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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I know I'm privileged but I hate my life!

182 replies

MissVanji · 20/05/2021 20:09

I'm a SAHM to 2 DC. I have a lovely DH who has a very good job so we are all well provided for and don't ask for much. I'm in my early 30s with 2 DC under 3 and to be honest I'm miserable.

Everyone thinks I have it all but I wake up every morning like its groundhog day, just another day to clean up everyone's crap and try be the perfect wife/mum when I just desperately want some freedom away from the 3 people I love the most.

They are suffocating me and I just want to RUN!!!!! I love them so much and feel like a shitty person because I know I'm lucky but I am just so desperately sad and feel like my life is ruined I'm struggling tbh.

OP posts:
katy1213 · 20/05/2021 22:52

No wonder you're bored if you had an interesting job with lots of travel. Never mind whether your husband is 'keen.' He doesn't have to be keen. He needs either to step up and do 50% of looking after his own children or if - surprise, surprise - he isn't keen on that, then he needs to fund 50% of a nanny. You're not a shitty person to hate the way things are at present.

MNybvcx54 · 20/05/2021 22:53

It’s perfectly normal and ok not to enjoy being at home with small children (or big ones for that matter!). The only reason I was ever able to enjoy the days I was at home with mine was because I was working on the other days. If you can work part time it is the ultimate setup in my opinion as the resentment disappears and you thoroughly enjoy the days you are off, precisely because you are not at home all of the time. In m opinion it gets different as they get older but not necessarily easier, and if your struggle is related to loss of identity then a stroppy pre-teen is certainly not going to make you feel any better about your choices.
Could your DH work towards going part time so you both share the load both at home and at work? That is what we did and for ages we both worked 4 days a week and only needed childcare 3 days a week. The kids really really benefited from having us both at home on different days, whilst also witnessing that we had a life/job/identity outside of their orbit.

Nuggetnugget · 20/05/2021 22:56

Oh if I were you I would crack.. Nothing outside the home. Nope.
You totally need to get some kind of work.
Also dh doesn't have the right to stop you by being 'not so keen' ConfusedHmm

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 20/05/2021 23:01

Honestly l feel really unappreciated at home sometimes- rarely get a thanks for doing all the house work and cooking etc but when l go to work, my colleagues and boss are always saying thank you and telling me how valued l am.
I don't go to work for the money.

SionnachGlic · 20/05/2021 23:08

Find something you want to do & go do it. Work, College...anything. There is nothing wrong with wanting fulfillment & satisfaction in your life other than being a wife & mother. Tell your husband how you feel & that you want to make your plan. I'd love to start from scratch...I really love my work & I combined it with motherhood from babies to adulthood...but I'd love a crack at something just for enjoyment...like a History or English Lit or Classics degree...4 yrs of that wd be lovely. But I can't as bills still need to be paid etc. Find your dream & chase it...

confuseddotcomma · 20/05/2021 23:24

It's ok not to like your life but you are in a very privileged posuy and you are more than capable of making changes. Get a nursery, get a part time job. It really comes off badly to complain when you have something many people would love to have, and you are perfectly capable of changing it

pallisers · 20/05/2021 23:26

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Xenia* and ultimately earned 10x my husband who also works full time. That is much more fun than minding children all day.* you have written some distasteful posts over the years but this one tops it. Earning 10x the income of your dh is “more fun” than “minding children” . They were your own children![/quote]
Yeah and not all of us want to be home full time despite loving our own children. I found lots of things more fun at times than minding my own children -including paid work. So did DH. so did most honest people I know. We also liked earning money and I really appreciate my pension now I am older as well as the ability to pay for my children's education.

Being a sahm is brilliant- if you want to do it.

And Xenia isn't for everyone but she has given some very useful very feminist advice to women on MN about prioritising their own career the way men automatically do. And as far as I know she has reared happy successful children with whom she is close.

Coyoacan · 20/05/2021 23:40

My sister who is ten years older than me had a miserable childhood with our mother who was a depressed SAHM. Whereas my mother went by back to work when I was small and consequently my childhood was much happier.

In an ideal world, we would all be happy, clappy stay at home mothers, but the important thing that children need is to have a happy mother.

MyDcAreMarvel · 20/05/2021 23:42

@pallisers And as far as I know she has reared happy successful children with whom she is close if what Xenia has posted in the past is true, she hasn’t reared her children , other people have from two weeks old.
Working may at times be more fun than looking after your own children. That’s not what Xenia posted.

ineedaholidaynow · 20/05/2021 23:51

What additional needs does your oldest DC have?

Rainallnight · 20/05/2021 23:53

I hear you, OP. I’m a SAHM through circumstance and I feel like a fucking skivvy. There’s no other way to put it. I feel suffocated, at the whim of everyone else and that no one gives a shit about me.

I need a job.

IdblowJonSnow · 20/05/2021 23:55

Yes it gets better!
You need a break. Being privileged is nice, and maybe some others have it harder, but uoure still allowed to find parenthood difficult even if you've got a bit of money.
If you want to get back to your niche job then do! So what if your DH isn't keen. What about you?
Why dont you organise a day of childcare for your little one too? And have a day 'off'? And make sure your DH has them for a few hours on a wkend so you can buggar off with some friends or whatever you like doing?

EmeraldShamrock · 21/05/2021 00:21

It gets some much easier, your baby is only 9 months and dependant on you for everything.
Before you know it time goes whizzing by and their personality shines through.
Every year is easier my 2nd was a disaster velcro baby he is lovely now.

cinammonbuns · 21/05/2021 00:32

@MyDcAreMarvel no I don’t think that’s someone raising your children unless you are putting them in 24 hour childcare. Sorry that some people have to and/or want to work. Not all women want to be stay at home mums.

pallisers · 21/05/2021 00:41

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@pallisers* And as far as I know she has reared happy successful children with whom she is close* if what Xenia has posted in the past is true, she hasn’t reared her children , other people have from two weeks old.
Working may at times be more fun than looking after your own children. That’s not what Xenia posted.[/quote]
so if you go back to work you don't rear your children? seriously? I was back at work parttime when each of my children were 12 weeks old. I can assure you I reared them.

SofiaMichelle · 21/05/2021 07:08

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@pallisers* And as far as I know she has reared happy successful children with whom she is close* if what Xenia has posted in the past is true, she hasn’t reared her children , other people have from two weeks old.
Working may at times be more fun than looking after your own children. That’s not what Xenia posted.[/quote]
Wow. That's deeply unpleasant.

People who work don't rear their children...

Nice.

BobaCobb · 21/05/2021 08:22

Of course women who work ( and men for that matter) still raise their children. It is possible to be a good or bad parent whether you work or not.
In respect to this OP, however, with a child with additional needs and an unsupportive partner it might not be possible to return to her old job and be a good parent. I have a child with SEN and it makes it that bit harder to find good quality childcare that meets all their needs.

Candleabra · 21/05/2021 08:32

This happens to many families when they have kids.
So few of my friends kept their great jobs. They all became SAHM, went part time etc.
Fast forward 20 years they are stuck.

Husband (often less competent) has the big job now, facilitated by the wife. Yet doesn't realise it or appreciate it! Thinks it is all down to his hard work.
Now divorces are happening as heads are being turned by younger, more exciting women. Oh the irony that that the wife they encouraged to give up work to make life easier is now deemed boring, and a drain on the family as she doesn't earn a lot.

nolongersurprised · 21/05/2021 08:32

I would like to go back to work part time when kids are both in full time school, my issue is my job is quite niche and requires a lot of overseas travel which DH isn't so keen on

After 7 or so years out of the work force it might be hard to go back to work, even part time.

It doesn’t matter what your DH is “keen” on, presumably what he IS keen on is an easy life with you at home sorting out his children.

Step back from that, and think about what defined you before children and who you were as a person before being a wife and mother. And do what you can to regain it, even if it’s just a few half days here and there. In the long run, it’ll work out better for you and your family if you’ve something that fulfils you outside of the home.

silvercats · 21/05/2021 08:36

Hi OP, sorry to hear you’re feeling trapped.

From the way you describe your job, I don’t think you’d be happier if you returned. What you’re remembering is your pre-child days when your priority was yourself. You could be on long-haul flights then etc etc. But the fact is, things have changed. It’s no good expecting you can waltz back into your previous job and feel no guilt or separation anxiety about being in different continents to such young DC. It is what it is. You’d just be replacing one form of stress with another, realistically.

Can you look at it this way - you are in a privileged position to be able to not have the pressure of working. This is a fact and a privilege that most women will never get to experience. It’s not forever. It’s a point in time. I know how easy it is to get into a deep rut. It may be you are suffering from PND, so please see a GP about this. It can happen to anyone.

In short, nobody can be the mum they want to be if they’re burnt out. You HAVE to learn to take some time back for yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything dramatic, but just some fixed points in the week when you can recharge. Babies are relentless and when you’re worn down you can’t see the wood for the trees.

I was in a similar position to you in that I didn’t have family around and also I didn’t feel comfortable leaving them with a nanny or childminder. I knew how hard it was and didn’t trust anyone else to do it. But I started off in a small way. There was a time when my youngest was about one and I used to get someone to just play with her for an hour in the afternoons when I went in the school run for the older two (otherwise the baby would fall asleep on the school run and then be up until 10pm). Gradually, this lady (who was from the nursery) stared coming a little more often if I needed to just do something “hands free.” I remember just walking out the door without the buggy and at least one of the kids used to feel like I was walking on air! I would just go to a coffee shop and post crap on MN Grin. Or meet a friend or go for a swim.

Basically, as a SAHM you have the freedom to make the day what you want it to be. Don’t put pressure in yourself to feel like you SHOULD be doing x,y,z. Looking after to mini humans is enough. Get a cleaner in. Meet up with friends and their kids as much as you can. Summer is coming and it won’t be long before your younger one can go to the nursery for a few mornings. Then can come home and do exactly what you want.- max out when you can basically. Even if you just sleep. It really does get easier. If you can manage to do something physical, yoga or running or swimming, it helps so much. It’s a cliche, but you'll never get this time back, so try and make the most of it and take enjoyment from the small things. Be kind to yourself.

Maybe tell your husband how you feel and just book yourself into a hotel for a night. Then come back with the priority of creating a better balance eg in your life. I wish you all the best!

CoffeeDay · 21/05/2021 08:42

Yessss this. Was telling DH last night that I would rather shoot myself than go through 3 years of being a SAHM again. Privilege doesn't help against the mind numbing boredom of constantly doing things you don't want to do and your tiny slivers of free time are always a compromise on doing either this or that, never both. We're not privileged to the point of being able to afford a full-time nanny or au pair which I imagine does help quite a bit.

There are wonderful moments obviously but to me they are perfect as "first and last" memories. I'm counting down the days until DD is in kindergarten so I can start working again.

Quincie · 21/05/2021 08:46

I was a sahm with dh away abroad a lot with no routine and I'd have to do night duties with my former job so couldn't work, no family nearby.
I could kick myself now for not just being selfish ie not putting everyone else's needs first - I felt I had to be a devoted wife and mother to justify the 'cushy' sahm role, when, had I used babysitters childminders etc and got myself a life I'd have benn a happier, funner, better mother.
Go for what will make you happier , get a life. Or the best you can get in the circumstances.

ZenNudist · 21/05/2021 08:53

If you like your job you should get back to it. I know many people who, pre-covid travelled a lot and had a family. You've just got to make it work for you. So get a nanny, obviously, and your dh can start to step up. You are making it too easy on him. Of course he's not keen to take his fair share of family responsibility as it's much easier for you to do it all. Plenty of men get used to checking out of family life claiming privilege by being the higher earner. Torching your career is a mistake. You may need to fall back on it. Don't give it up.

I made it clear once I went back to work that dh and I were equal in responsibility. Even now 10 years on we share most aspects of domesticity. It does skew towards me still.

How would your job be adapted so you could still do a fair share? If you're going to be out the house 5 days a week that's not good. There must be other things you can do. Now is the time whilst you still have recent experience. Leave it 10 years and you might not get back to where you were.

Checkingout811 · 21/05/2021 08:55

The ones who find being a SAHM so bad, why did you do it?
I love my life, it I didn’t I would change it. Surely that’s the sensible thing to do?
I find it so sad that people feel that way about being a SAHM, but I would feel the same about working full time, so I don’t do it

LeafBeetle · 21/05/2021 09:22

Being a SAHM isn't the right choice for everyone, whether you can afford it or not. OP, it's ok to find it hard and miss your career. I think it's especially hard when your husband and other people are telling you that you're lucky and privileged to be able to do this. Would your husband really want to be a SAHD and consider himself lucky? I'm not sure he would.

Think about things that would help. Going back to work in a different role involving less overseas travel? Going back to your old job (this is YOUR decision not your husband's!) and getting a nanny? Part time work or study or volunteering? Paid help with the house and kids?

Ideally no one should have a life they hate OP.