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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not want to be the 'household manager' anymore?

80 replies

FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 14:05

First post but long time lurker. I know there are lots of posts like this one, but would like some advice as feel stuck.

For context, both DH and I are teachers, and we have 3 children between 4yrs and 10yrs old. I have recently returned to full time work after nearly 11 years at home as a sahm.

Over this time at home, I've picked up all the childcare admin and all the housework manager type stuff. DH is happy to do housework but has to be told every time and won't notice things need doing unless it is absolutely obvious (i.e. piled up washing up, overflowing washing basket).
I also do all the stereotypical man jobs (sorry to be sexist, but trying to paint a clear picture) so all the DIY, painting, maintenance, fixing, etc.

I have been trying for several months now to get DH to take on more of the 'mental load' of the house and children, now I am at work. My DH is very happy to do any jobs, but I have to tell him everything . I knew there would be a period of adjustment, but he really still waits for me to tell him to do stuff.
I have had growing resentment over it, but two recent conversations have really been the last straw for me. Firstly, he recently went around one of his colleagues houses and commented to me about how dirty it was, and how he wouldn't ever live in a house like that...... but he doesn't use his initiative at home! And secondly, this morning, when I tried yet again to talk to him calmly about using his initiative, he says that I've always done it or told him to do it, and that I can't expect him to know what needs to be done. He said I wouldn't know what he does at work, so how would he know what needs to be done at home. Angry

I was so stressed by the end of term, that I decided for 5 days that I would not do any housework bar getting the kids sorted, cooking and one load of washing up per day. I also did lots of childcare admin during this time, so booking school meals, buying uniform, anything the kids needed etc. I hoped that as things built up around the house, he would see they needed doing and do it, but that didn't happen.

Having said that, for those 5 days, I felt like I'd had a proper break for the first time in a long time, I spent quality time with my kids, I read a whole book, and my brain felt calm - I felt like a new woman. Now, I don't expect to feel like that all the time, but I know that if he did things without me asking, it would really reduce my stress levels.

I don't want a cleaner. There's not so much that needs doing around the house that we can't manage it between us, as long as we are both doing it. My children also have a couple of age-appropriate chores each, like making their own beds, tidy their own toys, so they are a big help.

I said that if I printed out a list of what needed to be done housework-wise, would he look at it, and he said yes, but really I'm not sure that he would. Hmm And how do I share childcare admin?

Has anyone managed to crack a system of doing this? Or do I just continue to tell him everything? Why are women so often in this position? AIBU to never do housework again if I feel better for it? What's the point if no one cares but me?

OP posts:
FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 18:15

if he knows you do it - then he knows that task exists and he needs to do his bit.
if you've told him to do it - then he knows that task exists and he needs to do his bit.
This is very true.

OP posts:
Newmanwannabe · 28/07/2018 18:29

Are you 40 or just over ? I think when you get to that age something in you snaps and you go Fuck it. I’m sick of taking everyone’s shit... well I have.

Not just DH but everyone really. I’m a bit over the lot of them to be honest. Would quite like to run off somewhere tropical with a cocktail or ten I think Wine Cake

MissMarplesKnitting · 28/07/2018 18:31

Agreed! I've reached that age and my fuckthatometer has kicked in. I am not spending my whole life running round after everyone else.

timeisnotaline · 28/07/2018 18:36

If he can’t be management he’s just menial labour, and jumps when you say jump is how I think. My dh is pretty good, and we take pretty mutual responsibility these days but we have had various watershed moments. Last year he wasn’t going on ir we cancelled holidays if he hadn’t organised most of them, and the first two were his friends wedding and a trip with his parents , so not cancellable/optional in his eyes. He knew I wasn’t bluffing is key, I am not going to spend the next 40 years taking him on holidays I’ve organised.

ChristmasFluff · 28/07/2018 18:50

Before I got divorced, I was very resentful of all the things I did that the ex-husband didn't do. It was a surprise benefit of the decision to divorce: I still do the same stuff (well, a bit less, cos one less person making mess), but I'm not resentful. It's one option - maybe one he should be aware of??

LadyLoveYourWhat · 28/07/2018 18:57

We use the Todoist app and share projects, that way we can both see what jobs need doing and tick them off when we've done them. You can set recurring tasks, e.g. when our sheets are changed and we tick off the task, it gets reset to need doing in another 7 days. I also put school trip installments on it too and things like flea treatment for the cats. I've got it set up to do reminders too...

soloula · 28/07/2018 18:58

Are you 40 or just over ? I think when you get to that age something in you snaps and you go Fuck it. I’m sick of taking everyone’s shit... well I have.

Haha this is me. Turned 40 a few weeks ago and it's like someone flicked a switch. Grin

YouTheCat · 28/07/2018 19:02

OP, with stuff like Christmas prep, get him involved with the use of wine and a film (for if you're wrapping or writing cards).

At least he's willing to try.

FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 19:06

I'm not 40, but at another milestone birthday, and I am evaluating life and how happy I am at the mo. Maybe DH's lack of contribution is bothering me more because of that. I just had so much more time for me, and for the children, and for other things that I want to be more important in my life than housework, when I gave myself those 5 days off. It was a bit of shock to get off the treadmill, and all those things you say like 'I wish I could read more, I wish I could do more for me' actually materalised for once.

I also feel DH doesn't really have much ambition to do much other than work and Xbox with his days, and I want more than what we do now. More substance, more living, less drudgery. I want to travel, especially now we've got more money now I've gone back to work. I know he would be happy to go along with it all, but it all has to come from me, you know? Otherwise we'd just be sat on the sofa for the rest of our lives.

OP posts:
FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 19:08

It's like he's a passenger in my life, if that makes sense, rather than an equal driving partner in our relationship.

I don't think he's depressed.

But yes, like you say, he is on board and willing to do his bit once he knows what to do.

Sorry, rambled a bit off topic. In a place of contemplation atm.

OP posts:
Hedgehog80 · 28/07/2018 19:10

Totally understand I’ve got a lot of help fircthe next 6 weeks as a gift to myself (I have my hair cut 1-2 times a year and done get my nails done or anything or really go shopping much so I can justify the cost for the holidays of a cleaner a gardener and a PA)

I’m also following the organised Mum method so the house is better I do it first bing every morning and it’s really helping

Hedgehog80 · 28/07/2018 19:11

First thing !

HushabyeMountainGoat · 28/07/2018 19:11

What about just agreeing to 'sign over' certain areas to him completely. So for instance all food shopping and cooking becomes his job. One of you does washing and drying, the other does ironing and putting away. Divvy the jobs up fairly according to time available/ difficulty.

Maybe that would reduce the day to day 'this/that needs doing' communication and repetition?

GhostCurry · 28/07/2018 19:14

“I know he would be happy to go along with it all, but it all has to come from me, you know? Otherwise we'd just be sat on the sofa for the rest of our lives.”

I could have written this OP.

SciFiFan2015 · 28/07/2018 19:16

Do you have shared electronic calendars? We do at home so I put the non-regular (only I notice needs doing) stuff in there with a reminder. Like soak the shower head, big clean up of fridge and freezer. That helps because DH see it too. Actually the kids see it as well because they are on the shared calendar as well!
My DH is very good though. He shares the chores and mental load equally. All child related admin too.
He used to make the mistake of saying I've loaded the washing machine for you and I would say he wasn't doing it for me, he was doing it because it needed done.
It might be more difficult for you because you are changing your DH's habits but persevere.

FaFoutis · 28/07/2018 19:23

What you are doing with the lists and delegating might well help get things done more equally, but can you really feel equal to a person who can't organise a holiday or see when the washing needs doing?
That's still a problem.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 28/07/2018 19:26

We did the list thing. Don’t touch his list now or remind him. Let him use his initiative. Mine learnt the hard way. I wouldn’t ignore his task backlog. Eventually he’s got into a better routine but it’s taken months. I refused to rescue him

Labradoodliedoodoo · 28/07/2018 19:27

I would ignore his back log

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 28/07/2018 19:27

Fuck that for a game of soldiers. I’d lose my shit and point out that somehow you managed to slot straight back into work after however many years out with minimal fuss, so given he apparently has a brain cell he can manage to figure out what needs doing in a house he has lived in for the same number of years.

I’d do fuck all for him and if he whinges point out no one told you to do it, so how would you know? Honestly, I would lose all respect for any man who thought like that.

Theworldisfullofgs · 28/07/2018 19:30

I got wunderlist and just started allocating tasks on it. I added the 16 year old as well.
You can schedule them as well - so they re occur on a monthly etc basis.

It's not perfect but it's better than it was. I got fed up of reminding dh to do stuff.

Jennyz123 · 28/07/2018 19:31

Hi Fudge, this cartoon was a bit of a game changer for us after I showed it to dh - it really explained to me why I would feel frustrated in a way that I couldn't always articulate clearly, and dh seemed to have a similar light bulb moment after seeing it. We had a good talk and I explained the main things I have to remember to do every day/week/month. My dh had always been really good at doing whatever I asked him bless him, but I always felt so guilty having to ask - it makes you feel like a constant nag - but of course you're not, you've just assumed all the responsibility for delegating and why on earth should you! It may not help in your situation but thought I'd share it in case you or anyone else finds it useful. www.workingmother.com/this-comic-perfectly-explains-mental-load-working-mothers-bear#page-14

MeganChips · 28/07/2018 19:32

I completely understand this OP, it’s very frustrating.

We both work full time although I work longer hours in a more demanding job. There are set tasks that are DH’s such as the garden, washing up, the bins, school admin and we take turns hoovering, laundry and food shopping.

Pretty much everything else falls to me. He will happily do his set tasks but anything outside the norm doesn’t get done. Eg cleaning the sink after washing up despite me nagging. Unless I do it, it doesn’t get done.

We are in the process of getting a new kitchen and there is a lot of work to organise before it’s fitted. I have delegated the organising of the tradespeople to him as he knows better than I do the detail of what needs doing in what order. He hasn’t done it and it’s time bound. I’m going to end up sorting it myself.

Your comment about him being a passenger really resonates. The pace of our entire lives has been dictated by me and it sometimes really pisses me off.

And now I am going to laminate some rotas!

FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 19:36

Yes, that's what I've done, given him his own jobs, that he alone is responsible for and would cause problems if he didn't do them.....and I won't be picking up the slack. I've told him as much.

I’d do fuck all for him and if he whinges point out no one told you to do it, so how would you know Yes, you are right. I think I've just carried on because I don't want the kids to suffer, and because up until recently I've been the Sahm so the one with more time. But there is no excuse for the things he's said to me and how he thinks I'm unreasonable for pushing the issue.

Fafoutis I know. I don't know what to do about it though.

OP posts:
FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 19:38

cleaning the sink after washing up despite me nagging. Oh my god, this. Every bloody time.

OP posts:
FudgeJungle · 28/07/2018 19:39

Jenny I've seen that before, it's perfect isn't it, I showed him and he said he understood but absolutely nothing changed.

OP posts:
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