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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is DH too high-maintenance?

554 replies

anonymousother · 21/02/2017 10:20

I have no idea if IABU given the wider scheme of things.

Basically, DH is an extreme workaholic and I had to accept long ago that there's very little I can do about this because he becomes highly defensive and I feel out of my depth. He runs his own companies and has no concept of any division between work and family time, but again, this has become normal to me. Also I appreciate it facilitates our lifestyle, so can't really complain.

We have DS1 (12), DD1 (11) and DD2 (9).

My main AIBU is about DH's "moods" which can be quite volatile and very much influenced by frustrations at work, etc. At times, it seems like his mood fluctuates in line with the FT Index, it really does! So because he is so highly strung, I feel like I can't criticise him at all really. He doesn't take critcism well at all, unless I'm really careful. I also have had to compensate for his stress levels at home because I'm aware of the impact it could have on the DC. So basically, I do my best to keep him on an even-keel.

I tend to give him info about the DC on a "need to know basis" and choose a time when he is likely to be receptive. In contrast, he will almost daily want to offload about work to me and will expect me to drop everything at any given moment and give him my full attention for the duration. He gets annoyed, for instance, if he feels I'm not looking at him, even if I'm obviously in the middle of doing something else.

When he's stressed he tends to "nit -pick" about ridiculous things and it wears me down. For instance, yesterday he went on an 8 hour bike ride (one of his many hobbies) and as as he was on his way out he said to me, "There is dust in the top of that door frame" Hmm. Or this morning, DD1 was close to tears about going to school because her friend is being mean to her and it was the general bustle of trying to get 3 DC out the door - meanwhile, from him, it's "Where did you put xx shirt" (when it's in the wardrobe in front of his eyes) and "Did you not have time to do the windows?" and other pointless questions which feel like digs and could just wait.

I should add that the house is NOT dirty or a mess. I have a cleaner twice a week and I clean / tidy up in between. I never ask him to take any house related stuff on, but when he's in one of his moods he will find the one thing I forgot to do.

In contrast, I know DH would do anything for me. He's very kind and extremely generous, very affectionate, always tells me he loves me and so on. All my friends think he's fantastic.

AIBU because, on balance, I'm very fortunate. Should I continue to let a lot of things go over my head or should I start to challenge him more?

OP posts:
septembersunshine · 22/02/2017 19:48

Have you read the replies from your own thread op? Everyone can see what he is. Its like a nightmare, only worse because your awake and your aware of what is going on here. I feel terribly sorry for you because that is no way to live. Please take steps to fix this. Talk to him, test the animal. If he can't change then you need to rethink everything.

OhTheRoses · 22/02/2017 19:52

My DH wouldn't ask - he'd be doing something or he'd pour me a wine and tell me to talk to him and not those rabid Mnet Feminazis. He knows I play on here now but not that I've met other MNetters.

anonymousother · 22/02/2017 19:54

No but would many people just sit on their phones when the DH was home?

OP posts:
ollieplimsoles · 22/02/2017 19:55

Only read the first page...

Your husband is a first class cunt op, ltb.

AmberNectarine · 22/02/2017 19:57

Can you not tell him you're on a parenting forum then?

The pointing out the dust reeks of superiority. If either of us notices something that, we feel, need doing, we do it!

Have you pointed out that he need only delegate at work?

AmberNectarine · 22/02/2017 19:58

And yes, sometimes DH and I both sit on our phones, side by side on the sofa. Or reading. Or working.

I don't stand to attention when he is here!

anonymousother · 22/02/2017 19:59

OhtheRoses - I know what you're saying about the DC getting older. I'm 39, DH is 45. He always says he will retire and do a,b,c but I don't think he knows how to stop. The thought branching out as you say is quite overwhelming. Sorry if that sounds stupid, but I'm trying to be as honest as I can.

OP posts:
anonymousother · 22/02/2017 20:02

Amber - Well I suppose he expects my attention when he's here, but maybe it's because he's not here every evening.
We are out tomorrow night for dinner.

OP posts:
Parker231 · 22/02/2017 20:04

Why would it be an issue for him you being on Mumsnet? My DH knows I am but regards it as the same as me discussing his annoying habits with my friends!

Parker231 · 22/02/2017 20:05

Expects your attention - to do what?

Costacoffeeplease · 22/02/2017 20:07

He expects your attention? Hmm

Just who does he think he is?

anonymousother · 22/02/2017 20:09

Er no, he would have a fit if he thought I was discussing him. I don't think he's heard of MN, but I'm worrying about my internet history now tbh, since I started this thread, as it's been longer than I anticipated.

OP posts:
AmberNectarine · 22/02/2017 20:12

This week so far

Monday: DH home at midnight (late working)
Tues: home at 8pm but worked all evening on laptop
Weds: out at a dinner

Every day he left for work before I woke (after giving the littlest breakfast as she is a lark).

At no point does he expect my attention. He chooses to work as he does. He doesn't expect that to impact my lifestyle (any more than it does by necessity). Of course he often gets it, because I like his company, but I don't stand on ceremony for him - if I want to read/dick about on MN/take a leisurely bath, I'm bloody well going to do so, and he is totally free to use his spare time to do the same - neither of us are on the payroll here!

derxa · 22/02/2017 20:12

All of my immediate family know I'm on MN. It's a family joke. I don't MN in secret.

AmberNectarine · 22/02/2017 20:13

If you are worried about your internet history, there are bigger issues than him being high-maintenance re the housekeeping.

You're scared of his reaction.

anonymousother · 22/02/2017 20:13

Costa and Parker Hmm I'm not sure what you mean? Don't most people expect their partners attention?

OP posts:
Pallisers · 22/02/2017 20:15

No but would many people just sit on their phones when the DH was home?

Well I would if I wanted to. DH works long hours in a stressful and very highly paid job. Up until recently I worked also in a similar professional job but mostly less hours and less pay so we could manage our children. Now I am studying and take care of most of the house stuff.

We are a team. The money we have earned is jointly ours. The responsibility of rearing our children is joint. Yes I do more of the ferrying around and day to day stuff but he is aware of everything that is going on and will do pick-ups/drop offs when needed etc. He wouldn't dream of going out for 8 hours without asking does anyone need a lift or help with homework or whatever. He would no more say to me "the doorframe needs dusting" than I would say to him "please be civil to everyone at work because I expect you to get 100 percent of your bonus"

Your dh has a very cushy number going on.

I don't agree necessarily that you are in a gilded cage but I do think there is something seriously askew with your relationship and you are failing to demonstrate a sense of marriage as a shared partnership to your children. Both of their comments were disturbing. Your dd in an academic environment should not be thinking of marriage and early retirement as a viable option and your son should not think that he will be solely responsible for providing for his family at the expense of actually spending time with that family. They both have quite polarised views of male/female roles in a relationship. This would bother me a lot.

Parker231 · 22/02/2017 20:19

No - we talk to each about important things and just chat but at the moment DH is loading the dishwasher (and hopefully making me a coffee). I'm lying on the sofa, playing on the iPad, annoying him as I haven't booked the flights I said I would for a trip away next month. The tv is on in the background and I keep changing the channel as soon as he goes out of the room!
Often I'm only half listening (and him too) - I don't expect his attention unless I say I need it to discuss something particular.

Costacoffeeplease · 22/02/2017 20:20

I don't, and neither does my husband

I often go to bed early to read, and he watches things I'm not interested in on Tv

And he goes away for about 10 days a month with work, so he's not here every evening either

You don't even know how fucked up your situation is, it's very sad

anonymousother · 22/02/2017 20:23

To be fair, he does often work in the evenings but otherwise I wouldn't just take myself off and do something else, apart from the kids. I am surprised people think that's weird.

OP posts:
sabzii · 22/02/2017 20:26

If he's kind and loving most of the time, I'd let the odd snippy comment go. You have a cleaner twice a week so presumably it's your role to instruct her? So he's asking you to supervise the cleaner better rather than dust them yourself?

I'm a SAHP with a toddler and my DH is very hard working. He can get a bit fussy about certain things (towel needs changing/dishwasher loaded inefficiently etc) but he is trying to be helpful and maximise efficiency, as he does with his team at work.

Parker231 · 22/02/2017 20:26

DH and I often both work in the evening - my laptop is out now as I'll probably be up half the night finishing a report. What do you do in evenings?

FarAwayHills · 22/02/2017 20:29

Do you and your DH talk when he gets back from work? Does he ask about your day? Does he sense when you've had a bad day or when something's bothering you? Does he ask about the DCs day and what's going on with them and their lives?

From what you say it's all about him. His job, his hobbies, his needs. Everything revolves around him. This is not good.

Parker231 · 22/02/2017 20:36

So he can go out for the evening without you but not the other way around?

PandoraMole · 22/02/2017 20:37

but he is trying to be helpful and maximise efficiency, as he does with his team at work.

But you're his wife, not his employee Shock

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