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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel hurt my partner never offered to help?

29 replies

PandyDandy · 20/07/2026 18:43

Okay, here goes - new here but would appreciate your thoughts.
I needed my backyard walls painting and because of the costs quoted thought I'd do it myself.
I have medical issues but choose to give things a go basically because I have to. Friends stepped in to help without asking and brought ladders etc which I was so grateful for.
In all we completed the work over the course of a month.
I have a partner who lives 3/4 an hour away and didn't offer at any point to help. Basically if he came up for a weekend I put the work on hold or took time off as quite frankly I was shattered.
He tells me how great I am for getting on with the job in hand and how talented I am, lots of lovely words but no help.
I've helped him with things in the past and absolutely do not expect to be repaid.
Am I being unreasonable to think he could have pitched in and helped?

OP posts:
ThisSereneGoose · 20/07/2026 18:58

It's weird he didn't OFFER because as a partner, he must see you quite a lot? so why wouldn't he.

A friend that was visiting twice a year or something, that would be normal not to offer. It's not expected

UrbanSoul · 20/07/2026 18:56

Perhaps he thought you were doing a good job and wanted the time off to relax when he came over.

LizandDerekGoals · 20/07/2026 18:55

How can he be a partner if he lives 4 hours away?

what have you helped him with? Did he ask?

Hatty65 · 20/07/2026 18:46

I assume it didn't occur to him, if your friends were helping out and you put stuff away when he came.

The sensible thing to have done would have been to say, 'Would you be able to do an hour or so's painting with me this afternoon, just to help out?' if that's what you wanted him to do.