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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be pissed off with hearing this phrase from DH?

261 replies

KitKat1985 · 30/09/2017 09:53

'If you want me to do something, just tell me'.

Basically this phrase means to me that he doesn't ever take the initiative to plan or think about what needs doing and that I'm apparently in charge of everything around the house and he'll do something if I 'delegate' it to him but otherwise won't think to do it. Why do I always have to be the one that thinks about what needs doing domestically? Like what cleaning needs doing, or that we're about to run out of bread, or that we need to buy a present for a party at the weekend. Why can't he ever work out for himself that if the laundry bin is full that probably means we need to put some laundry on without me having to specifically point it out? Or that it will never occur to him to hoover or clean anything unless I've specifically asked him to do it? He's 36 and not an idiot FFS. Surely he can take some responsibility for thinking sometimes about what needs to be done sometimes without me having to specifically ask?

AIBU? I know I'm lucky that he will do stuff if I ask him to do it which is better than some men, but I just find it so irksome that it's never off his own back. He always has to be asked to do something.

OP posts:
juliecorrigan · 01/10/2017 17:54

Yeah, annoying g but just typical. In a few more generations maybe they will have sorted it out. Right now though, not likely. YANBU

Dramalady52 · 01/10/2017 17:55

Had one of these, it got so bad I used to say I had 3 kids, one of whom was 52! On the rare occasions he did clean up it was defcon1 spring cleaning level which he chose to start half an hour before visitors arriving because I hadn't done a "good enough" job. When I told him it was too late to do that he would storm off and leave me to put everything back. This is why he is now an ex! ;)

user1496121365 · 01/10/2017 17:56

Butterymuffin - that sounds like a great idea! Funny how women have to make all the decisions about the routine things in the house. I have to say that my husband does a lot of the washing and loads the dishwasher. He's good at shopping too although it takes him a lot longer than me. But he never does the ironing, unless he's away in a hotel. All in all, it's fairly even. But I do notice that most husbands take no responsibility in the house.

PicturesJane · 01/10/2017 17:58

I have given up (well I have for this week) I can't face getting upset /annoyed /angry with it any more. I work 5 days a week and travel to and from work 4 hours each day. I am just putting my 4th load of washing through and getting dinner and have decided after 15 years of tying to explain that these aren't my chores to dish out that maybe they are. Maybe just maybe it is only me that gives a shit if things get done. I have literally given up. And I am with a guy who stayed home and looked after the kids while I worked for the first few years!

Wishithoughtbeforeispeak · 01/10/2017 17:58

Total get what your saying, infact I thought for a moment you were talking about my husband! Today he's cleaned the bathroom for me whilst I was doing the food shop but only as I was ranting about how much I had to do today as I went through the door! Like your husband he uses that exact same phrase! Prehaps this is the new generation of men not the previous housework is women's work but not quite capable to use their own brain to see what needs doing and act on that information with out seeking conformation from us! I have two boys maybe it is my purpose to get the next generation to improve on their fathers domestic skills for the sake of women after us 😂😂

SherbrookeFosterer · 01/10/2017 17:59

It's what men say.

Like children, they like structure.

Make the most of him, you're lucky!

gluteustothemaximus · 01/10/2017 18:08

How do these men cope at work when they need to be reactive, or use initiative? Surely not all men are in jobs where they get told what to do ALL the time? Confused

MamaMotherMummy · 01/10/2017 18:18

Coming at this from an opposite perspective.

My DP does all the cooking ,cleaning and domestic work. I make all the money, manage the money, and manage 'arrangements' for things.

I try to do housework but I just CAN'T SEE what's wrong or where to start. I don't know what needs to be done at what time. Before I was with him I'd write lists and try to keep to them, but then I wouldn't do things that weren't on the list that needed doing. I don't know why, but I just can't do it. I think I'm so much in my head and in my work I just can't do it. Seriously, I have tried. I tried desperately for 6 months to keep the house nice, but it did not work out.

I can cook but DP doesn't like the type of food I do and I like his food so it's just easier for him to do it all rather than us cook two separate meals.

For me to be useful with any kind of housework, my DP would have to write me a list with specific days everything needs to be done, and it would have to be stuck in a prominent place. I would have to work it into my daily routine as a set task.

Whyamiwatchingthis · 01/10/2017 18:34

I feel as though I wrote this in some kind of twilight zone. You’re not alone op

MrsRonaldWeasley · 01/10/2017 18:41

YANBU at all! It's called being an adult! My DH is actually pretty good around the house (most of the time). I do more of the house stuff but only because I work part time and he's full time and that what works for us. He does loads of housework at the weekends. I couldn't live with a man-child who didn't pull his weight!

Turquoise123 · 01/10/2017 18:42

It is stunning . But then I see mothers bringing up their sons in the same way.....

Worriedaboutboy · 01/10/2017 18:43

I could have written this!!! Not read everything so apologies for any repetition.

Other day DH said "I've put away everyone's washing!" Fab I thought. Later on I saw he'd put his own away and left mine and most of the kids out as he "wasn't sure where it all went." FFS.

Another classic is when I returned home after raking two kids out he said "I've hoovered downstairs, emptied dishwasher, put a wash on FOR YOU." I'm felt like saying "what do you want, a fucking medal??" His face! He was so chuffed with himself!

SunshineLollipopsRainbows25 · 01/10/2017 18:45

OP *I could have literally written this myself" my DH is exactly the same! he will do whatever I ask but I don't want to ask and shouldn't have to! we had a tearful chat on my part as I feel like a nag but he's told me to just tell him to do anything and he will I got fully pissed off the fact he has no imitative and even wrote a similar thread

mychildrenaredrivingmemad · 01/10/2017 18:46

Read this article; its brilliant

Rightsaidmabel · 01/10/2017 18:47

This comic clip might speak to them?
Are you a mistress of the Magic Basket ?

Then, maybe not as it's not funny !

mychildrenaredrivingmemad · 01/10/2017 18:47

Would help if I posted it! www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/gender-wars-household-chores-comic

KitKat1985 · 01/10/2017 18:48

I love the song gluteustothemaximus!

OP posts:
dottybooboo22 · 01/10/2017 18:49

When my DH was alive, he did lots of jobs around the house (i worked he was retired) but then he'd point out all that he'd done... i've washed the dishes, dried them and put them away, washed the kitchen floor, hoovered....blah de blah de blah!

I never did give him that medal he obviously craved for !!!

Looking back i should have bored him witless with all the crap i had to deal with at work!!!

andiacc · 01/10/2017 19:12

Oh yes the classic " I've washed up for you, blah blah blah " that drives me crackers. Oh ty...well seen as I've not actually eaten. Grrrrr lol lol

Atthebottomofthegarden · 01/10/2017 19:15

Why don't you make him a list? Or a timetable, with several things a night on it? He wants to be managed, so manage him... bet he won't like it!

Meadowflowers · 01/10/2017 19:18

The phrase I get is "You don't have a dog and bite the postman yourself."
In other words why should he do anything when he has a wife to do it. Winds me up so much!

Worriedaboutboy · 01/10/2017 19:22

Another classic today, DS has an accident out and about. I'd forgot to pack spare clothes for him and DH says "Oh you've forgotten to put any spare pants and trousers in the bag for him." Why is it down to me to remember ALL THE BLOODY TIME! Yep I forgot....probably because in the half hour slot I had to get ready, I showered myself, did my hair, makeup, got two bags of stuff ready for two kids, got the travel potty out, packed food and snacks for us all, packed spare clothes for DD, wrapped birthday present (we were off to a party) and wrote birthday card, loaded dishwasher, dressed two kids, quickly breastfed baby. Meanwhile, DH has a shower and then puts the bags in the car.

Maireadplastic · 01/10/2017 19:24

I have a sash. Purple satin.

sallyfox · 01/10/2017 19:32

Rvirtually all men are like that. At least he does things when asked. Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

greatminds · 01/10/2017 19:41

It’s not the best attitude to have, but I just do it all because it’s easier. My OH does hardly anything round the house and never cooks. It does get a bit frustrating at times, but as he pays most the bills I find it hard not to see it as fair enough.

I think the hardest part is knowing you are project manager of it all and nothing would get done if you didn’t do it.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a man thing, it’s more how you have been brought up possibly. My DB does his fair share. My MIL lives in a mess so I think it might stem from that.

I should have been firmer from the start and got him to do more probably. We have possibly created these monsters!!!