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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think I've snapped... Chores

107 replies

NagginMum · 03/08/2019 18:57

Honestly I probably am being unreasonable, but I've seriously had enough. Sorry for any spelling (my eyes are puffy after my little breakdown today) and thus is looong... I still may be mid breakdown.

Just had an absolute blazing row with husband, in tears and I mean in floods of tears, he's walked out and I've packed his stuff, and all that's going through my mind is "it's one less person to clean up after." 😔
It all kicked off because yet again I'm tired, I've had to drag my self out of bed, facing all the washing that needs putting away, the dog walk, the vacuuming, the pots and the cooker needs a good clean, there's bin bags to go to the tip because we forgot to put the bin out and I need to also go see my disabled gran just to make sure she sees a face this weekend. The kids have pulled every toy out and husband is no where to be seen. I find he's gone of to work just to put the last touches on a house he's working on, oh he's used all the milk so no coffee for me before we get into the full swing of things 😒
Just so everyone knows, we both work, he is self employed I work 32.5 hours a week. I also study from home, I want to pass my aat. I help my disabled gran with basically everything she needs because no one else does (but that's another off load for another time). We have two kids 8 and 4, our eldest is disabled. Oh yeah and I do all the house work.
My husband thinks he's helping when he does the pots once a week (but 50% of the time he actually just puts them all in the sink runs the water then leaves them) , he loves to mention he takes the kids to school in the morning when ever I bring up the fact he never helps. He hates the fact I let him know that in 6 years he done one wash, that he has no idea how to switch on our hoover (we've had it 2 years) he has no idea where clothes are kept (that's not an exaggeration he honestly has no idea where our kids tops are), we've had a dog for 4 years he's never done a pick up 💩

Now I've tried asking nicely, numerous times, I've reminded and reminded to the piont I'm now nagging.
I've wrote a little list of chores he could do the help: vac stairs, put washing away once a week, clean kitchen once a week (including cupboards and doors) he agreed then ignored it.
All week I've hinted I have a lot to do and have loads of cleaning to catch up with, then leading to asking outright for help. Yeah he said.

Now I'll give him one thing, he came back and went to the tip with the bin bags. I've decided I'll make a start on turning up all the youngest school pants and sewing in all the name tags.
He cones back and wants to go out with the kids 😕 I tell him I've got all the cleaning to do yet and want to finish this, his reply... Can't you just do it tonight. I just ignore him as I can't even reply to that 🤔
He then starts getting the kids ready to go out, without me, just leave me here to do the rest of the house work why don't you, you know instead of getting stuck in and actually doing it with me, then we can all go out later 🤷‍♀️

I've just lost it, burst into tears and said I've had enough of this why can't he just help. He says he does and brings up the school run, and the fact he just took 3 bags to the tip. But refused to answer when I asked what else do you do?
He stormed off after I've raised my voice listing all the things I do for him the kids and every f*er else. I just carried on doing all my cleaning. I tried calling him a few times but gave up because I thought, I'm not begging him to come home. Why should I?

Now I've got petty, I admit. I thought F you and called our phone provider, told them we've lost the phone. I pay for this all anyway. I've then got bags, and packed all his stuff, I've wrote him a letter explaining why I can't cope and he can see the kids 50 50 if he wants to. 😑 All that over chores...

Now I probably actually wouldn't mind as much if he even picked up after himself, but I scrub the bath after he comes home covered in dust, he leaves it with a horrible black mark. I move his shoes that he just leaves in the middle of the floor. I vac after he's had all his tools in, I'd never let him leave them in his van, but he could at least sweep up the saw dust they've left behind. When he shaves and doesn't rinse the sink. When he makes toast or a sandwich and doesn't even wipe the board 😵😠
But nooo he can't even do that, I feel like I have 3 kids, just that my 8 and 4 year old do help more! So now I'm thinking he' ll be home soon and I just hand over his crap, I'm not even willing to reason, I'm to tired, and what, he'll either promise to start helping do it for a month and then go back to normal.
Maybe he's just as fed up as I am, he can now live in a sty and not have anyone nag him over it.

So do you all think this is a big over reaction or do I stick to my guns?

OP posts:
Sunandrainallconfusedhere · 03/08/2019 19:01

Yabu unless you also farted...

Teachermaths · 03/08/2019 19:04

Let him go.

You can't do everything.

WaitingForAGovernment · 03/08/2019 19:05

Oh OP, you’ve not over-reacted. But it’s so hard to explain - it’s not about the one tiny thing, it’s about years and years of tiny things not done. Its about being the one who has to hold it all in your head. It’s about DH seeking huge praise for doing a tiny percentage of the stuff you do everything day. It’s about feeling like he’s saying ‘you’re my slave, you pick it up’ every time he leaves his shoes lying in the middle of the floor, every time he leaves you gross, cold pots in the sink to sort out, every time he leaves a sawdust from his tools on the floor.

Rainycloudyday · 03/08/2019 19:05

Not an overreaction at all, it sounds like an utterly miserable way to live. No doubt he will beg and promise to change if he thinks you’re serious, but don’t believe him. You’re a skivvy and he has no respect for you.

Goawayquickly · 03/08/2019 19:06

Death by a thousand cuts.
It’s not an over reaction, he sees it as your job and nothing to do with him. Resentment kills love and libido.

H2OH20Everywhere · 03/08/2019 19:07

Let him go. As you say, there'll be one less person to pick up after, and if he does have the children 50:50 they won't be there to make a mess half the time as well.

DontBeOffensive · 03/08/2019 19:08

YANBU

nonopanetta · 03/08/2019 19:08

It sounds exhausting - the full-time job, the children, the dog, the hoovering, the washing, looking out for grandma.

No suggestions or solutions here - don't know your whole scenario, or what your alternatives are.

But it sounds incredibly tense and exhausting.

You deserve a bloody break. Maybe when you are truly relaxed you can think of some plans and alternatives?

DontBeOffensive · 03/08/2019 19:08

Why is it only on mumsnet people say "pots" literally no one in real life says that.

IVEgottheDECAF · 03/08/2019 19:09

I cant believe you married my OH!

KMoKMo · 03/08/2019 19:12

YADNBU OP.

Absolutely stick to your guns or nothing will ever change.

Flowers and CakeWine

clockworklime · 03/08/2019 19:12

Why is it only on mumsnet people say "pots" literally no one in real life says that.

uh huh. Hmm

timshelthechoice · 03/08/2019 19:17

One less person to clean up after. He's a lazy, selfish manchild. It's not helping btw, it's being an adult and pulling your weight in life. It's not just chores it's a total lack of respect for the family he chose to create. Fuck that. Stop falling for this crap that he's doing you a favour by helping ie pulling his own weight in life. Arsehole.

timshelthechoice · 03/08/2019 19:20

And all this shit about 'training' them and lists and whatnot, bollocks to that. Plenty of us grew up without someone wiping their arse and still managed to figure out how to live in a place that's not a shit tip just fine.

Pinkout · 03/08/2019 19:22

I read a blog a few months ago written by a husband whose wife divorced him because he never helped with the chores. This frustration is very real and also understandable.

Everyone needs to work together in a home to create a functioning and stable home life. It’s no good having one adult constantly picking up the slack, of course resentment will brew.

adaline · 03/08/2019 19:23

Why is it only on mumsnet people say "pots" literally no one in real life says that.

Of course they do - or do you think people just make up phrases for the internet?

Wherearemycrayons · 03/08/2019 19:23

Oh wow I could not put up with this. YADDDDDNBU and I completely get your way of thinking. I’d be sick of it too!

Aquamarine1029 · 03/08/2019 19:24

All that over chores...

But it isn't just about chores, is it? This is about his lack of respect and appreciation, and his total refusal to be an equal partner in raising your kids and running the home. You are his mum, not his wife. I certainly wouldn't live that way.

Zebraaa · 03/08/2019 19:25

Just a question.... if you had all that to do, why did you start sewing name labels into clothes. That’s not exactly an urgent job.

and I don’t think YABU, you clearly need help from people.

cottonwoolsnowmen · 03/08/2019 19:26

I don't think you've overreacted at all. Sounds like you spent a long time under reacting.

Why is it only on mumsnet people say "pots" literally no one in real life says that.

So you personally know every living English speaker? That's impressive.

InTheHeatofLisbon · 03/08/2019 19:29

Why is it only on mumsnet people say "pots" literally no one in real life says that

Really? You've never met anyone from the north of England or parts of Scotland then?

OP stick to your guns. I'd go one further if you can afford it and book yourself a hotel for a night or two (even a Travelodge) and give yourself a massive breather because it's clear no bugger else will!

Whatdayisit2 · 03/08/2019 19:30

I could've written your post. I'm totally and utterly exhausted. I work ft, 3 kids, 1 with SEN. I do all social planning and organising and all housework. The final straw today was coming home to find yet MORE paperwork left out and not dealt with. I totally understand.
Can you get any time off or a rest at all?

WhoKnewBeefStew · 03/08/2019 19:30

YANBU OP. He's not supporting or helping you at all. He's an adult and needs to act like one. He should be sharing the load with you but he's not, it's so disrespectful

misslomi · 03/08/2019 19:33

YANBU, what a man child! You need to toughen up with him now or he'll never change, either that or stick to your guns and leave him.

My ex was like that, bloody useless but would claim he helped because he did the dishes once a month 🙄

FadedRed · 03/08/2019 19:37

mustbethistalltoride.com/2016/01/14/she-divorced-me-because-i-left-dishes-by-the-sink/
It’s not about the housework, it’s about respect.