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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

Split of child stuff/chores in long marriage

111 replies

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 16:13

I need some thoughts on the split of task in our house if that's ok? I am feeling resentful and taken for granted but he very much does not see my point of view and thinks I have it easy. This is obviously my take on things. He might say differently but this is how it looks to me.

I am solely responsible for all bills, having them in my name, paying them, knowing how much they are, when they come out, what we owe etc. he gives me money when he has it which is not often. if things are tight I sell stuff or borrow and deal with it.
He cooks most meals for the kids as I have issues around food. But I am not included in most of the meal plans. He would say I don't want to be. Unless I pressure they only get fed when he is hungry, so if he has a big lunch out no one would get dinner without me mentioning it.
I do all life admin, all kids school stuff, all parents eves, all parties, all presents etc.
I work long full time hours and my job funds our lifestyle. He is self employed and often finishes at 3 (while we are all out) comes home and plays computer games. But if I ask him to have a day off as a child is unwell I am putting pressure on him with work being unfair, if he doesn't work he doesn't get paid etc.
he has multiple solo holidays a year, as well as weekends out and time to himself. I have not had child and him free time since they were born.
he does do a lot of work in the garden. Mows lawns etc.
washing and tidying and cleaning is on me.
he does discipline kids but is quite lazy with it. As an eg Child (9) was kicking off about not wanting sun cream on while on holiday (30+ degrees) and after arguing simply said fine if you don't want it your mother can deal with you. Similarly makes lots of unsustainable threats - no screen time at all for extended periods, no dinner and then doesn't follow through. Shouts to get his point across.
they have way too much screen time when he is in charge. Can be 5+ hours playing on iPads. I suggest going out somewhere every day but he is not keen at all and won't unless I really push it.
when 3 yr old wets puts him straight back into a nappy rather than persevering even though he is toilet trained and can do it just a bit lazy forgetful sometimes.
only does their teeth, brushes hair with me reminding.
does enjoy spending time with them. Will play with them, plant sunflowers - general dad stuff.

So does this sound reasonable? I am physically and mentally drained. We do have other stuff going on but wanted thoughts on this.

OP posts:
kellygoeswest · 29/05/2025 16:29

He has multiple solo holidays a year but doesn't regularly contribute to the bills and "he gives me money when he has it which is not often". This absolutely isn't on.

What's his employment situation? I know you mentioned he's self employed, but if he's not making a consistent income which allows him to contribute to your family, he needs to step up and figure something else out.

yeesh · 29/05/2025 16:42

Why on earth are you with him? Utter selfish prick

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 16:44

It's a bit of a sticky subject. He seems to always have work but never any money. I think he is just not great with money at all. But have had phone calls from tills at petrol station asking for him to send me money. It wasn't such an issue pre kids but I have taken debt on to help pay his tax bills and it's making me resentful. He isn't great at talking about it at all gets very defensive.

OP posts:
Questions223 · 29/05/2025 16:45

yeesh · 29/05/2025 16:42

Why on earth are you with him? Utter selfish prick

Because things aren't black and white. These are the shit things. There is good stuff. And he generally doesn't see it like I do so I'm not sure if I am being unfair.

OP posts:
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 16:45

He sounds like an absolute waster and your life would be improved immeasurably by not living with him.

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 16:48

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 16:45

He sounds like an absolute waster and your life would be improved immeasurably by not living with him.

I mean, typically I would agree but if the op is so disordered about food that her only option to feed them is to pressure her DH to make dinner, then how is that going to work?

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 16:51

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 16:48

I mean, typically I would agree but if the op is so disordered about food that her only option to feed them is to pressure her DH to make dinner, then how is that going to work?

Yeah that's a bit odd. Needs clarification there. We talking eating disorder or different diet due to religious or personal beliefs?

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 16:58

Yeh I haven't explained that very well. I make them food when he isn't around but it's not something I enjoy doing. I have different dietary requirements and don't eat with them.
he makes quite a big deal of the fact he cooks for them more than I do.
we both grew up on beige freezer food.

OP posts:
yeesh · 29/05/2025 16:58

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 16:45

Because things aren't black and white. These are the shit things. There is good stuff. And he generally doesn't see it like I do so I'm not sure if I am being unfair.

what good things could make up for the way he treats you and the children? It sounds very lonely for you

Callisto1 · 29/05/2025 17:02

It seems too unbalanced for me. In our household tasks are divided and the person responsible will communicate if they can’t do it. There is no I can’t be bothered today. So in your case your DH would be food prep and would have to make dinner if hungry or not since dinner is a daily task. Say he was out that evening he would have to communicate this with you well ahead so you can do it instead.

I would also say that taking time off for sick children usually falls on the person with fewer days and more flexibility, which is me. But if I have a bad deadline DH will take over and I will make it clear to him in advance when my crunch times are so he knows.

I think with labour division the trick is to divide tasks so you know who does what and keep tabs on workload to keep it fair. We also struggle sometimes since I’ve gone from being a SAHP to part time when the children went to school. It’s work in progress.

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:04

There must be something otherwise I wouldn't be in two minds about it. But I know it's pretty awful that I can't say what.
we have 5 kids and there are times that life would be impossible without 2 adults.

OP posts:
Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:06

Callisto1 · 29/05/2025 17:02

It seems too unbalanced for me. In our household tasks are divided and the person responsible will communicate if they can’t do it. There is no I can’t be bothered today. So in your case your DH would be food prep and would have to make dinner if hungry or not since dinner is a daily task. Say he was out that evening he would have to communicate this with you well ahead so you can do it instead.

I would also say that taking time off for sick children usually falls on the person with fewer days and more flexibility, which is me. But if I have a bad deadline DH will take over and I will make it clear to him in advance when my crunch times are so he knows.

I think with labour division the trick is to divide tasks so you know who does what and keep tabs on workload to keep it fair. We also struggle sometimes since I’ve gone from being a SAHP to part time when the children went to school. It’s work in progress.

Thanks for this response.
I think it's more that he has no idea or thoughts about what needs doing and by asking I become apparently nagging and controlling.
I have asked for a joint account and for him to be aware of our outgoings and he agrees but then nothing happens so it becomes something else for me to have to sort.
it's easier to just do it myself than try and talk to him about it

OP posts:
NJLX2021 · 29/05/2025 17:08

What do you want to get from this?

You think he is unreasonable.. so you type out an account of how he is unreasonable.. and everyone here says "wow what an unreasonable arsehole"

Does that really help in any way? Of course your account of how unreasonable he is, will make everyone here think he is unreasonable.. but you already think that, so what difference does it make?

If what you are saying is true, you already know that it isn't fair and he isn't any good, and you already know that you need to do something about it.

I understand posts where the situation is borderline.. but you clearly think that it is very unfair, and describe a very unfair situation. So aside from people confirming what you already know, I don't know what you want to get from this?

Everyone will say he is an arse? Is that what will help you?

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 17:09

How are you coping raising 5 children with a dh who only transfers pin money, now and again? Are you working full time?

S0j0urn4r · 29/05/2025 17:17

Why would you want a joint account? Keep your finances separate. Work out his half of bills etc and he transfers it to you.
If he can afford holidays he can afford to pay his fair share.
He is massively taking the piss!
I honestly think you'd be better off splitting.

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:18

NJLX2021 · 29/05/2025 17:08

What do you want to get from this?

You think he is unreasonable.. so you type out an account of how he is unreasonable.. and everyone here says "wow what an unreasonable arsehole"

Does that really help in any way? Of course your account of how unreasonable he is, will make everyone here think he is unreasonable.. but you already think that, so what difference does it make?

If what you are saying is true, you already know that it isn't fair and he isn't any good, and you already know that you need to do something about it.

I understand posts where the situation is borderline.. but you clearly think that it is very unfair, and describe a very unfair situation. So aside from people confirming what you already know, I don't know what you want to get from this?

Everyone will say he is an arse? Is that what will help you?

Edited

Ouch. He very clearly when we have spoken thinks I am being unreasonable and I can't see his viewpoint. I just wanted outside opinions.

he has been working away (8+ hours) for the past 6 months and travelling back at weekends, with us travelling to him every 4th weekend. He would claim being away from us and the travelling he has it way harder than I do. He does all the cooking when he is here.
he missed a parents evening and we had a huge row because I hadn't told him so it was my fault, despite him not attending any parents evenings ever and him getting Sam's info from school I do.
I just can't see his pov and need to know if it's just me

I don't know if I think it's unfair. Just that I'm not coping. People tell me it's unfair but then his mother hates that I don't have a meal for him on the table as soon as he gets home.

OP posts:
Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:18

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 17:09

How are you coping raising 5 children with a dh who only transfers pin money, now and again? Are you working full time?

Yes working full time. I also do online work from home in the evenings.
I work hard and my job pays well. But I am struggling financially.

OP posts:
TipsyJoker · 29/05/2025 17:19

He’s a selfish prick and you’re being an absolute mug for this guy. He contributes practically nothing financially, refused to share what he’s actually earning and you’ve had to go into debt to keep the family afloat whilst he swans off of multiple solo holidays and trips every year. You need to give your head a wobble. He’s a cocklodger and he is also using weaponised incompetence to keep getting away with it. You do things because you know he will do a shit job or accuse you of being a nag, etc so you just stop asking and do it yourself. He’s a shit parent as well. He doesn’t properly maintain their personal and oral hygiene, doesn’t feed them unless he’s hungry, sits them on screens for hours on end and doesn’t put sun cream on them because he can’t he arsed dealing with the push back. Just because he occasionally plants a sunflower seed with them does not father of the year make. What are you teaching your children about relationships by being with this lazy, self centred, shitty man? That women do everything and are responsible for everything and men come and go as they please with zero accountability? That’s completely unhealthy and if you have daughters they will end up being treated as you are by shitty men and your sons if you have them will probably become shitty men.
Either he is transparent about his finances, starts contributing, sacks off the multiple solo holidays each year and starts actually parenting HIS OWN CHILDREN and cleaning and organising THE PLACE HE LIVES IN, then I would be telling him to fuck right off.

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:19

S0j0urn4r · 29/05/2025 17:17

Why would you want a joint account? Keep your finances separate. Work out his half of bills etc and he transfers it to you.
If he can afford holidays he can afford to pay his fair share.
He is massively taking the piss!
I honestly think you'd be better off splitting.

We have tried this but he never has the money to send me half of the bills. As he's self employed he says it's different he doesn't know when he will get paid so can't plan like that. It's exasperating.

OP posts:
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 17:19

What @TipsyJoker said 👏

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 17:20

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:19

We have tried this but he never has the money to send me half of the bills. As he's self employed he says it's different he doesn't know when he will get paid so can't plan like that. It's exasperating.

He's full of shit. He can organise himself for his days out and holidays? Then he can organise himself for bills.

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 17:21

I bet you wouldn't be half as stretched if you didn't have a gaslighting weight around your ankle.

Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:22

TipsyJoker · 29/05/2025 17:19

He’s a selfish prick and you’re being an absolute mug for this guy. He contributes practically nothing financially, refused to share what he’s actually earning and you’ve had to go into debt to keep the family afloat whilst he swans off of multiple solo holidays and trips every year. You need to give your head a wobble. He’s a cocklodger and he is also using weaponised incompetence to keep getting away with it. You do things because you know he will do a shit job or accuse you of being a nag, etc so you just stop asking and do it yourself. He’s a shit parent as well. He doesn’t properly maintain their personal and oral hygiene, doesn’t feed them unless he’s hungry, sits them on screens for hours on end and doesn’t put sun cream on them because he can’t he arsed dealing with the push back. Just because he occasionally plants a sunflower seed with them does not father of the year make. What are you teaching your children about relationships by being with this lazy, self centred, shitty man? That women do everything and are responsible for everything and men come and go as they please with zero accountability? That’s completely unhealthy and if you have daughters they will end up being treated as you are by shitty men and your sons if you have them will probably become shitty men.
Either he is transparent about his finances, starts contributing, sacks off the multiple solo holidays each year and starts actually parenting HIS OWN CHILDREN and cleaning and organising THE PLACE HE LIVES IN, then I would be telling him to fuck right off.

How do you have that conversation when they don't see a problem? When you have tried multiple times and get agreement to change and then nothing happens.
people on here make out splitting up is the easy option but everyone knows it's not. The emotional impact alone on the kids that I will have to deal with is terrifying.
I am also exhausted. And ultimately it's easier to maintain the status quo.

OP posts:
Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:22

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 29/05/2025 17:20

He's full of shit. He can organise himself for his days out and holidays? Then he can organise himself for bills.

The smoking and fast food for lunch every day pissed me off more.

OP posts:
Questions223 · 29/05/2025 17:23

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 29/05/2025 17:21

I bet you wouldn't be half as stretched if you didn't have a gaslighting weight around your ankle.

That's easy to say but probably not true in practice.

he is still there dad.

OP posts: