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Massive disagreement over the way of food shopping (DH and I)

232 replies

igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 11:11

NC for this topic as I'm going to discuss an argument/disagreement between DH and me had last night and he would hate to be identified in RL.

We have been strictly sticking to the lockdown rules and I've stepped out of our home only three times so far, all for food shopping. DH has been out almost everyday but for his once a day exercise or/and visiting his very isolated allotment. He goes out only early morning, usually comes back home at around 7 am. He says no one is around as it's so early.

My first trip to our local Tesco Express was with DH - he drove and waited in a car and I went grab stuff. It was at the opening time so very quiet.

The second trip was to our local corner shop and I went alone on foot (3 mins) in an evening. My friend told me the shop was usually very quiet in the evenings (7-8 pm) and I needed milk and bread for DH (I don't need them). DH didn't like it as he believed early morning was the best time to go but it was quiet as my friend said and I got what he needed - he needs lots of milk for his cereal and snacks on toasts daytime. So this didn't develop into an argument.

The third trip was to our local Tesco Express by car - this was last night and I went alone. Earlier the day, DH said we were running out a few essentials such as vegs and bread so we would need to go shopping again soon. I heard our local Tesco was fairly quiet in the evenings so decided to go. I am the cook in our household so I really wanted to fill our fridge to feed my family the next day.

When I got back home with three huge shopping bags, I started sterilizing them as I always do then had a shower as I always do. I got a lot of yummy stuff which would make DH super happy the next day. But he wasn't happy and he got very very angry that I went shopping...

His point was that I was risking my family by going out for shopping. Apparently I was being selfish and irresponsible. He thinks we should only go out once two weeks and only very early morning.

I can see what he means but as the one who plans meals, once two weeks is a bit too ambitious. I would like to go at least once a week. Some of my friends go twice a week! We have a teen boy who eats like a horse too. Also, I think it doesn't matter if I go in the evening or morning as long as the shop is quiet. I can see early morning may be 'cleaner' as fewer people have entered the shop on the day but evenings work better for my schedule.

I argued back to him that if I was selfish because I went shopping for family (and it happened only three times so far) he would also be selfish that he would go out for his exercise every single day. I had asked him to buy milk and bread on way home sometimes (then I don't need to go shopping so often) but so far he hasn't done this and always comes back home empty-handed. I think he thinks going to shop is high risk in general, but it's very early morning which is the time he thinks the safest to shop.... I have no intention to push anyone to do something they feel unsafe or uncomfortable so I had never ever complained about it. But last night I pointed this out too. At this point he wasn't listening to me so I am not sure how much he heard what I said.

This morning, I said 'good morning' to him but he ignored. Clearly he is still very angry. But I know he would happily eat whatever I prepare using the stuff I bought yesterday.

I understand he is only trying to protect us so his anger is coming from good intention but I feel he is forcing me what he believes best and zero understanding nor flexibility to try to see what I think fine to do. I wear a mask and gloves, clean all the items I bring into our family home, have a shower straight and wash all the clothes I wore outside. I think I am doing all I can to be responsible and at very least I go out to get what my family need not just for exercise to fulfil my need.

Am I missing anything here? How could I make him see my point? Or phahaps I need to understand his views more? Please tell me your thoughts! I may show DH this thread if needed...

OP posts:
QueSera · 23/04/2020 15:43

@Rathersexyfortysomethingblonde why on earth are you still with this man?
^This

Also OP your DH is being an ass, sorry to be blunt. You are taking all the precautions, being careful, so there's no reason why you can't decide when and where you go shopping. Stop indulging him. He should be apologising to you, and thanking you for taking the trouble to suit up, do the shopping and all the cooking etc by the sounds of it. Honestly, as PP have said, there seems to be a real imbalance in your relationship, where he calls the shots, sulks etc and you run around buying him 'yummy food' to make him 'super happy'. Perhaps some relationship counselling is needed. Or stand up to him and damn his sulking (if this is safe - obviously don't if you felt it not safe). Good luck OP.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 23/04/2020 15:46

It sounds like no way to live

You are both very anxious and tense

Can you just buy food, and if he want especially extra milk and cereal he can buy it?

It sounds like you exist in an anxious world, wringing your hands about the smallest details, discussing endless strategies

If your DH does not like how you shop, well, so what. Couples don’t need to agree on everything.

Can you think what you’d like to do? Go out maybe and go fir a nice walk? Outdoor exercise is very good to clear the cobwebs in your head Smile

Do your own thing and go your own way a little bit more

Embracelife · 23/04/2020 15:51

Next time you do something ask yourself are you doing this just to make your dh happy? (P s you cannot make someone happy)
Is it something he could do (like get his milk on way back from a run or when he believes it is the right time) ?
When are you doing something just for you?

igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 15:51

QuestionMarkNow
Yes, he can be practical in some areas and so am I. So I don't feel the need for training him in the area where I am good at such as planning meals. For example, I don't enjoy gardening but he does so he looks after our garden. I don't want him to think he should train me to be a good gardener.

OP posts:
Embracelife · 23/04/2020 15:55

You say you "would like to go shopping once a week and I like to choose when I go. I am busy in the morning so evening works better for"

So do that.
Shop when it suits you
Local shops limit people inside so the only difference might be length of queue outside
Why is it even an issue?
Dh can shop when it suits him

CatsAndOcelots · 23/04/2020 15:55

OP - my DH and I do not agree about the shopping, either.

He thinks it all needs to be wiped down with a bleach solution, and I do not.

We both agree that if it makes him feel safer, he can do it.

There is no hand-wringing or arguing about it though, and we plan the shopping together, and go together, too.

igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 16:02

Thank you for all your comments - a lot of sensible advice.

Just to clarify though, I didn't run to the shop only to make DH 'super happy'. I went shopping for the whole family, and wanted to cook something yummy for all of us. I am not tiptoeing around him nor just live to make him happy. I am not a miserable person though and love to do something nice for people including DH. But surely that's a bad thing...

OP posts:
igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 16:03

that's NOT a bad thing

OP posts:
ilovecakeandwine · 23/04/2020 16:03

One thing I've learnt about these threads the last few weeks is that for every person who doesn't care ie breaks the rules there is another person like your dh who is completely over the top . Thankfully I think most are in the middle cautious but not ott .
Yeah your husband needs to calm down. You do the shopping as and when you see fit .

QuestionMarkNow · 23/04/2020 16:04

@Ivegotnothing, the point is NOT whether you should be training him or not. The point is that you say you have to do the shopping but somehow he is the one who seems to decide how its done. And he cant possibly do it (which I argue he could if he wanted to)

Either he is practical enough to kow how to do the cooking and shopping and he can give advise (and do it if he has any issue with it).
Or he isnt practical enough to realise what is involved and he should keep quiet. The same way, I am sure, you dont go and comment on the way he is doing the gardening if its not your area.

NikeDeLaSwoosh · 23/04/2020 16:04

It is overwhelmingly likely that both of you will catch the virus at some point, have mild symptoms (or even none at all) and make a full recovery.

You both need to get a grip.

vanillandhoney · 23/04/2020 16:06

I rather like to go shopping than running if I step out of home right now.

You can do both. There's nothing stopping you from going for a run and going shopping in the same day.

I get the feeling from your posts that your DH is quite controlling and you're going along with what he wants for an easier life Sad

lottiegarbanzo · 23/04/2020 16:06

OP, perhaps you were being weirdly flippant as some sort of joke but the very clear implication of I need to feed our teen so I still have to go even if DH starts shopping them by himself. DH has two boxes full of emergency foods so he can survive without shopping for many days I guess. is that your DH doesn't care about you and your child's welfare and that so long he himself is ok, that's all that matters to him.

That's not normal. Is it true? Or was it some sort of off-the-cuff stress-fuelled fantasy?

igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 16:09

At lunchtime, I was cutting vegetables and DH came along and asked me if he could take some on his plate (he usually prepares lunch for himself). I said he could but they were from yesterday's shopping so he was happy I went then. He sulked again and didn't eat. But usually, his stomach cannot ignore my cooking so once dinner is ready this evening I am 100% sure he would eat!

OP posts:
ItsMsActually · 23/04/2020 16:15

You both sound way OTT

CatsAndOcelots · 23/04/2020 16:19

I do not understand your last post, OP.

Why was he sulking at lunch time?

If my husband sulked the way yours seemingly does I wouldn't cook him so much as a piece of toast.

fuckoffImcounting · 23/04/2020 16:20

Who made him the boss?

SoftSheen · 23/04/2020 16:20

Of course YANBU. Shopping only once a fortnight just isn't enough for most families, certainly not if you want to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

Unless you are in the shielding/ over 70s group, there is no reason at all why you can't go to the supermarket once or twice a week.

Washyourhandsyoufilthyanimal · 23/04/2020 16:22

I can see why you’re together you both sound weird and intense. Un clench both of you.

CatsAndOcelots · 23/04/2020 16:22

And it sounds like you're happy that he won't be able to resist your cooking this evening.

I assure you - I would not offer my husband anything in these circumstances.

Does your husband even understand why we're in lockdown? Does he realise that almost everyone is going to get CV 19 anyway?

Why is he so worried? When he does get it, he is very, very likely to recover, not die.

Has he always had health anxiety?

igotvegandbreadforyou · 23/04/2020 16:23

I need to feed our teen so I still have to go even if DH starts shopping them by himself. DH has two boxes full of emergency foods so he can survive without shopping for many days I guess.
When I wrote 'DH starts shopping THEM', the 'them' indicate milk and bread as PPs were saying he should get them by himself, maybe on way from allotment or daily exercises. So I didn't mean he only shops for himself if/when he decides to go shopping. Also, he isn't saying he wouldn't go shopping. He went once in the early morning. He doesn't mind he would go actually but then he forgets to buy many things even if I gave him a list so I would rather like to go.

OP posts:
Tootletum · 23/04/2020 16:23

Sorry but he's being ridiculous. And unless there some background health issue it's not actually that big a deal to get the virus. The whole point of this exercise is to spread infections over time, not stop them. He seems like he's gone a bit mad.

Bagelsandbrie · 23/04/2020 16:24

I could not live like this. I go to the shops when I like - usually once or twice a week. If dh wants to go that’s up to him, he’s an adult and I can’t and wouldn’t stop him. I wouldn’t stand for anyone telling me what to do.

Snorkelface · 23/04/2020 16:26

Well OP, you're not alone, my next door neighbours are treating lockdown in the same fashion. He's out for two hours every morning wandering about 'collecting his thoughts', but not collecting any shopping unfortunately. She's been out three times in total to go shopping (no exercise), once with him and he door slammed and shouted for three days afterwards. I was relieved they had some kind of food delivery yesterday. The kids have been out a couple of times to the park opposite. In a month! There's no shielding going on in their house, just one angry person's rules.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 23/04/2020 16:26

So it's perfectly OK for him to go to the allotment when he fancies, out for exercise everyday plus occasional shopping trips - but not for you to go shopping?
Controlling twathead.
Let him sort out his own food.