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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not sure what to think of this photo caption

63 replies

Pleasenomorespiders · 04/08/2026 17:23

A male colleague has posted a photo of his wife and their 4 young kids (all under 8 or so) he's put '4 kids, and she's still got a great figure!' Maybe I'm reading into too much but I find it a bit off?

OP posts:
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Sunshineandgrapefruit · 05/08/2026 17:42

If you're not his wife then it's not up to you to be offended.

Pleasedontdoitagain · 05/08/2026 17:22

Rumpledandcrumpled · 05/08/2026 16:56

Because it wasn’t about you, it was about them, and if they are both comfortable with the compliment thays all that matters.; not you deciding he’s not allowed.

How do you know his wife was comfortable about either him posting the photo- a lot of people now realise the dangers of posting photos of children on social media - or about him publicly commenting on her body.

I presume all the pp who are OK with him telling the world what he thinks of her body will also be OK with him publicly telling every body in the future what he thinks of her body if she happens to put on weight or similar?

Some things are best kept private and a man's thought on his partners body are one of them.

Rumpledandcrumpled · 05/08/2026 16:57

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 15:14

I mean, talking about stuff that's on your mind is literally what social media is for.

And most people do caption their pictures because, again, that's what social media's for. People just caption a picture with whatever the picture makes them think of in the moment. And as photos are are visual medium, it's pretty reasonable and understandable that he looked at it and thought 'God, she looks great there, nobody would ever think she was a mum of four' and just fired off a caption to that effect. It's not my thing, but it's also not the deeply significant act that you think it is.

My mum once posted a picture of my dad on their wedding anniversary and captioned it something like '50 years married to Mike and he's still always the most handsome man in the room'. I don't think that's any different, really. I'm pretty sure nobody took that to mean his face was the only thing she valued about him.

Yes but she’s a woman so no one gets irate, when a man does it, then ifs heinous as you’re not allowed to compliment your wife’s figure,

Rumpledandcrumpled · 05/08/2026 16:56

Pleasedontdoitagain · 05/08/2026 14:58

Why make any comment at all? There was no need to post a caption. Why talk about his views on his wife's body ?

Because it wasn’t about you, it was about them, and if they are both comfortable with the compliment thays all that matters.; not you deciding he’s not allowed.

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 15:14

Pleasedontdoitagain · 05/08/2026 14:58

Why make any comment at all? There was no need to post a caption. Why talk about his views on his wife's body ?

I mean, talking about stuff that's on your mind is literally what social media is for.

And most people do caption their pictures because, again, that's what social media's for. People just caption a picture with whatever the picture makes them think of in the moment. And as photos are are visual medium, it's pretty reasonable and understandable that he looked at it and thought 'God, she looks great there, nobody would ever think she was a mum of four' and just fired off a caption to that effect. It's not my thing, but it's also not the deeply significant act that you think it is.

My mum once posted a picture of my dad on their wedding anniversary and captioned it something like '50 years married to Mike and he's still always the most handsome man in the room'. I don't think that's any different, really. I'm pretty sure nobody took that to mean his face was the only thing she valued about him.

Pleasedontdoitagain · 05/08/2026 14:58

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 14:54

It doesn't imply it's the ONLY thing he likes about her. It implies that it's ONE OF the things he likes about her, which is hardly a crime given that she's his wife.

Do you that every time someone says something nice about their partner, they have to list all the other things as well for the sake of balance? And do genuinely think that that one social media caption is summarising every single nice thought he's ever had about his wife?

Christ alive, my DP is very much not chauvinistic in the least, but when he gives my bum a little squeeze and tells me I look nice in a new pair of jeans, I wouldn't expect him to add '...and of course, you also have a degree and are good at running.'

Why make any comment at all? There was no need to post a caption. Why talk about his views on his wife's body ?

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 14:54

Pleasedontdoitagain · 04/08/2026 17:42

Well I agree with you OP.
To me it implies that producing children and her body are the only things he values her for.

It doesn't imply it's the ONLY thing he likes about her. It implies that it's ONE OF the things he likes about her, which is hardly a crime given that she's his wife.

Do you that every time someone says something nice about their partner, they have to list all the other things as well for the sake of balance? And do genuinely think that that one social media caption is summarising every single nice thought he's ever had about his wife?

Christ alive, my DP is very much not chauvinistic in the least, but when he gives my bum a little squeeze and tells me I look nice in a new pair of jeans, I wouldn't expect him to add '...and of course, you also have a degree and are good at running.'

UniquePinkSwan · 05/08/2026 14:26

This reply has been deleted

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BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 14:24

Pleasenomorespiders · 04/08/2026 17:36

Not triggered anything, I don't have kids. Just found it a bit chauvinistic.

Not really chauvinistic to pay his wife a compliment about her appearance, is it?

Mumsnet is always full of threads from people who feel really sad about the fact that their husbands never say they look nice or notice their appearance. This man is doing that. Social media isn't where I'd want my partner to do that as I just think it's a naff platform for it. I'd rather he just told me to my face. But I really don't find anything chauvinistic about the actual sentiment.

getthroughonemoreday · 05/08/2026 14:00

I'd find it gross (and embarrassing if I were his wife), but whatever. Some people wouldn't be bothered. Some would be flattered. I'd just roll my eyes and be glad I wasn't his wife.

youalright · 05/08/2026 13:55

My god people can't say anything anymore

CoatiCutie · 05/08/2026 13:46

jfc - men really can do no right on here can they?! god forbid a husband finds his wife hot!

Imightbeinthewronghere · 05/08/2026 13:14

Where was it posted, on a work channel or his own social media?

FriendlyMedusa · 05/08/2026 13:00

VestibuleWeaver · 04/08/2026 17:37

Chauvinistic, or just stating a fact?

Chauvinistic.

Imagine if I posted my DH and said "still looks good even though he's 50" - Compliments with an element of "still x despite y" verge on negging.

It's also just really weird to tell your friends and family that your wife has a hot bod. I already assume you are attracted to your wife... Is it important that other people acknowledge your wife's fuckability?? 😂

Comeonelieen · 05/08/2026 12:46

Rumpledandcrumpled · 04/08/2026 18:44

Why you think it means his marriage is simokh about her body, there is no love, no cooarenting, no shared values, just this. Bit of a leap, no?

No

cantsleepneedsleep · 05/08/2026 07:24

VestibuleWeaver · 04/08/2026 18:06

Hair loss is not something men can prevent, so it's hardly the same thing.

How does a pregnant women prevent things such as her abs separating, a 3rd degree tear, a prolapse, feet or hips widening?

JacknDiane · 05/08/2026 07:20

Jesus , it sounds like a 2 sentence post hes made, do we really need everything he admires her for written there?
@Pleasenomorespiders get a life, seriously.

Flyingdolphins · 05/08/2026 07:16

It would give me the ick to be honest but it's not my husband. After four kids there must be some other achievements/things to be proud of beyond just what she looks like. However if it was just a holiday picture I guess that wasn't the point of the post.

Funchythesnowwoman · 04/08/2026 22:23

@mondaytosunday
The op hasn’t said where he posted it.

mondaytosunday · 04/08/2026 22:17

If I was his wife I’d be pissed off. Totally inappropriate, particularly in a work space.

FaceEatingLeopard · 04/08/2026 22:16

YABU. This is the very definition of ‘nothing else to worry about’.

Rumpledandcrumpled · 04/08/2026 22:12

MrsOni · 04/08/2026 21:16

Of course it is. It's basically saying that the most important thing of this woman having 4 kids is that her husband thinks she is still hot.

FFS.

Right as you know he’s never posted anything else about her, never complimented her on anything else, never told her he loves anything else about her

you know this? Or you’re talking nonsense. Got to be one.

HollyhocksandPeons · 04/08/2026 21:41

No mean feat, honestly. If she is proud to show off like that, why not? None of anybody's business? Surely the photo was taken and posted with her consent, not surreptitiously?

MrsOni · 04/08/2026 21:16

Rumpledandcrumpled · 04/08/2026 18:43

Don’t be daft it’s not chauvinistic. A woman can post her husband has a great body. He’s simply saying after the trauma of growing and birthing 4 kids she still looks great, I’d say that to a female friend, and I’m a woman.

Of course it is. It's basically saying that the most important thing of this woman having 4 kids is that her husband thinks she is still hot.

FFS.

MyLimeGuide · 04/08/2026 18:46

Rumpledandcrumpled · 04/08/2026 18:44

Why you think it means his marriage is simokh about her body, there is no love, no cooarenting, no shared values, just this. Bit of a leap, no?

I think your response to this comment is the leap of all leap responses!