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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

Should SAHP do ALL chores?

64 replies

Whatsthatspookynoise · 24/04/2021 18:34

My partner pays the rent which is quite a lot. I pay council tax, water and all shopping. He works full time and I don't. He currently works from home and does not move from the sofa. He sits there working, playing video games every so often when it gets quiet and then when he finishes work, he continues to sit in the recliner playing video games. He rarely leaves the house.

I do everything. I don't think he realises how many things need to be done to maintain a house! He's never had to tidy up in his life.

He helps with our kids, but doesn't cook for them or put them to bed etc. He spills things all over the sides and then just walks away. He really truly believes he is a clean and tidy person that does a lot. Even our 9 year old pointed out that "daddy was lazy and mummy does everything" but apparently I've made him think that? He will get out of bed at 9 which is when he starts work. I've already taken my son to school and done shopping with my 1 year old in tow by then.

I don't think chores should be shared equally of course because I don't have a job, but is it unfair of me to think maybe he should do a few things here and there? I keep getting overwhelmed with the amount of mess. I tidy up, walk out and when I walk back in the place is trashed. I honestly don't know how it happens. I'm just frustrated with all of it. I'm exhausted almost all of the time due to partners extreme snoring and my baby stirring in the night.

Even taking the kids to the park once in a while would be nice so I can catch up with housework. If he had a physical job, where he was exhausted, I wouldn't complain as much, but he literally sits on his ass non stop.

OP posts:
Cookies60 · 25/04/2021 11:29

My husband is furloughed so SAHP for the last year. I work full time. There is absolutely no way I would expect him to do all the chores! I clean up after myself, clean the kitchen after he makes the dinner and I'll hoover/mop and do a bit of laundry on the weekends. During the week he has to do all school runs, homework, tidying up, lunches and dinners and DIY/big jobs on the weekend. I couldn't sit on my arse and watch him do it all. If the roles were reversed and he sat on his arse, I'd be livid! It's not a big deal if the jobs are split between you both

KinseyWinsey · 25/04/2021 12:21

@Stitchandapples he sounds like an absolute diamond. Hmm

Starlightstarbright1 · 25/04/2021 12:37

I would put carer on your CV...It fills up that hole.

LannieDuck · 25/04/2021 13:18

This isn't an old fashioned relationship - you're paying half the bills!

Add up council tax + bills + food for the month - I'd be surprised if it's not close to the amount he pays in rent each month.

Either he takes on all the financial burden, in lieu of you taking on all the childcare/chores.... or you split the financial burden (as you're doing) and you also split the childcare/chores!

Whichever way you decide to split it, I'd say that the SAHP duties only apply during working hours. Evenings and weekends the chores/childcare are shared.

LeftyLou · 25/04/2021 13:22

@Starlightstarbright1

I would put carer on your CV...It fills up that hole.
I agree with this. I don't think this will put you at a disadvantage with employers at all.
billybagpuss · 25/04/2021 13:28

@Starlightstarbright1

I would put carer on your CV...It fills up that hole.
There are also so many jobs advertised for care staff at the moment, most of which don’t require previous experience so you are already ahead of the pack.
KatnissNeverdone · 25/04/2021 13:38

I'm a sahm to school age children. I do most of the day to day housework, however DH cooks dinner if he's here, will load dishwasher etc and takes the kids to school on his days off. When he gets in from work we'll both split chores to do what needs to be done so we can sit down quicker.

PickAChew · 25/04/2021 13:52

While it's reasonable for you to do most of the shitwork, it's not reasonable for him to do significantly less than if he was a single man, living alone.

If he's refusing to lift a finger, then stop doing anything that benefits him more than it does you or the kids.

Sakurami · 25/04/2021 14:08

I was expected to do everything because he worked. I didn't agree and now I fit in work, childcare and housework and still have much more free time than when I was with that tosser.

The only acceptable split, in my opinion is the sahp takes on what childcare is needed and what housework they can do whilst looking after the kids and having breaks and then when working parent comes home, things should be split 50/50.

Working doesn't or shouldn't take all your time. Before kids, when I worked full time, I had to do my own chores, shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. I don't understand that men suddenly get a live in maid once they have kids.

It happens a lot still and as some people on this thread have commented that the sahp should do everything (wtf?) But it is neither fair nor acceptable.

Get yourself a job and stop paying bills etc. He should be paying for everything if you're staying home to look after his child and you're not working.

billy1966 · 25/04/2021 17:20

He's a lasy waster OP.

The children can see it.

Stop doing ANYTHING for him.

You are behaving like a house skivvy.

You pay half the costs and do everything, how is that right?

Get rid of him.
Life would be easier.

He is a lazy waster.

You deserve so much better.
Flowers

Nancydrawn · 25/04/2021 20:06

If you're not married and not independently wealthy, you're in a very vulnerable position as a SAHP. I echo the advice to find employment. And you can and should list your caring responsibilities on your CV. I imagine it would help you seem quite qualified for care work, to be sure.

Over and above that, of course your partner should be doing more. Is his job 24/7? No? Then yours shouldn't be either. During work hours, it's your job to take care of the kids and manage the house as best as possible. Outside of work hours, you split it equally.

LivBa · 26/04/2021 08:07

@osbertthesyrianhamster

This is no joke. You are very financially vulnerable here. What he's doing to you is not on.
Exactly. Not sure why OP is laughing at that!! Such an exposing and horrendous thing for a boyfriend and father of her child to say even if it was disguised as a joke. Shows what he really thinks of her.

OP you're in an utter mess here. Why did you move in, have a child with him, plus doing all wife work and become his personal maid without marriage and commitment from him?? He has all the power now and will throw all of you out of his house at any point when it suits him since you're unmarried. Sad

JiggedSpanner · 26/04/2021 08:20

I will admit that I did do everything I could during the day but Dh was hands on as a father from day 1. So I breastfed Ds he winded him and changed his nappy. We did shifts at night time with him working full time and me as a SAHM but I do have a medical condition so I am not fully healthy.

Dh will do lunches and evening meals at the weekend as he likes to cook and "look after us" as a family. Our sons are now 18 and 15 years old. He is very close with them. Obviously they are in school so I do all the housework Mon-Fri during school hours so that Dh can spend time with the children and me when he gets home which now is coming down the stairs. He even scheduled his lunch time so that he could watch tv with us during Easter break. Even if he is just going to the shops he will take one son with him for a chat while they walk.

I got one lie in on a Sunday, Dh had the lie in on a Saturday. So yes, I will happily pick up the odd thing he has left lying around but it is because he doesn't treat me as a maid service. The teens also do lots of chores, dishwasher, laundry, cooking etc.

Macaronirabbit · 26/04/2021 08:23

I consider some things chores and some things skivvying. DH works ft and I work pt (25-30 hrs/wk) In our house I do all the chores except cooking, (the aftermath of cooking seems to take almost as long!Confused) but recently decided I need to speak to DC (they are tween/teen) and DH about skivvying, or being their maid. I dont mind too much doing all the laundry/ironing but I despise picking up dirty socks from the living room floor, or dirty clothes from the bedroom floor. I dont mind too much washing up or loading the dishwasher but I despise picking up everyones plate/bowl/cup from wherever they left it. Other skivvying includes wiping spillage that I didnt create, rinsing stubble from the sink, putting away ingredients when others have made a snack for themselves, putting out rubbish or recycling that everyone else has walked over, or past, multiple times!!

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