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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:
TynSoldier · 20/12/2018 12:17

OP, in the nicest way, what the fuck are you doing? Printing out charts and packing lunches for a grown man, and listening to him talk bollocks about you disrespect him.

Run like the wind.

Wooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh · 20/12/2018 12:23

We’ll see you in 10 years OP, in the same situation only you’ll have children, will still be running around doing everything and you’ll feel trapped and resentful. Good luck.

You’re disrespecting him because you haven’t took the bin out. Read that back to yourself, then have a think how him leaving everything to you to do (because the poor thing doesn’t know how), is being disrespectful to you by expecting you to do it all. Then give your head a wobble.

You’re 23. This does not have to be your life.

Cupcakecafe · 20/12/2018 12:27

He said that he doesn't know what needs to be done around the flat and that i need to tell him.
He's an adult is he not? He has eyes? Presumably he realises if he wears clothes they then need washing. If he eats a meal off a plate he is well aware that plate is then dirty so needs washing. Etc etc.
Basically, he might possibly do some of the work if you keep full control of the "mental load".

his mum asked me 'DSs hoodie is crinkled, do you overload the dryer?'
Someone my dh works with once asked me why his work shirt was creased and why hadn't I ironed it. I looked at her and raised my eyebrow and said "He's an adult who knows where the iron is, and is perfectly capable of using it if he so wishes"

Dungeondragon15 · 20/12/2018 12:35

His excuse that he doesn't know what needs doing is hilarious considering that he presumably managed to work it out before you lived with him. Or did he live like a slob and not eat or drink anything? The argument that you "disrespected him" by not doing something when he does f* is the icing on the cake. Who does he think he is?

Dungeondragon15 · 20/12/2018 12:37

Someone my dh works with once asked me why his work shirt was creased and why hadn't I ironed it. I looked at her and raised my eyebrow and said "He's an adult who knows where the iron is, and is perfectly capable of using it if he so wishes"

I think that you were very restrained. I would be very rude to anyone who said that to me.

WilburforceRaven · 20/12/2018 12:48

Please tell me you didn't fucking apologise to him! OP, I have a daughter who's only 7 years younger than you, who will be the age you met him in just 4 years, and I dread her meeting a man like this and giving him anything above perhaps the time of day or directions to the nearest short pier to take a long walk on.

He will never change. Can you understand that? Surely you can, you're very intelligent.

And no, there's no blaming his mother. He's been an adult for years.

Growing up, we often lived in places where we had staff in the house, we never had to do a thing. I never had training in how to adult, but managed, like most people, to pick it up just fine in adulthood. He doesn't need a chart or a chore rota, that's what I used for my kids, and now really only the 10-year-old needs it to remind him now and again but mostly not.

Think about that, OP, a 10 year old and he knows damn well that if he doesn't put his clothes in the washing machine I'm not going to do it for him and he'll go to school in stinky clothes and his mates will rib him for it and he won't get his pocket money and he'll get his privileges revoked because life doesn't come with a free personal skivvy.

My h had a mum who did everything. But he managed to become someone who kept his home and stuff clean and tidy and fed himself well when I met him or I'd have dumped him asap.

And this is something I have drilled into both my kids' heads. NEVER continue on with anyone well into adulthood who is a filthy, lazy slattern because it's indicative of someone who won't ever function as an adult.

He doesn't want to take responsibility. That means he can blame you for everything that goes wrong or he doesn't like.

100%.

Love is respect, OP, and he has none for you.

ltk · 20/12/2018 12:51

Oh god, not a fucking chores chart. Are you honestly thinking that a 36 year old man isn't cleaning up after himself and taking out his own damned rubbish because he doesn't know how? He is making his selfish, lazy behaviour YOUR problem to solve.

Imagine having children with this arse. Move back to your own place and find a man who respects you.

WilburforceRaven · 20/12/2018 12:51

You have a flat to go to already. This is easy peasy. 'I'm not apologising to you. In fact, I'm done. You will never change. That's fine. But I have. I want more in life than a manchild. Goodbye.'

RoyalChocolat · 20/12/2018 12:54

Run.
I am in an abusive marriage.
Looking back there were early warning signs that I did not pick on. They were much, much subtler than what you are writing about here.
He is not going to change. You deserve better.

WilburforceRaven · 20/12/2018 12:57

Exactly, Royal! The stinginess, the way he treats you, the blame foisted on you, demanding apologies.

We can all see this a mile away, OP.

KatharinaRosalie · 20/12/2018 12:58

You disrespect him by not taking out his trash? Continue with this guy and in a few years you will be apologising for breathing and existing.

Wooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh · 20/12/2018 12:59

Why are you cleaning his flat with him?

YouBetterWORK · 20/12/2018 13:03

What Tynsoldier, Royal, Katherina amd many others have said with bells on. He's got you doing the workload, the mental load AND insisting you apologise because you didn't empty HIS bin! It's a big red flag when people start saying "you should apologise because you disrespected me" over menial shit. All it says is he's trying to put you in your place - below his lordship.

Why on earth should he have your respect in the first place anyway!

losingfaith · 20/12/2018 13:05

Op he knows exactly what he is doing. He initially said to you he didn't know what needed doing. Firstly, No one is that thick. Secondly, he then went on to say he felt disrespected because YOU didn't take out the bin - it is his flat!! Were his arms and legs broken and therefore preventing him from taking the bin out? He knows exactly what he is doing. He may improve temporarily but this is who he is. He isn't going to change.

hellsbellsmelons · 20/12/2018 13:12

Jeeeezzz....
It never ceases to amaze me what some women will do for a 'man'!
OP, he's told you many many times, loud and clear who he is.
LISTEN!!!!!!
He's a lazy, entitled, misogynistic, immature, big friggin' twat.
He has no respect for you or women in general.
This here shows you that During our talk he pointed out that i hadn't taken the bin out once or twice in the past few weeks and he feels that i disrespect him greatly
Fuck me! You do everything for him and he has the fucking cheek to say this.
Get out..... GET OUT..... GET OUT
You are so young with your whole life ahead of you.
This asshole is NOT the man for you.
Find one who considers you an equal.
This will be horrendous if you move in with him and then when kids come along....??? Well good luck with that!

Move back into your place.
If you really want to then agree to date occasionally and see what happens.
But for the love of god... stop doing all his housework.
He's a grown up. He can wash his own clothes.
I was with my ExH for 15 years and he managed to do his own washing.
With another man around 5+ years and he did his own washing as well.
Amazing eh???

Value yourself more than this.
Stop enabling his shitty behaviour.
Move back to your own place and live your life!
Blimey, 23 and cooking dinner every night.
You should be out enjoying life.

jellyfrizz · 20/12/2018 13:13

he feels that i disrespect him greatly by doing that because the first time it happened he asked me to take it out when it is full. So he wanted an apology for disrespecting him. Which pissed me off.

Grrrr. That's pissed me off and I'm not even involved. Ask him how he thinks it makes you feel when he leaves his shit everywhere? Every time he leaves something out rather than putting it away he's saying 'fuck you, you can pick that up'.

orangepopp · 20/12/2018 13:17

Wow I don't think I have ever said this on here but you need to LTB

woollyheart · 20/12/2018 13:30

Unfortunately you are probably right. His mother has not taught him to anything himself, just that he needs to find a woman to do it.

Have you ever mentioned your intended career to his parents?

Did you make any comment when she gave you tips on how to do his laundry or how to cook food for him. The correct answer is 'you should be giving that tip or cookbook to your son- he seems to be clueless about taking care of himself.'

henhelppls · 20/12/2018 13:33

My sister is about to marry and have children with a man just like this. She thinks it'll be fine and he'll 'have to step up'.

Of course I know he won't.

EerieSilence · 20/12/2018 13:37

So he has a housekeeper, cleaner, cook, a sex buddy and a door mat in one. Not surprised he wants to keep you.

Gogreen · 20/12/2018 13:39

So what would happen in the further if kids were involved? He would come home and do nothing?

Do not do this, leave him.....if you don’t, I’m telling you now you will look back and regret this massively....you don’t need to settle for this, there’s better out there for you!

Tighnabruaich · 20/12/2018 13:43

i can't believe that a young woman in this day and age - 2018 ffs! - is still going along with this shit.
Heed the warning signs carefully, OP, your future is being mapped out for you - that is, if you go along with it.

Tighnabruaich · 20/12/2018 13:44

EeerieSilence exactly. He's a selfish, lazy knob.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 20/12/2018 13:49

An apology for disrespecting him for not taking the bins out? If that's 'disrespect' then what's dropping clothes on the floor as you know someone else will pick them up and not doing any cleaning up after yourself because your skivvy will finish the job? Blasphemy? Hatred!? I think there is disrespect but it's not coming from him

TheGoddessFrigg · 20/12/2018 13:50

Oh Op- these are the GOOD YEARS. This is the time of your life to concentrate on YOU, to get your career on track, to have fun, be wild, be silly. Not have some weedy needy little man child complain that you 'disrespect' him because you don't take the bins out.

Don't waste your precious time.

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