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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband leaves me a list of duties

162 replies

JanineCody · 22/02/2026 13:54

My husband of 18 years bought a little whiteboard a few weeks ago which goes on the fridge so you can write reminders for groceries etc on it but over the past week or so he's been leaving me a list of "duties" on it.

-(My name) "Pick up my suit from the dry cleaners."

-(My name) "Go to Supermarket and get those biscuits I like."

-(My name) " Iron my blue shirt for tomorrow."

-(My name) "Take chicken out of freezer to defrost."

AIBU for thinking I am not his slave?

OP posts:
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 22/02/2026 16:41

Bloody hell he'd only do this once in my house!!

Abd80 · 22/02/2026 16:38

(His name) “fuck off”

seriously though this can’t actually be real

Gatekeeper · 22/02/2026 16:37

0/10

GCAcademic · 22/02/2026 16:37

I find it very hard to believe that this would be happening in your house for a "few weeks" and you would not have commented on it to your husband.

BountifulPantry · 22/02/2026 16:36

lol

completely ignore that.

TrashHeap · 22/02/2026 16:36

"Dear husband, fuck off I am not your skivvy."

Howmanycatsistoomany · 22/02/2026 16:34

What would Janine Cody do to a man who dared to order her around like that? 😂Be more Smurf!

illbetheresunorrain · 22/02/2026 16:34

Back story; what he is like in general? Is he paying all bills and all your family expenses? Is he in the habit of trying to mentor you in other areas of your life?

usedtobeaylis · 22/02/2026 16:30

I can't believe people think "go to supermarket and get those biscuits I like"
and "iron my blue shirt for tomorrow" would be acceptable if she stays at home. Come on to fuck people. That's not an acceptable way for her husband to ask her to do anything. And by ask it's very clear he's ordering her.

Busterbelly · 22/02/2026 16:28

HoskinsChoice · 22/02/2026 13:56

🤣🎣 Nice try but not subtle enough.

Yeah mine makes me wear a fucking red cape with a hood, twat 😂
I just ignore him.

Pistachiocake · 22/02/2026 16:28

It depends on whether you both get to do it, eg if one of you is off work that day and knows the other is available to pick something up, that's fine.
If you both work exactly the same hours/same house duties, and his job is closer to wherever the thing is he wants picked up, it's cheeky.
Surprises me you'd use a whiteboard rather than an app, but whatever works (though your post suggests this doesn't!)

gototogo · 22/02/2026 16:26

does he work full time are you do not? The answer does change my answer. I leave my dh a list some mornings as he’s retired and I am not - things like go to supermarket for x,y and z (he’s no cook), fetch my prescription (pharmacy involves a 15 minute walk and at least that in queuing, I haven’t time) or can you nip in x and make a reservation. He does all the laundry without being asked but if I need something specific as I’ve got a work thing i add that to the list. Always ends xxx

WhereYouLeftIt · 22/02/2026 16:25

-(My name) "Pick up my suit from the dry cleaners."
-(My name) "Go to Supermarket and get those biscuits I like."
-(My name) " Iron my blue shirt for tomorrow."
-(My name) "Take chicken out of freezer to defrost."

I'd be writing "DO IT YOURSELF YOU LAZY FUCKER" next to every 'duty'.

And let's face it, he could have taken the chicken out in the time it took him to write that. Lazy fucker.

And - and it's a big 'and' - does he not know to use the word 'please'? Lazy rude fucker!

Boomer55 · 22/02/2026 16:21

JanineCody · 22/02/2026 13:54

My husband of 18 years bought a little whiteboard a few weeks ago which goes on the fridge so you can write reminders for groceries etc on it but over the past week or so he's been leaving me a list of "duties" on it.

-(My name) "Pick up my suit from the dry cleaners."

-(My name) "Go to Supermarket and get those biscuits I like."

-(My name) " Iron my blue shirt for tomorrow."

-(My name) "Take chicken out of freezer to defrost."

AIBU for thinking I am not his slave?

Have you got sort of problem where reminders are needed? Do you forget things?

If not, it’s a bit odd.

Sowhat1976 · 22/02/2026 16:16

Ignore them. You aren't his PA. You are his wife. Cheeky Fucker.

Skybunnee · 22/02/2026 16:16

I would absolutely NOT do any of those chores - just say you didn’t notice it /them

Nearly50omg · 22/02/2026 16:15

Husband - fuck off and do it yourself you lazy arsehole!

Ilovepastafortea · 22/02/2026 16:14

Tbh I find whiteboards only useful for drawing penises (sic? Penis'? Penii? What is the plural of penis 🤣)

If DGC weren't liable to visit unexpectedly I'd totally do this. 😂😂😂

Ilovepastafortea · 22/02/2026 16:13

I don't think a list of jobs is a dreadful thing per se.

When we had 3 DCs at home I bought a big whiteboard for the kitchen with the DC's chores - eg: whose turn it was to pack & unpack the dishwasher, who's turn to do the bins that kind of thing as well as what everyone was doing that week eg: 'Trevor' rugby practice Weds 5pm, mum take him, MIL collect after collecting 'Sally' from ballet 6:30, mum taking 'Fred' to Cubs Fri 4:30 & collecting 6:30. That kind of thing as well as a space for when we were running out of things so that I could add them to that week's shopping list. I'd also write reminders for me along the lines of 'Fred' opticians Weds 4:00, book 'Trevor' orthodontic appt'.

Sometimes DH would write 'Kids at MIL's for the night Sat- party time for mum & dad!' 😂

However, sometimes I would also leave DH a note to remind him of 'jobs' which would say for eg: please remember to check the downstairs loo as it seems to be running overtime & I think ballcock needs attention, or please remember to fix the shelf in 'Trevor's' room before it comes completely off the wall. If I didn't do that I'd be the one running 3 kids to their various activities, working, cooking, household admin etc & he would conveniently 'forget'. But these didn't go on the family whiteboard as this was between him & me & merely as a reminder for him.

His memory is going now, he likes to do the cooking, but will often make 2 meals, he will forget that it's bin day tomorrow, even though he's asked & I've reminded him several times, he will feed the dog twice. So I've bought a whiteboard that sticks on the fridge. At the top I've written 'Never forget that you are the love of my life' and underneath I will write what is happening today (eg: me working, bins need to be put out, any visitors), what we've decided to eat today, when I've fed the dog.

However, I do think this 'Sarah collect my dry cleaning' Sarah do this, that & the other is rather passive aggressive & treating OP rather like a servant. I'd have tackled my DH about it by now & asked what is going on.

Janblues28 · 22/02/2026 16:12

Hahaha OP is just bought a whiteboard for our kitchen so I could write a daily schedule and list of jobs for my DH because he's fing bone idle and does f all. It's totally passive aggressive but I'm fed up with doing everything. I can't think of one thing he does to help so this was to enforce that.

ThisOliveKoala · 22/02/2026 16:09

itsthetea · 22/02/2026 14:16

Well come context is required - if you are at home and he is working full time , asking you do to a few things for him is reasonable

otherwise , wipe your name off and write his

My thinking exactly - context matters. Are you a homemaker and he works outside of the home @JanineCody

bozzabollix · 22/02/2026 16:07

Stick a note on there saying ‘xxx name, please take the above list and stick it right up your arse’. My husband would be expecting that response.

Chisbots · 22/02/2026 16:05

I have a whiteboard (adhd) and it's very useful.

BUT....I would be quite abusive if I was delegated tasks like that.

NoisyMonster678 · 22/02/2026 16:04

You purchase yourself a white board and write a nice list of things he can do for you because its got to work both ways......then you are both equal.

List the things that he can do which makes your life easier, nothing too exaggerated so he does not show you attitude but things which help you out.

LilyBunch25 · 22/02/2026 15:52

Be in the bin if it was me. Potentially followed by husband.