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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:
Naunet · 20/05/2026 15:12

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 15:09

It’s their joint job to support them surely? Their joint job to worry about bills?

And what part is OP not pulling her weight on? She works, does most of the parenting, most of the dog walking, most of the house work. Where do you think she needs to contribute more?

Naunet · 20/05/2026 15:16

BudgetBuster · 20/05/2026 14:49

He is the one who is not contributing to family life.

This type of comment really grinds my gears. He is not contributing in the exact same capacity as the OP, just like she is not contributing in the same capacity as her husband. Life isn't all equal in everything.

He contributes a lot more financially and is hands on the days he is not away for work. He is not away every week either. Yes, he may have downplayed the amount of travel or not actually realised the extent of it.

The OP chose to work part-time so she can spend more time with their son. Choice! Therefore her financial contribution is considerably less but she has more physical time to contribute to childcare & household tasks. The OP works 2 nights every week. So essentially these nights are either covered by her DH when he's home, or by her parents. They have a part-time dog walker also to.try to cover some basis.

I don't think it's fair to say he doesn't contribute to family life. I think realistically they should probably both sit down and look at ways of alleviating the pressure. So a regular childminder, a more frequent dog-walker, maybe a cleaner. And how do they achieve that together so that the OP isn't burnt-out on her solo days.

The OP chose to work part-time so she can spend more time with their son. Choice!

HE chose to work away from home 4 days a week to spend LESS time with his family. Choice!
Not one you thought was worth commenting on though, for some reason, its just OPs choices up for debate. Why is that?

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 15:20

Naunet · 20/05/2026 15:16

The OP chose to work part-time so she can spend more time with their son. Choice!

HE chose to work away from home 4 days a week to spend LESS time with his family. Choice!
Not one you thought was worth commenting on though, for some reason, its just OPs choices up for debate. Why is that?

He took a promotion. Saying he did it with the aim of spending less time with family is putting a spin on it. He’s a 50 year old man in sales with two kids, one very young to support. I would love to know where people think all these magical jobs for 50 year old men in sales are going to spring out from.

FeelingALittleWoozyHere · 20/05/2026 15:21

He had a cushy life where he is ducking out of alot of the day to day drudgery and he is refusing to give that up despite you telling him how much you are struggling. I couldn't forgive that

My DH has a job that allows him alot of flexibility and is 100% WFH. He is slightly bored and really wants to step up to a more senior post and earn more but is compromising for now as he can do so much child care / house stuff around working hours and it makes both our lives so much easier. Once the kids are older and need us less he will look for something better paid and more challenging but sometimes you have to compromise.

Does he know you are close to divorce over this?

Naunet · 20/05/2026 15:22

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 15:20

He took a promotion. Saying he did it with the aim of spending less time with family is putting a spin on it. He’s a 50 year old man in sales with two kids, one very young to support. I would love to know where people think all these magical jobs for 50 year old men in sales are going to spring out from.

Well he doesnt seem to be earning more money, and he lied about how often he'd be away, so hes spending less time with his family for no apparent reason...

fruitfly3 · 20/05/2026 15:23

So many layers to this, but the hardest for me is the letdown I constantly feel from the sheer possibility that my OH might come and share the load (and then, doesn’t). So much lighter not to have that expectation and just know you need to do it all yourself.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/05/2026 15:23

Mumsnet is an increasingly weird place these days.

The OP and her husband decided to get dogs and a child
It worked perfectly fine when he was home
He took a promotion with more travel without making the OP aware of how often he would be away
He refuses to consider a more family friendly job (seemingly irrespective of salary) and isn't earning enough to outsource

Loads of posters are saying it's the OPs fault for taking too much on in the first place. Like everyone in a couple should make joint decisions (like buying a house, or how many children to have) based on the fact they should be able to cope fine if their partner decides to work away half the week.

Completely not seeing that this is something (presumably) entirely within the husbands control and he is refusing to consider it.

BlackRowan · 20/05/2026 15:26

Why did you get THREE rescue dogs, two cats when you have a demanding job and a 3 year old and a husband with this work pattern? This is insane.

even more. Why did you bring a child into this??

you need to take some accountability here as well, all of this didn’t magically happen to you

Monty36 · 20/05/2026 15:27

I think YABU to leave your husband.

If you assumed he would be WFH for the remainder of his career then this was very unrealistic. And unfair. His company will have expectations of his attendance, work achievements and targets to meet. Getting another job that pays the same, where he can WFH is also unlikely in the current climate.

You have a large number of pets. You work and you have a toddler.
Something has to change. But leaving your husband seems very extreme as a solution. In fact it isn’t really one as it just brings a whole load of other issues and uproots other peoples lives in addition.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 20/05/2026 15:27

Theyhaveallbeenused2 · 20/05/2026 10:40

What came first the job or the baby and pets?

Pets then baby then conveniently the job.

BernardButlersBra · 20/05/2026 15:28

Not sure why you are getting so much grief. I would regime the husband rather than the pets. He sounds lazy and selfish. It’s not fair that he opts out most of the time leaving you to do the donkey work. He needs to stop trying to make your parents pick up HIS slack!

Usermoniker · 20/05/2026 15:29

Hi OP. Sorry you're having such a hard time. It sounds exhausting.
I think firstly, you need to ignore the posters saying to rehome the dogs as that's clearly not an option for you, and it's upsetting, so stop engaging.
Regardless of what decision you make on your marriage, look at ways to make life easier for yourself. Can you increase the dog walker hours? Can you get childcare in the evenings? What easy dinner options are there for days you are working evenings? Can you get someone in to mind DC and stick on an easy dinner? Can you get a cleaner?
Regarding the 3 year old sleeping, or not sleeping. Is he napping during the day? Is he getting enough fresh air? Too much screen time? Is there any reason he is waking so much?
3 is still a hard age, but in another couple of years things will be getting much easier.

Take care of yourself and stop arguing with strangers on the Internet, it's not good for the head.

BudgetBuster · 20/05/2026 15:29

Naunet · 20/05/2026 15:16

The OP chose to work part-time so she can spend more time with their son. Choice!

HE chose to work away from home 4 days a week to spend LESS time with his family. Choice!
Not one you thought was worth commenting on though, for some reason, its just OPs choices up for debate. Why is that?

HE chose to work away from home 4 days a week
He isn't gone every week, so that's inaccurate.

to spend LESS time with his family.
That's a presumption you have made up entirely.

its just OPs choices up for debate. Why is that?
The OP is the one who has said multiple times she chose to reduce her working hours. Hence why I have used that verbiage.
Not once did I say it was the OPs choices up for debate... I've quite clearly suggested they need to be pragmatic and look together at how to alleviate on the days she is solo parenting.

crazeekat · 20/05/2026 15:32

He’s a sefish fk and no wonder he’s refusing to move when he can have u do it all for him and he doesn’t need to barely lift a finger one week to the next.
i would honestly be out of there. He doesn’t give a fk about you and your physical or mental health. He is showing you what he is and what’s important to him. Take it as face value and ltb.

Angrybird76 · 20/05/2026 15:32

BlackRowan · 20/05/2026 15:26

Why did you get THREE rescue dogs, two cats when you have a demanding job and a 3 year old and a husband with this work pattern? This is insane.

even more. Why did you bring a child into this??

you need to take some accountability here as well, all of this didn’t magically happen to you

OMG SHE DIDN'T Her AND HER HUSBAND got dogs BEFORE she had a child AND WHEN he had a job tghat was working fro home. They then had a surprise pregnancy and her husband got a promotion and accepted WHILE DOWN PLAYING how much time he would spend at away.

BlackRowan · 20/05/2026 15:33

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 11:13

He is not forced to stay in a job that involves so much time away from his family and young child. If someone offered me a job working away from my baby for all the money in the world, I'd tell them to stick it. I have responsibilities. And so does he.

His current job is not compatible with OUR family that we BOTH took on together.

and yet you’d rather divorce him and split custody and see your child half the time but still keep the dogs!

looks like you love your dogs more than your child

a responsible parent would prioritise the child and family unit. Not the dogs.

BlackRowan · 20/05/2026 15:34

This reply has been deleted

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Ezra123 · 20/05/2026 15:34

Rehome the dogs

Zenbra · 20/05/2026 15:37

Oh my gosh, people have got their claws out today!
I completely understand you OP, I'm in a similar position with DH working away a lot and being left to manage all the mental load plus the family and house. I don't have the dogs, but I do have extra children. And overall I don't have an issue with him doing it, as it does work for us but sometimes things start to get on top of me and I feel the resentment start to build, particularly when something out of the ordinary happens, like small children suddenly not sleeping or being ill. But then I also realise that we have a lot of benefits in our lives that we wouldn't have if these sacrifices weren't made.
Also life changes and our lives and circumstances are very different now to when we decided to have children. He didn't work away to the extent he does now, but none of these changes are due to decisions that we consciously made but more that they are due to job and life progression.
I don't want any judgement on the way my family live our lives, but more I just want to show solidarity with the OP.

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 15:38

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/05/2026 15:23

Mumsnet is an increasingly weird place these days.

The OP and her husband decided to get dogs and a child
It worked perfectly fine when he was home
He took a promotion with more travel without making the OP aware of how often he would be away
He refuses to consider a more family friendly job (seemingly irrespective of salary) and isn't earning enough to outsource

Loads of posters are saying it's the OPs fault for taking too much on in the first place. Like everyone in a couple should make joint decisions (like buying a house, or how many children to have) based on the fact they should be able to cope fine if their partner decides to work away half the week.

Completely not seeing that this is something (presumably) entirely within the husbands control and he is refusing to consider it.

The DH is the main earner. He’s 50 years of age with two kids one of whom won’t turn 18 until h’s pushing 70. They don’t sound loaded so if he’s not worried about money he probably should be.

The OP has the dogs she wanted and the baby she wanted. But she could enjoy the time with the 3 year old, get a babysitter for bedtime on her work nights where needed, plonk 3 year old in a buggy and walk the dogs, coming into the summer.

She could get DH to do more when at home- the food shop, hoovering, bathrooms etc

There’s tons of stuff she could do other than choosing to see everything a certain way, or she could be encouraged to leave her DH by you lot & she will be no better off.

SilverTotoro · 20/05/2026 15:40

OP please disregard any poster suggesting you rehome your dogs. As someone with two dogs and two toddlers I can see how difficult your situation is. Our routine relies on us communicating and being flexible. We’d both put our family before our jobs without question.

You’ve clearly written you have already sacrificed aspects of work for your family twice while your DH took a promotion and underplayed the impact this would have on you - he changed the goal posts to make his life easier and expects you to pick up the slack. How anyone thinks yabu is beyond me.

In your circumstances I’d divorce not because of the job but because he doesn’t care that making his life easier has made yours harder. He also extends that expectation to your elderly parents - I don’t believe someone this fundamentally selfish can change and I think it will start to show up in other aspects of your life if it hasn’t already.

BloominNora · 20/05/2026 15:42

BudgetBuster · 20/05/2026 15:05

He took on all these caring responsibilities and then took a job where he gets to foist 90% of it on you.

Can you explain how you got to 90%? I can't quite make out the insane maths

It's not quite 90% but it is over 80% of running the household and is more than 50% even when you take into account the financial contribution

Let's give everything a point system. Day to day chores let's say 10 points each.
Mental load of running the house, paying bills, arranging childcare, medical appointments, family presents etc - lets give that 5 points.

Total day to day running of the home and life = 25 points

Call household financial contribution 60 points.

Total = 75 points

OP is doing:

Her 10 points of household contribution
5.5 points of her husbands for the days he is away
5 points for the mental load.
20 points financial contribution.

Total Household contribution = 20.5 (82%)
Total = 40.5 (54%)

So even taking into account his financial contribution, she is still doing more than half and if you just look at household running, over 80%!

He jointly decided on the animals
He jointly decided to have a child
She has had to change her job twice to make it work with family life
He hid the extent of the travel with the promotion
He gets to have 3 or 4 nights a week of decent sleep away from his 3 year old who is struggling to sleep through the night
He refuses to discuss it even or acknowledge that the OP is struggling even though they've been to counselling

Even if you take the animals out of the equation, the percentages stay the same, as does the issue about him not being willing to discuss the issue and help to come up with a solution!

Bubblebathbefore8 · 20/05/2026 15:43

Can’t anyone read anymore? The OP explained the order of events.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 20/05/2026 15:45

I don't know what "the problem" is. The dogs are a problem and so is the husband! The OP seems to care more passionately about the dogs but maybe that's because she's so angry with the husband. It doesn't sound as if either of them expected to have three dogs, two jobs and a three year old between them.

OP do you have a clear understanding of where the money is going? It's surprising that finances are so tight that you can't afford more dog walker time or domestic help now that your DH has had a promotion and your business is doing OK. And has your DH given you any reasons why he wont consider changing jobs?

It's true to say you need to sit down together but you're already in counselling together and it's not helping. Three sessions is getting near crunch point - either you both start to find some shared view of what the problems really are and how to move forward together, or the marriage is dead.

the7Vabo · 20/05/2026 15:46

crazeekat · 20/05/2026 15:32

He’s a sefish fk and no wonder he’s refusing to move when he can have u do it all for him and he doesn’t need to barely lift a finger one week to the next.
i would honestly be out of there. He doesn’t give a fk about you and your physical or mental health. He is showing you what he is and what’s important to him. Take it as face value and ltb.

Sure off she goes and he’ll get shared custody of the child she adores. And where will you be when the OP is home alone without her child & with less money.
You’ll have wound a woman you don’t know up & walked away from the destruction.

All to you winding up the Op about how she should walk away from her DH. Spouting nonsense like “his money in your money” when he doesn’t appear to have huge money is ridiculous. The OP has the means to support herself and DH had another child to support. It really doesn’t sound like she’s in line for some big divorce payout. A court will not see him homeless so what money he earns will have to be split between 3 houses - Op, his own & other child. So the OP could end up worse off with her child part time.

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