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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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AIBU to leave my husband over his job?

1000 replies

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 06:38

Am I being unreasonable to end my marriage because my husband won’t change his job?

DH works away constantly, sometimes 3/4 nights per week. We have a 3 year old toddler, 3 large rescue dogs and 2 cats. I work a very demanding job that includes 2 evenings per week. The impact him being away has on me is huge. I have to manage every early wake-up and refusal to sleep from our 3 year old alone, feed everyone, walk the dogs, manage all the daily household jobs and still be present at work. I am constantly overwhelmed, overstimulated and in survival mode and it massively impacts my mental health. I barely sleep when he’s away. Lately due to my working late done nights, my elderly parents have been forced to come over and help out at my husbands request, which puts a massive strain on them. My father has hip problems and struggles to walk but has had to walk our dogs and my mother has had to help bath my son. My mother still works herself and is exhausted. We do have a dog walker 3 mornings a week but this is expensive and we can’t afford it on the evenings too.

I have repeatedly asked him to consider changing jobs as his current role is putting me under so much pressure. He refuses and is adamant he won’t quit.

When he does return I’m so full of resentment I don’t want to be near him, then he gets upset.

We have had 3 sessions of couples therapy but it’s done nothing to address the resentment.

I feel so over it and like I don’t matter.

OP posts:
Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 09:13

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Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 09:13

DilemmaDelilah · 20/05/2026 08:58

If you are asking your husband to change his job, have you considered changing yours?

Already have, twice.

OP posts:
Iwanttobeafraser · 20/05/2026 09:13

Op, I do not understand why you are being attacked.

In this house, if one of us is away for any reason, there is a discussion about the impact on both parties and its a given that the person who has been sleeping in a nice quiet hotel bed and doing no chores, steps up on return. Sometimes it also involves more spending because the one at home needs help whether thats a takeaway, a taxi when dc need to be in 2 places at once, or a babysitter.

You haven't said if he steps up on return. But before divorce, thats the bit I would prioritise.

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:15

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Stop treating animals as a commodity. Have you ever stopped to think that actually pet ownership is proven to help with mental health? The OP has said she loves her pets, stop telling her to kill them.

XelaM · 20/05/2026 09:15

I think you should consider that your son will be at school soon, so things will get easier very soon. But not sure how to get over the resentment / ick that you now have for your useless husband.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 09:15

Notabarbie · 20/05/2026 08:59

I don't think you're entitled to have your DH work from home because you have dogs.

He's supporting you taking a step back from work in order to have the life you want. You're only working half the time.

I don't think the set up you describe would be very healthy with you both working from home when there is so much toxicity between you.

It sounds like you're using the dog walker for the mornings you're working but then have nothing left to pay a dog walker for the times that would allow him to work on.

Life changes. It's clear you don't have time for your dogs, work and a child and nothing about getting rid of him would really alter that.

How your child will be affected if the marriage fails is a more significant question than how the dogs would fare. He will be going between households for longer than their life span.

Actually children are much more affected by adults who stay together when there is a lot of arguing and resentment, rather than two separate, calm households.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/05/2026 09:15

ToastSafeFromMothsAndDogs · 20/05/2026 08:58

No idea why so many people want to get the boot into the OP. Her H has opted out of family life and left her with all their joint responsibilities. Why on earth should she just suck it up?

I swear alot of people come on here just to be contrary and have a go at people who are already struggling.

Obviously the husband is unreasonable here.

Nosleepforthismum · 20/05/2026 09:16

I have one rescue dog and she is enough work on her own. Three dogs are just too much OP and I understand your position but you should be realistic. Your parents are reluctant to help and you can’t walk three large dogs with a toddler in tow on your own. Divorce or not, I’d be really thinking about having at least two of the dogs rehomed as it will be in their best interest and yours.

Ard · 20/05/2026 09:17

I think the ages are relevant here- I'm guessing your DP is trying to maximise his earnings ss when your DC is 17 he'll be 65 and perhaps not as able to provide. He also currently has another child to support as well so I guess that is on his mind. He should have been much more honest about what the promotion would involve in terms of time commitment and I understand your resentment. An unplanned pregnancy changes everything. Have you had san honest realistic discussion about finances, because I think this is really where the problems lie.

Ftm2026 · 20/05/2026 09:17

Hi OP,

Just reading through this comments and some are horrible! Dogs are part of the family 🤷‍♀️.

Where abouts are you based if you don’t mind me asking? Can always dm me. If you’re nearby, me and my husband would be more than willing to help walk your dogs in the evening to save your dad doing it and give you a little break to focus on your toddlers bed time xxx

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 20/05/2026 09:18

You can but then you’d be 100.% on your own unless you’re thinking about walking away completely?

You both need to simplify your life, that means less pets, less hours at work etc.

Whyarentyoureadyyet · 20/05/2026 09:19

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 09:15

Actually children are much more affected by adults who stay together when there is a lot of arguing and resentment, rather than two separate, calm households.

It sounds like you want to leave him and want us to validate that choice?

How will you finance your menagerie if you are a single parent?

dogproblems1 · 20/05/2026 09:19

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Yes let's put innocent dogs down because the twat doesn't want to step up, that will surely help op's mental state 😂

EdithBond · 20/05/2026 09:20

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 09:15

Actually children are much more affected by adults who stay together when there is a lot of arguing and resentment, rather than two separate, calm households.

True. But there is a huge impact on DC when their parents split too. I speak from experience.

Bobloblawww · 20/05/2026 09:21

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 08:15

Context:
Everyone saying rehome the pets… the situation works perfectly fine when he is working from home. I do most morning walks and he finishes at 5 and walks them in the evenings. Everyone is happy. But it’s him going away that causes the issue.

HE enlisted the help of my parents without consulting me, I have put a stop to this as I could see the impact it was having on them.

We did 7 rounds of IVF in my late 30’s and were unsuccessful; so we took on dogs instead. A miracle and much loved surprise then came along when I was 42. My son is my absolute world, but also my dogs were my babies first and to suggest just getting rid because my husband is now choosing to work away is incredibly unfair. A dog is for life.

He works in sales and could easily get a home based job, my opinion is that he doesn’t want to, because working away makes his life a lot easier. He only has to think of work, no cooking, no cleaning, no responsibilities. Staying in a nice hotel with undisturbed sleep, whilst I carry everything at home.

My job is my career and I run my own business. I have already changed jobs twice to fit in better with my family, as previously I was driving an hour to work, and now I get to work from home. So I have made the necessary adjustments to better suit my family and responsibilities, but he refuses.

I am put under immense pressure when he’s away and that’s why I’m resentful.

Fair play. I think the added context rounds out your argument pretty clearly. I would also consider leaving under these circumstances.

Randomchat · 20/05/2026 09:21

You're not divorcing him because of his job. You would be divorcing him because he has made a lifestyle choice that is not compatible with your family life.

You said that he chose this job when he didn't need to and wasn't entirely honest about how much time he would be spending away from home. Now you're telling him it's not working and he's not trying to help, apart from phoning up your mum.

It would have been different if he had been unemployed and had no choice in taking this job. But he did have a choice. And you're paying for his choice.

OneTealShaker · 20/05/2026 09:22

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:03

Wow, what a friendly community this is 🙄 I’ll ask somewhere else.

Not unfriendly. You just don’t like hearing the truth.

Ragruggers · 20/05/2026 09:22

Your life as you planned it changed firstly you have a beautiful son which must be a blessing after IVF. Yes you have rescue dogs 3 is a lot to manage especially large dogs and the expense is huge.You now work 3 and half days to be with you son great if you can afford it.You DH has a new job so no longer can walk the dogs which need decent walks twice a day.So he also wanted the dogs so he must pay for a dog walker for the time he would have done it.Once your son is in pre school you will have more time for your work.Sit down and tell him to find a dog walker if not divorce him and go it alone.

Blueswan3 · 20/05/2026 09:22

Look .
It's hard being at parent at 50 ..bloody hard ..and your man is paying the majority of the bills so you can have extra time with your dc.
Would you prefer him home all the time but on benefits
Sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to
He clearly is not going to pack his job in
So between you ,you need to buy in extra help ..what is cheaper..dog walker ,cleaner or childminder..pick one and get some help.
I had 3 under 3 ,and one was a 2 week old baby and my DH had to go away for 2 weeks for work ..that was his job ..I just had to get on with it .
I was the one at home ,so the DC and house responsibilities fell to me ,when he wasn't there ..when he was there ,we did half each .
I think as long as he is doing half of everything when he's home ,and he pays towards extra help when he's not there ,you can't really complain.

InconvenientlyMaterial · 20/05/2026 09:23

I don't understand why you're getting such a hard time here. Having a household and a family with another human being ought to be about forging a partnership? Big decisions navigated with honesty, fairness and compromise. Your husband didn't do this and now seems to be refusing to look at the situation from your POV.

It's so common to read about partners (almost always men) not taking the equal partnership aspect seriously. Sure, time with children is a privilege, and absent parents will pay for that with less satisfying relationships if they don't make an effort to be there. But being enabled to work full time in an exciting career, unhindered by compromise / having to juggle home commitments, because another human (almost always a woman) is doing absolutely everything else in your SHARED family life is also a privilege.

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:23

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 20/05/2026 06:53

Sorry to say it but yes - rehoming your pets is most likely the kindest thing for them and you x

It will be a practical solution for OP’s family but let’s not pretend it would be a kind thing for dogs.

LakieLady · 20/05/2026 09:24

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:05

He was already in his current role before our son was born and when we rescued the dogs but was home based, so everything was much easier, but not long after our son was born he accepted a promotion involving a lot of travel, which he massively played down to me.

Did he play it down or did he just not realise quite how much travel was involved?

I find it quite surprising that a father of a very young baby would take a job that involved him spending nearly half the week away from home, especially as it sounds like it didn't involve a massive pay rise. And imo it's pretty shit of him to be away so much and leave you effectively a single parent for half the week and without being able to outsource a lot of the domestic stuff.

OneTealShaker · 20/05/2026 09:25

Do you work or contribute financially? If you don’t, then you are not in a position to dictate where the breadwinner works.

DaffodilLill · 20/05/2026 09:25

When he was offered a job way from home, what did you discuss?

Surely this was a joint decision?

I also think you're a bit unrealistic to have 3 dogs when you work full time.
Are they alone at home all day on their own?

Taking them out for an hour and a half a day doesn't sound much for large dogs.

How would leaving your H solve anything?

You'd be doing this on your own and with less income.

Clarefromwork · 20/05/2026 09:25

Op you have had so many replies on here and I hope you ignore the majority of them!

I can’t believe how some people think.

They post among us

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