Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think whoever's at home more should do more housework?

36 replies

smuggler · 27/01/2014 13:30

My friends husband works four days on four days off. She's been training to be a teacher three days per week and is starting a full time teaching job in September. At the moment she does everything except DIY with regard to the house and children. They have different standards but I don't think she is OTT - I.e. If he spills something on the floor he'll wipe it up with a tea towel then put it back on the hook to use, whereas she'd put it in the wash. He puts the kids bath towel on the toilet/floor while they're init and she says this mmakes the bath a bit pointless if they're getting dry with a dirty/germy towel. When they lived separately he'd only hoover once per month at most! They have a dog who moults and df hoovers downstairs everyday.

She's worried that she'll struggle to fit all the household stuff in as well as fitting in the kids and working full-time in September. I said that as her dh has more days off, he should do more. However, because he'll be earning almost double her salary he doesn't seem to think he should have to do housework too Confused He doesn't have to do any work at home on days off whereas she will have to. It seems ridiculous to me that she'll be run off her feet in term-time and he'll have four leisurely days off. Do you think he's BU?

OP posts:
jacks365 · 27/01/2014 14:29

My now ex p used to work 4 days on 4 off but it wasn't exactly part time work on those 4 days he was out of the house for at least 16 hours so even though I worked full time 5 days I had more spare time. It's easy to say one is right and the other wrong but for example the towels in the bathroom wouldn't be an issue for me because I know the bathroom floor is clean so I am wondering whether this is a case where compromise is needed on both sides.

smuggler · 27/01/2014 14:32

Ginny the towel example she used was when toddler peed on bathroom floor while bath was running. Her dh wiped it up with toilet roll then put the bath towel on topof wet patch. Bit minging imo.

OP posts:
AskBasil · 27/01/2014 14:35

She should pay for a cleaner out of her lower wage because he's so disgusting that he wipes a toddler with a piss-sodden towel?

Really Sashh?

His standards are clearly disgusting and he's not fit to live with someone else.

But women will keep living with men like this, so what can you do...

ComposHat · 27/01/2014 14:52

Disgusting is a bit strong *

WaffilyVersatile · 27/01/2014 14:57

my OH works full time and pays all the bills etc because his wage is much higher than mine. Because of that I do the cooking and the majority of the cleaning. He is naturally tidier than I am though so I generally do just end up cleaning up my own stuff - he did spend all day yesterday cleaning vomit out of a carpet though because my stomach just couldn't have taken it..

If I contributed financially to the house we would split the chores 50/50 though.

AskBasil · 27/01/2014 15:54

I don't think so ComposHat

I would find it disgusting to have a towel with urine on it rubbed on me.

I don't think that makes me a princess. I think most people wouldn't like it. And most people wouldn't actively choose to accept that standard of hygiene and consideration from people they live with. Why they think it's all right for their kids, I don't know - I think my DC's are entitled to more or less the same standard of hygiene as I am, more if they are very little and vulnerable.

I don't know why people make excuses for men like this. Or minimise how disgusting and inconsiderate their behaviour is. People who treat their housemates like this, get thrown out of the house-share. Why they owe their life-partner less consideration and respect than their housemates has always genuinely puzzled me.

SnookyPooky · 27/01/2014 16:07

When I first wanted a cleaner, my DH refused to pay so I did.
Sod working all hours and cleaning at the evenings and weekends.

smuggler · 27/01/2014 22:17

I think the most gross example she gave was that if toddler had done a poo before the bath, he put her straight in the bath without having cleaned her bottom first and said 'that's what the bath is for - to get her clean.' their older child who was sharing the bath was screeching because 'poo bits' were floating around and he just doesn't see the problem. Similarly if baby/toddler accidentally pooed in the bath, he'd just rinse it afterwards and think that's job done.

OP posts:
LoonvanBoon · 28/01/2014 10:57

Oh, that last bit has made me feel quite ill. I am not a "house proud" person at all, but the idea of a putting a poo-ey toddler in the bath, particularly with an other child, is beyond disgusting.

Agree with AskBasil - why do people put up with this kind of behaviour? This man sounds vile. However, the OP isn't his wife, so not sure what she can suggest other than to reassure her friend that it's not her overly high standards that are the problem; & to encourage her to get a cleaner sorted. No sodding way should she be paying for said cleaner on a NQT's salary, though.

LittleBabySqueakSqueak · 28/01/2014 10:58

When I was working I did more, because I work from home a lot and am free once the work's done, so I had the time. I earn more than DH, but I don't work harder, we have different jobs. Now I'm on mat leave and we muddle through between us. if the baby naps or plays happily by herself for a bit, I get things done, if not, I don't.

ShephardsDelight · 28/01/2014 10:59

Well yeah the SAHP should naturally do more housework, that doesn't mean all however.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread