Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu- dh deflecting all decisions back to me

78 replies

Tiredandfedupofitall · 27/12/2019 22:44

It’s driving me mad, and I don’t know what to do about it. DH will deflect every single decision about everything to ensure that anyone but himself is r esponsible for it.

It’s so innocuous, each individual query alone. Do you want me to put the bins out? Do want to try Ds’ phone Vr headset? (I wouldn’t have a clue). Do we want to invite xx round? Do you want me to run ds a bath?

I don’t know how he has managed to hold down a good job, when he can’t take responsibility for a decision. But he has.

Can you see, how innocuous it is? He says ‘do you want me to run ds a bath?’ Well, yes, that would be useful as you know full well its ds’ bath day so you could just go up and run it. But, no bother, I can do it myself.

Do we want to try out the headset we’re giving as a gift to make sure it works? Well, yes, we could, but I was assuming you had the tech knowledge to do that. I don’t, so we can’t. ‘Do you want me to put the bins out?’ Well, no, I’d rather pay someone to do it. But, if you’re offering to put the bins out because you notice it’s actually bin day they need doing , that is great.

I know the examples I’ve given aren’t great. It really is innocuous, one example at a time makes hi sound d so considerate and loving,

But, honestly, every decision that dh has to make, he makes it because he puts the responsibility of that choice onto someone else. He never, ever, ever makes a decision of his own. Ever.

If you think I’m being unreasonable, maybe I’ll log all of the decisions he offloads for a week, then come back and post them in context. Honestly, he doesn’t take responsibility for any family decision. Meaning everything that goes wrong is my fault, as it wasn’t his decision,,..

What do I do?

OP posts:
justilou1 · 28/12/2019 04:46

“Please darling, can you USE YOUR OWN FUCKING BRAIN???”

GinisLife · 28/12/2019 04:59

I completely agree with @Jamieson90 There's a reason they're like this so either you've cowed them into behaving like this by berating them at every turn until they're too scared to make their own decision or their mother did. They're adults, treat them like one and maybe they'll behave like one. God, I'm so glad I'm single when I read threads like this.

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 28/12/2019 05:08

ginis

So either way - it’s a woman’s fault Confused

justenoughjim · 28/12/2019 05:30

I treat my husband like the adult he manages to be at work but it makes no difference. He still expects me to do all the thinking for him at home. Apparently I have x ray vision, I also have a list imprinted in my brain of everything we have the house, including his stuff, plus a current stock list of for all the major supermarkets.

Tedious doesn't come close.

It feels like some sort of learnt helplessness but is actually about control I've come to realise.

Notanotheruser111 · 28/12/2019 05:42

Why do men need to be shown extra gratitude and mountains of praise for doing relatively simple things?

Are they really so frail?

fridaseyebrows · 28/12/2019 09:36

Same issue here - drives me round the bend. I am also expected to know where all his stuff his and get a constant stream of where are my glasses / phone / keys / jumper etc etc before he’s even bothered to look for them. Current project is to get him to learn to look for things for himself.

He also always asks me to get him things eg sitting at the table eating dinner - can you get up and get me the salt, sitting watching tv can you get me a drink....ten years of me refusing to get up and get him stuff and he still hasn’t got the message!

Matriarch mother to blame here as well - she does EVERYTHING for him even now. I’m v thankful she lives in a different country!

CustomerCervixDepartment · 28/12/2019 10:04

Did no one see the post where OP describes her husband abusing their son? That’s appalling you are both making your son live in terror.

Liveandforget · 28/12/2019 10:33

@Customer yes, I am shocked at that.

Op, your dh is abusive to your son. You need to leave this man, and not for his inability to make the smallest decision.

JustASmallTownCurl · 28/12/2019 12:37

@CustomerCervixDepartment

Just looked for that thank you for flagging.

The stuff in your OP is the least of your problems @Tiredandfedupofitall you are allowing your child to be bullied in his own home.

Read back your own post - really read it back and think about why on earth you've posted about him not making decisions when this is all going on too. You say you can't leave. It doesn't sound like your DH will try to have a lot of custody because he is abysive to your son and doesn't seem to even like him. Your son is vulnerable and I'm sorry but if this continues then he is being failed by you both.

Here is your post:

I can’t leave DH. Our son has aspergers (autistic, but clever. But he is v. Hard work). Dh really doesn’t get how to deal with ds. Dh ends up shouting, ds ends up under his duvet, overwhelmed, and dh just ends up taking any privilege available away. Which, without me, would mean ds was miserable, constantly told he was naughty, would get no hw done, would have no ‘down time’ (aka screen time) every weekend. He would get man handled, probably end up refusing to eat (I already do most meals separate from oh, as he insists on perfect table manners. I have lots of examples of this sort of behaviour, dh ‘gets’ ds’ asd diagnosis but doesn’t get how it affects him in real life (despite me telling him )

Oldraver · 28/12/2019 12:39

Your decision/you decide. Each and everytime

Cryingoverspilttea · 28/12/2019 12:45

"Why are you asking me, DH?"

DobbyLovesSocks · 28/12/2019 12:46

My DH is the same

Him: 'How many fish fingers will DS want?'
Me: 'DS how many fish fingers do you want?'
DS 'Three please'
Just ask DS you div

The most mundane one is 'what do you want for dinner' Apparently I'm fussy - I will literally eat anything but liver and kidney. If you cook it there's a pretty good chance I will eat it. If there is something specific I fancy (pizza, pasta etc) I will generally say to DH I fancy xy and z how about you?

I've joked that i will have the phrases 'I don't mind, whatever', 'it's up to you', and 'can do' printed on his gravestone. These are his go-to responses

Good job I love him

bluebella4 · 28/12/2019 12:54

That's actually very sad! Why doesn't he trust himself to make these dissussions? Does he struggle with self worth?

Does he people please? How does he react when you challenge him?
How does he problem-solve? How do others react to his mistakes or problem-solving?

BraveGoldie · 28/12/2019 13:23

I had this a lot with my ex. I think the 'why' is really important.

  • is it to try to gain credit? (Seem obliging, seem to be doing you favors all the time?) in which case, a carrot approach might work (tell him that him taking initiative helps relieve your stress/turns you on and give him clear examples, then reward good behavior with lots of appreciation. ("Oh- you just went and ran dd's bath without asking- that frees up my brain space and helps me feel relaxed and happy knowing you are taking care of things, without putting it on my plate. Thank you!")
  • is it to avoid responsibility and blame you if things go wrong?
  • is it to defer to you within the House context, as they feel they have enough responsibility at work and you should be the matriarch/deserve to be deferred to at home?
  • is it because they generally have psychological (and maybe) physical impotence.... and simply can't decide anything as a result? (This was the reason in my ex's case and perhaps the deepest problem to solve....I failed! He found his potency by falling for a woman 17 years his junior!)
OoohTheStatsDontLie · 28/12/2019 14:35

How annoyed I'd be would depend on what he was like when things went wrong.
Eg
Him - do you want me to put the bins out
Me - ok
Him - god I'm soaked, it's raining and the bin wasnt even full, it could have waited and I wouldnt have got wet! Why did you want it taken out right now?

Would really piss me off

Him - terrible weather, let's hope it clears up tomorrow

Wouldnt piss me off so much.

So I guess my questions would be 1. How much does he blame you when something has gone wrong and 2. Are you definitely not one of those people who want things done 'their' way or think there is only one right way of stacking the dishwasher or cleaning something so that he asks because he knows youd pick it apart otherwise? It doesnt sound like it's the case but worth considering

Minxmumma · 28/12/2019 15:02

My DH tries this. The reply is you decide, I'm not your mother.

If he then doesn't put the bins out, I kindly load his car for a trip to the tip the next weekend. Tends to remind him to get his finger out.

It is endless, what film shall we watch? What shall we eat? So I read a book, and choose something I love......

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 28/12/2019 15:21

Hi Tiredandfedupofitall, obviously there's more going on here than learned incompetence (your username says it all) It might be worth it, when you're up to it, to post a new thread in the relationships board. You/your DC shouldn't have to put up with him.

GinisLife · 28/12/2019 15:27

@Beerincomechampagnetastes it's absolutely not a woman's fault but all the time on here I see women who come across as total control freaks who moan because someone doesn't do something as they would so they act like a martyr and do it themselves creating men to scared to do things independently in case they get it wrong. Mothers doing everything for sons is the woman's fault -but that's possibly a generational thing that will get better

trappedsincesundaymorn · 28/12/2019 15:42

Mine was like this when we first moved in together. I got so fed up of it after a few weeks I resorted to sarcasm

"Shall I take the bins out?"
"Nah they'll walk out by themselves like they always have on bin day!"
What finally stopped it was when I asked him one day what he wanted in his sandwich (I was making one for me so whilst I was there..). The answer I got was "What are you having? Um no tell you what you decide"......cue 2 slices of bread, no butter or filling. Grin

CatherineVelindre · 28/12/2019 16:14

Mothers doing everything for sons is the woman's fault -but that's possibly a generational thing that will get better

Or perhaps rather than making conscious choices to behave in a certain way towards sons, those women have internalised the norms of a patriarchal culture which still defines womanhood in terms of the domestic services they perform for men.

Insideimsprinting · 28/12/2019 16:32

I hate this, for god sake tell him to get a grip, he shouldn't need to run stuff like that past you. My husband is a bit like this and I have started biting back with stuff cos I'm so sick of it. He manages and I feel les irritated.

AnotherEmma · 28/12/2019 16:38

I agree with @JustASmallTownCurl and was going to say the same thing.

The decisions are the least of your problems. If he was raised by a dominant mother he may well be passive in some ways but a bully in others. A dysfunctional upbringing can create big problems when the person has children of their own.

He needs to unpick his upbringing and do a lot of work on his parenting. The book toxic parents (Susan forward) is a good place to start and counselling is pretty much essential.

If I were you I would insist on the above. Stop letting him bully your child.

peacelikeariver · 28/12/2019 16:43

I came on here to read this because mine is the same. I'm currently working out how to divorce him because after 13 years I've had enough.

Zzzz19 · 28/12/2019 16:47

My last partner was like this and that’s why we are no longer together.

“What would you like for tea” - anything you decide.

“Have you any thoughts on holiday destinations” - I am happy to go anywhere.

“Do you want to get a takeaway tonight” - I’m easy.

CheshireChat · 28/12/2019 17:44

Hah, I made it clear I won't tolerate strategic incompetence- if you're bad at it, you need more practice! Though usually we just swap chores around, however if we both hate it he still has to do it.

And no, I won't help if you've decided to faff around instead of getting on with whatever needs doing 🤷🏻‍♀️

Regarding decisions, I've explained that I'll mention if I want/ don't want something in particular, you're on your own beyond this.