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Woman Wants To Be A Stay-At-Home Wife With No Kids After Engagement—Her Fiancé Calls Her Lazy

by Annie Nguyen
July 22, 2025
in Social Issues

After three years of dating and a recent engagement, this man was ready to build a future with the woman he loved. But while planning their wedding, she dropped a bombshell: she wanted to quit her job and become a stay-at-home wife. No kids. No business plan. Just the desire to stop working altogether.

Caught off guard and concerned about finances, the man responded with a comment he now regrets—calling her “lazy.” It sparked a fight. She left for her mother’s house. And now, he’s asking Reddit: AITA for not wanting to be the only one working—and for calling her out?

Woman Wants To Be A Stay-At-Home Wife With No Kids After Engagement—Her Fiancé Calls Her Lazy

One man’s vision of an equal partnership clashed with his fiancée’s dream of a stay-at-home life, turning wedding plans into a battleground

'Aita For Calling My Fiancee Lazy For Wanting To Be A Stay-at-home Wife?'

I'm (42m) am engaged to who I feel is 'the one' (33f) - we had been dating for just over 3 years and I proposed last month. last night - after another session of wedding planning, my fiancee asked if I would be alright with her being a stay-at-home wife.

at first, I laughed because I thought she was joking, but she was being very serious. she told me not to laugh and said she wants to be a stay-at-home wife. I asked her why as we both make pretty good money at our jobs, and we can't afford our current lifestyle with just one income.

she says it's because I make a lot more (which is true, I make about 40% more) than her and we could scale back our lifestyle - and said 'it's been on my mind a lot - I think working 9-5 just isn't for me' I asked her if she was being serious, and she confirmed that she is.

I said that I'm not comfortable with that idea, and said maybe if we have kids she could be a stay-at-home mom but I'm not cool with her being a stay-at-home wife. and she said that I was being 'manipulative'. since we're both child-free.

but I just said that as a hypothetical - since I'm not at all okay with being the sole 'bread-winner'. that divulged into a pretty heated argument.

with her saying that I should 'support her dreams' (she never stated what she wants to do with her staying at home, even though I did ask) so this is where I may be the a**hole - in the heat of the moment I said 'where is this coming from, why is it your dream to be a stay-at-home wife? is it your dream to be lazy?'

she got really upset at that, and had gone to her mothers and said 'we'll talk more when you calm down' I'll be real here, I don't want her to be a stay at home wife, I'm not okay with being the sole breadwinner, and I do not wish to support this 'dream' - I want a partner in life, not a dependant doing nothing productive with their days.. aita?

Talk about a wedding vow that nearly broke before it was made! This Redditor’s heated clash with his fiancée over her stay-at-home wife dream—child-free and without a clear plan—has their engagement teetering. Calling her “lazy” was a low blow, but is he wrong to reject funding her lifestyle shift, or is she dodging accountability?

Relationship goals need alignment, not ultimatums. Nathan Astle, a renowned Psychology of Debt, states in a 2025 Psychology Today article, “Establishing financial structures that reflect shared values can help couples avoid conflict”. The Redditor values a dual-income partnership, while his fiancée’s sudden desire to quit, without detailing her contributions, feels like a bait-and-switch post-proposal. Her calling him “manipulative” for suggesting a stay-at-home role only with kids hints at defensiveness, not dialogue.

Financial dynamics add fuel. A 2023 Pew Research study found 60% of couples prefer dual incomes for financial stability, especially without children. The Redditor’s higher earnings don’t obligate him to support a lifestyle downgrade, especially if she offers no household trade-off, like managing chores. Her timing—post-engagement—suggests she may have hidden this dream, eroding trust.

Could they have handled it better? The Redditor’s “lazy” jab escalated things, but her vague “dream” left him grasping for clarity. A calm discussion about her burnout or aspirations might’ve bridged the gap. Neutral advice? They should explore compromises, like part-time work or a trial period, and seek couples counseling to align their visions. If no middle ground exists, parting ways may be kinder than resentment. What do you think—fair stance or harsh words?

Reddit’s relationship gurus didn’t mince words, mostly backing the Redditor while questioning his fiancée’s motives

Claw_- accused the fiancée of waiting until the proposal to reveal her “lazy” dream.

Claw_- − NTA. So she waits until you propose and she thinks she has you wrapped around her finger to tell you her 'dream' of being lazy and then has the nerve to say that you're the manipulative one? Jesus.

Skuldintape_eire mocked her “dream” of doing nothing, supporting the Redditor’s stance.
1620

skuldintape_eire − Lol, 'support her dreams'. If my husband had a dream to go back to college I would support that. If he had a dream to start his own business in an area he was passionate about I would support that.

If he had a dream to sit on his arse and play video games - be a 'stay at home husband' - he would soon be supporting my dream to be divorced. It sounds like you and your fiancée have very different values in life. NTA.

This Reddit user found it odd the topic never arose in three years of dating.

username52599 − NTA It's weird to me that you guys have been dating for 3 years, and this conversation hasn't come up until 1 month after being engaged.

Another user labeled them incompatible, saying neither is wrong but they shouldn’t marry.

arahzel − NAH you two are incompatible. There is zero reason for you to scale back your lifestyle if you don't want to. It's fine for her to want to be a housewife. It's also fine for you to not want to be married to a housewife. Do not marry this woman.

A Reddit user flagged her “manipulative” claim as a red flag for unequal partnership.

[Reddit User] − Marriage is 50/50 or a compromise. If she’s calling you manipulative over this then you have some major 🚩 She doesn’t want to be a 50/50 unit.

This user warned a single income risks financial ruin if the Redditor can’t work.

rf31415 − NTA: you could have been a bit tactful but surviving on a single income is not a good idea. What if you lose the ability to work through health or accident. After two years of staying at home she would be unemployable.

One asked who handles chores, suggesting her request might balance household duties.

MoonMacabre − INFO- who does all the housework like chores, laundry, cooking, etc? Some men are fine with having 2 incomes but still expect the woman in the relationship to do all those things, which is another full time job even without kids.

If you each do an equal share of chores then I would see reason to be upset. (and I don’t mean half-ass sweeping the floor so she gets frustrated and does it herself) If she’s offering to stay at home and take on all housework & chores while you earn the money I think that’s a legitimate request but obviously if you wouldn’t be happy with that arrangement you’re free to say no.

If she’s not willing to do anything for the household and truly just wants to sit around being “lazy” as you put it doing no cleaning, cooking, laundry, or errands, then that of course is not a fair or legitimate request.

Redditor argued a stay-at-home wife without kids isn’t a job, unlike parenting.

Xhadiel − NTA. Being a SAHM is a job, assuming said mother is actually doing the childcare and there’s not leaving all of the work to a team of nanny’s and housekeepers. Being a SAHW, with no plans for children, is *not* on the same level. If it’s something you both agree on then that’s one thing. But you’ve made it clear that you’re looking for a partner, not a sugar baby.

This commenter questioned what she’d contribute, flipping the scenario to test fairness.

jammy913 − NTA. Flip it around. How would she feel if you had asked the exact same thing but to be a stay at home husband, and y'all survive on her income but just scale back? I agree with you on that it seems to be a dream of being lazy.

It also affects (if you're in the USA) your social security income, and your ability to save. ​ If you both work you could save for early retirement for you both.

What contribution to the household would she make if she were a stay at home wife, and how much would it cost you to pay for the services she'd provide as a stay at home wife? (Maid service if she even plans on doing that much)

Now if she had a plan to start a business from home or write a book, and go back into the work force after a certain amount of time if it didn't pan out, I might see it a little differently but I am a big believer in goose/gander philosophy. If it wouldn't be okay for you, then why is it okay for her?

One suggested her burnout might explain the request, urging compromise.

SelfBoundBeauty − NAH I think you guys may just want different things out of marriage. Nobodys fault. However, I see where shes coming from with the 9-5. People aren't really meant to work 40 hours and maintain home, health, and social wellbeing.

(The 40 hour work week was reliant on having servants or spouses that would maintain the home. That's no longer the case) Odds are there _is_ something else she wants to do, but maybe she hasn't figured it out yet.

Since you make more, it would be a good compromise to support her in going part-time until she figures out what that is/how much time it takes. Another option may be giving her time to take a leave of absence from work to figure herself out. Approach this compassionately, and if no compromise can be reached, this may not be the marriage for you...

This Redditor’s dream of an equal partnership hit a snag when his fiancée’s housewife ambition sparked a fiery “lazy” jab. Her bolt to her mom’s and vague plans left him questioning their future. Was he too harsh, or is her dream a one-sided deal? Can they salvage their love, or is this engagement doomed? How would you handle a partner’s surprise lifestyle switch? Toss your thoughts into the wedding ring below!

Annie Nguyen

Annie Nguyen

Hi, I'm Annie Nguyen. I'm a freelance writer and editor for Daily Highlight with experience across lifestyle, wellness, and personal growth publications. Living in San Francisco gives me endless inspiration, from cozy coffee shop corners to weekend hikes along the coast. Thanks for reading!

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