Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ell him that housework is one of the main reasons I'm going?

59 replies

tigermoll · 09/01/2015 15:42

Can't work out if this is a bad idea or a necessary one:

I have recently split very amicably from my partner of nearly 6 years. We lived together for three of those years, and housework was an ongoing issue for me. He was the classic 'doesn't see the mess' type, and I kept going through the same cycle over and over again:

Decide to leave it - don't be a martyr, etc
Find it hard to relax in disgusting house/run out of dishes or space/someone is coming over, so I clean up
Get cross and talk to him about it - he doesn't care if it's messy or not, I should clean it up if it bothers me, gets upset that I am criticising him.
I feel naggy and resentful - how come it's always me that cleans up, maybe I should be more laid back, his way is just as 'right' as mine, etc
Decide I hate being the 'naggy wife' more than I hate the mess, so decide to just leave it again.
Repeat from start.

So we split up at my suggestion, but with his full agreement for other reasons - we just didn't see ourselves together as a long term couple. I didn't mention the housework at the time, but if I'm honest, it was a major factor. I just didn't want my life to forever involve cleaning up after a lazy manchild.

Since the split we have continued to co habit while I look for another place, and I'm moving out next week. So my question is, should I ruin the peace of our final week by bringing up housework for one last time, or should I just leave it? What if it sabotages his next relationship as well - do I owe it to him to give him a heads-up?

OP posts:
tigermoll · 09/01/2015 18:34

The assumptions are correct - no kids and both of us work. If fact, his work means that he has more free time than me, although since we didn't live as a single financial unit (separate accounts, bills split down the middle, we even mostly bought our own food rather than eating together) I never took that into account re the housework - he didn;t benefit from my earnings, so I don't need to benefit from his free time.

OP posts:
Ragwort · 09/01/2015 18:45

But surely you've already told him many times, so what is the point of telling him again Confused? I don't really understand what you are asking.

expatinscotland · 09/01/2015 18:56

It's not hard to figure out: you live like a pig in rented accommodation, you get thrown out by the LL after inspection. You live like a pig in your own home, the value goes down due to filth and mould. Very simple.

BerylStreep · 09/01/2015 19:01

I must say that being together for 6 yrs and living together for 3 years, yet buying separate food and eating separately is a bit odd, IMO.

Well done though on keeping finances separate so that splitting is easier.

mathanxiety · 09/01/2015 19:02

You are never going to get any validation from him of your pov here. Move out and upwards.

You have gained the really valuable insight that you are not willing to have a man like this in your life again. That is a big win for you. You owe him nothing for this gift from the relationship. It is up to him to learn whatever lesson he wants from it.

tigermoll · 09/01/2015 19:06

I must say that being together for 6 yrs and living together for 3 years, yet buying separate food and eating separately is a bit odd, IMO

You might be surprised to hear that's not the first time I've been called a bit odd. Grin

We liked to eat different things at different times. It wasn't like we had a policy on not eating together - it was just something that happened most of the time. He'd still make me breakfast at the weekends, and I'd give him some of my lasagne if he fancied it.

OP posts:
JapaneseMargaret · 10/01/2015 07:11

Quite honestly, tigermoll - I totally get you. I probably would say something to him. Your gift to womankind, so to speak. Wink

Ouchbloodyouch · 10/01/2015 08:47

tiger I am a messy jessy. Fact. I don't particularly like it but I can make a mess in an empty room. However I always manage to supress my natural messy behaviour when in the company of others. Partly out of respect and consideration and also because many hands make light work and its nice to pitch in together and enjoy the benefits of a clean and tidy home.
Not lifting a finger or adapting a 'take me as you find me' attitude shows massive disrespect to the other party.
I think you should say something. He can live how he likes in future but if he wants to have a successful future relationship then as a cohabitee this is a massage issue.

Ouchbloodyouch · 10/01/2015 08:48

Massage?? Ffs? Massive

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