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Husband calls me 'Nag Wife'

215 replies

anonymouslt123 · 27/07/2024 07:20

Hi mumsnet. Posting with a throwaway account.

My husband (35M), married for 3 years, has been calling me 'Nag Wife' as a nickname. I don't even think I nag that much, but he says it (as a joke, apparently) every time I ask him to do anything. Like, he'll call me Nag Wife while I'm vacuuming or cleaning up after him, or say that washing up etc are 'Nag Wife activities'. I know it's a joke (and I actually don't mind doing the housework), but is it? His latest 'joke' is to do a fake dejected sigh any time I ask him to do anything, like make me a cup of tea, and say 'Yes Nag Wife'.

He even has me saved in his phone as Nag Wife...

I spoke to him and he says it's a joke, but am I being disrespected? Or am I overthinking things?

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 28/07/2024 17:57

correct response is Lazy arsed dickhead moron.

Pyewacketty · 28/07/2024 17:54

anonymouslt123 · 27/07/2024 12:53

Wow, thanks everyone. I didn't expect this many people to get back in touch.

I'm going to have a talk with him tonight (and maybe use a few choice names in his direction!).

I'll let you know how it goes when he gets back. He likes to imitate my voice (it's an awful impression, another 'joke' from Captain Comedy), but I think I need to be serious. Thx all.

I wonder how he talks about other people in his life? I had an ex whose idea of a joke or banter always involved putting someone else down, whether it was his allegedly stupid work colleagues, people on tv or even his friends and members of his family. Soon the jokes became directed at me. If someone’s idea of fun is constantly belittling others that won’t change, get yourself gone xxx

Ethylred · 28/07/2024 17:51

Not funny in the slightest.

Pyewacketty · 28/07/2024 17:45

Nope. This is appalling and insulting. It isn’t a joke, as he is using it to make sure you do all the housework and wait on him hand and foot. Has he been engaging with red pill, trad wife, alpha male crap online? It certainly sounds like it.
You are, I am sure, aware of the double meaning here. A nag is someone who is constantly demanding that others do as they are told, but it also means an old, broken down, workhorse. If this is genuinely how your husband sees you then you seriously need to rethink this marriage. He is being abusive and manipulative. Don’t put up with it.

Pinkbonbon · 28/07/2024 11:42

This type of disrespect is common from abusers. Aim is to break your spirit over time and make you feel your wants and needs are not valid.

Then the 'it's a joke/you musunderstood/you overreact/you're too sensitive' kicks in when you react to their goading. They twist your reaction onto you to make you feel they are the injured, misunderstood party.

'Don't ever mock my voice again. And don't make nasty, belittling jokes at my expense anymore either. You also need to start doing your share in the home. This is your first and last warning. Buck your shit up, because I won't remain married to a contemptuous manchild'.

He won't change unfortunately. Not for long anyway. Because he has contempt for you and that doesn't go away. It can only be temporarily hidden.

But at least you know you tried. And can walk away drom the marriage with your head head high should he revert back to being a nasty prick.
Don't waste your life changing yourself in the hopes of trying to fix someone else's issues. You can't. Because you aren't the problem.

SharonEllis · 28/07/2024 08:47

Hope it went ok op.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 27/07/2024 21:22

What redeeming features does he have?

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 27/07/2024 21:17

How incredibly unattractive. How does your fanny not just clamp shut?

SharonEllis · 27/07/2024 19:33

anonymouslt123 · 27/07/2024 12:53

Wow, thanks everyone. I didn't expect this many people to get back in touch.

I'm going to have a talk with him tonight (and maybe use a few choice names in his direction!).

I'll let you know how it goes when he gets back. He likes to imitate my voice (it's an awful impression, another 'joke' from Captain Comedy), but I think I need to be serious. Thx all.

To imitate your voice, unless its part of a wholly mutual, affectionate shared joke, is so nasty I can't believe you are still with this man. No decent person would do that to another human, never mind a partner. My stepmother used to do it & it made me feel so humiliated.

WhichEllie · 27/07/2024 18:05

If you’re going to give him a nickname of his own I think Loser Manchild has more bite than most of the ones suggested.

I’d use his name to set up an Alexa command so I could say “Alexa, play Fred’s song” whenever he walked into a room and it would play Short Dick Man.

My serious advice is to just divorce him though.

Sicario · 27/07/2024 18:02

He is dehumanising you and stripping you of your identity and autonomy.

It's a tactic used by men to break down your self-esteem.

Tell him to call you by your name, and to stop doing the "impressions" which are designed to humiliate you.

If he's not capable of having a healthy, adult, respectful relationship, you're probably on a hiding to nothing.

Therealjudgejudy · 27/07/2024 17:58

Jokes are supposed to be funny. He is not

He is a disrespectful sad man

LostittoBostik · 27/07/2024 17:43

Don't have children with this one...

Seeingadistance · 27/07/2024 17:41

Time to call him ex-husband.

NigellaAwesome · 27/07/2024 17:38

Please don't resort to calling him names back, because then he will seize that as justification to continue. If my DH tried to mock my voice he would do it only once.

TheoriginalMrsDarcy · 27/07/2024 17:35

He sounds childish and disrespectful.

I'd save him as 'Dickhead hubs' under my phone and when u need his attention for something.. 'hey dickhead, can you go take the bins out please?'.

I know it's tit for tat but he deserves it.

Hope you get it sorted.

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 27/07/2024 15:51

He sounds like an annoying knob head

ZebraD · 27/07/2024 15:00

LydiaTomos · 27/07/2024 07:22

No, not right at all. Do you have a name for him?

I would say nobhead would be appropriate!

neilyoungismyhero · 27/07/2024 14:49

I'd be calling him dickhead husband- it'll be fine it's a really funny joke after all.!

stayathomer · 27/07/2024 14:45

no, really sorry but as a once off I’d roll my eyes and laugh, but as a constant thing I think I’d lose it as some stage. He wouldn’t like to be layabout husband or anything!

Candlelights1 · 27/07/2024 14:44

Mocking your voice??? Bloody hell OP, have you really no idea just how viciously disrespectful he is of you?

Candlelights1 · 27/07/2024 14:42

Nanny0gg · 27/07/2024 11:02

Not sure that works in the event of a divorce, does it?

If it is held in an account in the sole name of the inheritance recipient it is.

If it was used to fund a new marital home or pay off a jointly held morgage, then it becomes a shared marital asset and any spouse would be fully entitled to their share upon divorce.

ZoeLoey · 27/07/2024 14:04

You're being disrespected. Make one for him equally as hurtful. Don't stop calling him it. If he can dish it out, let him take it too.

januaryjan · 27/07/2024 13:43

I'm going to have a talk with him tonight (and maybe use a few choice names in his direction!).

I was going to suggest Doofus, and then I read,

He likes to imitate my voice.

OP this guy is a piece of work. Mocking you and belittling you all wrapped up in the guise of a joke. Does he say/do other things to chip at your confidence or to invalidate you or make you second guess yourself?

I think I need to be serious.
Yes. You do.

Forget about calling him names too. Call him out on his behaviour - you are 100% correct in thinking that it is not right. Generally, you do not disrespect people that you like, never mind disrespecting the person you are meant to love. The old chestnut 'it's just a joke' 'or you can't take a joke' are the words of a gaslighter and a bully.

Your husband of 3 years is meant to love you, not insult you, or gaslight you, to the point that you have to come to mumsnet to check if it's you that has the problem.

Kiitos · 27/07/2024 13:41

He sounds absolutely vile. Calling you names and mocking your voice. He has no respect for you at all. I’m not sure this is salvageable at this point but if you want to try and make it work, tell him ONE more instance and it’s game over.
Saving that in his phone as your name is awful too as I imagine other people will see it when you call etc

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