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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:
Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:05

Yes a PP has made a good point about us not being awful in suggesting you rehome your dogs when you are making your elderly dad walk them.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:05

Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:03

I think we’re all interested to know at what point all these decisions where made and how they came about though.

So it sounds like you got the dogs before his job. What then happened with agreeing he would work away half the week and you also have a child while you already have lots of pets?

I know it’s quite common but i’m interested to know how this decision came about. Working away half the week while having kids would have been a categorical no from me.

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.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/05/2026 07:05

XelaM · 20/05/2026 07:04

All the dog haters out in force on Mumsnet 😞

I'd rather get rid of the idiotic husband who adds nothing to my life than my pets. 🤷‍♀️

I love dogs, I also wouldn’t have one as my life doesn’t allow me to care for one properly and that’s not fair on any animal.

Sartre · 20/05/2026 07:05

catcatcat24 · 20/05/2026 07:03

You say that you would get a break when your DH has custody of your son but realistically with working away and his unpredictable schedule this doesn’t seem likely. Does DH’s salary allow you all to live a somewhat luxurious lifestyle?

Agreed plus lots of men don’t see their children after a split all together. It can’t be court ordered OP, he gets to choose whether to see your DC and might opt out all together so a break isn’t guaranteed.

Eenameenadeeka · 20/05/2026 07:05

Does he have many other job opportunities where you are that wouldn't involve travel? Can you all relocate so that he is home in the evenings? What does he contribute on the days he is home? If he's away half the time, can he take over responsibility on the half he's home, so that you feel more rested?? Who do the dogs belong to, are they equally shared or more your pets?

FlorenceBlack · 20/05/2026 07:06

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.

You can’t assume that you would have regular breaks if he had part time custody. You cannot force someone to have custody or to actually turn up for pre-arranged days, as many women on here will tell you. So potentially you could split up and be no better off in that respect.

Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:06

XelaM · 20/05/2026 07:04

All the dog haters out in force on Mumsnet 😞

I'd rather get rid of the idiotic husband who adds nothing to my life than my pets. 🤷‍♀️

No one hates dogs here? We can like dogs and also accept that some people may have lifestyles that aren’t compatible with dog ownership.

buymeflowers · 20/05/2026 07:06

I’ve not long left a very unsupportive and unhelpful exDH and it is much easier on my own and the relief from the resentment is wonderful.

However I honestly think the advice to rehome your pets is correct. I honestly don’t think you should be upending your child’s life as the first option for managing this stress. If it is so unmanageable that you would end your marriage and impact your child, you need to rehome the animals. Either that or carry on as is and suck it up.

DeepRubySwan · 20/05/2026 07:07

Leaving him just makes the situation worse for you though, then you will be a single parent right? If you both earn decent wages try and find an au pair or demi pair that can assist or a mother's helper to take some of the load off.

Clarefromwork · 20/05/2026 07:07

Why are so many of you blaming op and not her husband ?

He’s loving life not having any responsibility for his kid and pets etc, doing a job he chose to do after already having the pets and kid!

Why is the only option that she has to rehome the dogs and not that he needs to look for a more suitable job where he can help (did you read that she is doing everything with the kid too?)

Its not just the dogs, he’s not helping at all !

PIPPaper · 20/05/2026 07:07

I had to rehome my pets 2 years ago as became unwell. Sometimes you just have to and as long as done properly it doesn’t make you a bad person.

BlackBean2023 · 20/05/2026 07:08

XelaM · 20/05/2026 07:04

All the dog haters out in force on Mumsnet 😞

I'd rather get rid of the idiotic husband who adds nothing to my life than my pets. 🤷‍♀️

I’m not a dog hater - I have a dog and I love her to pieces.

I wouldn’t rescue two others because IMO three dogs is a pack and completely changes the dynamic of your home and life.

ThejoyofNC · 20/05/2026 07:08

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:03

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

Well I'm not sure what you expect when you're telling people you couldn't possibly give up on 3 dogs but you're quite prepared to give up on your family. Do you realise how that sounds?

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:08

Why did you get three large reduce dogs when you have a baby and can't look after the baby properly?

Clefable · 20/05/2026 07:08

I love dogs and have my own, but managing three of them doesn’t seem to be working for OP. Her elderly father is having to walk them because they can’t care for them properly themselves.

How would you ensure that your husband a) agreed to partial custody and didn’t just see DC for a few hours a week on a Saturday or something and b) how would you manage the dogs living solo?

I think wanting to split up is valid but I don’t think it will simplify your life at all.

LarryStylinson · 20/05/2026 07:09

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.

Just to warn you though, having left a similar situation, there is no guarantee of that part time custody happening. If he isn't stepping up now, he's even less likely to do so when he's on his own.

TheFlyingPenguin · 20/05/2026 07:09

Love how you are putting three dogs above your marriage and child.

is DH job niche, can he get another job which would fit around your requirements?

Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:10

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:08

Why did you get three large reduce dogs when you have a baby and can't look after the baby properly?

Op had the dogs before the baby and DH took the new job.

Sartre · 20/05/2026 07:11

Clarefromwork · 20/05/2026 07:07

Why are so many of you blaming op and not her husband ?

He’s loving life not having any responsibility for his kid and pets etc, doing a job he chose to do after already having the pets and kid!

Why is the only option that she has to rehome the dogs and not that he needs to look for a more suitable job where he can help (did you read that she is doing everything with the kid too?)

Its not just the dogs, he’s not helping at all !

I guess because he’s working, he isn’t out gambling in Las Vegas. When people work away, there’s usually a reason for it. Some jobs require it and maybe they need to money to buy dog and cat food.

drunkelephant83 · 20/05/2026 07:11

If he earns more than you, why don’t you change your job?

iamfedupwiththis · 20/05/2026 07:12

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.

Why would you not be in a constant state of anger and resentment??
You'd be doing everything on your own and if he doesn't parent now, why would he do it when you separate?

Bearbookagainandagain · 20/05/2026 07:12

Rehoming the pets is objectively the only solution to your problem though.

I really doubt separating from your husband will. If he's away during the week then he'll have your son every other weekend at best. So yes that might give you a break: 2 weekends a month, that you'll spend doing more chores.

Alainlechat · 20/05/2026 07:12

Has your husband ever had to manage your toddler and pets while working on his own. Maybe stay somewhere else for a couple of days while he is home so he can see how it feels.

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:12

Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:10

Op had the dogs before the baby and DH took the new job.

Was she pregnant when they got the three large dogs?

I'm not sure babies should be around any dogs, let alone large dogs, let alone large rescue dogs, and let alone three of them.

It's clear from the thread that the OP is only interested in the dogs anyway.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:13

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:08

Why did you get three large reduce dogs when you have a baby and can't look after the baby properly?

I beg your pardon? Who said I can’t look after my baby properly? That’s just an absolute insult. I give my life to my son, he’s the happiest little soul I’ve ever seen and every one around us comments on what a fantastic mother I am. Like any 3 year old he sometimes wakes early. He’s just transitioned into his big boy bed, in a room I solely decorated for him btw, and has taken to getting out of bed on a night, that’s all. Don’t make such inappropriate and inaccurate comments to a mother doing her very best.

OP posts:
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