To expect DP to pick up after himself?

[auntyspan]

I asked DP to be a bit more thoughtful last night, and to pick up after himself. Basically he left a trail of stuff upstairs - soggy gym kit on the floor, bathmat in a heap, trainers dumped on the landing.

He responded by saying that I was just as untidy as him (which is absolutely untrue) and to "get off his case". I was very good natured up until that point and not agressive in anyway but he wound me up so much we ended up having an argument about it.

How can I handle it?

Ignore.

Don't pick up after him. Hard i know.

I'm lucky DH has an office so i just put his rubbish in there then close the door .

What i do is pick up his stuff and dump it on his side of the bed(which will end up on floor) or on the floor on his side. Hard to look at i know but he eventually gets message when he can no longer get out of bed without trippng over something.This way it's its not cluttering up the rest of the house.

Hah! not unreasonable in the slightest, but if your dp is anything like mine, you are being completely unrealistic if you expect him to actually bend over and pick something up!

grr

(He dumps his dirty clothes on the floor next to the laundry basket!!!!!!

I like dreamaway's idea, although I don't have this problem with DH.

You're not his mother! Don't pick up after him. He's not a child. If he leaves his gym kit on the floor, let it stay there. When he wants to wear it and it stinks to high heaven, he's only himself to blame.

someone on another thread suggested a light drizzle of water and some mustard and cress seeds ...

I'm the untidy one in our relationship and DH refuses to pick up after me. However I am the one who tidies full scale where as he concentrates on specific area.

Dont pick up after him, but do try and find a balance.

Mine is exactly the same we have been together 12 years and his mother warned me but he is still the same i think they are just messy slobs that think they live in hotels!!!