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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Other half rant

9 replies

Janine5425 · 27/05/2021 14:11

My other half works long days through the week and every weekend. Some weeks with only one day off. He is a member of a local sports team. We have 3 children. 7 years, 2 years and a 5 month old baby. Through the week he helps out with things like cooking, cleaning and childcare sometimes but it’s not set in stone. No rota etc.

My AIBU question is am I being unreasonable to expect more? I’m a SAHM and it’s expected of me to cook, clean and childcare. The sport activity meets three times a week from 5-8pm meaning the bath and bedtimes for the younger two fall to me every night usually because of work etc. He does help out some nights and baths the baby before he leaves and then I can just pop him in bed. The problem with this is sometimes he only sleeps for an hour or two then wakes and is pretty much full on until we go to bed when I just lay with him until he falls asleep. The elder toddler will sleep fine but has rough patches like they all do. After this so from 8pm we usually eat as a couple and watch some tv etc. I get so irritated by all of this I feel like I never have any time - he does sports practice at home every day. He works sometimes until 11pm after being away from home all day. Some days he will work 9-5pm come home shower and go to sports meeting. Is this me being unreasonable.

Now for his good points - he will do childcare ie nappies, sometimes gets up in the mornings so I can sleep if we have had a rough night, not much cleaning but will help if asked, cooks sometimes but never set in stone.

I feel like everything works around these sports meetings because they are not debatable - he doesn’t ever not go - I get I’m a SAHM but sometimes I just want to relax and have a wine without having to have the baby on me and live most of the time on my own.

We’ve been married for 14 years now and it’s just really hard to work out if it’s me being delusional or this is an issue.

OP posts:
DownWhichOfLate · 27/05/2021 14:13

You should have equal “free time”. Do you have any hobbies?

AryaStarkWolf · 27/05/2021 14:15

YANBU, you have 3 young kids, he needs to be doing more and you need some down time as much as he does 9 hours a week (plus travel time there and back I assume) is way too much with a baby and two other children

Acupofcamus · 27/05/2021 15:04

YANBU. When you have young children, your own hobbies and interests have to take a back seat. It doesn’t mean he can’t do the hobby at all but three nights a week is far too much, it’s eating into your family time and indeed your time as a couple.

BritWifeinUSA · 27/05/2021 15:10

Has he always worked these hours? You’re being unreasonable if he’s always worked these hours. You knew what you were getting yourself into by having three children in quick succession with a husband who works a lot of hours. You’re lucky he does this as it allows you the financial luxury of being able to stay at home with the children. A family of five being able to live comfortably on one wage must be the minority these days.

katy1213 · 27/05/2021 15:21

Maybe you need to make yourself absent for the other three evenings a week. Take some non-negotiable time for yourself.
But you have to take it. And use it. Like men do. Be unavailable. Even if you're just sitting in a pub nursing a glass. Go to the cinema. Go for a run. Because if you stay in the house, before you know it you 'might as well' let him go out.

BullOx · 27/05/2021 15:24

Why do you call his parenting childcare?

bananapumpkin · 27/05/2021 15:48

For me the core question is whether you have chosen to be a SAHM or whether he asked you to do so. If it's your choice, you have to accept that it puts a lot of pressure on him to be the sole breadwinner and support the family, and IMO it's fair for him to have some downtime. If, on the other hand, it's not your choice then it sounds quite controlling and you may need to put your foot down and remind him that you are his partner, not his nanny.

misspattylacosta · 27/05/2021 15:59

Up to you to book a couple of evenings a week to go and do your own hobby.

Your partner has a very busy work schedule by the sound of it. It looks reasonable that you have your share of work at home.
Are you putting your 2 year old to nursery yet?

Janine5425 · 27/05/2021 18:00

Thanks for all your replies. No it was never really discussed with me staying home as I was happy to as I wasn’t the main earner at the time anyway he was of course so it just happened. I love staying home with the kids and do appreciate that he works so we are able to afford to do this comfortably. It’s the days where he’s working then home shower and out again. It’s just a bit annoying more than anything else. I don’t have hobbies really his shifts aren’t set so he is sent a two week rota so some weeks will be all different times on his shifts. Obviously if he’s on an early he may as well not be here at all after it because he’s tired and wants to sleep so not really any point. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining because he is great with the kids just things that bug me.

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