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AIBU?

To think this is a bit of an over-reaction on DH's part?

124 replies

MiniMummy576 · 16/01/2018 16:38

I posted an AIBU a while ago about wanting DH to take notice of the chores that need doing around the house. Following the advice I put together a weekly schedule and put it on the fridge (I got the template from Mydarlaclementine.com and found it really useful to set out everything that needs doing on a weekly and monthly basis and split it over the week!!) with asterisks next to anything that DH can pitch in with.
One of the daily tasks is to spray the bathroom surfaces with the daily cleaner after the shower's been used (one of the ones that doesn't need to be wiped off). I asked DH to remember to do this as he has a shower every morning. He's been a bit sporadic with remembering, but this morning after coming out of the bathroom I heard him rush back in and start spritzing.
The only 'problem' was that the old bottle of spray had run out, so I'd bought a new one and reused the bottle to mix up a Zoflora spray, but hadn't had time to write on the bottle what it was or get the new one out of the cupboard.
DH made a point of proudly mentioning to me that he'd remembered to spritz the shower and I thanked him, but pointed out that I'd now switched the bottle, so he needed to use the different brand from now on.
He then threw up his hands and said 'Oh FFS that's the last time that I'm bothering to do it then'
I said there was no need to get annoyed, he'd just have to look out for a different bottle.
Then he said 'Well you should have told me before I wasted my time spraying the shower. I suppose you want me to respray it'
I told him no, the shower spray can't be sprayed over the top of another cleaner, but that the stuff in the bottle is disinfectant, so it didn't matter for today.
'FFS, you can do it yourself from now on then' he said.
I pointed out it wasn't a problem, he hadn't done anything wrong and all I was saying was that he needs to look out for the new bottle but he wasn't having any of it.

Is it just me or was this a (completely baffling) over-reaction from DH over such a little thing???

OP posts:
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NSEA · 17/01/2018 23:00

I get the feeling he resents having to do it and os looking for any opportunity to overreact and refuse. Ignore and when you replace the bottle remind him it’s the one to use.

I don’t understand why you’re getting a hard time btw my initial reaction was to go google the website to see if I could get a chores spreadsheet!! It’s a good organised way to approach housework and not everyone can see mess/know where to contribute. My dh is the cleanest person I know but he has put the washing on maybe 5 times in the last 2 years...it’s just not something he thinks about (but then I never think to hoover like he does...)

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WobbleHead · 17/01/2018 22:50

Fuck me is there some kind of MRA dog whistle sounded every time MN has a post about fair share of housework? Seems like in many threads like this the OP is piled upon with variations of:

  • Poor bloke he shouldn’t be bossed around
  • It’s your fault for setting unrealistic expectations
  • Don’t make him change just get a cleaner
  • [Insert completely normal thing here] is weird and I want to talk about that and not the subject of the post


Maybe it’s just me but a high index of the above types of replies makes me think there are people who have a vested interest in collectively re-defining what’s normal and reasonable. It seems like gaslighting or something?
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Idontdowindows · 17/01/2018 22:02

I wouldn't live with a man that was such a filthy bugger that he needed a list to keep the house in order, but there ya go.

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MiniMummy576 · 17/01/2018 22:00

@Dermymc
But necessary unfortunately (sigh) Smile

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GummyGoddess · 17/01/2018 21:49

For everyone saying OP is being ridiculous by putting up a list, what do you suggest she does instead? Do it all herself or live in a tip?

She's tried talking and reasoning already and her DH just can't be arsed and thinks he's helping her when he does anything, rather than thinking he's doing what any adult should do, hence the telling her he had done his task so she would praise him.

She didn't berate him for doing it wrong, she said thanks (which she shouldn't have to) and mentioned that there was a different bottle from tomorrow. That doesn't require a strop.

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Dermymc · 17/01/2018 21:38

6-8 cleaning jobs per evening?

That's more than I do in a week.

Your expectations of cleaning are unreasonable.

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Idontdowindows · 17/01/2018 21:31

Well, if he's childish enough to need a list, he's childish enough to throw a strop. I guess he's just being true to form.

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MiniMummy576 · 17/01/2018 21:05

@Northernparent68
Erm, except I didn’t do that

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KurriKurri · 17/01/2018 17:01

I'm amazed that an adult needs to be told to spray the shower after use, don;t people just do that naturally on their own and in other peoples hosues. Bit like flushing the toilet so it is clean for the next user ? Bizarre that someone thinks they need to be thanked for basic house sharing hygiene.

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DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 17/01/2018 16:59

I think I’ve spotted the problem. OP you need a DS, not. DH. Grin

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meredintofpandiculation · 17/01/2018 16:57

In my house it would have gone:
DH: can you spray the shower after you’ve finished.
Me: yep [eyeroll]
DH: oh I forgot I switched the bottles, you need to spray it with this one
Me: OK, you can spray the shower in the future

(I realise this doesn't help the discussion)

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Northernparent68 · 17/01/2018 16:41

Op, you are controlling, if a man said he’d posted a list of chores for his wife all hell would break out.

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DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 17/01/2018 16:27

The whole thing is utterly ridiculous. Thanking him for cleaning his own mess. thanking him??

You know how that would have gone down in my house

Me: can you spray the shower after you’ve finished.
DS: yep
Me: oh I forgot I switched the bottles, you need to spray it with this one
DS: oh ok.

DS is 12.

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MiniMummy576 · 17/01/2018 14:37

Thank you for all the responses. A few people have said the same sort of things so I'll just try to clarify a few general points.

We are a family of list makers, so for me to make a list isn't that unusual. It's a family schedule - for the family to follow, it's not specifically mine and not specifically his - (in theory) we both 'pitch in' with the family work. It's shared housework, by the household.
(although if you think making a reward schedule would work....?! Grin)
It's not a PA schedule, I discussed it with him when I'd finished and he agreed that it was a good idea. It helps me to organise my time and stop my DH wandering around asking for me to tell him what to do (the subject of my original post) and me having to do a mad mental scramble thinking of jobs to give him - now I can just point to the list and say 'anything with an asterisk, honey'. We've had some limited success with this as last week when he saw it was the evening I was going to clean/steam the living room carpet, he tidied away the toys and hoovered the floor. As it happens the fact that I now have a schedule to follow means I know I only have about 6-8 jobs to do in an evening instead of trying to run through a seemingly never-ending list in my head. It also helps when baby-brain strikes and I can't remember which day I last washed the bedding on...! Grin
I assume everyone who's been pretty blistering about the schedule also scorns all to-do lists, shopping lists, meal planners and calendars because they all work on the same principle - household organisation.... Wink

'Daily shower sprays' are available pretty much everywhere...? The one I've just switched from was Method (so no nasty chemicals and the bottle was well-rinsed). As I mentioned in my OP the shower needs to be sprayed after it's been used (it just happens that he showers every day)- much like you'd flush the toilet after you've been, you just need to spritz the shower - and, as I say, he's remembered sporadically. I did the schedule back in early December, I think he's remembered about 5 or 6 times and I always thank him (including yesterday, which I did mention in my post). There are 3 reasons the shower needs spraying after the last use: 1) we live in a very hard water area and it stains the tiles and bath pink 2) the grout isn't anti-mould and everything sticks to it like sh*t to a blanket and 3) the work cack that DH washes off every day stains the bath black.
So in order to avoid the person who cleans the bathroom spending half an hour scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush and then having to scrub the bath too, we agreed to use the daily spray and it's been working rather well.
I know I said he felt like his time had been wasted, and a few of you have agreed - but I did tell him that he'd still sprayed the bath, so that was it, job done. Also, let's not lose our heads here. He spritzed the bath with a bit of spray, not painted the Sistine Chapel. It took less time than it does for his morning wee (!)

We can't afford a cleaner. No ifs, no buts. Do not pass go, do not collect £200. Grin

As @mytoesaregettingfatter, @FeckTheMagicDragon and a few others have said, I think it pretty much boils down to this: the job was done. He was congratulated. He was advised of a change to future practice. An impersonation of Kevin was thrown. It seemed a little excessive.

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mytoesaregettingfatter · 17/01/2018 10:09

So many people on this thread with such low, low expectations of their partners.

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mytoesaregettingfatter · 17/01/2018 10:08

Jesus. You're getting a hard time over nothing op. I presume you came on MN, followed the advice of 'make a list of chores' and now you've done that. You've told your dh to look out for a different bottle next time and he has delighted in using this as a get out of cleaning free card, by saying you're being difficult.
I would just ditch the man child. Let him live in a house with a filthy bathroom. Won't be your problem anyway. Your house will probably be a lot cleaner without him there.
Btw I use a daily shower spray. It's not bleach. It's a non toxic cleaner.
(In his shower, my dh is capable enough of wiping the shower down with a squeegee after every shower, he's never complained about it ever.)

To think this is a bit of an over-reaction on DH's part?
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FeckTheMagicDragon · 17/01/2018 09:43

Have we switched back to the 1950s here or something? It’s amazing! It was his job to clean the shower. OP provided him with information he needed so he could clean it effectively next time (ie she bought different materials) he had a trantrum on receiving this information.

Imagine dong that with your colleagues at work?
I’m building cars. The colours of the car material changes. My colleague tells me not to start building the cars in blue - but to use the red instead as new metal has come in. I throw a complete hissy fit and quit!

Jesus.

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BattleCuntGalactica · 16/01/2018 22:46

Good lord you sound like awfully hard work.

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Guavaf1sh · 16/01/2018 22:31

YABU

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UserSnoozer · 16/01/2018 22:24

To him he's tried hard to keep you happy only to walk out to you not thanking him when he mentioned it and instead told him to do it differently (to him that would come across as he did it wrong) so I can see where he's coming from

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Leigha3 · 16/01/2018 22:13

I would have just switched the bottles out after.

Your comment no matter how well intended came across as criticism and nit picky. I'm happy if my husband just remembers to rinse the tub after taking a bath post football match. The bathroom is the only area he's not good with.

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BrendaUmbrella · 16/01/2018 21:08

I'd have just been thankful he did it

Me too. I would have cried happy tears, then used the happy tears to give him a thank you blow job. Five seconds of housework that he doesn't intend to repeat? The poor bloke is a hero.

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Bluelonerose · 16/01/2018 19:18

I have a dh who doesn't see stuff needs doing either.
At this time of year the ONLY person who uses the downstairs loo is dh (old house no heating in there)
Do you think he will clean it? Nope. As soon as I mention it or go to do it he will go do it.
It drives me mad!

No yanbu if your dh wants to act like a child and not tidy up after himself then he deserves to be treated like one.

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RadioGaGoo · 16/01/2018 18:50

Oh FFS. If your DH would do the job, there's no need for a schedule. It's sad that a grown man needs something like this to do a few chores.

And now he throws a hissy fit to get out of doing said chore. He needs to massively grow up.

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Glumglowworm · 16/01/2018 18:48

YABU

I’d have had a strop if you refilled a bottle with a different cleaner and expected me to know without being told too, wtf not just leave things in their original packaging?!

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