u/FancyAd708

My partner and I moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast about 8 months ago for his work but also because we’d always dreamed of living up here. We’re both almost 30 and have been together for 10 years. We have a really solid relationship, a great life together, and honestly feel so ready to start a family.

The original plan was that once we moved, I’d find some part time admin work while my partner remained the main income earner. The problem is… I still haven’t been able to find work. I genuinely didn’t think it would take this long.

Financially we’re okay on his wage and we live pretty comfortably renting, but obviously having a baby adds extra costs. The biggest thing stressing me out is the Centrelink parental leave payment requirements. From what I understand, you need to have worked for 10 prior before giving birth, and I keep feeling like every month that passes is pushing our plans further away.

I think what’s upsetting me most is that I feel emotionally ready now, but practically I feel like I “shouldn’t” until I get a job. It’s starting to feel like my inability to find work is the only thing holding us back from starting the next chapter of our lives.

I guess I’m just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position?

My partner and I moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast about 8 months ago for his work but also because we’d always dreamed of living up here. We’re both almost 30 and have been together for 10 years. We have a really solid relationship, a great life together, and honestly feel so ready to start a family.

The original plan was that once we moved, I’d find some part time admin work while my partner remained the main income earner. The problem is… I still haven’t been able to find work. I genuinely didn’t think it would take this long.

Financially we’re okay on his wage and we live pretty comfortably renting, but obviously having a baby adds extra costs. The biggest thing stressing me out is the Centrelink parental leave payment requirements. From what I understand, you need to have worked for 10 prior before giving birth, and I keep feeling like every month that passes is pushing our plans further away.

I think what’s upsetting me most is that I feel emotionally ready now, but practically I feel like I “shouldn’t” until I get a job. It’s starting to feel like my inability to find work is the only thing holding us back from starting the next chapter of our lives.

I guess I’m just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position?

Me (27F) and my partner (28M) sent his sister and her husband $200 for their 30th birthdays because their birthdays are close together and they live interstate, so we couldn’t celebrate with them in person.

Not sure if this is relevant, but currently I’m not working because we recently moved interstate and I’m looking for work, while my partner is the breadwinner. But we’ve been together 13 years, share finances completely, and the money was very much from both of us.

We’re all pretty close as a family, which is why this bothered me. His sister called my partner to thank him for the money while I was sitting right next to him and the call was on speaker. She thanked him directly but never mentioned me once, didn’t ask to speak to me, and didn’t even say to thank me too or anything like that. Her husband was also there during the call because I could hear him in the background and didn’t say thank you either.

I know this sounds small, but I found it kind of rude and hurtful because it felt like I was completely excluded from the gesture even though it came from both of us.

My partner thinks I’m overthinking it and that she probably just automatically called her brother without thinking deeper about it.

AIO for being offended by this?