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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:
PancakeAndKeith · 03/08/2019 21:43

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

In the north they do.

Sit down and talk to him. Show him a list of what you do and what he does and how they don’t match.

Cath2907 · 03/08/2019 21:49

I divorced my husband pretty much for this reason. 9 months I am SO much happier. I no longer feel angry and resentful. I now get EOW off and do cleaning and get time for myself!!!!! It’s wonderful 😀

NagginMum · 03/08/2019 21:59

@Cath2907 after reading the link about the wife divorcing over the cup on the side, I'm betting a lot if divorces are over things like this 😂

@SummerRays 😂🤣😂💀 lazy, yeah I practically don't move all day 😜

OP posts:
plantbased · 03/08/2019 22:04

OP did he come back yet...?

DameFanny · 03/08/2019 22:15

Wow, SummerRays let's the father of her two kids do nothing but work and go to the gym, and feels actually smug that she's reduced her stress.

What shitty Stepford fuckery is that?

In what shitty universe do we manage our stress levels by deciding that men get a pass on basic self-care and life admin?

Or maybe he has a massive cock and she's ok with a life of servitude in return?

DameFanny · 03/08/2019 22:16

Lets not let's. Bloody autocorrect.

mussolini9 · 03/08/2019 22:20

He's very much an amazing dad, he loves doing stuff with the kids, he helped our eldest with his reading so much and loves taking them out for really cool adventures.

Did he change their nappies when they were small, clear up their puke, get up for the night feeds, wash their clothes, shop for & cook their food, organise their after-school activities, clean their bedooms, tidy up their toys, sit up all night with them when they are sick, remind them to take their gym kit, pack their lunches, arrange their play dates, clean their shoes, wash their hair, make sure they clean their teeth, take them to the gp, shop for clothes with them, organise their uniforms or hobby kit, remember their dental appointments ...?

Or is he just fun dad, & presents that as sharing the load?

mummmy2017 · 03/08/2019 22:22

Tell him he is right, he does the school run and one lot of washing, it is a fair split...
So your bloody swapping with him.....

NagginMum · 03/08/2019 22:35

@misslomi actually yeah he did, not dental appointments and medical stuff, mainly I did them due to being home. But when youngest was born he did night feeds when I stopped bf. Nappies and baths to. Now I feel shit even though I know they're his kids to and he should be doing that, have I just ranted about sweet f all. It still annoys me. Now the kids are potty trained and such he thinks that's job done, doesn't need to clean there clothes etc. Arh conflicting. 😩

@plantbased no sign of him, he's probably at his mates for the night, f knows tbh, I'm enjoying having full control of the TV though.

OP posts:
NagginMum · 03/08/2019 22:37

@mummmy2017 oooh! I never thought of that!!!

OP posts:
SaxxedtotheMax · 03/08/2019 22:39

He wants a mother, not a lover!

SpaceDinosaur · 03/08/2019 22:49

Good grief how in the fuck has it got this bad?

You're in no way unreasonable. You're also not a bloody skivvy.

Don't ask him to help. Ask if he's participating in family life.

I would have stopped doing any of his laundry a LONG time ago.

Dirty things left in the hall?

Thrown in a box then out into the garden or the garage.

He doesn't respect you. He's using you as a skivvy.

Don't let your children learn his ways.
At 4 and 8 your children are already learning from him.
They should be more than capable of tidying their own toys.
Putting their laundry in the correct wash bins (if you have separate for different loads)
Making their beds

The 8yr old should be able to put a load of laundry on, hang it out of you use an indoor airer or pop into the tumble dryer.

Both should be able to make a drink, put their clothes away.

My child is 2. We do it together, usually by my saying "good job, now can you xxxxxx" but she can do everything I've listed above except put detergent in and turn on the washing machine or tumble dryer.

You're not being unreasonable. Save yourself, your sanity and your family. You are not a skivvy.

Huncamuncaa · 03/08/2019 22:59

My friend split the chores by buying 2 of everything. 2 laundry baskets, ironing baskets etc and labelling it 'mum' and 'dad'

She then told him she would be doing one daughter's laundry and her own clothes and he would do the others and his. She would prepare dinner for her and one daughter, he would do the other ( big age gap so the kids ate at different times anyway). She decided which toilet was hers, kept it clean and didnt let him use it. She locked away her cleaning products so he had to buy his own. She switched their bedding to 2 single duvets, then only washed her own. She went so far as to divide the garden in half and regularly mowed half a lawn. If his washing was on the line and it started raining, she wouldn't bring it in.

It was extreme ... but very funny! It took 2 months for her OH to get the message that no amount of begging would get her to 'quickly iron a shirt because he had a big meeting that day.'

TheBadNeighbour · 03/08/2019 23:01

I say pots

Gregoire · 03/08/2019 23:06

I don't blame you at all. You've given him every opportunity to show you that he loves and respects you enough to do his share, and he simply hasn't.

Constantly having your feelings and wellbeing disregarded chips away at your bond. It isn't your fault. You've put up with it for so long.

Gregoire · 03/08/2019 23:09

He's very much an amazing dad, he loves doing stuff with the kids, he helped our eldest with his reading so much and loves taking them out for really cool adventures

But this isn't being an amazing dad! Adventures are great but actually being a good parent is about the daily stuff - the feeding and cleaning and washing and tidying and all those boring necessities. If he's ditching that and only bothering with the fun stuff he's not actually being a good parent - he's just being the fun one who picks and chooses when it suits him to be a dad.

ErickBroch · 03/08/2019 23:11

YANBU. I'd make him pay for a cleaner if he begs to come back and apologises, because he clearly won't change.

ToPlanZ · 03/08/2019 23:34

Stop with sexism Summerrays. Having a vagina doesn't mean that all household tasks fall to you automatically.

You've chosen to basically be a single parent to keep the peace, you can't be bothered to fight for you own rights or even your own husbands respect and you actively feed into the narrative that women are subservient caregivers to avoid arguments. Sound pretty lazy to me and sets a horrible example for your children.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 03/08/2019 23:43

It never takes long on the numerous threads like this before the “Amazing Dad” line is trotted out by the OP, surely this phrase should now be on the list of overused mumsnet terms, might have to nip over to the other thread that’s running....

SummerRays · 03/08/2019 23:57

Oh how you lot love to moan 😂😂. Never have I ever come across such self righteous humans.
Get a reality check and some perspective on life before thinking not cleaning up is a good reason to leave your husband! 😂😂😂

PancakeAndKeith · 03/08/2019 23:58

Oh how you lot love to moan 😂😂. Never have I ever come across such self righteous humans.
Get a reality check and some perspective on life before thinking not cleaning up is a good reason to leave your husband! 😂😂😂

Yes, fucking hysterical. Silly bloody women, doesn’t she know her place. Hmm

Namenic · 04/08/2019 00:08

Sometimes there is a mismatch between people’s standards of cleanliness and also the relative priorities of different tasks. You sound like you do a lot though op. Maybe see if you could get a cleaner/gardener?

Also maybe can you get iron on labels or write/stamp name labels on clothes?

Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 04/08/2019 00:26

Can I just point out, particularly to summerrays, that the OP is entitled to make her own decisions about what she finds acceptable in her marriage and how she wants to live her life. Deciding not be a skivvy is part of that.

If "summerrays* is prepared to lie down and take the crap because they feel it's worth it then that's also their call. Deciding to belittle the OP and other posters with dismissive simplification is also unfortunately their call, but hopefully their voice is so far in the minority that it's easily dismissed.

Namenic · 04/08/2019 00:31

Robovacs have also come down in price. An idea to save work...

timeisnotaline · 04/08/2019 00:42

Namenic what suggestions do you have for the ops dh doing some of the housework he cares so fucking much about and has such high standards for? Yes people have different standards but that is not the issue here. You seem to think the op should fix this somehow by more / different / paid for cleaning . I think she has fixed the problem, by packing his things for him.