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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

VENT .. are all DH like this??

304 replies

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 10:00

Venting anonymously and name changed for this.

Is this normal because I’m getting fed up of being the one holding it all together!

We have 3 kids , 8,6 & 2. We have the usual amount of stress in our lives , no huge events and DH’s job is medium stress levels I would say.

On paper he is a good dad, sometimes he is amazing. Loves to take them places and does his fair share of drop offs, pick ups and child/house things. Which he reminds me often 🙄

I work part time and have the kids at home or clubs from school pickup until he is back 6pm ish. Usually he leaves early so he has not seen them all day. He comes home, I get that he’s had a long day, but he has such a short fuse with them and it just feels like he does not want to be around them. They are so excited to see him and he just immediately launches into huffing and puffing about the state of the house, the noise, who left this here , stop messing around etc.

Evenings are chaotic, I get it. But he just wants to rush through to bed time. Very low patience, kicks off for the tiniest things, blames it on being hungry/tired etc. I compensate massively by trying to manage their behaviour , keep things running smoothly and happily and it’s getting me down a bit now. I feel worn down by it and I worry it’s upsetting them too.

AIBU?

OP posts:
croydon15 · 14/03/2026 22:33

I just find that men generally are not as patient as women are, mine complain about the noise children are making, to me is normal children playing and doesn't bother me.

Spookyspaghetti · 14/03/2026 22:32

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 11:01

It varys depending on the day and how ‘tricky’ they might be that evening.
sometimes it looks like getting annoyed, yelling and slamming doors, swearing, walking away and storming off. He always comes to say sorry to them after losing his temper but it does upset me/us and create a bit of an atmosphere.

we have spoken about it and he said he’s just a bit stressed to come in to an already noisy, messy house. Which I get. But I feel they deserve the best of him for the short time. I’m not perfect and I don’t want him to think I’m saying I am. It’s tricky .

If I ever try to speak to him about his parenting he gets defensive ‘oh sorry I’m not as perfect as you’ etc

I think in his childhood this was normal

Maybe you need a hobby that keeps you out of the house till 7, then you can come home and huff about the state of the place until he gets the message that, as you both work, this is the way things are and he is equally responsible.

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:31

DaffodilTuesday · 14/03/2026 22:28

I am sorry, but I would describe him as abusive.
You are basically describing behaviour where you modify what you do to ensure he does not lose his temper and then he is also controlling what you do by not letting you leave mess to the next day to clear up. He’s not exactly saying you need to clear it up now, but that is the effect. If he was so bothered by the mess, he would tidy up himself.
I am sure he can regulate his emotions when he is at work.
And as for sex to ‘de-stress’, normal people go to the gym, not expect another person to provide sex. Quite frankly, if a man was behaving like that in my house, my legs would clamp shut.
Do you think he actually sees you as an equal human being to him or a service provider?
Maybe he will listen to a professional, but I would be surprised, to be honest. I think it speaks volumes that you know he won’t listen to you.

Sorry I should have been more clear - what he said about cleaning up he says that to the kids .. not me.

its like the irritate him by just existing and being children

OP posts:
DaffodilTuesday · 14/03/2026 22:28

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 21:12

Thanks for all the replies - it’s a bit divided! I guess it’s not black and white. A few answers to questions:

  • his commute is 40 mins on his own in the car
  • he will come in and make a tea straight away, and usually eat. During this time if they are happy to sit calmly with him and have a cuddle he is good. If they are a bit bouncy (usually) and loud he struggles to cope with it.
  • it can take any amount of time between 5 mins of being home to 1 hour but he usually has at least one outburst , it’s unpredictable
  • I have found myself trying to madly tidy up and get them ‘calm’ or watching tv before he comes home to avoid the atmosphere
  • sometimes he’s also like it on the weekends especially if we are busy
  • I don’t believe he’s having an affair as I know the hours he’s actually at work and I don’t think he’d have the time or energy!
  • he is early 40s and the third was planned
  • he’s always been like this
  • yes he will tidy up himself but it’s the priority rather than spending a small amount of happy times with the kids

An example, Friday night he came home a bit later and the children are upstairs, dinner is already done by me and cleaned up. Normal level of after school mess downstairs. Little one in the bath and big two playing in their room - normal kids stuff they still ‘play’ and make a mess

When he comes up his first reaction is ‘oh my god this place is a shit tip clean it up now I know what will happen you will leave it all til tomorrow ‘ and so on , storms off and sits on his phone while the little ones in the bath. He then gets annoyed with her and raises his voice as she tipped some water out the bath.

it just feels like he can’t regulate his emotions and the eldest is starting to copy a few things :( especially the door slamming

I wouldn’t describe him as abusive but he definitely makes me feel silly when I raise things . You are lucky to have a husband who cooks and knows where the hoover is etc

his dad did eff all growing up

I am sorry, but I would describe him as abusive.
You are basically describing behaviour where you modify what you do to ensure he does not lose his temper and then he is also controlling what you do by not letting you leave mess to the next day to clear up. He’s not exactly saying you need to clear it up now, but that is the effect. If he was so bothered by the mess, he would tidy up himself.
I am sure he can regulate his emotions when he is at work.
And as for sex to ‘de-stress’, normal people go to the gym, not expect another person to provide sex. Quite frankly, if a man was behaving like that in my house, my legs would clamp shut.
Do you think he actually sees you as an equal human being to him or a service provider?
Maybe he will listen to a professional, but I would be surprised, to be honest. I think it speaks volumes that you know he won’t listen to you.

sittingonabeach · 14/03/2026 22:27

The more you post the worse he sounds. Maybe you need counselling to help you leave him. He is not a good dad or a good partner

Doteycat · 14/03/2026 22:27

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:21

I will try and find a good time to speak to him about it and maybe broach the subject of counselling. Friends who have been married a long time recommend it to get ‘on the same page’

I think there is more chance of him taking me seriously if a professional is present!

Recommend what?
Ive been married a long long time and my dh has never had to 'get it'. Shameful behaviour from your dh.
Ive been married a long time and we reared 3 kids and ran a business.
Not once and i mean not once did he swear at those kids in anger.
At 22 my youngest still hugs him when he comes in from work.

My father? The angry name calling swearing one?
Oh i went no contact with him a long long long time ago and thankfully now hes dead.
Think about what your kids are living with.

echt · 14/03/2026 22:26

The door slamming and swearing is abusive behaviour.
Not a nice man at all.

BudgetBuster · 14/03/2026 22:23

Iloveluna · 14/03/2026 22:20

Stop that. Let him get in. Let him take his shoes off etc, and sit down. Get the kids to make him a cup of tea and get him a biscuit or something while he does this.

@SockPlant mate you got confused. Her husband isn’t the toddler.

Get him a biscuit

😂 @Iloveluna Not the toddler either... Sounds like the dog if he needs a biscuit to be a good boy

WinterSunglasses · 14/03/2026 22:21

When he comes up his first reaction is ‘oh my god this place is a shit tip clean it up now I know what will happen you will leave it all til tomorrow

Seriously? Is all the cleaning up always down to you? Because he's the man with the big man job? Never mind him kicking off, I'd be furious if I'd dashed straight from work to pick up my kids, went home and was straight into playing, getting them bathed, making tea, and Mr Big Job who has a 40 minute commute where he doesn't have to speak to anyone, and can presumably listen to music or a podcast or soothing nature sounds, strolled in and was arsy because the house wasn't tidy and the kids were excited to see him. What a dick!

And he's still getting to have sex with you five or six times a week because it's 'important' to him? Bloody hell. He landed on his feet with you all right.

BudgetBuster · 14/03/2026 22:21

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:06

It’s such a shame because when life is easy like if we are on holiday for example he is a kind, loving and happy dad.

but the minute one thing is off kilter - he is tired, been working, one of them is sick, not sleeping, they are fighting, bad behaviour, too noisy /messy he just can’t deal with it

I feel he is not taking the rough with the smooth and I have to pick up the pieces/ compensate

I wouldn't call.amu of those things "off kilter" though... they are just life. With 3 kids, you basically run a mini hospital year-round, working - yep that happens 46+ weeks of the year, tired - yep that's parenting and working FT, fighting - typical sibling behaviour!

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:21

Doteycat · 14/03/2026 22:17

"Get it?"
Hes gross.
What are you going to do?
Also, no, not all 'dh' are like this.
Only the abusive ones.

I will try and find a good time to speak to him about it and maybe broach the subject of counselling. Friends who have been married a long time recommend it to get ‘on the same page’

I think there is more chance of him taking me seriously if a professional is present!

OP posts:
Iloveluna · 14/03/2026 22:20

Stop that. Let him get in. Let him take his shoes off etc, and sit down. Get the kids to make him a cup of tea and get him a biscuit or something while he does this.

@SockPlant mate you got confused. Her husband isn’t the toddler.

Doteycat · 14/03/2026 22:17

"Get it?"
Hes gross.
What are you going to do?
Also, no, not all 'dh' are like this.
Only the abusive ones.

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:14

Poohbear333 · 14/03/2026 22:08

But he has the energy for sex 5/6 times a week??

Yep - big part of how he ‘de-stresses’
don’t get me started on that!

he doesn’t always get it that frequently mind you but that’s his preference

OP posts:
Doteycat · 14/03/2026 22:10

Poohbear333 · 14/03/2026 22:08

But he has the energy for sex 5/6 times a week??

Just another example of the abuse.

BudgetBuster · 14/03/2026 22:09

Daygloboo · 14/03/2026 21:53

This. I think you are unreasonable. Give the bloke a break. He's been working all day ffs. He's only human. God some of.the women on MN. They want everything their way and dont give an inch to anybody else. FFS.

The OP is also working, and getting the kids to and out the door, to their activities, doing homework, making dinner, doing school pickup and drop off.

It's not unreasonable to expect that a parent won't come home everyday and have some.sort of outburst at his children? Nobody can expect to be happy go lucky everyday, and everyone has stressful and grumpy days but outbursts at your kids Everyday... thats extreme.

Doteycat · 14/03/2026 22:09

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:06

It’s such a shame because when life is easy like if we are on holiday for example he is a kind, loving and happy dad.

but the minute one thing is off kilter - he is tired, been working, one of them is sick, not sleeping, they are fighting, bad behaviour, too noisy /messy he just can’t deal with it

I feel he is not taking the rough with the smooth and I have to pick up the pieces/ compensate

My dad was lovely on holidays too. And christmas.
It was all the other days he was an abusive bastard. Shouting. Swearing. Beat my mother. We tiptoed around him.
If he was tired or upset or discommoded at all, we paid the price.
A disgrace of a human.
So hes lovely sometimes meana fuck all.

Poohbear333 · 14/03/2026 22:08

But he has the energy for sex 5/6 times a week??

RancidRuby · 14/03/2026 22:08

Calmdownfolks · 14/03/2026 22:00

I think you should think about his nutrition. Does he eat lunch? I'v noticed a lot of men don't eat well at lunchtime. Is he having enough protein? Really, check his diet first. Low blood sugar can make you snappy, impatient and sensitive. Even being dehydrated can really cause problems.

How about he checks his own bloody diet and takes some responsibility for himself. He’s a man, not a toddler, and OP isn’t his mother.

ShakeNCake · 14/03/2026 22:06

pikkumyy77 · 14/03/2026 20:51

Isn’t that what the commute does, though? Its time alone to decompress.

No i work on my commutes (train) its quiet time to finish off the things I didn't get done or prepare for the day ahead

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 22:06

It’s such a shame because when life is easy like if we are on holiday for example he is a kind, loving and happy dad.

but the minute one thing is off kilter - he is tired, been working, one of them is sick, not sleeping, they are fighting, bad behaviour, too noisy /messy he just can’t deal with it

I feel he is not taking the rough with the smooth and I have to pick up the pieces/ compensate

OP posts:
Poohbear333 · 14/03/2026 22:01

I’m so sorry he just sounds absolute awful. Have his cake and eat it. Sadly you’re enabling his behaviour by tiptoeing around him asking your children to do the same. I’m sure this is unknowingly. Just my perspective, Which obviously doesn’t mean it’s true

Calmdownfolks · 14/03/2026 22:00

I think you should think about his nutrition. Does he eat lunch? I'v noticed a lot of men don't eat well at lunchtime. Is he having enough protein? Really, check his diet first. Low blood sugar can make you snappy, impatient and sensitive. Even being dehydrated can really cause problems.

Devilsmommy · 14/03/2026 21:58

Lifestresslifestress · 14/03/2026 10:07

I mean … pestering not really they are more likely to pester me! They just want a hug and then carry on with whatever they are doing and he has a cuppa whilst huffing about what a mess they’ve made or how noisy they are. just normal child noise for 6pm imo

He just has low tolerance and I feel it’s sad as he hasn’t seen them all day …

He sounds bloody horrible. My 3 year old runs straight up to his dad when he comes back from work and my DH is so happy to see him that he'll happily cuddle him and play with him. Especially as he's only seen him for probably 30 minutes in the morning and he's only got an hour or so until little one goes to bed. He loves spending that time with him. And that's after a long day of manual labour. Your husband is a selfish arsehole

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 14/03/2026 21:57

Thought the same