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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

Is it fair for me to handle all childcare and housework?

29 replies

Kriszoee · 06/05/2026 07:13

By reading the title I’m sure you will all jump to say “no, that is not fair!”, but my partner has made me believe that because of how much he work( 40 hours per week, 5pm - 1am ) it is my job to take full responsibility for the house and the baby, who was his initial idea. (9 months ).
I want some insight on how right (or wrong) his values are, as I am starting to resent everything.
My partner (M28 ) works 40 hours week, usually 5 or 7 days in a row, with one day off. The housework and baby is my full responsibility, he won’t change her as he doesn’t like the smell, won’t feed her without complaint, doesn’t really play with her, won’t pick up the dog poo or walk the dog as he “ isn’t his dog “, won’t do the washing, won’t unload the dishwasher, doesn’t cook etc.. before we goes to work, he plays his PlayStation and washes her bottles. He sleeps 1:30 - 10am, then doesn’t get out of bed until almost 11. I am up at 5am every day with the baby, and I am utterly exhausted. He turns this into an argument as I shouldn’t be tired as I “ just stay home with her “.
Because he works; he says that he is too tired to do ANYTHING or go anywhere on the days he works, which means we don’t do anything unless he is off, but when he is off, it’s hit or miss if we do anything.
Ultimately, I feel like the default parent.
I have to ask multiple times to even get some bins out or some dishes unloaded from time to time but it causes an argument, and any time he is with our little girl he is honestly just on his phone watching videos or complaining about how exhausted he is.
I find I am really struggling having to do everything myself and honestly I feel like a single parent with his absence and the lack of support within the home or relationship.
I have voiced my opinions every time but I always get the same responses of “I work”, or “you get to stay at home all day and relax if you want to”.
I know even by writing this that it doesn’t seem fair but he genuinely can’t see past his reasoning.
How fair do you think this is and what can I do?

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 06/05/2026 12:27

Kriszoee · 06/05/2026 11:34

He works in mechanics.

So hardly a brain surgeon then

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 06/05/2026 12:36

He doesn’t love you 🤷‍♀️ or his child tbh.

Kriszoee · 07/05/2026 11:21

I honestly think I’m done with him and this relationship. I’ve applied for new jobs and I’m hoping to get around 16 hours a week which would be enough for me. Then my daughter will go to nursery once or twice a week, and with my parents the remaining day or two. I’ll lose my car as it’s “ ours “ but in his name, but I’ll get to keep my house. I’ll have to have a top up of benefits ( which is something I’ve never had to do before as I have worked continuously for over a decade ), until she is a bit older and then I will work full time around her school hours ( she can go to school when she is 4. )
He is EXTREMELY angry. Always fucking complaining and moaning. I’ve had enough of the burden. He brings nothing to my life, at all. Nothing but misery and resentment. I’ve also been called a prick, a tosser and a rat. He is constantly comparing his level of exhaustion to me saying I’m just tired, but he is exhausted.
He has woken up today, huffing and puffing, shouting and moaning that I have asked him to take his daughter. He is now asking me to wash and sterilise all of her bottles as he doesn’t want to do it anymore, as well as do her 00:00 night feed as he’s “ too tired “ and should be able to come in from work and go to sleep. So I should have 5 hours of sleep and be on the go for 19 hours whilst he does an 8 hour shift and chills??? As per usual, she is slumped on his legs while he sits and stares into space. He doesn’t want to be a father, and that’s that.

OP posts:
MyMilchick · 07/05/2026 12:25

@Kriszoee please do leave, yours and your daughters lives will be so much better and lighter

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