Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be annoyed by my husband's rude morning behaviour?

207 replies

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 09:30

This might be perimenopausal rage so just need you ladies to tell me if I'm being unreasonable.
Every morning I get up before my DD, I pack her lunch and schoolbag, make her breakfast, feed the dog, log on to work,make sure she gets out of bed on time and washes face/brushes teeth/gets dressed then I sit at the table with her chatting to her and simultaneously working on my laptop while she eats breakfast.

My DH usually works weekends so hes off during the week but he gets up 20 mins after DD (1hr 20mins after me) and barely says hello. He goes and sits in the living room and has his coffee alone, then after me and DD have usually had a pretty calm nice morning he will emerge from his solitude to start angrily rushing DD as he is the one who walks her to school.
Today my mum very kindly called during the morning and took a basket of our laundry to do as our washing machine packed up, it was a very kind offer from her so i was very grateful but DH barely said hello to her and didn't come into the kitchen at all while my mum sat and had coffee with me and DD.

I know I'm kind of being a martyr listing all the things I do but like I don't even care that I do everything if he wasn't so bloody rude.
Hes going through ND diagnosis so perhaps that's a factor but still AIBU to be annoyed about his rudeness?

OP posts:
Bookwormlass · 07/09/2026 14:53

I don't understand why so many people are fixating on the MIL popping round for the laundry . I'm sure it's a rare occurrence not an everyday one.
I also loathe people that use a medical condition as an excuse to be rude. Manners cost absolutely nothing.
What does he do all week, when he isn't at work? Other than the school run, does he do any of the household chores or food shop?
Have you had a sit down, talk with him? Not just about his behaviour, but about whether or not he is happy? It sounds to me that neither of you are, I certainly wouldn't want to stay in an unhappy marriage, it doesn't do anyone any good, even the children.
Would you and your husband be open to couples therapy?

Lizchapman · 07/09/2026 14:50

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 09:51

If my mother in law called to the house specifically to do a favour for my family the least I would do is make her a coffee and have a 5 min chat with her to say thank you.

Am I insane to think that this is just good manners?

I know I’m a morning person but I’m with you on this. Even though I’m not an evening person if that happened in the evening I could manage basic politeness.

Clemmie92 · 07/09/2026 14:47

Sponge321 · 07/09/2026 14:41

Similar here since my eldest started high school. I get up and get everyone/everything ready then he rolls out of bed 5 minutes before its time to go and starts bossing everyone about or quizzing me about if they've got everything they need. I'm hoping the novelty will wear off and he'll go back to sleeping until we're all out of the house as it just gets everyone on edge and ruins our relaxed happy mornings. Hes also got an equally annoying habit of coming up and winding my youngest up at bedtime when I'm in the middle of reading his bedtime story. It's infuriating

Fabulous example of controlling and weaponised incompetence.

Clemmie92 · 07/09/2026 14:46

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 09:30

This might be perimenopausal rage so just need you ladies to tell me if I'm being unreasonable.
Every morning I get up before my DD, I pack her lunch and schoolbag, make her breakfast, feed the dog, log on to work,make sure she gets out of bed on time and washes face/brushes teeth/gets dressed then I sit at the table with her chatting to her and simultaneously working on my laptop while she eats breakfast.

My DH usually works weekends so hes off during the week but he gets up 20 mins after DD (1hr 20mins after me) and barely says hello. He goes and sits in the living room and has his coffee alone, then after me and DD have usually had a pretty calm nice morning he will emerge from his solitude to start angrily rushing DD as he is the one who walks her to school.
Today my mum very kindly called during the morning and took a basket of our laundry to do as our washing machine packed up, it was a very kind offer from her so i was very grateful but DH barely said hello to her and didn't come into the kitchen at all while my mum sat and had coffee with me and DD.

I know I'm kind of being a martyr listing all the things I do but like I don't even care that I do everything if he wasn't so bloody rude.
Hes going through ND diagnosis so perhaps that's a factor but still AIBU to be annoyed about his rudeness?

Wow. So you have a teenager who needs mothering and a daughter who is growing up witnessing this. Also, stop using ND as an excuse, for goodness sake he’s a grown man. How do mothers who are ND cope?! I’m a single mother who is ND, I have to find ways to cope. Imagine if I turned around and said I won’t get out of bed until late, do the bare minimum and won’t talk to my children?!

Start thinking of your daughter and what she is witnessing, think how better and calmer her childhood would be. This isn’t fair, if you’re still scared to talk to him then you need to realise you’re in an abusive situation. Or if you can, give him an ultimatum, as others have said he hardly works so I don’t see the issue in him getting up and adjusting like a grown adult.

Sponge321 · 07/09/2026 14:41

Similar here since my eldest started high school. I get up and get everyone/everything ready then he rolls out of bed 5 minutes before its time to go and starts bossing everyone about or quizzing me about if they've got everything they need. I'm hoping the novelty will wear off and he'll go back to sleeping until we're all out of the house as it just gets everyone on edge and ruins our relaxed happy mornings. Hes also got an equally annoying habit of coming up and winding my youngest up at bedtime when I'm in the middle of reading his bedtime story. It's infuriating

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 07/09/2026 14:24

I understand not wanting to be sociable in the morning but that doesn't mean its OK to black people. A basic 'morning' should be the minimum, particularly if he expects this from your daughter

I think it's OK to take some time for himself if he is then doing the school run and it takes a similar amount of time as getting her ready, if tasks are generally split fairly. It sounds like you would rather he doesn't spend time with you anyway.

However he should not be angrily rushing her every day, unless she is deliberately ignoring things / dawdling and being constantly late, in which case you need to sit down the three of her to sort it out (eg my kids have no TV until they're ready otherwise it takes twice as long for them to eat).

It sounds like this relationship is pretty much over. Maybe start working towards a split now, because your daughter will be getting herself ready for school and getting herself there before you know it.

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 14:14

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 07/09/2026 14:07

But she’s your mum, not his - there’s absolutely no reason he needs to come and thank her and have a chat when you’re right there and have already done it.

He is off today I'm working but I've literally done EVERYTHING all morning he did absolutely nothing up to that point but its too much to ask that he make his mother in law a coffee and thank her in advance for washing his dirty underwear?
Honestly mumsnet really gives an insight into how other people's brains work I never would have thought my idea of basic good manners would be considered so outrageous

OP posts:
Dweetfidilove · 07/09/2026 14:14

I'm not a morning person, but I choose to be polite.
'Good morning' never spoiled a morning, unless said to you by the enemy ☹️.
YANBU, OP.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 07/09/2026 14:07

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 13:47

She turned up at 8.45am to collect a basket of laundry that she was taking home to wash in her machine as a favour for us. I suppose i should have just thrown the basket of laundry at her and slammed the door in her face.

Edited

But she’s your mum, not his - there’s absolutely no reason he needs to come and thank her and have a chat when you’re right there and have already done it.

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 13:47

nomoreraintoday · 07/09/2026 13:45

If my MIL turned up at 8am for a coffee and a chat I would be hiding upstairs. I love my MIL but I don’t want to chat to anyone in the morning.

She turned up at 8.45am to collect a basket of laundry that she was taking home to wash in her machine as a favour for us. I suppose i should have just thrown the basket of laundry at her and slammed the door in her face.

OP posts:
Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 13:46

FatMrsHoot · 07/09/2026 13:29

Again, would he even want that? He sounds so uninvolved! If you wanted sole custody and he just spent a day with her then gave her back, would he object to this arrangement? Hand on heart? Or would he be relieved to go back to his miserable grumpy routine? 🤔

Full disclosure, my mum didn't leave my dad when she should have, and I still harbor a lot of resentment about that. When I found out they "stayed together for the children" I was seething because I perceived it as being blamed for everyone being in that situation.

I'm a big girl now with my own children, but those scars run deep.

I don't know i think he would definitely look to take her overnight at least once a week and its a risk that I'm not willing to take when she's still very young.
I'm not staying "for my DD" I'm staying for me because I don't want to seperated from DD.

OP posts:
nomoreraintoday · 07/09/2026 13:45

If my MIL turned up at 8am for a coffee and a chat I would be hiding upstairs. I love my MIL but I don’t want to chat to anyone in the morning.

FatMrsHoot · 07/09/2026 13:29

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 12:35

Unlikely but even if it was 1 or 2 days a week that's too much fot me to be away from her when she's still little and for her to have to deal with his grumpiness all by herself... I just couldn't

Again, would he even want that? He sounds so uninvolved! If you wanted sole custody and he just spent a day with her then gave her back, would he object to this arrangement? Hand on heart? Or would he be relieved to go back to his miserable grumpy routine? 🤔

Full disclosure, my mum didn't leave my dad when she should have, and I still harbor a lot of resentment about that. When I found out they "stayed together for the children" I was seething because I perceived it as being blamed for everyone being in that situation.

I'm a big girl now with my own children, but those scars run deep.

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 13:28

SapphireOpal · 07/09/2026 13:28

Sorry but it would irritate the shit out of me if MIL popped round early in the morning to pick up a load of washing. I'd much rather do the washing myself.

He could have done that but she offered to do it he didn't.

OP posts:
SapphireOpal · 07/09/2026 13:28

Sorry but it would irritate the shit out of me if MIL popped round early in the morning to pick up a load of washing. I'd much rather do the washing myself.

Bronzeacorn · 07/09/2026 13:25

parakeet · 07/09/2026 13:13

If it is one parent's job to get a child ready to leave for school, and a different parent's job to actually take them, then this is quite likely to lead to conflict.
But why is it your job to get her ready for school on a day when you are working and he is off work? That is madness.

I know it is madness but DD HATES it when he gets up with her as he's grumpy and rushes her and she says he "ruins" her morning. One day a week he has to do it though as I'm in the office. I totally get where she's coming from. When I do it I get up in plenty of time, she can listen to a story on her yoto while she gets ready and has a nice giggle and chat while she eats breakfast whereas when DH does it he gets her up later so he's stressed and rushing and then gets angry at her when it's his fault and she ends up eating her toast on the walk/run to school

Just to add I still lay out her uniform make her lunch and pack her bag on the day I'm in the office he doesn't even need to do that but still ends up stressed

OP posts:
Contain4 · 07/09/2026 13:17

Surely he needs to be doing 2/3 mornings a week, where he wakes up early and then sorts DD out before taking her to school.

So basically, if he works weekends, he does absolutely no morning parenting at all and has a lie in 5 days a week?

parakeet · 07/09/2026 13:13

If it is one parent's job to get a child ready to leave for school, and a different parent's job to actually take them, then this is quite likely to lead to conflict.
But why is it your job to get her ready for school on a day when you are working and he is off work? That is madness.

Muffsies · 07/09/2026 13:05

I'd be more worried about him being unplesant to his dd every single morning, that would really grate on me and i'd make him put a stop to it.

He's not necessarily rude for not making a special effort to say hello, i'm not nd and i would struggle with that.

How would he have responded if your mother had gone into the livingroom to say hi? How would he have behaved if it were the evening, would he have popped out to say a quick hello & thanks?

If you do decide to confront him about his morning behaviour just pick one of these issues, don't hit him with both bc he will feel overwhelmed and got-at. Choose whether you want him to stop yelling at his daughter, or sitting on hus own, it's unreasonable to expect him to change both behaviours at once.

Radioheads · 07/09/2026 13:03

OP, I think there is a middle ground for the moment.
You move out of the shared bedroom for whatever reason and you spend the next year or two looking after and thinking only of yourself.
Stop covering for him or including him in what you do with your daughter.
He is an utter misery and is dragging you down.
It's clear he doesn't enjoy being around you, so you will leave him to crack on.

Focus on your life, building your network of friends and supporters.

Look at your finances and siphon money to your mother so you have back up money to rent somewhere.

Get those ducks in a row.
He will notice, but just tell him he drags the house down with his rudeness and moods and you are no longer prepared to be around it.

DontEatTheMushies · 07/09/2026 13:02

My partner is like that. Though less so since I told him that he was ruining everyones morning acting like that.
I also got the kids (teens) to ignore him every morning for a week - as he got put out when they didnt say 'i love you' on leaving. And explained that if he keeps up being a dick, that the kids will probably chose to stop saying it themselves.

Mine does this a lot though, goes straight to abrasive. He grew up without a dad, and had a mum that was a complete sap who literally lived to serve and baby her babies. I had both parents who would ask - but explain WHY - then you had like 3 chances and then a glare - then you get yelled at.

ASimpleLampoon · 07/09/2026 13:00

Not an ND issue but a man issue. I'm ND and my day looks like yours.

CruelsummerTS · 07/09/2026 12:50

TheRealMagic · 07/09/2026 12:47

If the DH needs an hour in the morning to not be a unbearable grump then surely the obvious solution is that he gets up when OP does? I'm not brilliant first thing in the morning, which is why I get up at a time that I am not leaving as soon as possible after waking.

Exactly this! And he can slump later if he needs to once everything is sorted.

CruelsummerTS · 07/09/2026 12:48

YANBU
I am not a morning person. At all. I am grumpy and flustered and easily stressed out.
BUT I am also a mum. So I get up early, as does my DH, early enough that we can both help the kids get uniforms on, check bags, make them toast and packed lunches etc. before we go to work, and I slap on a smile every single day because my family doesn’t deserve my morning mood!!
If it was the other way around I’d expect the same from my DH, but he is an early bird!

TheRealMagic · 07/09/2026 12:47

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 07/09/2026 09:47

I need a good hour in the mornings before I feel human enough to have a decent conversation. I certainly wouldn’t want to be having a nice chat and a coffee with my MIL.

If the DH needs an hour in the morning to not be a unbearable grump then surely the obvious solution is that he gets up when OP does? I'm not brilliant first thing in the morning, which is why I get up at a time that I am not leaving as soon as possible after waking.

Swipe left for the next trending thread