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DH threw sentimental toys away

256 replies

VSadMum · 15/06/2024 19:16

My DH has an issue with throwing things away without speaking to me first. If he tidies up in our house he just bins stuff without checking it first. He’s binned my passport and other important documents before now. He promised me that he would stop doing that. God forbid if I threw away so much as a paper clip that belonged to him.

About a month ago our 3 y/o DS got hold of a sharpie and you can imagine, he drew on a lot of his toys. He also drew on some toys that had belonged to my older son (21 y/o) that had been passed onto him. I read up that acetone can remove sharpie and put the toys and stuffed toys into bags in the downstairs shower room that we use for storage. I specifically told my DH that I was going to try and get the sharpie off. I’ve been busy, we’ve been on holiday etc and I have two young children who I look after, I hadn’t got round to cleaning the toys up.

There was also a sweet little bear made up of fabrics from clothes I bought for a baby I later miscarried. I liked that my subsequent children played with that bear. I imagined my grandchildren playing with those toys and that bear one day. I wanted to clean it without destroying it so I’ve been looking online for how to do it, so yes, a month later it was still all sitting there, not in the way or anything.

So today I found out he just took it all to the tip. It’s the sentimental value of some of these toys I am most upset about, especially the bear. I can’t replace them. If I had wanted them binned I would have done it myself in the first place. He didn’t ask me about it, or tell me he was going to do it. He told me afterwards. I am very upset, particularly about the toys that belonged to my older son and the bear. (Not his son) They were all really nice wooden toys, a train set, stacking toys etc. there was nothing wrong with them except some sharpie on them. They were quite old and the sort of things I wanted to keep.

He said he did me a favour going to the tip (I asked him to take some stuff from the garden) and I had no right to be mad with him and now he’s sulking. I’ve asked him time and time again to stop just throwing things away. He’s forever binning my things, because he’s decided I don’t need them or it’s rubbish and he always says it’s “accident.” He can’t understand why I’m upset. I’m very upset and mad because he KNEW that I wanted to clean them up. He’s acting like I’m being silly and unreasonable, I don’t think I am. I keep imagine all those well loved little toys sitting in a skip and I’m genuinely so, so upset. I genuinely believe he did it on purpose, as he’s now saying it was accidental. How can it be accidental?

Am I making a big fuss about nothing?

OP posts:
AloeVerity · 15/06/2024 22:28

I think that’s grounds for divorce!

I’m still not over DH losing my original birth certificate. I have a copy and that’s fine, but it was signed by my D Dad who died young. I somehow clung to the fact that it was his handwriting on it! He took it to work for part of a visa application and lost it (along with his own, to be fair). I once tried to explain how upset I was to MIL and she also thought I was being ridiculous, like it was nothing. Dismissive, like your DH. It stings.

ParentsTrapped · 15/06/2024 22:25

OP I just wanted to say I’m so sorry. You are not overreacting - this was truly a horrible thing to do. I really hope you can get the stuff back.

I do think you should seriously reconsider your relationship with this man.

Ellie56 · 15/06/2024 22:20

He is grade A twat. How dare he dump your precious things?

PollyPeachum · 15/06/2024 22:19

Sorry to add to the bad news but it sounds to me as if there is a deliberate and calculating vindictiveness behind his actions of his.
Do some thinking about how he rules the household and his attitude to the children. Quiet thinking first. Then questions to him. More thinking. Explode all over him later if required.

RabbitsRock · 15/06/2024 22:18

Agree with pps - this is just awful OP. I feel so upset & angry on your behalf. Really hope you can get at least some of your precious items back, especially the bear. Will you update us?

noodlezoodle · 15/06/2024 22:05

I'm so sorry and I hope you can get your things back.

I also think this was absolutely intentional. In our house, I am the thrower-awayer and my husband is a bit of a hoarder. Does it drive me mad? Absolutely. Do I ever throw his things away without asking? No, because that would be so disrespectful.

Your husband is a horrible human being and I hope he realises that and tries to make amends.

Soñando25 · 15/06/2024 21:50

Oh I'd be devastated too, especially about the bear 💔I don't think I'd be able to get past this to be honest.,
I agree with others who've suggested going to ask at the tip tomorrow. You just never know and the guys who work at ours are very nice and would try to help I'm sure.
Sorry this has happened.

Iaskedyouthrice · 15/06/2024 21:49

Also agree this was absolutely intentional.
Please do go to the tip first thing if you want these soft toys back @VSadMum they will do their best to help you if you explain. You need to go when it opens though. Any obstacles he puts in your way, jump over them. Won't watch your child? Take child with you or see if someone can watch him for an hour while you are at the tip.
Good luck

PearlJoker · 15/06/2024 21:39

This is 100% abusive, I don’t believe the passport was an acsident either, exactly as someone else said he doesn’t ever seem to throw, his own things away and only he seems to specifically choose things that mean a lot to you to “acsidentaly” throw out I bet he was over the moon to see you panic about losing your passport and than I assume miss out on some opportunity because you did not have it and than he gets to swoop in and save the day by buying you a new one. I would suggest privately don’t tell him seeking a therapist to get some perspective and decide you future. Your post made me so angry for you and I hope that you will find peace and a better future without someone like this.

Alainlechat · 15/06/2024 21:33

@sprigatito exactly. I have experience of this.. one partner seeing my stuff lying round as junk to be moved.. not so much their own stuff lying around in equal measure. Infuriating.

SOxon · 15/06/2024 21:32

IncognitoUsername · 15/06/2024 21:19

The number of people on here suggesting that you throw away something of his is worrying. Is this sort of tit for tat relationship common? Stooping to his level seems childish.
Either forgive him and move on, or leave him and move on.

also provocative, antagonistic, harmful and potentially dangerous

AthenaBasil · 15/06/2024 21:27

He’s horrible! I’d hate that. It’s so intrusive.

Dramatic · 15/06/2024 21:26

I'm with everyone else, he did this on purpose. The fact that he knows he's thrown out really important things of yours in the past should mean that he double and triple checks with you before he throws something in the tip.

I highly doubt the passport was an accident either. This is a form of control and abuse, his reaction just confirms it.

I'm a bit of a hoarder and my DH is the opposite, he'd chuck out everything and anything he could. However, he would never dream of doing this, in fact he bought me some decent boxes to put all my sentimental items in so they'd be neat and tidy and wouldn't get ruined/dusty, don't put up with this shitty man any longer

Boating123 · 15/06/2024 21:21

I agree with everyone else, but if I was with someone who had form for throwing wanted stuff away I would always check what he is taking to the tip, before he goes.

IncognitoUsername · 15/06/2024 21:19

The number of people on here suggesting that you throw away something of his is worrying. Is this sort of tit for tat relationship common? Stooping to his level seems childish.
Either forgive him and move on, or leave him and move on.

fiftyandfat · 15/06/2024 21:15

Of course he did it on purpose.

AFmammaG · 15/06/2024 21:15

He did it before and you forgave him. You forgive him again and he’ll do it again. Your choice.

JT69 · 15/06/2024 21:15

Go to the tip - the guys there are usually super helpful if you can identify which skip maybe and explain. So sorry OP ,I’d be devastated.

ZellyFitzgerald · 15/06/2024 21:14

My husband did this.

He decided to be 'helpful' one day while I was at work and cleared my daughter's room of toys. This included an old doll of mine that I had given her for her first Christmas.

I was devastated and luckily managed to get it back after contacting the lady he sold it to from Facebook.

I then cleared out his clothes and took them to a charity shop including a really shitty 90s hat that he had kept for sentimental value. By the time he got to the charity shop they had surprisingly sold it.

Yeah he learned his lesson, nothing ever leaves our house without being checked by me first.

LeaveTheClocksAlone · 15/06/2024 21:12

DeedlessIndeed · 15/06/2024 20:51

What an absolute cunt. Unless he changed his tune sharpish and started grovelling for an apology I'd tell him to fuck off and out of my life.

This. Tbh even with an apology I don't think I could get past this and I'm not usually in the "LTB" club as it isn't always that straightforward. But I couldn't forgive such cruelty.

Staringatthewalljustmeagain · 15/06/2024 21:10

He did that deliberately. He’s enjoying your pain and enjoying the chance to belittle you for it.

Let that sink in.

If it was me, I’d get that vile prick out of my home and life.

RainbowWoman · 15/06/2024 21:09

@Inkyblue123 That’s abuse in my book. No one should have to live in fear of their things being thrown out in their own home.

sprigatito · 15/06/2024 21:07

Inkyblue123 · 15/06/2024 19:31

I’m so sorry he did that. Although I have to admit if my OH leaves stuff lying around, I ask once, I ask twice for it to be put away and then I bin it without another word. If it’s important stuff, put it away. Do you really think he did it out of spite or becouse he can’t bear to have junk lying all over the place?

Are you serious? That's appalling. Isn't your DH an equal adult in the house? What right do you have to bin his belongings in his own home?

ThunderQween · 15/06/2024 21:02

That is unforgivable and I know it sounds a little silly as it's a bear but it's not just a bear and I'd divorce him

bergamotorange · 15/06/2024 21:01

I just want to acknowledge your feelings, you are not overreacting, this is really dreadful Flowers