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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Doesn't want me to work.. BUT...

31 replies

onceortwice · 06/09/2012 18:52

... hates the fact I have some free time during the day now that the children are at school (one is only at nursery, so goes 8-11:30 and the other is in reception so 9-3:15, but the reception child has HFA so currently 9:30 - 1:15 until he settles a little more)

What can I do?

I am sick of taking it on the chin from my DH.

If I said I was getting a job, he would complain about the hassle for the children (esp. DS as he needs me there) but while I don't work, he tells me I have 3 hours 'off' per day (For what it's worth, I do ALL housework and we don't have a cleaner)

It's not fair is it?

I don't know how to stand up to him though. This is how I have been brought up. My mum is here this week and she is refusing to babysit (even though she is staying with us) to allow me to go out with some other 'new school' mums as I 'have to concentrate on the children'

This isn't normal is it? From either of them?

OP posts:
oscarwilde · 07/09/2012 11:12

Sounds like you need to go away for a few days once your mum departs leaving your DH to take annual leave and enjoy all your "free time"

crackcrackcrak · 07/09/2012 11:17

Your h is v controlling and unreasonable.

My exp didn't want me to work and I'm 100% it was because it made me more independent and not just financially. In hindsight I realise this was maybe the biggest red flag of all Sad

Pinksparklyhat · 07/09/2012 11:27

My first husband was like this; the only solution for me was to end the marriage.

We both worked until DC1 was born. I wanted to go back to work full time and had arranged for DD to go to a childminder, when he suddenly started saying that he didn't agree with working mums, that I should be at home with my baby, and that if I went back to work he would give up his job, we would lose our house and it would be my fault and up to me to explain it to DD when she was older. This was pre-tax credit times, he was earning 20k, I was earning I think about 8k. There is no way we could have managed on my earnings and my confidence was low so I gave in my notice.

However then when I was at home with DD, he didn't like that either and moaned at me if I bought myself anything, even deodorant or a box of tampax! He also said I sat on my arse all day, and refused to do anything in the house at weekends, nor would he do any overtime at his workplace, of which there was plenty, even though we were struggling financially. He didn't want us to have any more money as he didn't want me to have anything or any independence with any spare money.

I then went and got myself a waitressing job, evenings and weekends, but he kept not coming home from work on purpose so I would have to cancel my shifts at a few minutes' notice, so I had to give that up. I then got a weekend job in a shop, and arranged for my family and my in-laws to take care of DD whilst I worked. But he decided I was having an affair with a colleague, and came into the shop whilst I was there, kicking off and threatening the manager and other staff, and got me sacked!

That was the beginning of the end for me; I ended the marriage within about a month of him getting me the sack. I had fun drafting out my divorce petition and quoting all that stuff, I can tell you!

I have since read that not allowing your partner to work or trying to make them lose their job is a form of financial abuse. My ex was very controlling, and very emotionally abusive. He's a pathetic excuse for a man really.

With regards to your situation, OP, my advice would be to stand up to him. Tell him to keep his opinions to himself. If you want a job, then you should get one, he can lump it. Your mother sounds similar to my mum too, I would tell her to butt out!

Crinkle77 · 07/09/2012 11:29

Why not tell him that you will get a job in those free hours but that he will have to help with the housework. I am sure he will change his mind then.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 07/09/2012 11:37

In your situation, I would get a job, book the childcare etc and, if there was any grumbling, tell everyone where to get off. DH and Mum. I'd keep my wages in a separate account into the bargain because controlling, never-satisfied people tend to apply the same twisted standards to finances, I find. God luck

Pinksparklyhat · 07/09/2012 11:43

I like Cogito's approach!

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