Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
CottonTailRabbit · 20/12/2018 20:26

If you don't like living in filth then don't live with a flithy man. You have your own flat. Live there. Visit him for sex and dates if you want. Do nothing in his flat.

Meangirls36 · 21/12/2018 02:18

Run

AIBU to expect boyfriend to contribute to housework?
KatharinaRosalie · 21/12/2018 08:45

I can probably see where you're coming from. It's nice to take care of someone you love, to make their life easier, isnt' it?

Now think about how he treats you, leaving his filth all over for you to clean up.

Also, you can't make someone care about you and love you because you ironed their socks really nicely.

woollyheart · 21/12/2018 11:01

You are doing all these things for him because you love him. But he doesn't see these as very valuable things, because he is wouldn't be bothered to do them himself.

Step back a bit and think. What things does he do to show how much he loves you. Are they things that you appreciate? And will they be enough to keep you happy long term? Even when you are irritated by him being a slob doing nothing around the house when you have a demanding career yourself.

Weenurse · 21/12/2018 21:18

Agree, RUN

Rainatnight · 21/12/2018 21:24

You're TWENTY-THREE! You're meant to be having fun, not up to your elbows in someone else's dirty pants (in a house you don't even live in).

AND it sounds like he's weird about money. What if you took some time off to raise your children and he kept trotting out the line that he couldn't do housework because he's 'paying for everything'.

Get out, and find someone who treats you with respect.

KeiTeNgeNge · 21/12/2018 21:30

Ditch the twat

Youseethethingis · 21/12/2018 21:31

This is a window on to your future if you move in with this man. You either want this to be your future or you don’t. He won’t change.
All this business about making out that you should be GRATEFUL that he pays the bills in HIS OWN house? Who the fuck does he think he is?
There are more kinds of domestic abuse than just raising fists and I would be very wary that this man would move you in, set you up as his domestic servant/ convenient sex partner and promptly trample all over your self worth and financial independence.
Oh and 9-5 is NOT a long working day Biscuit
OP, please don’t waste your youth on this pathetic man.

Sashkin · 22/12/2018 02:24

I can’t believe you have had to make a fucking star chart for an adult. Are you going to give him a chocolate button every time he does something on the list, like I do when I’m potty training my two year old? Dear god how can you bear to have sex with such a pathetic wanker? You can’t possibly have any respect left for him at this point.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread