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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

My boyfriend thinks its unfair I am working part time.

198 replies

AugustChild · 12/09/2023 22:29

We have two daughters. My eldest (11) is to a previous relationship and my youngest (3) is my current partner. I was working around 30 hours a week when we had my mom on hand for childcare however my mom is unable to look after or do any of the school runs at the moment due to be being unwell. I took a bit of a higher job role in my current workplace - it is more money but currently less hours - only 21. I couldn't take the 28 hour contract due to worrying about childcare (mostly in the holidays as my little one is now at nursery each day). For some reason he thinks I continued with 30 hours although I did tell him it was a drop in hours, I cover extra shifts when I can. He has now blown up at me because I'm only contracted to 21 hours whilst he's working 40/50 hours and i explained the only reason i've not been doing extra is because of the childcare situation and needing to be back and forth for the school runs to take and pick up the little one. He says its unfair and that even though I'm doing less hours the house is a s hole. I'll admit the house is a bit messy due to having two kids and I do hate cleaning but i try to keep it clean and tidy. I do all the household chores, (he doesn't touch the household chores when he is off work) I cook his tea his every night, make sure he has clean clothes for work, anything to do with the kids I sort out. I pay the bills with the part time wage I earn and have to end up paying for a lot of food shopping or whatever the kids need. He's been really angry and disrespectful making out as though I do nothing because I'm not working 30 hours. Am i right to be upset? If he spoke to me properly about the situation rather than be disrespectful I'd try harder to cover some shifts/do more housework to pitch in but the way he has been tonight is making me not want to bother at all.

OP posts:
AugustChild · 13/09/2023 09:27

Mortgage has gone up a lot, he pays that though we are 50/50 on the mortgage due to us both putting in for deposit and me paying bills, he pays on finance for some new doors we had fitted, will pay for one big food shopping and pays for his car and petrol x

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/09/2023 20:11

Stop doing anything at all for him

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/09/2023 20:11

FiddleLeaf · 12/09/2023 23:03

I cook his tea his every night, make sure he has clean clothes for work, anything to do with the kids I sort out.

Is your boyfriend a child? I’d be single forever over this hell.

Agree

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/09/2023 20:12

autienotnaughty · 13/09/2023 06:20

I work 10 hours a week. I do all the housework while dh is at work. I do all childcare for our children apart from occasionally in holidays we ask grandparents to help. I deal with all mental load - appointments, clubs, activities, etc

On a evening dh gets in around 630 has tea and helps put kids to bed. On a weekend everything is 50:50.

We completely respect each others roles, dh knows he couldn't be at home with kids and I do not have the earning capability dh does (dh earns 10x my wage)

Your dp sounds like a dick I would seriously consider if you want to stay in a relationship with him.

If you do stay with him you need to sit down and look at your finances , he presumably earns more so should pay in more. Something like 75/25. That includes food etc. look at how much more you would earn if you work the extra 9 hours and how much childcare would cost and decide wether it's worth you increasing your hours. He needs to understand that you are probably better off working less hours.

Good advice

Mememe9898 · 13/09/2023 21:08

Sounds like you do most of the chores and childcare which makes sense if working 21 hours a week and he’s working more than double that.
Personally, we share all the childcare. It’s pretty much 50/50 but I do all the cooking, laundry, groceries, kids related mental load and organise kids activities but he does help.
He earns more than double what I earn but I do earn an above average wage too.
We both work full time and similar hours. Does he pay more into bills? My husband pays the lion share of the bills and pretty much most of the “fun budget” too. So I think it’s pretty fair but if he’s not contributing more when you are doing everything else it doesn’t sound fair to me. He just sees that he’s working longer hours and not getting much downtime. Do you do the majority of childcare at the weekend too or does he help? He sounds a bit burnt out and grumpy as 40/50 hours is a lot of hours to work in a week.

LifeInTheUK · 13/09/2023 21:31

AugustChild · 13/09/2023 07:58

No he does pay half. The mortgage and a couple bills and his car/petrol etc

But do you earn the same??

GenerallyGreenerGrass · 13/09/2023 21:34

Get rid…..

wannabetraveler · 13/09/2023 22:15

Hmm. I'll be honest, while he sounds like a wanker, he may have a bit of a point. One of your children is either in secondary school (or close to it) and you have one other child. You work only 21 hours a week and you say that "the house is a bit messy due to having two kids and I do hate cleaning."

School runs aside, you're "home" long enough to at least have your house in order. IME when people "admit the house is a bit messy" it actually means they live in a pigsty. I wouldn't be thrilled if my other half was working so little and I came home to a messy house every night.

Redruby2020 · 13/09/2023 22:25

So hang on? He wants you to do more work but quite happy for you to be the main child carer and run the home. Sounds like he wants to have his cake and eat it!

Rewis · 13/09/2023 22:27

Is he willing to pay for childcare and do 50% of the chores?

No bur seriously. Have you sat down and looked at your finances, childcare costs etc

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 13/09/2023 22:36

He sounds horrid.

I will say though given how much time you have at home with only one tiny child I don't see why the house is a mess unless there are additional needs.

That said, he still sounds like an ass and you should.get your finances in order and consider leaving.

Goldbar · 13/09/2023 23:02

You out-contribute him significantly at the moment.

You pay half of everything.
You do all the chores.
You do all the childcare.

Consider what he brings to your life (aside from relentless negativity) that couldn't be replaced by any CM you'd be entitled to and any increased benefits you might get as a single person. Personally, I'd be running the numbers.

Duckingella · 13/09/2023 23:03

Even if the OP upped her hours her selfish twat you have of a partner still wouldn't pull his weight regarding the house and kids;he'd expect OP to work full time,part half the bills and do everything whilst he basically cock lodges.

MouseMinge · 13/09/2023 23:24

When you were working longer hours was he doing any housework? Does he ever do any housework?

I would be seriously considering whether or not I wanted to stay with him. He's a total arsehole and you have every right to be upset with him, at the very least. You're worth more than some man who treats you like you owe him everything.

Loubelle70 · 13/09/2023 23:28

Why doesnt he take a drop in hours so you can take on more hours then?
X

AugustChild · 13/09/2023 23:44

I assure you the house isn’t a pigsty

OP posts:
Maplestars · 13/09/2023 23:49

I’m confused. You say it’s 50/50 finance but it’s obviously not
you do all childcare and housework and cooking
and he’s rude to you
and you’re not sure if it’s ok?
I can never figure out what’s happening in these sorts of posts

assuming you’re genuinely not sure, why don’t you add up all the money you pay to the household and work it out as a percentage of your wage (Inc anything for the home, the kids, food etc)
Then do the same with all the money he pays and his wage
all the hours you do (childcare, school runs, cooking, cleaning and work)
and the hours he does (work)
and just compare

LinaLouLa · 14/09/2023 00:06

I would sort the kids out, and maybe the house. And leave him to cook his own dinner and to sort out his own washing and ironing. If he moans tell him you've been busy sorting the kids and house 🤷‍♀️. Hopefully he realise what a massive dick he's been.

user1492757084 · 14/09/2023 03:08

It is really stressful with interest rates etc.
He will be stressed but that is no excuse for his mean behaviour.
The main problem I see is that your husband is not treating you with respect in his communication.

You are happy, your child is happy and you are all making ends meet. Is the mortgage more than your husband can now cover? Some mortgages have doubled.
Cold your husband be suffering from high bold pressure?

Hopefully you can talk calmly soon and hopefully your husband can agree that whatever hardships you both endure you will be kind and supportive to each other.

Mothership4two · 14/09/2023 04:29

YANBU and let him sort out his own clothes.

When you are able to up your hours, he should be doing 50/50 of household chores and childcare

He is acting like an outdated knob

Twiglets1 · 14/09/2023 05:54

Why do women put up with this shit?

Greenberg2 · 14/09/2023 06:04

While I agree you should do a bit more of the housework while you're doing fewer hours, there's no excuse for him to do absolutely nothing when he's off work. Things still need to be done at weekends and in the holidays, food needs to be prepped, clearing up needs to happen, kids stuff needs to be picked up from the floor. So does he just sit around while you clear up and cook around him? Asshole.

And as for you paying almost half of all the bills, what does he do with his greater personal money? Does he have bigger savings or just bigger spends on himself? Also do you own half the house?

Ultimately, he doesn't see you as a team. He just prioritises himself and refuses to see you as anything other than an appliance to facilitate him. This is very unlikely to change. I'm really sorry.

JoanOfAllTrades · 14/09/2023 06:06

@AugustChild

I want to make sure I’m understanding this properly!

You do all the housework
You do all the cooking
You do all the laundry
You do the school and nursery pick ups
You take time off work if the kids are ill
You do all the heavy lifting in terms of life admin - taking kids to GP, etc
You pay the bills
You pay for the kids things
You pay for the bulk of the food shopping

Why do you keep this fella around? Because I can’t see why!

Loopylooni · 14/09/2023 06:25

Is this a reverse of sorts? So your partner dropped their hours without telling you and doesnt do enough round the house? You work 50+ hours yourself?

MissBiljanaElectronika · 14/09/2023 06:28

Oh no OP

bad luck! You got one of those men who want a housewife who also works full time

and you are bending over backwards to try and be and do everything

his expectations and behaviour to you are really awful

what an awful unfair unkind man