

I think he is being unreasonable.

He has children. He has responsibilities. You cannot afford to support his jolly dream. He not only wants to not work, he wants to spend money on a useless degree. ANd sorry, without plans or ability to use it, it is a useless degree.

Trust fund attitude for a non-trust fund grown up. That just doesn't work sometimes.

Tell him he needs to plan on bringing money into the home before planning how he's going to spend it on himself.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:36

Creative subjects are more likely to be flexible on PG admissions of sample work is good. I wouldn't get hung up on the idea that not having completed his BA will be a roadblock.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:36

IF sample work^

Amoregentlemanlikemanner · 01/01/2018 20:42

I feel more sympathy with him.

How is your job? Do you like it? Does it bring in enough to support you all?

I think being a SAHP is not the same as not working/ or not pulling your weight.

windygallows · 01/01/2018 20:42

Amazed at how many people are saying the DH is unreasonable.

OP, If he was a SAHM and you were the working DH I suspect the responses on here would be totally different....

'You've put your aspirations aside to raise children. With the MA, why shouldn't you now do something for YOU?'

'Doesn't your DP want you to achieve your potential not just get any old job? He sounds like he doesn't care about your goals.'

'You had an agreement that you'd be the SAH parent. Why should you be forced to work now?'

MyBrilliantDisguise · 01/01/2018 20:43

A few people on my MA didn't have a degree, and only a few had a degree in a related area. We had to submit a portfolio of work before being invited to interview.

windygallows · 01/01/2018 20:43

The I agree that he should try to work part time to at least save for his course and support the family, I just wanted to point out the double standard.

Amoregentlemanlikemanner · 01/01/2018 20:44

I think windy has a point.

Xmaspuddingdisaster · 01/01/2018 20:47

I think if the dream involved creative writing a lot of us would think that would be a load of wank even if the sexes were reversed.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:49

You sound delightful xmas Smile

Roomster101 · 01/01/2018 20:49

I don't think he can do an MA if he hasn't got a degree. He does need to get a job now that the children are at school. No doubt he will lack confidence though, not only because he hasn't worked for a while but also because he has MS. Even if he hasn't a clinical relapse for three years, he probably has less energy than people without MS which may mean that a full time or even part time job will seem daunting.

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:49

I don't think he can do an MA if he hasn't got a degree.

Yes. He. Can.

It's a creative subject. The portfolio trumps everything else.

AddictedtoSnickers · 01/01/2018 20:51

As long as he is quite aware that an MA in Creative Writing doesn't automatically lead to a book deal. My DH was pretty much the only student on his MA who ended up writing for a living with regular publishing deals. And the pay is terrible (he also has to have a 'proper' job or we wouldn't cope)

tinkertailorsoildersailor · 01/01/2018 20:53

I personally think that some dads (not all) use being a sahp as a way to avoid accountability in the real world, in a way that women generally don't. I'm sorry if that makes me sexist.

OptimisticHamster · 01/01/2018 20:53

He may not need a degree but does he even have a portfolio? Doesn't sound like he's finished much.

Xmaspuddingdisaster · 01/01/2018 20:54

Realistic, maybe! Especially if the husband/wife had a history of starting things they didn’t finish and chose not to work in a lucrative yet non-time consuming job (assassin?) they’d done before.

Schlimbesserung · 01/01/2018 20:54

I'd be saying the same thing to a woman. Since there clearly is a need for extra income, any course which is unlikely to lead to employment is pure self-indulgence. If there was no financial pressure then that would be different, but there are practical issues to be addressed before anyone starts bleating about following their dream.

I would also be saying that part time study while earning something to contribute it the cost of the course and general living costs would be a good compromise.

My husband doesn't work, so I have no problem with SAHD's. He will probably never work again and that's fine, because it works for both of us.

olympicsrock · 01/01/2018 20:55

You have sent therefore cannot afford for him to be a SAHP and certainly can’t afford for him to do a whimsical course that will incur costs of the course and additional childcare while still bringing in no money and not improving his chances of getting a job. Very simple YANBU

Battleax · 01/01/2018 20:55

Well until OP comes back we don't know the extra detail.

BellyBean · 01/01/2018 20:56

My DH did a PT masters whilst working FT (before children granted). I'd say he needs to work while doing masters as minimum, esp as not vocational masters likely to lead to good job.