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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to worry I have no choice but to become my MIL around the house

385 replies

JammyDodger99 · 02/05/2018 17:38

I will preface this by saying my DP is absolutely wonderful and I love him dearly. We are engaged to be married this year and have been living together under a year.

Again, to preface - our relationship is strong and healthy, and we never fight- our communication is good and if we ever disagree we are good at working things through by talking calmly.

So to the problem... That said, he is pretty hopeless at "practical" tasks including housework and DIY. My MIL raised him in a totally sexist environment where the boys were totally cooked and catered for and the girls looked after the house. Hmm She never expected the boys to lift a finger for anything and cleaned up all around them.. (I still see this in evidence when we visit her where her other DS are still at home). Thankfully, DP is intelligent and enlightened and realises this was completely ridiculous (and that we will not raise any future DC in this way)! He doesn't want to perpetuate this inequality in our household or with future DCs and would describe himself as a feminist.

However, his upbringing has left him without skills in this area, and I have had to teach him the very basics, including how to make a cup of tea! Before we met he lived in a rather stereotypical shared house with a load of guys who relied on Deliveroo for everything so he didn't pick up many household skills (FFS).

He is not great at doing things because he doesn't notice when they need doing e.g. doesn't automatically think about the laundry or cleaning the surfaces, and his expectations are generally lower than mine as well e.g. he would be okay about leaving a dirty plate on the side which I wouldn't. I don't want to make excuses but I genuinely don't think he notices half the time.

To his credit, whenever I ask him he immediately helps out, but it doesn't come naturally, and so I worry I will become a nag after years of this. He also needs guidance and can't cook a meal from scratch or even do the laundry without repeated instruction! FFS I know this sounds like a nightmare!!! He is so wonderful though, supportive of me, kind, funny etc and this is the only problem I have with our relationship!

DP and I both work, however he works reeeally long hours leaving at about 8.30 and not usually getting home until 10pm-12miidnight (and sometimes after). He also sometimes has to work through the weekend but not always. My hours are much more normal so I tend to have evenings available. Therefore I obviously do end up with the lion's share of housework / household chores which, on balance, I think is fair enough since I have more time.

When tackling a household chore at the weekend when he is there, I have found myself thinking "it will be easier / quicker to do this myself" but then I feel like I will start doing everything and basically become my MIL. (please no).

When we have discussed this my DP is open and agrees he should contribute fairly and is always very sorry he hasn't been proactive about it. DP says he wants to be reminded but I have said I'm not sure I should have to - not sure if this is realistic. DP's other suggestion is that because he is time poor he would be happy to pay a cleaner to do his share so I do less. (DP earns considerably more than me so could afford it - very lucky I know).

I don't know how I feel about all of this. He is genuinely not a lazy bastard, he works really hard for us both and is super supportive in every other way. Sometimes I watch him when he's doing some task I've asked him to help with, like changing the bedsheets or making a sandwich, and it's clear he really has no clue what he is doing!! If I didn't have to be on the receiving end I would find it hilarious, watching him fumble around bless him. E.g. When I asked him to cook some pasta he put the saucepan on the hob with no water!! Lol! I just assumed he would know how, this but it is tragic!

Again, I don't mean to paint him out the wrong way - he is in fact highly intelligent and in a very responsible job! Lol.

I have a feeling this must be a fairly common issue with men who have been raised in this way. What can I do or how should we both handle this as we embark on married life? Does anyone else have experience of being with a man raised in this way?

Don't even start me on how we will cope if and when babies come along. I am fully aware of how much we will need to support one another so we stay together, and don't crumble under the lack of sleep and hellish hard work of a baby. I guess I am trying to work out how we can move forward to pave the way for this as well.

Any advice from those with a similar experience gratefully received. X

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 02/05/2018 17:42

Sorry, I stopped at you had to teach him to make a cup of tea. He clearly didn't find it that ridiculous, then.

GreenStars · 02/05/2018 17:42

Seems fair that you do the majority given working hours currently.

However, he's not 'wonderful' if he's not a fully functioning adult. His mum is no excuse, if he's old enough to get married then he's old enough to take it upon himself to learn how to cook and clean.

Stop babying him, tell him to sort it out and that you won't be 'reminding' him how he washing machine works or that a plate needs putting in the dishwasher because he's not 11.

He sounds like a pathetic man child.

Aprilmightbemynewname · 02/05/2018 17:42

Gather together all the manuals for all the appliances in your home. You say he is an intelligent man? He can study them and put his findings to good use.
You are still enabling him to be a lazy partner in your marriage by blaming mil.

DevilsDoorbell · 02/05/2018 17:44

Book him on basic cooking course.

Don’t watch him change the sheets, give them to him and let him crack on.

You should be able to show him how to do something once and then he can do it but you have to let him do it his way and make his own mistakes.

At least he knows it’s wrong and wants to try.

SunshineAfterRain · 02/05/2018 17:49

My partner was similar to this.
The way I handled it was instructions sheets.
At the washing machine I bullet pointed what to do.
At the oven I bullet pointed oven foods you don't need to cook from scratch and what to do.
It's hard and has took him a year and a bit to progress but he really is trying.
Household stuff like changing a light bulb etc still hasn't progressed though
His chore he is solely responsible for is washing the dishes.

RedHelenB · 02/05/2018 17:50

Plate on the side surely only needs moving when ready to do the washing up?

Pengggwn · 02/05/2018 17:50

Plus, I don't understand how you had to help him to change bedsheets. Sorry, but they're either on or off, aren't they? What's to unravel?

InDubiousBattle · 02/05/2018 17:50

I have found myself thinking "it would be quicker/easier to do this myself"

And that is exactly what he wants. You to do it yourself I mean. No one lives independently and reachesadulthood without knowing how to make a cup of tea or cook pasta (I'm going to go ahead and assume he can read ffs). He just knows that you will crack on and do it. I'd definitely get a cleaner!

reallybadidea · 02/05/2018 17:51

If he was really that bothered he would be proactively learning how to do stuff. I bet his parents didn't teach him how to do his job - he learned how to do it because it mattered to him. Does he still need his boss to tell him exactly what needs doing on a day to day basis or is he able to use his initiative? Housework really is no different. The cynical part of me thinks that he is pretending to be a bit more hopeless (and willing to change) than he actually is. I reckon he thinks (consciously or unconsciously) that in the long run you'll just do it all.

Kardashianlove · 02/05/2018 17:52

I’m assuming at work he doesn’t ‘fail to notice’ what needs doing there and doesn’t ‘fumble about’ doing basic tasks. He’s been able to lean how to do things at work so he is choosing not to learn to do things at home.

It is easy enough to google how to cook, how to work the washing machine, etc or read the manual.

Honestly, someone can’t be ‘hopeless’ at housework. They can choose not to do it though.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 02/05/2018 17:52

Do not have children with this man.

If he wanted to do it, he would teach himself. It's not fucking rocket science.

Crispbutty · 02/05/2018 17:53

show him how to use youtube, he will find the simplest of instructions on there to show him how to cope with life in the real world..

AmazingPostVoices · 02/05/2018 17:55

My lovely DH wasn’t taught how to cook or do any domestic chores growing up by his parents ( although he learned DIY.)

I taught him everything and he is now a fully functioning adult.

He’s not the world’s greatest cook but I can walk out the door for a week away with work and the kids are fed, laundry done and the house in reasonable shape when I get back.

Do not take over and let him away with being helpless you will regret it.

None of this stuff is rocket science. It’s not that hard to learn.

JammyDodger99 · 02/05/2018 17:57

RedHelen as in left there all day since breakfast for e.g.
Pengggwn you would think so shouldn't you, but it was a right faff!
reallybadidea you could be right about this. Unconsciously i would hope as he wouldn't want to be cruel to me and he knows how I feel. But at the same time if he has got used to everything being done he might unconsciously want to keep things as they are.
Good ideas SunshineAfterRain

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 02/05/2018 17:57

Yes, but it was a faff for him, not you! Why make it your problem?

TheNavigator · 02/05/2018 17:58

He sounds dreadful. Utterly useless & blames his mother. Sorry OP, I'd throw this one back.

WomanEqualsAdultHumanFemale · 02/05/2018 17:58

My MIL raised him in a totally sexist environment where the boys were totally cooked and catered for and the girls looked after the house.

Was she a single parent?

JammyDodger99 · 02/05/2018 17:59

AmazingPostVoices Thank you that's really helpful to know and good to know it worked for you and him.

It's not helpful when people say things like "don't have children with this man" to be honest.

OP posts:
JammyDodger99 · 02/05/2018 18:02

WomanEqualsAdultHumanFemale Yes that's right, she is divorced. Dad in in DP's life but working away/abroad and living in hotels.

TheNavgator he doesn't blame her, that has been my conclusion.

OP posts:
LannieDuck · 02/05/2018 18:06

If he's genuinely willing to change, it's worth the initial effort. Give him set tasks, e.g. laundry. It's up to him to remember to do it, and he can do it around his schedule (just as you have to remember to do the housework around your schedule).

Show him once, have him take notes. Suggest he writes himself bullet-point instructions and sticks them on the wall above the washing machine.

Laundry can include changing the bedsheets. That's a weekend job; again, show him once and then leave him to get on with it.

I like the idea of sending him on a basic cookery course.

And if you have children, make sure he takes his share of parental leave. That way he'll be forced to learn in the same way that you will be.

WomanEqualsAdultHumanFemale · 02/05/2018 18:06

So dad failed to raise him properly too.

Highhorse1981 · 02/05/2018 18:06

Op

We are not talking about brain science here.

He can’t do the laundry? He doesn’t notice things?

You are in for a tough time

WhiteFreesias · 02/05/2018 18:06

Google and YouTube are his friends. Divide the chores and let him get on with his.

Get a cleaner.

aaarrrggghhhh · 02/05/2018 18:07

So has he never had to learn how to do a new task at work? Including tasks not related to his training?

Im guessing he's had to learn how to use an email system, how to use office templates of something along those lines.

No different. He has to apply himself to learn.

(Then once he's learnt - get a cleaner - BUT make him find them, make him inspect with you whether they've done a good job etc).

Also make him sole responsible for his own laundry. Under no circumsntace do his laundry.

Its ludicrous that he can't learn. Of course he can.

I was never taught how to do anything by my (shit) mother. My house is now sparkling.

Midthreademergencynamechange · 02/05/2018 18:07

Why is he working such ridiculous hours? He needs another job if he's not just being equally incompetent at work.