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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Secret cleaner?

181 replies

ButtermilkBiscuits · 04/08/2018 16:37

Basically I am a SAHM of an 18 mo old DS. He is a handful that I struggle to keep entertained all day and he's not a very good napper. Most days I'm lucky to get him down for an hour at most. As a result, I cannot stay on top of the housework properly. I've asked my DH if we can get a cleaner for the bathrooms and kitchen etc and he has flat out said no. I've explained that it's impossible to get anything done when DS is awake and when he's asleep I'm rarely able to get much done because he doesn't sleep for long. I've also explained the amount of stress that I constantly feel because the house isn't as clean as it should be. Still a firm NO.

The thing is, I'm largely in control of the finances. DH has his own business and he sends me 90% of the money he earns and keeps the other 10% for himself and materials as needed. He never checks my bank account or questions me about money. All of the bills come out of my account and also our savings is attached to my account. The only control he has is to tell me what to put in savings and what to keep on the current account but he never follows up or looks at the balances.

WIBU to just employ a cleaner behind his back? He'd never know and it would take a lot of my stress away but I'm not sure if that would be a breach of trust? AIBU?

OP posts:
Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 04/08/2018 18:50

Yes, after seeing your update, just go back to work. But make sure you don't ALSO get stuck with the cleaning.

Sometimes the answer to a very demanding toddler is to palm him off on a nursery at least some of the time!

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 18:50

How would it help?
She miserable,stressed and unwaged.financially dependent on her dp
Return to work,share domestic tasks,split fees proportionately,get some control back

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 18:51

He’s done a number on you. Convinced you to give up work.and your unhappy

IKnowItsTIMHONKSTIMHONKS · 04/08/2018 18:52

I'm not being judgy just merely pointing out that I have 12 month old, very mobile twins yet I don't struggle to find time to do housework. They don't require my constant attention - they would take it if I were willing to give it, but they don't need it so I don't give it to them. I'm really not being nasty when I say that you SHOULD have time to do it, and if it's bothering you then you need to make the time.

bellsbuss · 04/08/2018 18:52

My 2 year old has a toy mop, Hoover , dustpan and brush, iron and ironing board. He loves copying me, he also doesn't nap anymore but I manage to keep a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom house clean. I'm not trying to boast it's just I don't understand why you need a cleaner. I have 4 children and an untidy OH to clean up after and you have one child.

Bluelady · 04/08/2018 18:52

Doesn't answer my question.

MissCharleyP · 04/08/2018 18:53

My DH is like this. He is the most lovely, generous person so it’s not a money issues (for context he bought me a brand new car and pays for things like holidays and lunch/dinner, shopping) but he just will not entertain paying for a cleaner! We have a Gardner (just cuts grass every couple of weeks) so no idea why. He says we can do it, but he was ill recently and couldn’t and I hate housew. I went back to work a couple of months ago and he cleans the house now.

ButtermilkBiscuits · 04/08/2018 18:53

Thank you rainbowstardrops. I actually really appreciate what you're saying. I do realise that my DH is a twat, BTW.

OP posts:
IKnowItsTIMHONKSTIMHONKS · 04/08/2018 18:53

I'll admit I didn't RTFT BTW

bellsbuss · 04/08/2018 18:54

Just read your update , go back to work, get a cleaner and you'll be happier. Sorry if I sounded harsh

Squidgee · 04/08/2018 18:58

how is £750 irrelevant? that's half my ex's monthly income ffs.

TheConstantMoaner · 04/08/2018 18:58

If you can afford and he won’t find out. Then just do it. Sounds like you’re struggling and if you think this will really help you then go for it.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 18:59

Getting a job isn’t going against her dp,it’s asserting herself. Getting her out of domestic drudgery
And if he doesn’t like it (he won’t) that’s tough

pennycarbonara · 04/08/2018 19:03

He's extremely controlling and it's a major issue in our relationship.

Very good reason to go back to work, so you can maintain your career and earning capacity and make it easier for your to manage as independently as possible when you have had enough of this. (And remember that you are not a skivvy and your work is not irrelevant)

PowerPlayed · 04/08/2018 19:04

Oh gosh OP I didn't read your update.

Go back to work. Take things from there.

ButtermilkBiscuits · 04/08/2018 19:04

Just for the record, I agree that £750/mo isn't irrelevant. It would pay for our mortgage ffs!

I think that a lot of the problem came from DH's absolute hatred of the nursery. The crazy thing is, the nursery DS attended was 100% the best nursery around. The others don't even come close. But he couldn't understand why DS was constantly unwell and he spoke to his parents and friends and came to the conclusion that the only solution was for me not to work. Also my job was a constant source of stress and he felt like it would be better if I quit.

I won't lie, I knew it was a bad idea but I just got tired of the same arguments and caved in. Sad

Now I am stuck exactly where I feared I would be and I'm quite unhappy with the dynamic.

I agree that going back to work is probably the best solution. Just not sure what DH will say.

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 19:09

Don’t ask his permission,just go back to work.for your sanity,your independence
And work on your assertiveness.you let your dp and his parents bully you into giving up work

beetrootbang · 04/08/2018 19:18

I think you really need to consider getting a job again, both for your own sanity and also to support yourself if your relationship remains strained and potentially ends in the future.

For the cleaning, could you not pay for a one off deep clean to get it all up to scratch and then just do 20-30mins a day after DC has gone to bed? I know what it is like to have a child that you can't get anything done with. Maybe strap him in high chair with a few toys in front of the tv for 20mins here and there throughout the day?

NinonDeLenclos · 04/08/2018 19:18

Well you've got bigger problems than lying about a cleaner.

Is this level of control really tenable long term? He's controlled you out of a job, he's controlled you into being a housewife slash slave, and controlled you out of a cleaner.

Can you live like this?

My sister is a SAHM to 3 children, she has a cleaner. Her husband treats her with respect and he makes his own breakfast.

SAHM can work, but not in this scenario.

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/08/2018 19:18

It sounds as if you’ve done the best thing for your ds. Given him and you some time to regroup. He is getting older and at some stage he will attend preschool and school. My dd disliked nursery so perhaps it’s the setting rather than being away from you. Dd also didn’t like the afterschool club and much preferred being with a childminder when she was little. So don’t think you’ve made a big mistake. Once you’ve found a job you like, perhaps this could be the best thing for your family.

Your dh is acting really badly and sounds very controlling. I’d be incredibly disappointed with his behaviour tbh. This isn’t the 1950’s. £750 isn’t to be sniffed at and would have been a lot more once your ds started school. Besides childcare money is deducted from both parents salary.

Pancakeoctopus · 04/08/2018 19:21

Of course he gets a say in how op spends his money,he’s sole wage earner
Op isn’t financially contributing. So yea he gets a say in how his money spent

No! They have entered into an agreement that he works while she cares for their child. The money is therefore shared, not his. If she was not available to care for their child, he would not have this money since he would either have to pay childcare or look after the child himself. No-one is disputing he gets a say, they are disputing that he gets the only say.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 19:22

Read the updates pancakes
He bullied her into giving up work and she regrets it

Squidgee · 04/08/2018 19:22

Ok, ex nursery worker here.

He was ill all the time because nurseries are little germ breeding grounds. There's always coughs and colds and snot and sneezes because kids don't have the hygiene not to wipe their noses on everyone and sneeze everywhere.

EVERYONE who goes to nursery will get sick, including the staff, until they build up a really good immunity.

Its normal.

Pancakeoctopus · 04/08/2018 19:25

Then my comment stands even more!

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 04/08/2018 19:25

agree Squidgee, oppurtnidtic infections happen at nursery,they build immunity
My dc had got conjunctivitis,chickenpox,ear ache,colds,hand,foot,mouth illness
Since starting school,no illness.nadda. Not single day

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