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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect boyfriend to contribute to housework?

209 replies

nutellacrumpet8991 · 19/12/2018 10:13

I've been with my boyfriend for almost 3 years now. I am 23, he is 36. We don't live together although we are planning to move in together next year after i finish my master's degree. I stay at his place for weeks at a time, even months during the summer.

I don't work but i have my own money. Less than him, but enough to cover my rent, bills, food, travel and necessities.

Generally we get along well and things are good. However there is one major problem that has been bothering me. When i stay at his place for a long period of time i do EVERYTHING. I do laundry,i fold it and put it in the wardrobe, i cook dinner every single night, durink the weekend i also make us breakfast and lunch, i do the dishes every single day, i pack his lunch for work, i clean the flat,i take bins out, i even put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket. I also do a food shop every week (i don't drive so i have to carry bags uphill for half an hour).

He works Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. Desk job. When i tell him that he should do some stuff around the flat too he says things like 'Well i work every day so we can have a flat, food and afford nice things'. Which is fair, but it's not like i am dependant on him. I pay rent for my own flat, i pay my own bills, i pay for what i need for myself, i buy food for the both of us.

If i don't do the housework he still doesn't do it and i can't live in filth. If he makes a sandwich or toast he lives the buttery knife on the counter, crumbs everywhere. He is very messy. We had an argument a while ago because the bin was full and i did not take it out that day and he said to me: 'I feel like when you are here you treat this flat like a holiday home'. Then i told him every single thing i do around his flat and again i got the 'i go to work every day so we can have this and this' response.

I did a big expensive Christmas food shop the other day. But we still need the turkey, veg, fruit and drinks that are difficult to carry. I keep asking him to go get them but all i get is 'i am tired, just make me a list and i'll grab some things during lunch break". I said no, we need to go one day when you come home from work. He just tells me he's tired and that i can get the rest of what we need because i have nothing to do. Last year was my first Christmas with him. We had a Christmas lunch with his family then for the rest of Christmas we ate cheese sandwiches because he was too unorganized and lazy to do a food shop.

I now have doubts about moving in with him next year. I'll have a full time job too by then and i don't want to come home from work, do everything while he is relaxing on the sofa waiting for dinner to be ready.

Besides this he is affectionate, funny, caring and we enjoy our time together. His family is great and they like me. I really don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 19/12/2018 11:08

FFS - another one.

Where do these twatty men get made?!

FestiveNut · 19/12/2018 11:08

Also, op, you're 23. You have all the time in the world to find someone. Don't settle.

senua · 19/12/2018 11:11

He works Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. Desk job. When i tell him that he should do some stuff around the flat too he says things like 'Well i work every day
Um, are you not working, too? OK, it's a masters degree and not employment but you are busy too.
It sounds like you are not compatible. You like clean; he's not bothered. He's not going to change now, at 36 y.o.
Finish your masters then dump him.

P.S. For future reference: it's not 'contribute' to wimmin's work, it's 'do his fair share' of household chores.

LittleOwl153 · 19/12/2018 11:12

This situation is not normal. From your title I thought you lived together or possibly he was staying at yours then clearing off when there is work to be done.... not that you are doing all this work at his place!! He has you for a right mug.

Stop doing the washing. Take your own stuff home - don't stay long enough to run out of stuff, (or if you are really stuck out a load through of just yours). If he cant be bothered to use the laundry basket then dont pick up after him you are not his mother!! (His mother should have taught him better!)

Dont haul the shopping. And certainly don't go lugging a Turkey about. Is there somewhere else you can go for Christmas? You'd be better working in a shelter than skiviying after him - at least those folks would appreciate your efforts!

Unless he's put your name on the deeds of the flat, or hes paying some massive expenses on your behalf he is not working for YOU to have things. Infact you are subsidising him by buying his food and being his unpaid cleaner/housemaid!

Get yourself out of there - certainly don't get a place together or worse have kids with him... can you imagine...

SilverySurfer · 19/12/2018 11:16

Don't move in because he won't change - only for the worse. I don't understand why you even start doing it all in the first place?

NamedyChangedy · 19/12/2018 11:16

You deserve so much better than this man. Even if it doesn't feel like it, you're still so very young. There's no reason to feel any pressure to stay with someone who clearly doesn't respect you.

arethereanyleftatall · 19/12/2018 11:22

Why would you do his laundry?

I can see why you might cook dinner if it's for both of you, but why on earth would you even think of doing just his laundry? That's bonkers.

Sexnotgender · 19/12/2018 11:22

You’re doing a masters so are evidently reasonably intelligent. Stop wasting your time on this massive man child, don’t move in with him. He’s treating you like a skivvy.

trojanpony · 19/12/2018 11:26

I now have doubts about moving in with him next year.
You are right to.
He is training you to be his housemaid Confused
The red flags are waving 🚩🚩🚩

Don’t ignore this, it won’t get better.
He is taking the piss big style.
It does read as if you are enabling it at least partially.
You need to stop that and explain the expectations clearly if you want a future with him.
You need to have a serious chat about what life is going to look like going forward.
Eg
When I make lunch, you wash and dry up.
We do the shopping together. Etc etc

And for the love of all things holy, stop making him a packed lunch. Just Stop.

Wellshit · 19/12/2018 11:26

Have my first ltb. He sounds utterly useless.

trojanpony · 19/12/2018 11:27

That’s assuming you want to make it work... I’d be cutting my losses

You are obviously smart and so young...

BlingLoving · 19/12/2018 11:31

Don't move in with him. And stop spending so much time at his place. Why are you paying rent if you're basically living with him? Rather, go back to your place more often and agree that he spends a few nights there and perhaps you spend weekends at his. Because basically, you ARE living with him and he's expecting you to look after him in exchange for his nice home etc? It's complete bs.

Frankly, I'd be dumping him completely but that's just me. At 23 you have plenty of time to find a decent man and spending time with someone who is just interested in a pretty young thing and a live in housekeeper seems a bit of a waste.

SeaSandLandSky · 19/12/2018 11:40

You are not a live-in servant. If you are in an equal relationship, then everything - including chores - is shared. Equally.

Stop all this now. Today.

Oh, and don't move in with him as he doesn't value you.....leaving his sandwich mess for you to clear up is a strong indicator of this.

Stay home and have a lovely, restful, housework free Christmas.

Tellem2 · 19/12/2018 11:40

DO NOT MOVE IN!!! You are gf not wife. Why is he expecting stepford wives husband treatment when he's showing what he really thinks of you.

Tellem2 · 19/12/2018 11:42

Even if you were his wife he'd still probably treat you like crap. 23 years, 55 years regardless. You don't need to be breaking back like this.

WineGummyBear · 19/12/2018 11:46

This time you have spent together has been an excellent opportunity to get to know him. Now you know him you get to choose whether to move in with him.

EKGEMS · 19/12/2018 11:54

DO NOT move in with this lazy ass caveman otherwise this will be your life in the relationship until you snap and leave him years down the road

Woooman · 19/12/2018 11:55

This situation will never get better, only worse. You'll move in, may get married and have some kids, and then before you know it you'll be working a full time job, cooking all meals, doing all washing and ironing, all cleaning, all food shopping, and all parenting, whilst he sits back and enjoys his down time in the evenings because he's the big man who works to provide for you all and he needs his relaxation time.

You're 23- don't settle for this selfish, lazy, filthy man-child.

BiddyPop · 19/12/2018 11:59

Another "don't move in with him" from me!

He is not showing you any respect whatsoever.

At 23, you deserve to enjoy life.
At 36, he should be well capable of keeping his own house in order.

PurpleWithRed · 19/12/2018 12:03

I suspect your standards are a lot higher than his and he resents not being able to just run along like used to. It's a big mismatch, if you both can't compromise you are doomed. Also it's something best addressed at the beginning of a relationship. Personally I suspect you should think about moving on. You're young and independent you can both fine someone you are better suited to.

Heartofglass12345 · 19/12/2018 13:01

DO NOT MOVE IN WITH HIM EXPECTING HIM TO CHANGE
I am saying this in capital letters as it happens so often! Unless he shows you he is willing to do it waaaay before you move in together, I would end things. Maybe if you talk about it with him and say that if you live together you have to both contribute to housework or it's not happening, he might have the kick up the arse he needs and change.

Heartofglass12345 · 19/12/2018 13:02

Oh and he needs to do things without you asking him, otherwise you will just be accused of nagging

Her0utdoors · 19/12/2018 13:10

God no woman! Enjoy your 20s, don't spend them doing the grunt work for this man child. I guess he hasn't done a masters if he thinks you aren't doing anything with your time?

OutPinked · 19/12/2018 13:21

Don’t do it. This will not improve when you move in together, it will only get worse because it will be constant and piss you off more. It’s completely not normal to be doing absolutely everything including picking his dirty laundry up from the floor! He’s gross, you know you can do better.

ThistleAmore · 19/12/2018 13:22

He's 36. He's not going to change. Run while you can.

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