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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To seriously consider leaving “D”P because his hygiene is atrocious?

273 replies

Zeldamarioandkong · 06/07/2019 11:02

Just that really.
He hasn’t showered for 8 days. 8. No depression, just a lazy shit of a man. Has to be reminded daily to brush his teeth, if I don’t tell him, it doesn’t get done. He works in an office so I highly doubt it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Sick to bloody death of living with a man child. We have 1 DC and have been together 10+ years, luckily we aren’t married. I can’t live the rest of my life with a disgusting hobbit who doesn’t respect me or himself enough to wash daily.
I’m a very clean person, like to keep a tidy home and look/smell nice. This disgusting behaviour really does trigger me and makes me feel physically sick. And no, I’m not having sex with him. Couldn’t think of anything worse at the moment, with this heat I dread to think of the state his ‘area’ is in Angry
Pissed off and fed up. What should I do? Should I try and make it work and hope he changes, or cut my losses and make arrangements to leave him.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 06/07/2019 15:58

Just read @Anyfucker's post.

You haven't mentioned one reason to stay.

Branleuse · 06/07/2019 16:08

it would probably be cheaper to get a night nanny to sleep in than it would be to look after him

VivienneHolt · 06/07/2019 16:09

Yabu to call him a hobbit - hobbits are fastidious about tidiness.

Yanbu to leave the foul slob.

ambereeree · 06/07/2019 16:13

Grim. Dump the dirty sod.

sevenoftwelve · 06/07/2019 16:20

This is so much bigger than hygiene issues. He has a lot of control over you. Www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

He won't change, he's made that clear, so if you're ready to find a way to move on then focus on dealing with your obstacles first. It's helpful that you already know change is difficult for you because you can begin preparing yourself to cope with it in advance but also do some planning to reduce the uncertainty.

So, look at your budget and what your finances will be like without him. Draw up a new budget as appropriate. Check if you'll be entitled to any welfare support you aren't now (eg try turn2us). Are there any changes you will need to make or any preparation you can do now? The Money Advice Service and moneysavingexpert may both be helpful.

If you kick him out, will you be able to continue living where you are now? Would you prefer the change of a fresh environment? Are you comfortable with everything you'd need to do to stay where you are now and get him to leave?

Do you need legal advice about any of this? Rights of Women may be helpful. Also Citizens Advice depending on nature. Otherwise, if you need to, book a consultation with a couple of solicitors (rather than just the first one you find) - some offer reduced rates for the initial consultation or will have an initial chat for free to point you in the right direction even if their fees will be too high for you to engage them... It depends on the firm, but worth exploring if you need to involve legal professionals.

Keep up the job search but also think creatively about childcare and explore whether any of the suggestions made on this thread could be viable, eg au pair. You do have the right to ask for flexible arrangements at work (which could include altering your hours) so find out the process and have conversations.

Don't assume something won't be possible until you've checked and talked to people. Sometimes employers respond much more positively than we'd expect, especially if they don't want to lose you.

You don't necessarily have to make the changes all at once unless you feel you need to for your own wellbeing (because of the clearly significant impact his behaviour is having on you) or because he's jacked in his job again and left you in a needlessly difficult position. Or for any other reason of your choosing!

You have some time here to plan and get everything sorted before you jettison him.

How much of a support network do you have around you for when you are adjusting to life without him? You've said you find change difficult, and even knowing it's the right decision the finality of the relationship ending might be difficult initially. Are there people in your life who can be there for you if it's rough for a few months at first?

It may be worth starting to tell trusted people in your life if you have any so they can offer you support if they wish to. They may have ideas, they may be able to do things you hadn't thought about, or they may just make you feel less alone with this. If you don't have people, there's here obviously but also Samaritans. You don't have to be suicidal to talk to them and they have an email service ([email protected]). You would be anonymous whether on the phone or by email (could set up an anonymous email address to use) so could talk about things you can't here or elsewhere. No risk of it ending up in a tabloid or someone identifying you.

I don't know enough to form a view on whether what he's doing is deliberate abuse (although some of it sets off alarm bells), but Freedom Programme teaches about healthy relationships (and even if this isn't abuse it's definitely not healthy the way he treats you) so might be worth seeing if you can attend one of the groups.

It's just information, not therapy, and there's no standing up to share your life story, but they're small groups of just women and really friendly and supportive. It's open to any woman whatever kind of relationship you are or are not in. The groups are free to attend and totally confidential - they don't even keep attendance records. (Www.freedomprogramme.co.uk)

It might be good for you to have that kind of confidence/backup in deciding in your own mind that you deserve better, you deserve a healthy relationship with someone who respects you, your DC deserve better, and from learning how you should be treated in relationships - as well as prepare you for the stunts he might pull to manipulate you when he realises you're serious this time about ending things.

You must have been young when you got together, and it sounds like there is an awful lot of deplorable behaviour on his part that has been normalised for you. FP could help you unravel that so you can have a brighter future that feels more hopeful.

Lastly, you're so young! Your future could be so amazing, but not with this man dragging you down and keeping you from flourishing. Ending a relationship that's been the basis of your entire adult life is scary but that fear is temporary and gets you to a much better place.

The sense of loss you might be feeling is of the dreams you had for your future with him, not the reality you're living or will ever have with him. Please don't stay just to avoid having to face your grief over those lost dreams. They've already gone.

Give yourself the opportunities to have a better life and better relationships with people who care for you, encourage you, and respect you. Focus on what you'll gain and why it will be worth it in the long run.

sevenoftwelve · 06/07/2019 16:22

Oops, that post was a bit more epic than I intended. Sorry!

chickhonhoneybabe · 06/07/2019 16:27

He has depression and really needs to go to his GP or self refer for counselling ect if you can in your area.

Anxiety and depression are awful and like someone else mentioned isn’t always obvious to others, and can simply look like the person is lazy. The not washing/calling in sick at work and no motivation are signs.

foreverhanging · 06/07/2019 16:29

Op

I would have been done a very, very long time ago.

Marmozet · 06/07/2019 16:35

Jesus Christ just think of the smegma! ShockShockShock

Wallywobbles · 06/07/2019 16:36

If you Mum could possibly do one night every fortnight and he did 3 per week then you'd be 50/50 and sorted. Do you want hunk they'd agree to that?

ChimesAtMidnight · 06/07/2019 16:41

in the seventies my kids were small. I bathed every night with them. DH bathed every morning before work.
In the fifties, we three kids were bathed every.single.night. Mum bathed when we went to bed, dad bathed (cold water Shock !) in the morning before work.

Wallywobbles · 06/07/2019 16:41

Want hunk = think ffs

Zeldamarioandkong · 06/07/2019 16:52

There’s been some really great advice on here, I can’t thank you all enough. I’m glad that you all agree with me. It’s definitely given me a lot of food for thought and also given me a push. I’ve applied for 7 jobs today. That’s the first thing to do on my list. Like a PP said, it’s good to plan things. So first will be getting a job where I know I don’t have to rely on him for childcare. Then the rest will fall into place. I honestly didn’t think it was depression as a very close relative suffers from it as well as a few friends and they act completely different to him. But on the other hand depression isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ so it’s clearly a possibility now. But on the OTHER other hand if this was the case then surely it wouldn’t have made a difference about the stag night. If he does have depression why would he have made the effort to be clean for that, surely he would have carried on as he normally does. I don’t know, I’m just writing down my thoughts on it all.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 06/07/2019 16:57

If you split up, he will still have to do the childcare though. It's his child too.

Can you see how little you think of yourself, that this is what you think is all you deserve.

Imagine going on to cilla black on blind date and they rolled this stink bomb out to you, would you be offended?

Ringdonna · 06/07/2019 17:01

Ewww knob cheese

FamilyOfAliens · 06/07/2019 17:12

Because that's the way we choose to divide up jobs in our house. Particularly when he's out of the house for 12+ hours and I work from home part time and with no children to take care of either.

I should have been clearer - why are you having to put his dirty socks anywhere? Surely he takes them off and puts them in the laundry basket or washing machine himself? The way you describe it makes it sound like he just drops them on the floor and leaves it to you to decide if they’re too minging to go in the laundry basket.

chickhonhoneybabe · 06/07/2019 17:17

Depression/anxiety is different for everyone. I have both and have good and bad days. Sometimes I’m on top of the house work/keep myself clean ect and other times I can go for days leaving the washing up/not showering ect but I’m single and don’t have to consider anyone else, and if I do have to venture out I will always shower if going out.

I think in your case you’re not happy, so you can either sit down and talk to him and ask for things to change, or start the ball moving for leaving him. I know you’ve threatened leaving in the past but he probably thinks you don’t mean it as you’ve never followed through with it.

eddielizzard · 06/07/2019 18:08

If he's so lazy about his personal hygiene, I'd really worry about his quality of childcare too. I'd prioritise getting a day time job and then kick his stinky sorry ass out the door. You're amazing. He IS punching above his weight, for way too long now.

findingmyfeet12 · 06/07/2019 18:16

I should have been clearer - why are you having to put his dirty socks anywhere? Surely he takes them off and puts them in the laundry basket or washing machine himself? The way you describe it makes it sound like he just drops them on the floor and leaves it to you to decide if they’re too minging to go in the laundry basket.

If my DH was doing what you're describing and I was ok with it, I'm not sure why it's your particular concern?

As it is, he has a habit of putting his socks in his shoes until he either puts them in with the washing later at night or the next morning. Occasionally, when he's had a really long day I think they smell particularly bad so I put them straight into the machine or ask him to do it if he's still nearby.

If he's not nearby, I won't nag him about it when he's exhausted after a long day and I've had a comparatively relaxed day at home.

It works fine for us but if you have other questions, feel free to ask Hmm

WhoKnewBeefStew · 06/07/2019 18:45

Jesus Christ!!!

So he doesn’t wash
Smells
You won’t have sex due to hygiene reasons
He does fuck all housework
He barley looks after the dc
He can’t hikd down a job, and chances are he’ll lose the one he’s hit shortly
He’s gambled away your rent money

And you’re still with him????? For childcare! Fuck that....

MitziK · 06/07/2019 19:13

Sounds like he's deliberately punishing you and seeing how much he can get away with. Most likely before doing something like walking into a betting shop - trying to push you into doing something he can use as an excuse.

I see it just like the odd insult, not saying please and thank you, the occasional insult, all progressing towards the 'accidentally swung my hand' or 'I was walking to the door to get away from the argument, you got in the way, which was why it's your fault you ended up on the floor, I didn't hit you'. It's pushing every boundary to make the next step easier.

I'd say, without any hesitation, get rid.

doxxed · 06/07/2019 19:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

IncrediblySadToo · 06/07/2019 20:51

Well done for applying for 7 jobs today!

Please talk to your Mum. Surely she can squeeze you two in the house and you can help each other out with cooking/childcare etc

If that’s really not an option look/think outside the box...

  • move DS zinging your room let someone have the small room in exchange for overnight care if DS. People will jump st the opportunity
  • look at some nannying jobs - lots of people are willing to exchange rooms/childcare to cut costs.

ASK people. people ARE willing to help if they know what you need!

What part of the country are you in?

WhoKnewBeefStew · 06/07/2019 21:12

I second looking at nanny's. If they are ofsted registered, and depending on how much you earn, you could claim up to70% if the childcare costs. I used to work odd hours and I found a nanny who was happy to do overnights and work odd hours an absolute godsend. There are always solutions to every problem.

Fwaltz · 07/07/2019 17:32

That’s intolerable. You cannot be expected to share a home and bed with someone who is filthy. He’s setting a terrible example for your child (not only on hygiene but on how to behave in a respectful relationship).