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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:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 20/05/2026 09:49

When he is home he needs to carry the load ... its his turn.

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:51

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/05/2026 06:56

You could spin this and dh say I work away lots and my wife is refusing to swap her demanding job

you both can’t work away /evenings

who has 3yr daytime or do you only work evenings ?

you are making your parents your immobile elderly parents walk your dogs ? wtf

you need to walk them before/after your work and parents stay with your child

im all for dogs being family but if you can’t look after their basic needs esp as rescue dogs then they need to be rehomed

It’s very hard on the spouse of working away person and this lifestyle is not for everyone.

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:51

I think most people here are being unkind, they're also missing the point completely. No matter the cause, the OP feels resentment and this isn't healthy in a marriage. It's not having dogs, it's not really about that, it's about not being supported and left to cope alone so many days a week. Even been left alone so often with her own job and a 3 year old isn't fair, regardless of animals.

It's very strange, had this been any other situation other than dogs been mentioned, the OP would've been given more help and possibly understanding. I've never encountered a place that dislikes dogs so much!

SwatTheTwit · 20/05/2026 09:52

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 20/05/2026 09:43

A pack just multiplies the joy of dogs imo.

It also significantly multiplies responsibility and care, though.

OP would probably manage just fine walking a dog and her child. 3 dogs and a child is a very different set up.

Thechaseison71 · 20/05/2026 09:52

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 06:45

If we split I appreciate things would be hard for me but I wouldn’t be living in a constant state of anger and resentment. Also I would have regular breaks if he had part time custody of our child. The dogs would have to stay with me as he’s not around enough to look after them.

IF being the operative word.

Could be the case that you have the kids all the time and a big drop in income also

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:52

SwatTheTwit · 20/05/2026 09:52

It also significantly multiplies responsibility and care, though.

OP would probably manage just fine walking a dog and her child. 3 dogs and a child is a very different set up.

Why?

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:52

Iamthemoom · 20/05/2026 06:56

Would it not be more rational to rehome the dogs rather than the husband? Unless there are other issues in the marriage of course beyond his job.

I really don’t understand why people without the time or resources end up with multiple high maintenance pets. It just seems completely irresponsible especially when you have a child who needs your time and attention.

Deal with that as a priority and then address how your DH can support you by taking the lead with child care on the days he’s back to give you respite.

First read what op wrote then reply. Your response is based on a fiction. Dogs came before child.

PurpleThistle7 · 20/05/2026 09:53

If you are working part-time is another solution to just stop doing that and get a full-time job during nursery hours so you stop relying on elderly parents and can just hire a dog walker or be home in the evenings yourself? I appreciate you've changed jobs a couple times now but can't work out why this is what you ended up with. Also appreciate you say he's not making enough money to make this sacrifice worthwhile but if he's paying 66% of the bills so that you can work less isn't that a way of supporting you?

I know a lot of people with partners who work away regularly - some for months at a time so I guess I just see this as a logistics problem. The other things you are dropping in - perhaps some sort of financial issue, an issue with how present he is when at home, an issue with him asking your parents to support you even more than babysitting every single week... these are issues to work through.

I guess my other question is what is the solution you'd propose? Him to go back to his old job and you to work more to make up the difference? Is that even an option? It's a rough, rough time to be job hunting just now.

WildTwins · 20/05/2026 09:54

I don't think the OP is being unreasonable expecting her husband to honour the joint commitments they both chose to take on. The thread seems to be derailed by discussion about dogs and how much she works when the real issue is her husband has taken an easy way out which means she is picking up the slack across the board.
OP I think this is the reality with alot of men, they ignore our attempts to flag and resolve issues and then seem surprised that the marriage dies a slow death. I don't think you are being unreasonable to resent him for leaving you to deal with so much on your own.
FWIW I'm a lone parent to twins and despite all the challenges bringing up 2 small children alone brings I would still rather be doing it without my ex husband. The only thing I would say is don't expect too much in terms of parenting from him if you do decide to separate, before making a decision consider if you would manage completely alone with the dogs and your child before you make any decision.

LakieLady · 20/05/2026 09:54

LurkNoFurther · 20/05/2026 07:35

You sound lovely & caring OP. Any extra money he got via his promotion needs to be used on paid support (cleaner, dog walker etc.) Don’t try to do it all yourself, getting outside help sounds like the only reasonable option, especially whilst the baby is young

This is spot on. If OP's husband can't do his share of all the domestic stuff, including the pets, he needs to stump up the cash for someone else to do it.

combatewok · 20/05/2026 09:54

I think the criticism of OP having the dogs is unfair. I’ve not read full thread yet but dogs are family, you don’t just get rid. and what if they got dogs before he worked away or at a point where life was balanced fairly for her? Stop judging her owning dogs ffs.

and stop assuming people can just pay for a cleaner or dog walking. Honestly….

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:54

PurpleThistle7 · 20/05/2026 09:53

If you are working part-time is another solution to just stop doing that and get a full-time job during nursery hours so you stop relying on elderly parents and can just hire a dog walker or be home in the evenings yourself? I appreciate you've changed jobs a couple times now but can't work out why this is what you ended up with. Also appreciate you say he's not making enough money to make this sacrifice worthwhile but if he's paying 66% of the bills so that you can work less isn't that a way of supporting you?

I know a lot of people with partners who work away regularly - some for months at a time so I guess I just see this as a logistics problem. The other things you are dropping in - perhaps some sort of financial issue, an issue with how present he is when at home, an issue with him asking your parents to support you even more than babysitting every single week... these are issues to work through.

I guess my other question is what is the solution you'd propose? Him to go back to his old job and you to work more to make up the difference? Is that even an option? It's a rough, rough time to be job hunting just now.

A partner working away does not work for everyone. It’s the pretty hard on spouse and some cannot sustain that lifestyle.

Tigeresslearns · 20/05/2026 09:55

OP, can your husband structure his working weeks better? For example, I travel extensively for work, however I work it so its when my kids are with their dad, so my childfree weeks are travel based, when they are home, I'm homebased/local only. If he's in sales, he doesn't need to travel all over the country 'willy-nilly' - he can structure weeks where he's home more, it won't alleviate the pressure for you all the time, but will at least some of the time. And the weeks he's travelling more, you work less hours per week, and more when he's home more. Could that work?

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 09:55

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:48

She is living in constant anger. They tried couple therapy to resolve resentment but it didn’t help.
He massively played down the amount of travelling he would be doing in the new( current) role when he accepted. Why do you think he is not the reason for resentment? No one is winding her up, she is pretty sure it seems.

OP literally wrote “piss off” to a comment here. So not someone who is slow to anger.

Imagine a woman wrote some of the stuff OP has written - I pay 2/3 of the bills and my DH works part time but he wants me to only takes jobs WFH, he then said when he asks me for money I have none but I already pay 2/3 of the bills.

And I don’t the DH gets off scot free at all, but neither do I think it’s as one sided as DH is off living the high life while OP is slaving away. And I do think that men traditionally have used to pub at bed time and travel to get out of family responsibilities.

Sharptonguedwoman · 20/05/2026 09:56

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 06:53

I would never rehome my pets, I adore them. We got them before he started this. The dogs get an abundance of love and are very happy. They get an hours walk in the morning and a half hour every evening without fail. I’m not someone who just gives up on animals. What an awful thing to say.

So how exactly is this situation going to get better?

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:57

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:54

A partner working away does not work for everyone. It’s the pretty hard on spouse and some cannot sustain that lifestyle.

It's not just that either. My own dad worked away for months at a time growing up, it caused issues between us kids and him. My mum thinks that one of my brothers started to go off the rails because of it. It's nice to have mum and dad constant when possible.

The OP's husband is putting his job before his family, all of them. He should be listening to his wife and hear her saying she's unhappy, to the point of thinking about divorce. This isn't about owning dogs imo.

5foot5 · 20/05/2026 09:58

Apart from him taking a better paid position which keeps him from home ore than you want, you have not mentioned anything for which he should be castigated.

@MaroonedinWales But don't minimise this decision of his because this appears to be the crux of the problem. From OP's posts he didn't have this position when they took on the dogs and had a child. He accepted the current role knowing full well what he was letting her in for. In her opinion he could get another similar job with less travel but chooses not to. Presumably his nights away in a hotel are a nice rest away from family life.

I think that's quite a lot to be castigated for. Yet people are expecting OP to make the changes to compensate for his selfishness by getting rid of family pets or changing her job.

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:58

Sharptonguedwoman · 20/05/2026 09:56

So how exactly is this situation going to get better?

Why is the husband putting the job before his whole family?

PurpleThistle7 · 20/05/2026 09:58

Redpaisley · 20/05/2026 09:54

A partner working away does not work for everyone. It’s the pretty hard on spouse and some cannot sustain that lifestyle.

For sure. I wouldn't want it every single week but I have yet to see what her solution is now that they are in that situation. My husband works away for a week or so every couple of months and I hate it every time but he has a great job and is fully present when he's here so it's worth the tradeoff. I am curious to know what she is actually suggesting if she wants to stay working part-time while he contributes 2/3 of their bills but also take a demotion?

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 09:59

PurpleThistle7 · 20/05/2026 09:58

For sure. I wouldn't want it every single week but I have yet to see what her solution is now that they are in that situation. My husband works away for a week or so every couple of months and I hate it every time but he has a great job and is fully present when he's here so it's worth the tradeoff. I am curious to know what she is actually suggesting if she wants to stay working part-time while he contributes 2/3 of their bills but also take a demotion?

Why would it be a demotion?

hereforthelolz · 20/05/2026 10:00

@Happyjoe Why is the OP putting her dogs above her husband

nam3c4ang3 · 20/05/2026 10:00

Christ - all you seem to want to do is argue with with anyone who tries to advise you - so I’ll go against the grain here and say - leave the useless twat of a husband. Youll be happier (hopefully) and he’ll be forced to change his lifestyle I guess. Upside is you won’t see his face and hate him so much - youll have to share the child so I guess you’ll get more time to walk the dogs/work etc etc.

Bluebells81 · 20/05/2026 10:01

I completely understand your situation. My DH also immediately got a very demanding job right after our first child was born.
Things will get easier if you stick it out - the child will be able to do more for themselves and the dogs won't live forever.
In the meantime can you use some of your DH's earnings to pay for the work that he is no longer doing? Pay for a dog walker or dog day-care. Get a housekeeper who'll also do laundry, get a gardener. Get shopping delivered. Get Eat out more etc.
I strongly suggest not reducing your work - this will only reduce your options in the long (as I have found..)

millymollymoomoo · 20/05/2026 10:01

I think if you divorce the problem and resentment won’t go away.

youll likely end up doing everything you do now, but with more financial pressure /strain. And while you won’t have the same resentment as now likely it will morph into another one - of him doing less than now, you being primary carer still juggling home life while he is free to work as he wants. Add him
getting a new girlfriend into the mix at some point, even more chance for resentment about amount of parenting he does or money he gives you.

if he won’t discuss changing jobs and feel
that is the only answer, by all means divorce. But I don’t think that will resolve your resentment or make your life easier

Happyjoe · 20/05/2026 10:01

hereforthelolz · 20/05/2026 10:00

@Happyjoe Why is the OP putting her dogs above her husband

She isn't. These were dogs they got together.
And it's not about the dogs. Getting rid of the dogs will add to the resentment, not lessen it.
Why is he leaving her alone to look after their own child so many days a week? What about him spending time with his own child?

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