Business owning husband asks wife to become stay at home mom, friends slam her for insisting she gets 50% of his company in return: '[It's] the price of me staying home and raising our children'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 26, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

The unfortunate truth is that it is often difficult to maintain complete equality in most relationships. Even when you have made the choice to go through life together, it's likely you will both play different roles and face different challenges throughout. At the same time, it should also be your priority as a couple to be as equitable as possible. Few people enjoy staying in a situation where they aren't getting the kudos that they deserve. 

This was part of the logic behind one woman's decision to make a forthright counter-offer to her husband, who requested that she stop working to be a stay-at-home mom to their three kids. She told him that in return, she expected a 50% stake in the company that he ran. Her friends were not impressed with her negotiation, but her partner did eventually agree to her having 49%. It's fair to say that the internet was also on her side.

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    Savannah @Savannah_FDS This is a very smart woman. Follow
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    AITAH for telling my husband that he needs to give me half his company if he wants me to be a housewife? My husband and I (both 35) have been married for 6 years and we have 2 children together and 1 on the way. He said that he wanted me to be a housewife and stop working. I was very disturbed by that but he explained that it was better for our family and children since he can afford very good living. After a few weeks thinking I told him that I would agree but only if I get 1/2 his company. He
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    Marve with an 'E' *+ @JustMarveWrites Follow Update. He agreed to give her 49%.
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    @evristainted · 3d • Replying to @Savannah_FDS and @Radfemfuture Her friends aren't so much and she should be wary of them. 30 17380 43.2K ill 547K Savannah @Savannah_FDS .3d Agreed.
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    Ken @lucky_ruby. 2d Replying to @Savannah_FDS Getting 1/2 upfront all at once seems unbalanced. What happens if they divorce within a year of giving her half? I think it's fairer if she gains some equity every year she's a housewife. 59 173 409 125K Savannah @Savannah_FDS 2d It's not unbalanced at all because he's asking her to stop working. She will have no income of her own if she does this, plus she's massively limiting her income and career progression if she agrees to this.
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    Charlotte Brink Patmanidis 2d Replying to @Savannah_FDS My husband and I own the business 50/50, I don't do work for the business, but if I didn't take care of everything at home, he wouldn't have time to work and grow it. This was a no-brainer for us. 8 1726 1.9K ili 59.5K Savannah @Savannah_FDS. 2d So you do actually work for the business, albeit indirectly. Because the business would not exist without you taking care of everything else at home.
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    Thelliam666 @Thelliam666.3d Replying to @Savannah_FDS Why wouldn't she get half in divorce? Have to assume prenup? 12 271 93 111K Savannah @Savannah_FDS .3d Prenups aren't recognised everywhere. In the UK they're not worth the paper they're written on most of the time.
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    Thelliam666 @Thelliam666.3d Replying to @Savannah_FDS Why wouldn't she get half in divorce? Have to assume prenup? 12 271 93 111K Savannah @Savannah_FDS .3d Prenups aren't recognised everywhere. In the UK they're not worth the paper they're written on most of the time.
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    jack @NakedSnowNinja . 2d Replying to @Savannah_FDS And what if in 2 years she files for divorce? Why should he give up half his company if she ends up leaving? How about a contract that says if he divorces her, she gets half, and if she divorces him, she gets nothing? Q6 27 14 ili 7.9K ☐ % Savannah @Savannah_FDS. 2d Then she gets half. Her getting half the company isn't a reward for staying with him. It's recognising what she's giving up by staying at home. What you're advocating for is abusive
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    CU | Akademics @Akademics4.1d Replying to @Savannah_FDS Half is a bit much up front, unless hypothetically, they did stick it out for the rest of their lives. Does make sense to give her part of it though, and long term could give her up to half if they're so far in, that the thoughts of a possible divorce on either side are gone. 27 ill 2K ☐ % Savannah @Savannah_FDS . 1d People get divorced after being married for 45 years. Her asking for half isn't a hedge against divorce; it's recognising tha
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    Carolina Isabel Fonse... @CarolinaIsabelF Replying to @Savannah_FDS Follow Never abandon your career to please a man without him being willing to give anything in return. Because one day he gets bored of you and you're going to have to start from scratch with cero money and that's how they they control you. Money is important!
    via CarolinaIsabelF
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    Carolina Isabel Fonse... @CarolinaIsabelF Replying to @Savannah_FDS Follow Never abandon your career to please a man without him being willing to give anything in return. Because one day he gets bored of you and you're going to have to start from scratch with cero money and that's how they they control you. Money is important!
    via CarolinaIsabelF
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    Steely Dan Maximalist @Steely DanMxmlst Replying to @Savannah_FDS I like it honestly. Follow He's asking her to treat the family's success as the number 1 priority (which I support) and she's asking him to prove that he's got his incentives aligned with the success of the family (which I support).
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    BABY ENTERTAINING TO HAVE RESTS ENJOY THE alice @alicelovescode ⚫2d this is in fact exactly how you deal with power imbalances, you mitigate them or compensate for them. many people will get furious over it because there's *supposed* to be a power imbalance between a husband and a wife, according to conservative
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    Thesis @AltThesis • 3d This is actually the least AITA I've seen. The data literally supports her point. Women who leave the workforce to become housewives who find themselves divorced have trouble finding fairly compensated work. Not the I and if he doesn't accept, keep working sis.
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    Sovereigna @sauvamemte .3d If you want someone to give up their individual financial security, you absolutely better be giving them something equitable or hard cash
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    Imani Gandy (Orca's... ❤ @AngryBlackLady Subscribe she needs new friends and to ignore the old ones when their husbands leave them with no money. This is actually incredibly savvy
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    auntie cistamine @laurenancona · 1d • she said I'm not going to court for alimony or child support, pony up now or don't waste my time this is the way
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    Panda Monium @arsenalpanda11.2d The comments on stories like this will always reveal how little people think of the contribution of women. And it's pretty wild because if marriage is supposed to be a partnership, why is it that the biggest sacrifices should only be made by women? Share the risks and rewards
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stay at home mom aita twitter marriage Twitter Thread work wife relationships husband Reddit company mom business money
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