AITA for telling my husband I don’t want him spending so much time with his friend anymore?

A 40-year-old woman has enjoyed a solid marriage for 12 years with two kids, but things got tense when husband’s long-lost college pal Mark moved nearby. Mark’s loud, boastful “finance bro” vibe—flashy car, constant money talk, twice-divorced with complaints about his ex shaping their daughter—rubs her wrong.

Husband hangs out 3-4 times a month, coming home energized in a “youthful” way she finds unfamiliar. Worried about bad influence, she asked him to dial it back. He countered that he dislikes her blunt friend Claire but never complains. Now she’s questioning if she’s overstepping.

‘AITA for telling my husband I don’t want him spending so much time with his friend anymore?’

The friendship rekindled recently:

I (40F) have been married to my husband (40M) for 12 years. We have two kids (ages 8 and 12), and overall, our family life is pretty great. However, there’s...

My husband’s friend, Mark, recently moved to our city and lives nearby. They probably haven't seen each other in almost a decade.

They were close friends in college, but after graduating they went their separate ways and didn't speak much. I've only recently gotten to know Mark, and I have only met...

Mark’s personality stands out negatively:

Here is the best way I can describe Mark. He is the same age as us, but acts as if he is still in college. He’s loud, brash, and has...

He works in finance and is financially successful, which he loves to remind everyone about. He drives a flashy car, wears expensive clothes, and assumes he’s what everyone dreams to...

Essentially, he's like a "finance bro" who has freshly graduated college, except 40 years old. Another thing is, he’s been divorced twice. Not that going through a divorce is an...

According to Mark, both marriages ended because of “irreconcilable differences,” but honestly, it feels like Mark just doesn’t take relationships seriously. Mark has kids as well, son and a daughter.

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He talks about his daughter a lot, but it’s mostly complaints about how she’s “becoming more like her mom” (his ex-wife). He says it in a way that makes it...

Mark has never disrespected me directly (he barely spoke to me), but it’s the overall vibe he gives off that bothers me.

Husband’s hangouts increased:

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My husband's behavior hasn't changed since meeting him, but a lot of times when my husband comes home, he has this carefree attitude, as if Mark has brought the "youth"...

There is no issue doing this once in a while, but my husband meets Mark easily 3-4 times a month. Eventually, I expressed my concern to my husband. I told...

I just don't want my husband picking up traits from him. My husband responded by saying how he also doesn't like my friend Claire, but doesn't complain about me hanging...

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Apart from Claire being blunt and opinionated, she isn't a bad influence and is also married with 3 kids. I don't want to make it seem like I'm trying to...

Friendships in long marriages can spark insecurity, especially with “blast from the past” types evoking younger days. Disliking a partner’s pal is common—differences in values (maturity, boasting) clash—but controlling hangouts risks resentment unless neglect or real harm occurs.

No evidence husband changed negatively or shirked duties; the “carefree” vibe might just refresh him positively. Comparing to her friend Claire highlights hypocrisy—if he tolerates without complaint, reciprocity matters.

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Healthy approach: Express feelings (“I feel uneasy when…”) without ultimatums, suggest balance (couple activities), or meet Mark more for own judgment. Therapy aids if insecurity roots deeper. Adults choose friends; trust unless proven otherwise.

Check out how the community responded:

Consensus heavily YTA—seen as controlling, hypocritical, and intolerant of husband’s happiness.

Many call out dismissing his feelings about Claire:

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Dry_Topic_7333 − YTA. You literally said it bothers you when he comes home happy. Your husband is literally bothered by a friend of yours and you completely dismissed it.

This guy said his daughter is "becoming more like her mom" which is not a complaint btw it's just possibly something he notices. My son is more like my wife...

You seem like an unhappy person. Btw - that your friend Claire is married with kids does not make her a good influence. It seems more like her "blunt and...

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Gk_Emphasis110 − YTA and I'm sure that "blunt and opinionated" Claire is likely just as bad as Mark but you refuse to admit it.

Several stress husband is adult, no bad influence shown:

Khabuem − You do seem to be trying to control who your husband hangs out with. I understand not liking Mark. From your description, I also don't like Mark. But...

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If he's neglecting you and the kids or his other responsibilities, that's one thing, but you didn't mention that. YTA. Your husband is an adult. Trust him to be one,...

Relevant-Economy-927 − Yta. Literally said you don’t like how he comes home happy. You’ve said he hasn’t changed at all other than this.

So the problem seems only to be you don’t like this guy. Also, telling him to cut off his friend when you wouldn’t cut off your own if he asked...

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Bearmancartoons − YTA. You said it hasn’t affected your husbands personality or how he treats you so let him have his i__ot friend

suchstuffmanythings − It sounds like you want him to be miserable. YTA.

sevensol7 − \ I don't want to make it seem like I'm trying to control who my husband hangs out with, but his friend Mark is just not a good...

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Your husband is 40 god damn years old. Get off his ass. Oh he goes to hang out 3 or 4 times a month, BFD. Get over yourself. Youre an...

Others note double standards and creep factor irrelevant:

RiddLA311 − You are COMPLETELY in the wrong here. Re-read what you wrote. You come off as very controlling. You just don't like the guy, thats ok. I am sure...

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And you say divorce is not an issue, yet you state that Claire is married with 3 kids, like its ok for her being blunt and opiniated.

Frankly, your husband should be commended for the way he handled that. You didn't mention him yelling or anything. He simply stated that your opinionated friend is equally annoying to...

This rich, not married guy will attract women when at the bar and you are worried about your husband. If thats not the case then kindly get off the mans...

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Specialist_Egg7117 − YTA - who uses friends’ marital status as a testament to their “maturity”?

[Reddit User] − YTA. Remind yourself that you’re his wife and not his mother. Your husband is a big boy! He can tie his own sandals & choose his own...

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medium_buffalo_wings − He sees his friend 3 or 4 times a month? *THE MONSTER! *

Illustrious-Tour-247 − YTA. Why don't you trust him? He goes out 4+ times per month. He trusts you, so what is this about? If your response is, "I trust him,...

Qualifiers are always a dead giveaway. If I were to identify the controlling partner in this relationship, it's clearly you.

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taphin33 − YTA, your husband is an adult - calling a man a bad influence when speaking about the influence on another grown adult is patronizing.

You do judge him for being divorced or you wouldn't have mentioned that your friend is married with kids & it's self rightous to consider yourself the aribiter of good...

He hangs out with his friend (once a week) and comes home in an energetic, good mood and that's why you're mad?

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He has a really good point saying he doesn't like Claire - she sounds rude/judgemental by your descriptor but he doesn't do you the disservice of thinking you'll become like...

How's that any different than how you feel about his friend? You're contradicting yourself - it's either "I told my husband not to hang out with his friend" OR "I...

A few softer takes suggest NAH or communication:

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Constant_Host_3212 − So OP, I'm gonna go with NAH on the information presented, but you have to let go of the "Mark is immature and a bad influence" line. Your...

The question is, do your husband's outings with Mark come at the expense of commitments to you and your two kids, or to his responsibilities to the household? If your...

If he's skipping out on a commitment to take the 8 yr old to soccer practice to go drinking, you have a beef. If he's stopped planning "date nights" with...

But if he's still your loving husband and father who wants to go out once a week with his friend and comes home carefree and happy, where's your beef? You...

ScarletNotThatOne − YTA. You specifically stated that you have not seen any negative behavior as a result of your husband spending time with his finance bro friend. So you may...

Disliking a spouse’s friend happens, but dictating adult hangouts (especially harmless ones) often backfires as controlling. No red flags like neglect shown—just distaste for the pal’s vibe and husband’s fun mood.

Would you tolerate a partner vetoing your friends? Or is occasional bro time fair game in marriage? Debate below!

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