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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 07:13

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.

So when you are having these discussions with DH about the amount of work you’re left to do at home, and how he can help or work together to improve things with/for you, what does he say? What do these discussions look like?

With your 3 year old, i would recommend speaking to your health visitor as they have a team who specialise with sleep advice.

I get why people are recommending getting rid of the dogs. By all means split from DH if you no longer love him, which is understandable, but i think everyone has a valid point in that unless you make other changes, you may end up not much better off.

Joystir59 · 20/05/2026 07:13

Rehome the dogs before deciding to split from your husband.

JJMama · 20/05/2026 07:13

Did he do this job when you got together? If so why was this not discussed before you had kids and the menagerie?

Why have rescue dogs when you can’t manage them? YABU to expect him to change jobs when you’ve presumably agreed to have dogs cats and a kid.

Iocanepowder · 20/05/2026 07:15

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:12

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.

Maybe wake up properly with some coffee mate.

The kid is 3 now so was clearly fine with the dogs.

drunkelephant83 · 20/05/2026 07:15

I can see the resentment surrounding your husband just by your above reply ‘in a room I solely decorated btw’ .. honestly resentment will kill your marriage if it hasn’t already.

Squirrelchops1 · 20/05/2026 07:15

Do you have to work the 2 evenings OP? That sounds like it's additional stress.

Also he is home half the week so with 1 child there shouldn't be the issues there are.

The issues seem to be the 3 dogs. I have struggles with 1 when my partner is working away too. Do they need 2 walks a day? Mine has only ever had 1 and is happy in the garden for toilet the rest of the time. Unfortunately you might have to throw some money at getting a walker

OriginalSkang · 20/05/2026 07:16

I love dogs, but it is ridiculous not to rehome them when you can't care for them? Or you can care for them, but at the expense of your own mental health. You're having to enlist uour elderly parents to help you at home, but you won't consider rehoming the dogs?

What if you split with him and he becomes a completely dead beat dad who won't see his child at all? I know someone who because of work will only see his kids every other Wednesday evening, at their mums house (I think hes a POS, obviously), what if that happens to you? How would you look after everything and work then?

GaIadriel · 20/05/2026 07:16

How easily could he change jobs? And might it be better if you did less hours instead to free up more time? (appreciate that leaves you in a more vulnerable position compared to maintaining your income/independent earnings).

Clarefromwork · 20/05/2026 07:18

Sartre · 20/05/2026 07:11

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.

But you don’t know if any of that is true ?!

Somethingbland · 20/05/2026 07:18

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 came on to say something similar.

Why so many pp are blaming OP for the current situation is absolutely unfair and really nasty.

NerrSnerr · 20/05/2026 07:18

One of you is going to have to get a new job as you can’t be expecting your parents to look after your child in the evening indefinitely and you have the best part of 10 years of evening childcare to cover.

that’s the conversation you need to have.

Nowthatshuge · 20/05/2026 07:18

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?

That’s quite a statement, she didn’t say at all that she can’t look after her child, it’s more that she has no time or rest to look after herself

TerfOnATrain · 20/05/2026 07:19

I’m not going to say rehome your dogs, I would never get rid of much loved animals either, even if I was worked into the ground, but I will say rehome your partner. There’s a reason he doesn’t want a job at home, and unless he picks up all the slack on a weekend he’s a lazy fucker and knows exactly what he’s doing.

Build5bear · 20/05/2026 07:19

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. 🤷‍♀️

It’s not dog haters, it’s being realistic as she can’t cope with all this.

Not having six kids because you can’t cope doesn’t mean you hate kids. Ridiculous.

But it’s horrible she is not putting her actual HUMAN child first. Break up the family unit and get rid of daddy over some mutts she can’t even cope with herself and forcing her elderly father to walk them and put himself at risk?

She’s the unreasonable one.

Offherrockingchair · 20/05/2026 07:19

I’d leave, what a waste he is! How dare he disappear and leave you with everything? What happens if you want to do the same with your career? Oh yeah, you can’t, cos he’s already run away half the week. It’s just not on and it’s not a partnership. Unless he’s earning millions, it’s simply not worth it!

Ilovemsrachel · 20/05/2026 07:20

Leaving the dogs aside for a minute, I’m not sure I’d want to be married to a man who is away for 3/4 nights a week, either. What makes it “worth it” to him to miss out on so much early childhood? Is he earning mega bucks? Doesn’t sound like it if you can’t afford a dog walker in the evenings. Is it a grand passion? Is yours (which also doesn’t sound very childcare friendly)? What is it all for?

What did your marriage counsellor have to say? His refusal to compromise isn’t a good sign.

What is his view on the dogs? Does he think you should rehome them if you can’t cope?

Sartre · 20/05/2026 07:21

Clarefromwork · 20/05/2026 07:18

But you don’t know if any of that is true ?!

Well she clearly says he’s working, not out gambling and sleeping with strippers so I think I do know it’s true. It’s either he hates his family so took a job with time away to avoid them or he’s working because they have 3 dogs, 2 cats and a DC to pay for.

lolacherricoke · 20/05/2026 07:21

So playing devils advocate, why don’t you change your job?
I love my dog but love my children and myself more, so would consider rehoming them first.
you have choices but seem set on just one!
dog walker may be another option?

user1476613140 · 20/05/2026 07:22

You obviously can't rehome your son but you can get all those pets remomed. Look after yourself first and foremost. Having no pets will help in your situation greatly.

rwalker · 20/05/2026 07:22

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.

That’s the route of the problem the dogs are too bigger commitment for you
Until you see that nothing is going to improve with or without your husband

WildEnergySupplier · 20/05/2026 07:23

Ilovemsrachel · 20/05/2026 07:20

Leaving the dogs aside for a minute, I’m not sure I’d want to be married to a man who is away for 3/4 nights a week, either. What makes it “worth it” to him to miss out on so much early childhood? Is he earning mega bucks? Doesn’t sound like it if you can’t afford a dog walker in the evenings. Is it a grand passion? Is yours (which also doesn’t sound very childcare friendly)? What is it all for?

What did your marriage counsellor have to say? His refusal to compromise isn’t a good sign.

What is his view on the dogs? Does he think you should rehome them if you can’t cope?

She said she works 2 nights a week EVERY week and he's away 3/4 nights a week SOME weeks.

It's not clear who's actually away from home more out of the two of them.

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 20/05/2026 07:23

It’s interesting that your solution to this is to split up your family, this seems an extreme solution when there are others to consider, perhaps we don’t have the full story.

Your opening post says he is sometimes away 3 or 4 nights but isnt clear on how often. You work 2 evenings a week, is there a way you can ensure your 2 eveninga are when he is home? How often do these coincide as it seems this is the crunch?

Other relevant questions- how easy would it be for him to change his job? Is it that he just isnt willing to engage on making things more manageable for you? Can you change your job or working patterns? If you are both working and this cant change, you may have to take a financial hit on evening dog walkers for the days you have the clash.

The sleep issue with your 3 year old is likely to improve so is a temporary state. Your opening post says they refuse to sleep but later you say they are just getting used to their room.

it does read as if you have gone straight for the nuclear option for some reason.

Poptart22 · 20/05/2026 07:23

I won’t be rehoming the dogs who have been rescued from abroad and already been through a lot of stress. I can’t stand it when people just give up on their dogs because they have a child. So anyone suggesting this, don’t bother. I’ve done a massive amount of work on integrating them with our family.

My issue is that we got married, took the vows, BOTH agreed to take on the cats and dogs and then fell pregnant. But only ONE of us is dedicated to caring for them all. That’s where the resentment comes from. If one parter is doing something that is affecting the mental health of another, then surely that’s not OK.

And HIS solution was to bring in my elderly parents (without consulting me) which I have now put a stop to!

If the roles were reversed and I was offered a job working away from my family, putting my husband under a massive strain, I wouldn’t dream of taking it.

OP posts:
hereforthelolz · 20/05/2026 07:24

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.

It’s never that simple. Believe me. They’ll be a million other reasons you’ll live with resentment after a divorce.

What if he doesn’t want shared custody? What if he says he can’t due to his job? You can’t force him to have the children and you could still end up doing everything with no break.

FairKoala · 20/05/2026 07:24

Why don’t you go away for a few days when dh is back. Let him see the reality.

Tell him to deal with everything. Every time he has to go away, you get that amount of time away and he has to step up

Until he lives the reality he has no idea and probably thinks you are over exaggerating.

Go to see your parents for a few days each week whilst he deals with it all.

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