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What can your husband not do?

134 replies

IncognitoUsername · 21/02/2024 08:55

Mine can not make a decent cup of tea. We have been together nearly 20 years and it’s just dawned on me! He’s a lovely man, works hard, good at DIY etc but his tea skills are not up to par. On balance I think I’ll keep him but it just made me wonder!!

OP posts:
stayathomer · 21/02/2024 23:03

Oh dear lord the dishwasher stacking! Zero logic! I have to rearrange it constantly.

Actually I probably am a bit of a control freak.
At Christmas five of us had a conversation about how to stack a dishwasher- we all had different ways (and all thought we were right😅)

EdithStourton · 21/02/2024 23:07

Comforting to hear how many DHs share mine's lack of laundry-hanging talent.

Reading this thread has reminded me that he is incapable of hanging up the bathmat. As he is the one who gets it soggy (I get dry in the shower cubicle) I find this annoying.

Also, his drawers are an absolute shambles. I used to tidy them for him I put his laundry away, but now I just chuck it in.

But... As I said he cooks, does DIY, etc etc. I have also never learned how to put oil in the car, so he has that on me.

NoFucksToGive · 21/02/2024 23:09

WellThatsNice · 21/02/2024 22:34

Eat like a fucking person.

He noisily shovels his food in, like some sort of creature emerging from hibernation that’s not eaten in 6 months, talks through these massive mouthfuls, gets it all over his face, and does not give a shit how repellent it is to everyone around him, he seems to delight in doing it.

I think I might be a bit hormonal right now. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I think I’d leave him. Have you spoken to him about this?

I’m not sure if this thread is supposed to be lighthearted but a lot of things people are describing are basic life skills. What a depressing read that so many women put up with this incompetence from men.

PuttingDownRoots · 21/02/2024 23:18

If I really want to flummox my DH I'd ask him to sort the clean washing into piles fir each person.
I will admit there is some crossover in sizes... but he's seen DDs. They have very different styles... one lives in sports leggings and baggy jumpers, and prefers pale colours the other in jeans, shorts (even in winter) and colourful tshirts. There's the odd bit that might belong to either... but I do a separate pile for that.

But I'm just as likely to end up with their clothes and them mine if he was to do it. He even has put my trousers in his pile before...

longtompot · 21/02/2024 23:21

Put things away in their right place after doing the dishwasher. There are several things that will always go not in their home, but now I know what dhs home is for them, I look there first ;)

He also can't see when things like the floor needs a hoover.

GhostOrchid · 21/02/2024 23:25

Wring out a dishcloth
Do any kind of financial admin, particularly online
Cook anything that involves flour
Cook on a high heat (he’s terrified of turning the induction hob up to 9)
Any yes to the laundry thing

Otherwise, he’s tip top

Wanttobefree2 · 21/02/2024 23:25

Why is it that so many men can’t do basic things. Is it because they want to be incompetent so they can get away with doing jobs, or just not taught these skills as kids? Especially hanging up the washing, it’s so easy but mine struggles with this.

NewName24 · 21/02/2024 23:37

Wanttobefree2 · 21/02/2024 23:25

Why is it that so many men can’t do basic things. Is it because they want to be incompetent so they can get away with doing jobs, or just not taught these skills as kids? Especially hanging up the washing, it’s so easy but mine struggles with this.

In the same way there are things I can't do. It isn't confined to 'men', this is about "your partner" seemingly not being able to do something that a) you find easy and b) it annoys you if it isn't done, or isn't done the way you would like it to be done.

I suspect, if I lived alone, I'd find a way - or, with some of these, I wouldn't be bothering anyone else by not doing them.

EndlesslyDistracted · 21/02/2024 23:40

Mine can't map read or navigate to save his life, it used to be a nightmare before satnavs were invented if I was driving and he was trying to give directions.

WellThatsNice · 21/02/2024 23:41

NoFucksToGive · 21/02/2024 23:09

I think I’d leave him. Have you spoken to him about this?

I’m not sure if this thread is supposed to be lighthearted but a lot of things people are describing are basic life skills. What a depressing read that so many women put up with this incompetence from men.

Yes, he knows my thoughts on it but he acts like I’m some sort of snob and takes the piss. And either it’s getting worse or my tolerance is going!

(Sorry- don’t want to hijack! Just saw this at a fraught time 😅)

NameChange14192089 · 21/02/2024 23:45

Can't load the dishwasher properly. Couldn't plumb in said dishwasher, even though he's a plumber 🤯

elp30 · 21/02/2024 23:48

They say that a woman marries her father. I don't think that's true. My father was a carpenter. My husband cannot, for the life of him, hammer a nail without bending or breaking it.

WallaceinAnderland · 21/02/2024 23:51

There's nothing he can't do that I can do other than get pregnant, give birth and breastfeed. The usual female stuff. Everything else he is quite capable.

ShinyBandana · 21/02/2024 23:52

He can’t figure out how much time things take. This has maddening consequences like he can try to complete a DIY task when we are trying to leave for the airport so I’ll be standing by the front door with all the bags and he,ll be wondering round the house with a paint brush and a tin of varnish!

aaargghhhh!

Although we’ve yet to miss a plane and things do get done in this house but my word it’s tense 😅

paristotokyo · 21/02/2024 23:53

Close drawers and cupboards
On bin day actually empty the inside bins and put those out to be collected also! Drives me mad
Wipe around the sink after doing the dishes
Otherwise is generally quite wonderful Grin

ButtonMoon5 · 21/02/2024 23:54

He can't remember to turn the oven off - everything gets burnt.
I suggested he use a timer - he forgets to turn on the timer.
I set the timer - he has forgotten to stay in the kitchen within earshot.

This is a man who remembers what he ate for lunch on the first day of school.

toomuchcardboard · 22/02/2024 00:17

DH can't make his mind up. He's mildly OCD so he does lots of the practical stuff mentioned above without any problem - often too thoroughly. But, being a worrier, he can never decide in a new situation.
So, I have to decide, eg. should we take the direct route or the bypass, do we need raincoats, which holiday... Even to the level of what should he wear for simple occasions, like a meal out at the pub. This also has the advantage from his POV (albeit unconscious I think) that he can blame me if it doesn't work out.

Themintwiththehole · 22/02/2024 00:38

Mine can't find things even with clear instructions and never thinks to check what we have before shopping and/or opening something new. The consequence of this is that we often have two identical things open at the same time, eg breakfast cereal, packets of pasta, toilet cleaner. He is generally wonderful but this drives me mad.

Cuppa2sugars · 22/02/2024 00:53

apart from making huge amounts of puddles on the kitchen surface when he washes up, he’s perfect. He shops, cooks, cleans, does DIY all really well. Drives hundreds of miles without a fuss and will cater easily for a big party.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/02/2024 00:58

Fey and egg. Hang up washing properly. Fold washing properly. Otherwise he's great 🥰

Wingingitbestican · 22/02/2024 01:00

Mumoftwo1312 · 21/02/2024 20:38

Haha lots of women struggle with this too, do you remember the classic thread years ago that found over 20% of women are bra-swivelers? I'm a bra swiveler

I’m surprised it’s only 20%

Fucketyfecketyfoo · 22/02/2024 01:02

Mumoftwo1312 · 21/02/2024 20:38

Haha lots of women struggle with this too, do you remember the classic thread years ago that found over 20% of women are bra-swivelers? I'm a bra swiveler

I don’t believe it’s only 20%. I have never taken my bra off any other way!

SabrinaThwaite · 22/02/2024 01:06

Mine does not understand that spoons are not percussion instruments.

Every. Bloody. Morning.

Kerzie · 22/02/2024 03:09

Remember to let the dog out before he goes to bed if I have an early night.
(which is why I’m up at 3am as she did a poo on my bedroom carpet)

1stWorldProblems · 22/02/2024 07:52

Like @EdithStourton my DH can't sort clean washing for me & 2 DD - he admits it & comes up with suggestions like each of us having our own colour coded pants! A lot of the undies have their size labels on & the outer clothes he sees us wearing. He once brought DD1 back from pre-school in different clothes & he replied (jokingly) "at least I brought back the correct child".

Not get riled when driving if someone cuts him up / drives challengingly close to him. Never aggressive outside of the car but has to slow down, flash lights, make hand gestures when he feels someone has challenged him in the car.

Be sympathetic / not sarcastic when I'm mildly ill. Doesn't police the children waking me with questions if I'm in bed during the day - he goes off to do his things & forgets. I have a serious illness atm & he's being a lot better with that.

None of the family can see items on the stairs that need to go up or down - even climbing over the wash basket to access the stairs!

Other than that he's great - cooks, diy, gardens, tidies up (more than I do), copes with my relatives.

@Jeffjefftyjeff if your DH likes apps then I can recommend Medisafe to help organise / remind him to take his meds. It's made my life a lot simpler whilst on chemo.