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SAHP

A place for stay at home mums and dads to discuss life as a full-time parent.

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DH said “but you don’t have a job”

486 replies

TeaDoesntSolveEverything · 01/02/2026 21:42

I don’t really know if I’m offloading here or wanting advice on what to say back. At Christmas I said to DH how overwhelmed and exhausted I was and how I was so behind with things and he responded “why, you don’t have a job.” It’s now February and I’m still so upset by it and feel each thing I do during the day I’m building in my head of “and this is why it’s non stop busy all the time”.
To put this into context, I am now a SAHM of 3 under 7s, one of which is autistic. DH works away and was only home at weekends and it’s always been like that but now works abroad and only home here and there and it’s been like that for 1.5 years. We have no family help. Friends offer to help but I feel a burden accepting as my kids are very energetic and the autistic one has a lot of melt downs which are tough for anyone not used to it including my DH. As it’s always me they all get very upset being away from me too and play up for anyone looking after them as they are small and don’t vocalise feelings of missing me. The smallest always used to get upset stomachs if I left them.
After a few days I brought up how upset the comment made me feel and DH replied he didn’t mean it like that and it’s more what am I doing for others that means I’m not finding time to clean the house, have time to myself etc. I do something one day a week for others that needs half a day prep the day before but his comment defending himself made me feel even worse as he just can’t see how busy it is doing everything alone, all the club runs too for 3 kids. The autistic one cannot switch off at night and is normally still awake wanting me for reassurance until 9.30/10 if not later each night.
Even though financially we are ok he also wants me to get an actual job again which I just can’t see how I can cope with. I had to give up my successful career just before having my second as I had a breakdown due to finding my first borns life was in danger with his childminder (she was reported to Ofsted over it). He pays all the bills now but I have a rental income which just about floats me each month.
I guess I’ve always felt invisible as to what I do as when he used to come home at weekends he would sleep in both days as he was tired from work and not think how tired I was solo parenting during the week and being up so many times at night feeding babies etc.
How do I go about being seen or am I best to just give myself a slap and carry on and realise it’s never going to change. Just feeling totally broken physically and mentally.

OP posts:
FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 11:33

Yes the 45 min school run has been invented.

Also, it's been completely invented she's been to school 14 times for her SEN child.

She's been 18 times in total, for all three children, including "fun stuff like nativitys".

When challenged that she's choosing to go to every school event, she said the majority were for the SEN child. But how many of these could have been dealt with at the end of the school day, ie, how a working parent would deal with the problem, she didn't answer. Of course she's going in during school hours. That's what suits her, because she's not doing anything else in that time.

We also know that she believes she's doing the same as a full time job, giving examples such as the school run and "breaking up WW3 because this child has stuck his tongue out at that child and I'm trying to get them dressed.". That's where most people, went "are you serious?"

Which is probably where her husband is coming from.

Allisnotlost1 · 06/02/2026 12:06

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 11:21

Should you feel "unsupported" by having no job to do, children all in school, and just the housework to do, while your partner funds the whole household? Choosing to volunteer for a day and a half each week, (interestingly that's apparently no problem to do with her SEN child) but complaining how you have to "do it all" as if her husband does nothing. He is literally funding her ability to stay at home all day and she's complaining that he's not sharing her load. No, he's not. He's at work. And she's not.

It's not kicking someone while they're down to point out that to most people, that's frankly a joke to be complaining about lack of support. This childish "have a medal" at the notion anyone could possibly just put the laundry on, a fiver minute task, with children at home in the evenings. She can. Her circumstances are not particularly exceptional.

It's not the level of "my diamond shoes are too tight". But she genuinely thinks she's "doing it all". And as countless people have pointed out, with 3DC in FTE, she's got all the time in the world to do it, not be complaining that the person working full time isn't doing that too.

Why do you feel the need to point this out as if she ‘ought’ to have a job? Why do you think your idea of being supported should be everyone’s? Why do you think that the DH paying the bills is more important than her raising the kids? You’ve said yourself that you choose to work, if she chooses not to - or feels she can’t or whatever - why is that ‘a joke’ to people who either have to or choose to work?

Yes, she has some hours at the middle of the day, just as he has some hours at the end and at the weekends. It’s evident that her children have a higher level of need than some other pp’s, including yours (based on your posts, where your children stay in school, don’t require collecting, mostly can be picked up and transported from school within 5 minutes).

There’s just a lot of hate directed at someone who has admitted that she is struggling. So what if you would find her life easy, that doesn’t give you a licence to put the boot in. Scroll on, get on with your own life.

Newsenmum · 06/02/2026 12:19

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 05/02/2026 10:32

Sorry to hear you struggle so much doing a basic school run.

The kids come out at 3.50. Get in the car, approx 30 seconds away in the school car park. And we are home a few minutes later.

Unless someone is upset etc there's no daily struggle for five minutes to get kids and bags in a car. You open the boot. You place the bags in. If you manage to make that take 5 minutes every day, and can't comprehend that it's doable in about 15 seconds, then there's not a lot anyone else can do about that.

And you are hilarious with your " I won't let it drop" as if you need to be provided with constant explanation. All that translates to, is "I can't abide to hear that anyone can just get on and do the things that I want to use as excuses for others not doing them."

I have zero other support during the week and a full time job. As have countless other people on this thread.

OP has zero other support during the week and is unemployed with 30hrs free to herself whilst her children are at school. OP claims she does have "a job" doing all the things that other people do after school/at the weekends in addition to 30+ hrs of employment.

Her husband has made the comment "you don't have a job". He's right.

So you have an easy time. That’s why you can work. Stop your bullying.

Riverflow6 · 06/02/2026 12:40

TeaDoesntSolveEverything · 05/02/2026 22:53

@FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease thanks for making me feel even more down and shit than I already do. And for constantly repeating incorrect facts about my time that others are quoting because of you. Clearly I am a total failure and just needed my feelings of that confirmed so thanks and thanks to everyone else too.

You’re doing a really good job. Please believe that. Definitely hats off to you

Riverflow6 · 06/02/2026 12:41

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 11:33

Yes the 45 min school run has been invented.

Also, it's been completely invented she's been to school 14 times for her SEN child.

She's been 18 times in total, for all three children, including "fun stuff like nativitys".

When challenged that she's choosing to go to every school event, she said the majority were for the SEN child. But how many of these could have been dealt with at the end of the school day, ie, how a working parent would deal with the problem, she didn't answer. Of course she's going in during school hours. That's what suits her, because she's not doing anything else in that time.

We also know that she believes she's doing the same as a full time job, giving examples such as the school run and "breaking up WW3 because this child has stuck his tongue out at that child and I'm trying to get them dressed.". That's where most people, went "are you serious?"

Which is probably where her husband is coming from.

Why are you being such a bully. What’s caused you to be so full of venom towards a stranger online

ChocolateHobbit · 06/02/2026 13:12

As usual it's a competition and a race to the bottom.
Someone is struggling, but of course someone has it worse so they're not allowed to struggle.

I'm sure nobody wants to work full time and do everything else. Most people who do have no choice. I'm sure there are many sacrifices made here, of which the importance of these will vary between people.

Of course maybe, just maybe, the OP needs to think about time management or putting things into perspective, but there's a way of doing that without being absolutely vile and making her feel a million times worse.

Howmanytimes78 · 06/02/2026 14:11

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 11:33

Yes the 45 min school run has been invented.

Also, it's been completely invented she's been to school 14 times for her SEN child.

She's been 18 times in total, for all three children, including "fun stuff like nativitys".

When challenged that she's choosing to go to every school event, she said the majority were for the SEN child. But how many of these could have been dealt with at the end of the school day, ie, how a working parent would deal with the problem, she didn't answer. Of course she's going in during school hours. That's what suits her, because she's not doing anything else in that time.

We also know that she believes she's doing the same as a full time job, giving examples such as the school run and "breaking up WW3 because this child has stuck his tongue out at that child and I'm trying to get them dressed.". That's where most people, went "are you serious?"

Which is probably where her husband is coming from.

I’ve just returned to this thread and can’t believe you are continuing to harrass someone who is struggling

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease

You clearly have problems yourself

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 14:12

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 05/02/2026 10:32

Sorry to hear you struggle so much doing a basic school run.

The kids come out at 3.50. Get in the car, approx 30 seconds away in the school car park. And we are home a few minutes later.

Unless someone is upset etc there's no daily struggle for five minutes to get kids and bags in a car. You open the boot. You place the bags in. If you manage to make that take 5 minutes every day, and can't comprehend that it's doable in about 15 seconds, then there's not a lot anyone else can do about that.

And you are hilarious with your " I won't let it drop" as if you need to be provided with constant explanation. All that translates to, is "I can't abide to hear that anyone can just get on and do the things that I want to use as excuses for others not doing them."

I have zero other support during the week and a full time job. As have countless other people on this thread.

OP has zero other support during the week and is unemployed with 30hrs free to herself whilst her children are at school. OP claims she does have "a job" doing all the things that other people do after school/at the weekends in addition to 30+ hrs of employment.

Her husband has made the comment "you don't have a job". He's right.

@FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease You don’t have zero support, you have a husband. If you went into hospital, I assume he’d have to drop your super easy kids to wrap around care.

Also it shows how low support needs your kids are that you can do a school run that quickly. Most of us with high needs kids in both mornings and evenings find that transitional time extremely challenging and it can take hrs of our time to settle them once home. Also not everyone lives a few minutes drive from school or has the privilege of driving.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 18:18

It's interesting to see that no one can possibly bear it might be simply be OP who isn't doing much, and still complaining. Despite the facts of 30 child free hours to herself every week.

This lack of accountability is really sad. It must be that she's got the most impossible child. Let's invent lengthy school runs and imaginary meetings just to try and fill the huge amount of time she has with no responsibility other than herself. Even if she spells out she does no more than 45mins of housekeeping, some clamour to literally invent things that mean she's obviously pushed to the limit.

It's beyond bizarre, and always seems to happen when SEN is mentioned. As if suddenly you can do no wrong. I have had this myself, and I find it really patronising. The sympathy head tilt and being treated like a hero just for getting out of bed whilst having a child with different needs. No thank you. Keep your othering.

There are good parents, there are bad parents. In all walks of life. You can be an outstanding SEN parent, but you can equally be a shite one. Good and bad parents aren't based on the child and shame on those who try and deflect, using SEN as a word they think people are too scared to challenge. Having a SEN child doesn't excuse you from everything, and it's quite awful that people try and create that narrative. A huge part of why there is so little inclusivity. Because some will always insist they can't be expected to get through the day because their child is ND. A harder day than most, sure. But rendering us incapable of any normal daily activity, 99% no. In the most extreme cases, yes, but that's categorically not what we are talking about in OPs circumstance.

Making SEN parents seem so abnormal that we shouldn't even be considered to achieve basic household tasks, whilst unemployed and with 30 child free hours a week, does a huge disservice to the very inclusivity we fight for.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 18:27

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 14:12

@FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease You don’t have zero support, you have a husband. If you went into hospital, I assume he’d have to drop your super easy kids to wrap around care.

Also it shows how low support needs your kids are that you can do a school run that quickly. Most of us with high needs kids in both mornings and evenings find that transitional time extremely challenging and it can take hrs of our time to settle them once home. Also not everyone lives a few minutes drive from school or has the privilege of driving.

Are we really being that ridiculous that helpful "support" is now not abandoning primary aged children if one parent gets hospitalised. Yes, my husband would indeed "support" our children, as opposed to, what, staying at work and hoping they hitch hike home?? Christing Christ 😁

Is that where we're having to go with this. Really? Pretending OPs husband, on hearing his wife had been admitted to hospital, would say "Nope, I've got work, the 6yr old can drive them all to school and make dinner."

What a stellar example of exactly what I mentioned above.

LittleLapwing · 06/02/2026 18:37

OMG just stop what is wrong with you 🤦‍♀️

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 18:49

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 18:27

Are we really being that ridiculous that helpful "support" is now not abandoning primary aged children if one parent gets hospitalised. Yes, my husband would indeed "support" our children, as opposed to, what, staying at work and hoping they hitch hike home?? Christing Christ 😁

Is that where we're having to go with this. Really? Pretending OPs husband, on hearing his wife had been admitted to hospital, would say "Nope, I've got work, the 6yr old can drive them all to school and make dinner."

What a stellar example of exactly what I mentioned above.

Well yeah as her husband doesn’t live in the same country so isn’t here to do ANY parenting. She does it ALL!! How many times do we need to tell you that. You have a DH who lives with you and is there every day to parent and give you and your kids support. OP is for all intents and purposes a single parent with someone who pays maintenance and sees the kids and her a few times a year when he feels like it. FFS! Your bar for men is in hell! But your expectations of women are so high!

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 18:53

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 18:49

Well yeah as her husband doesn’t live in the same country so isn’t here to do ANY parenting. She does it ALL!! How many times do we need to tell you that. You have a DH who lives with you and is there every day to parent and give you and your kids support. OP is for all intents and purposes a single parent with someone who pays maintenance and sees the kids and her a few times a year when he feels like it. FFS! Your bar for men is in hell! But your expectations of women are so high!

Yes, it seems the most obvious response would be indeed, he would remain in a different country and hope the 7yo raised the other two smaller children.

I'm glad we're being rational.

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 18:59

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 18:53

Yes, it seems the most obvious response would be indeed, he would remain in a different country and hope the 7yo raised the other two smaller children.

I'm glad we're being rational.

But you don’t get it. You are talking from a place of being in a relationship with your DH living with you. I am a single parent to 2 children, including a ds with severe SEN. I have had to refuse hospital admissions before because I have had no one to look after him. And we aren’t just talking about hospital admissions, it’s every day support, times where you don’t feel well, need emotional support because something has happened and you don’t have that, you do! So please just leave her alone when she says she’s exhausted from doing it all. Why is this something you have to win. Why do you need to be told you are right and you have it worse than everyone else but are martyring on whilst the rest of us are failures?

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 19:02

And honestly as you aren’t a SAHP, kindly fuck off of this board where the OP has come for some support from people who understand her. You are the one putting her down and making her feel like shit! Go to the super working mums board!

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:05

I'm literally sitting here laughing at my obviously "super duper easy" kids. That's how we have to explain the absolute magic that is getting through the day.

Yeah, I imagine that's what the assessor who granted both higher rates for DLA thought. That child is super duper easy, I feel like being generous today and I'll gift them those rates. We now need to invent that as the only way to expand my ability to carry on my day a SEN parent justifiable. Super duper easy kids.

And it can not possibly be OP with 30hrs leisure time, calling stopping kids from bickering and sticking their tongues out her "full time job" making a big deal of nothing.

The expectation bar is low, but not for men, or women. For the accountability of certain parents as soon as the word SEN is mentioned. And that's exactly why we are failed on inclusivity over and over.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:06

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 19:02

And honestly as you aren’t a SAHP, kindly fuck off of this board where the OP has come for some support from people who understand her. You are the one putting her down and making her feel like shit! Go to the super working mums board!

Neither is OP.

SAHM without any kids at home is no different to a working parent. Neither parent during school hours. Both parent outside of them.

LittleLapwing · 06/02/2026 19:11

This reply has been deleted

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Stressedoutmummyof3 · 06/02/2026 19:23

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:05

I'm literally sitting here laughing at my obviously "super duper easy" kids. That's how we have to explain the absolute magic that is getting through the day.

Yeah, I imagine that's what the assessor who granted both higher rates for DLA thought. That child is super duper easy, I feel like being generous today and I'll gift them those rates. We now need to invent that as the only way to expand my ability to carry on my day a SEN parent justifiable. Super duper easy kids.

And it can not possibly be OP with 30hrs leisure time, calling stopping kids from bickering and sticking their tongues out her "full time job" making a big deal of nothing.

The expectation bar is low, but not for men, or women. For the accountability of certain parents as soon as the word SEN is mentioned. And that's exactly why we are failed on inclusivity over and over.

Well you are the one who claims you can do a school run in 5 minutes and don't need to spend an hour helping your child to regulate after you get home. So clearly your kids are a lot easier than some (mine included).
Clearly you're not spending hours collecting evidence from professionals, trying to arrange support for your children and their various needs or sorting an appropriate school for them.
Why would school staff want to stay late to talk to parents when they can do it in the day? I've never been offered an after school appointment. If the appointment is an emergency you can't just leave it for 6 hours either.
It's clear you just hate SAHP so not sure why you're on this board really.

Babyboomtastic · 06/02/2026 19:23

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:05

I'm literally sitting here laughing at my obviously "super duper easy" kids. That's how we have to explain the absolute magic that is getting through the day.

Yeah, I imagine that's what the assessor who granted both higher rates for DLA thought. That child is super duper easy, I feel like being generous today and I'll gift them those rates. We now need to invent that as the only way to expand my ability to carry on my day a SEN parent justifiable. Super duper easy kids.

And it can not possibly be OP with 30hrs leisure time, calling stopping kids from bickering and sticking their tongues out her "full time job" making a big deal of nothing.

The expectation bar is low, but not for men, or women. For the accountability of certain parents as soon as the word SEN is mentioned. And that's exactly why we are failed on inclusivity over and over.

I thought you said one child sleeps ok and the other doesn't? High rate DLA requires both day and night care...

Frankly if you're able to hold down a full time job, do most of the domestic load yourself and are apparently claiming high rate DLA for both kids, which requires both days and night care, you're telling porkies somewhere. I just don't know whether it's too us to DLA.

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 19:27

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:05

I'm literally sitting here laughing at my obviously "super duper easy" kids. That's how we have to explain the absolute magic that is getting through the day.

Yeah, I imagine that's what the assessor who granted both higher rates for DLA thought. That child is super duper easy, I feel like being generous today and I'll gift them those rates. We now need to invent that as the only way to expand my ability to carry on my day a SEN parent justifiable. Super duper easy kids.

And it can not possibly be OP with 30hrs leisure time, calling stopping kids from bickering and sticking their tongues out her "full time job" making a big deal of nothing.

The expectation bar is low, but not for men, or women. For the accountability of certain parents as soon as the word SEN is mentioned. And that's exactly why we are failed on inclusivity over and over.

Who are you lying to? Us or DLA? As others have said, many of our kids require hrs of settling before and after school or with any transitions. They don’t sleep. They can’t stay in mainstream! We cannot work, we are full time carers!

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:29

CoffeeMakesTheWorldBetter · 06/02/2026 19:27

Who are you lying to? Us or DLA? As others have said, many of our kids require hrs of settling before and after school or with any transitions. They don’t sleep. They can’t stay in mainstream! We cannot work, we are full time carers!

Ok? And?

OP isn't remotely.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:32

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 06/02/2026 19:23

Well you are the one who claims you can do a school run in 5 minutes and don't need to spend an hour helping your child to regulate after you get home. So clearly your kids are a lot easier than some (mine included).
Clearly you're not spending hours collecting evidence from professionals, trying to arrange support for your children and their various needs or sorting an appropriate school for them.
Why would school staff want to stay late to talk to parents when they can do it in the day? I've never been offered an after school appointment. If the appointment is an emergency you can't just leave it for 6 hours either.
It's clear you just hate SAHP so not sure why you're on this board really.

Again, none.of this applies to OP.

She has 30hrs of free time per week, with children all in full time mainstream education.

Oh, I have "the folders" of evidence. Just because it doesn't suit your narrative, anyone that can do this must be lying....

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 06/02/2026 19:35

Babyboomtastic · 06/02/2026 19:23

I thought you said one child sleeps ok and the other doesn't? High rate DLA requires both day and night care...

Frankly if you're able to hold down a full time job, do most of the domestic load yourself and are apparently claiming high rate DLA for both kids, which requires both days and night care, you're telling porkies somewhere. I just don't know whether it's too us to DLA.

Edited

Also, you got it wrong.

One diagnosed, and high/high.

One under assessment under school's recommendation.

Third NT.

So maybe read properly before you start your rude insults...

LittleLapwing · 06/02/2026 19:43

So maybe read properly before you start your rude insults...

You cannot be serious 🤣🤣

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