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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:
Miraclemuma03 · 20/05/2026 11:50

VoReason · 20/05/2026 11:29

The mindset of a person who'd sooner give up on their beloved human - and one to whom they vowed their love and dedication - before rehoming some dumb beasts they happen to care for, is mind boggling.

I have pets, several actually, and I take utmost care of them. But I'd give them all away in a heartbeat before considering quitting any of the close humans in my life.

So your telling me, you would give up your pets, who rely on you, are loyal to you, who have done nothing wrong and are suppose to be apart of the family for a shitty human being who is too selfish to meet your needs or the needs of your family and run you to the ground every day, has no respect for you and only worries and cares about themselves. And yes people who are dedicated to their animals would choose them over people anyway. If you are having to make a choice between your animals and someone in your life and they are putting you in that situation then its not someone you want to keep in your life. Absolutely would choose my animals over my husband if he ever put me in a situation where I had to choose. Thankfully for me, I have an amazing husband who pitches in and accepts everyone under my roof.

Whatafustercluck · 20/05/2026 11:51

My dh works in a job that provides little work-life balance. He works shifts that mean he's out of the house for long periods most days. Our dc are older, but my youngest isn't currently in school which means that I'm juggling wfh with her recovery and supporting her online learning on medical grounds. We agreed together that he should go for the job after he supported me and my job for most of our married lives. It's the first time I've seen him truly happy in his work. But I know that if I said to him "I'm sorry, I'm burnt out and can't do all this any more without more support" he'd absolutely start looking for another job. Op has stated this and her husband continues to put his own wants/ needs ahead of hers, at the risk of her totally burning out. I know I couldn't be with a man like that.

All the discussion about the dogs is simply a distraction for what is essentially a selfish man having no regard to his struggling wife's thoughts and feelings. I bet he doesn't even contribute ideas as to how else to reduce the pressure on op, simply sees it as her problem to solve.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 11:52

Whatafustercluck · 20/05/2026 11:51

My dh works in a job that provides little work-life balance. He works shifts that mean he's out of the house for long periods most days. Our dc are older, but my youngest isn't currently in school which means that I'm juggling wfh with her recovery and supporting her online learning on medical grounds. We agreed together that he should go for the job after he supported me and my job for most of our married lives. It's the first time I've seen him truly happy in his work. But I know that if I said to him "I'm sorry, I'm burnt out and can't do all this any more without more support" he'd absolutely start looking for another job. Op has stated this and her husband continues to put his own wants/ needs ahead of hers, at the risk of her totally burning out. I know I couldn't be with a man like that.

All the discussion about the dogs is simply a distraction for what is essentially a selfish man having no regard to his struggling wife's thoughts and feelings. I bet he doesn't even contribute ideas as to how else to reduce the pressure on op, simply sees it as her problem to solve.

Exactly right!!!

OP posts:
JHound · 20/05/2026 11:52

VoReason · 20/05/2026 11:29

The mindset of a person who'd sooner give up on their beloved human - and one to whom they vowed their love and dedication - before rehoming some dumb beasts they happen to care for, is mind boggling.

I have pets, several actually, and I take utmost care of them. But I'd give them all away in a heartbeat before considering quitting any of the close humans in my life.

Romantic love is not unconditional. He is failing to step up as a husband and father. The mindset of somebody who has enough of that just shows somebody who has self respect.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 20/05/2026 11:52

Life changes though. Prioritise your son.

StrictlyCoffee · 20/05/2026 11:53

I get things are hard OP but maybe step away from this as you really aren’t doing yourself any favours with how you come across.

Flamingojune · 20/05/2026 11:53

Your kid will be at primary soon. This is just one phase of life

Moondustandstarlight220 · 20/05/2026 11:53

OP, I literally never post on here but I am genuinely staggered at how judgemental and scathing people are being on here.
It sounds like you are working incredibly hard and your little boy and your pets are extremely lucky. The idea that your husband being away at work 3/4 nights a week means everything else should fall to you is insane. He couldn't do this job he loves so much if you weren't carrying the rest of his life for him! AND you work!
I have nothing helpful I am afraid, but you are going above and beyond and doing NOTHING wrong. Please don't be too disheartened by this thread.

JHound · 20/05/2026 11:54

Whatafustercluck · 20/05/2026 11:51

My dh works in a job that provides little work-life balance. He works shifts that mean he's out of the house for long periods most days. Our dc are older, but my youngest isn't currently in school which means that I'm juggling wfh with her recovery and supporting her online learning on medical grounds. We agreed together that he should go for the job after he supported me and my job for most of our married lives. It's the first time I've seen him truly happy in his work. But I know that if I said to him "I'm sorry, I'm burnt out and can't do all this any more without more support" he'd absolutely start looking for another job. Op has stated this and her husband continues to put his own wants/ needs ahead of hers, at the risk of her totally burning out. I know I couldn't be with a man like that.

All the discussion about the dogs is simply a distraction for what is essentially a selfish man having no regard to his struggling wife's thoughts and feelings. I bet he doesn't even contribute ideas as to how else to reduce the pressure on op, simply sees it as her problem to solve.

Exactly! The dogs are a red herring.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 11:55

StrictlyCoffee · 20/05/2026 11:53

I get things are hard OP but maybe step away from this as you really aren’t doing yourself any favours with how you come across.

In what sense?

By correcting people who are falsely assuming I’m a bad mother? Or that I should kill my dogs? Or that my dogs are misfortunate? Would you ignore such insulting comments?

OP posts:
Shitshowpolitics · 20/05/2026 11:56

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 11:44

Works perfectly fine when he’s not away

Give it a couple of years it will get easier when your child starts full time school. Talk to your husband about the future and can he start working from home more or working away less.

My partner for the first two years of his job worked away. Then he started travelling from home and working from home more. Can he travel from home rather than live away for 4 nights a week. What is his job?

Wishihadanalgorithm · 20/05/2026 11:57

Presumably the husband is earning a very good salary. This will be helpful when you dump him, he pays child maintenance and you fund a dog walker.

Keep the dogs get rid of the useless man.

ButterYellowFlowers · 20/05/2026 11:58

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 11:27

Yes and that's what we do? We make sure they are walked twice a day either ourselves, our we use dog walkers, they never miss out.

Again, anyone who knows anything about rescuing dogs would understand that they can't just be re-homed because they are no longer convenient to you. This attitude makes me sick. The dogs have never been a problem, until my husband decided to work away a huge portion of the week. He was as much on board as me about rescuing them, so why now should I be the one left to manage everything alone?

Ok, fine so getting rid of the dogs is a no then. Fine, you’re an adult and that’s your choice.

How would divorcing your DH help you to change the pressure you’re under in your opinion? If he refuses to change jobs?

Kokonimater · 20/05/2026 11:59

I can’t believe the amount of criticism and attack you are getting particularly around your dogs. This is supposed to be a supportive community and so many people are saying exactly the same thing over and over get rid of the dogs. You have stated you will not get rid of the dogs, you love the dogs and you are responsible for them, which is absolutely right

You sound like you’re doing an amazing job, but having to do a lot of it on your own.

Your husband is not listening to or taking on board any of the issues. My advice would be to give him an ultimatum change jobs. Take a step back so that he doesn’t have to travel so much or you will start to divorce proceedings. He is being incredibly unsupportive and selfish.

BunnyLake · 20/05/2026 12:00

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 10:27

I wrote that because someone suggested I kill my dogs.

Good lord that’s terrible 😮

Can he feasibly change his job in this job climate and from what to what? Can he change it within the company he works for?

Fullofthejoysofspring · 20/05/2026 12:00

I think you’re getting a bit of a hard time @Poptart22. Leaving the dog and child aside (I have a dog and children so believe me I get it) the issue here is that your husband is behaving like this because there are no consequences.

He works away and doesn’t care, because you pick up the slack. He has no mental load because you pick up the slack.

His behaviour needs to change. Think about your pets and your son - behaviour changes when you learn there are rewards and consequences.

he's working away? Ok great. What arrangements has he made to cover his responsibilities? Force him to plan and organise. Stop bailing him out.

its Christmas and he’s done no shopping? Oh dear. You’re not going to bail him out again.

on reflection probably easier to just dump him as it will take lots of arguments to get him to understand consequences. Your son will be fine as will you, because you’ll be in control and calmer. Best of luck.

Shitshowpolitics · 20/05/2026 12:00

Wishihadanalgorithm · 20/05/2026 11:57

Presumably the husband is earning a very good salary. This will be helpful when you dump him, he pays child maintenance and you fund a dog walker.

Keep the dogs get rid of the useless man.

Useless man that pays

TheignT · 20/05/2026 12:00

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.

Couldn't re-home pets but ok to have shared custody of your child. Id want my child fulltime rather than the dogs. I've had rescue dogs and had to re-home one as couldn't trust him with children and yes it's hard but children come first.

Naunet · 20/05/2026 12:02

BudgetBuster · 20/05/2026 11:28

But your suggesting rehoming your husband because he's sometimes not convenient to you 😂

Unbelievable. It's because hes not pulling his weight! Im sorry you struggle to understand that some women expect men to behave like equal partners, clearly you think that bar is far to high, but its got nothing to do with being 'convenient'. 🙄

Wexone · 20/05/2026 12:03

I agree with everyone the husband has opted out completely - @Poptart22 what i don't quite understand though is how he got a promotion but your finances are no better off ? What was the reasoning for taking the promotion then? The offset of working longer hours is that you have more money ?
Similar situation in our house, lots of animals ( rescues too ) and i am left do the majority of the work while he works also long hours. The difference is though we can afford a cleaner, we can afford a dog walker and minder and holidays. My job is tough and has long hours but also super flexible and allows work from home and i can afford to pay for help when needed. Also throw in now i have a long term chronic pain condition too which means even more now i need help

Naunet · 20/05/2026 12:04

Endoadnowarrior · 20/05/2026 11:49

Ive said YABU because if the situation were reversed, everyone would be up in arms and saying how dare he dictate your job and career.

Depending on his line of work, it really may not be that simple for him to find something without travel, and he may be really happy in his current role.

The most obvious thing to do here surely, is to pare down the pets! 3 dogs seems an excessive amount of responsibility (and cost!), even if you were both working locally. Its a huge (and quite unreasonable) thing to be expecting elderly parents to do knowing they struggle with it.

Maybe just 1 dog would be more manageable, and use the money saved from food/vets/insurance/dog walker to outsource some of the household tasks e.g. cleaner, gardener or extra hours/childcare occasionally for your DC so you get some downtime.

My exh worked away for most of our marriage from when our kids were 2 and 4, and i have a lot of sympathy with you for how relentless and exhausting it is!
If things are really bad in the relationship, then of course divorce is an option, but you may well end up having to rehome the pets at that point anyway, so maybe try that first?

Edited

Excuse me?! If you have sexist double standards, that's on you, but assuming you dont have psychic powers, you dont get to speak for the rest of us, and confidently tell us what we'd be saying.

NovaF · 20/05/2026 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sounds like she spends plenty of time with her child and works part time so she can do so. She doesn’t sound like a nightmare at all. She sounds overwhelmed.

you on the other hand sound like a spiteful misery. Why on earth would you think that is an acceptable thing to say? It is unnecessary and cruel.

OP, is this thread serving you anymore? Might be an idea to ask to remove it, if it is making you feel worse. Im sure the witches like this can fly on to their next pile on seeing as they have nothing better to do with their lives.

whyohwhyisitalwayswet · 20/05/2026 12:05

I'm shocked at the comments you're getting, OP. This is basically about a DH not pulling his weight, and the resentment that can cause in a relationship and eventually break it. If he is otherwise a loving partner, hope you can step back from the justifiable anger you feel, and have an open honest chat with him that allows you to tackle the work load and finances as a team.

For what its worth, I wouldn't be re-homing my dogs either! They are family. And, if it had come down to it I would have happily traded in my (awful) ex for a dog!

Mischance · 20/05/2026 12:05

Ditch the dogs first!
You could move on to ditching him of course ......

Shitshowpolitics · 20/05/2026 12:06

What is his work that requires him to work away?

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