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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who is BU, DP or me?

117 replies

thedogdilemma · 09/11/2020 11:45

There is a lot of background to this but I don't think it's necessary to get the gist.

DP and I moved into a house at the beginning of lockdown in March. DP is a teacher, I am wfh due to COVID and have been since March. We have 2 dogs, one of which is a new rescue we got the day we moved.

Up until September, DP didn't have any work as he was moving schools. He would check emails at some point and set work but 95% of his day was leisure (please let's not make this a teacher bashing thread - just trying to be honest). As a result, we shared the dog feeding responsibilities in the morning, but when I was really busy at work I asked DP to do slightly more. All was fine, no arguments.

From September, DP started in school properly. Every morning he wakes at 6am, wakes me up in the process either through his alarm being snoozed, taking forever to turn it off, speaking to me, moaning at me etc. He goes downstairs with the dogs (as soon as they hear the alarm they're up!) and feeds them/ opens the back door. He also would get himself a tea/breakfast if he wants it. He then continues to get ready and leaves around 630.

During the day the dogs are then my responsibility, new dog is still needing training and is a bit too much of a guard dog - so my day is spent stopping barking at the post man, Hermes, DPD, the neighbours leaving/receiving parcels, Amazon etc. (why do they all come at different times!!) as well as working and hoping the deliveries don't come during a work call.

At first, I fed the dogs on Sat and Sun when we were both off. However, I soon realised it was unfair. I was being woken up at 6am every weekday (granted I can go back to sleep but it never feels great and I regularly struggle). Then the days I can lie-in I am up feeding the dogs at 6am, doing it quietly as to not disturb DP.

I said to DP that I didn't think it was fair, so asked him to do the feed on Sundays. Every Sunday he now moans and there's an argument.
He has said if we did a poll that everyone would agree with him, I have said if that is so then I will change.

A few points to note:

  • on half terms/school holidays we take it in turns to get up to feed the dogs.
  • I think Mon-fri he is up anyway and going downstairs, so feeding your fur babies is no effort.
  • the dogs were a joint decision and we both love them dearly.
  • when I return to work, we would wake up at the same time and therefore the feeding would be split / whoever is in the kitchen first.

So wise MNers. Who is BU?

Poll:
YABU - it doesn't matter that DP is up for work anyway, he does 5 days so you should do the weekend.
YANBU - It is no effort for DP to do the feeding when he is already up, weekends and any time you are both off should be split equally.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Dddaddy · 09/11/2020 11:48

Share the feeding even on work days. On a rolling 14 day rotation so you do equal days.

SpeccyLime · 09/11/2020 11:48

He’s being a twat. Feel free to show him this comment Grin

PonyPals · 09/11/2020 11:49

You do Saturday feed. He does Sunday or the other way around.
During the week he gets up anyway and you look after them during the day so it's fair.

Bookworming · 09/11/2020 11:51

He's up anyway, it makes no difference to him.

Elvesinquarantine · 09/11/2020 11:52

My dh feeds our 4 ddogs twice a day every day.
Ddoggy teeth brushing /washing their beds / bedding /bowls /coats is mine.
The rota system runs the risk of ddoggs meals imo!

Elvesinquarantine · 09/11/2020 11:52

Meant to add rewallpapering chewed paper is my job also.
Angry
Since I wanted the damm dpuppy it's fair!!

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 09/11/2020 11:53

I don't have dogs, how log does it take to feed them or let them out?
If it's a 5 min job and then it's not really anything 'extra' for him to be doing in the week, he is not losing any sleep by having dogs so why should he get both the weekend lie ins? If it's a half hour job and he is partly getting up early to do dog related stuff then maybe he needs more sleep at the weekend.
Also I think its shit that he wakes you up in the week. Ok maybe an alarm cant be helped (though some people set their smart watch to vibrate) but the first person up should NOT be snoozing their alarm or talking to you/ interacting in any way, its rude and selfish to wake up others when they dont need to be awake and shows a 'well if I cant sleep in I will make sure they don't either' type petty mentality

thedogdilemma · 09/11/2020 11:55

@OoohTheStatsDontLie

I don't have dogs, how log does it take to feed them or let them out? If it's a 5 min job and then it's not really anything 'extra' for him to be doing in the week, he is not losing any sleep by having dogs so why should he get both the weekend lie ins? If it's a half hour job and he is partly getting up early to do dog related stuff then maybe he needs more sleep at the weekend. Also I think its shit that he wakes you up in the week. Ok maybe an alarm cant be helped (though some people set their smart watch to vibrate) but the first person up should NOT be snoozing their alarm or talking to you/ interacting in any way, its rude and selfish to wake up others when they dont need to be awake and shows a 'well if I cant sleep in I will make sure they don't either' type petty mentality
It takes less than 5 minutes. The food is in the draw, he empties into their prewashed bowls that I clean every day :)

Yes the waking me up is another issue but he will say it's because I'm a light sleeper..

OP posts:
ChateauMargaux · 09/11/2020 11:57

If you can go back to sleep at every day during the week.. do the same match weekends.. get up, feed the dogs, go back to bed. Perhaps maybe not taking care to be quite as quiet as you do right now..

Pinkdelight3 · 09/11/2020 11:57

YANBU, but curious to know who'll look after them when you go back to work?

user1471457751 · 09/11/2020 11:58

Why not just feed them slightly later on weekends? You say they get up with the alarm so surely, no alarm, no problem?

They won't starve if they are fed at 8 or 9 am

WhySoSensitive · 09/11/2020 12:01

Just feed them when you get up?
I wouldn’t get up just to feed my dogs. (I have many dogs, none have been damaged by not being fed at the same time every day)

Starlight39 · 09/11/2020 12:02

I think he should do Sunday feeds as well as making an effort to be less loud in the mornings.

Also, could you gradually adjust the dogs routine? 6am feeding time seems v early!

SockDrawer · 09/11/2020 12:05

We have a similar set up to you. I would say weekend feeding for the wfh person is fair BUT I only say that because DP tries really hard to be quiet on weekday mornings so I’m able to sleep in.

SockDrawer · 09/11/2020 12:05

I’m also a very light sleeper!

babycakes1010 · 09/11/2020 12:07

What a twat...he's up anyway so he needs to get on with it

RB68 · 09/11/2020 12:08

you are going to be in a world of pain when it comes to dogwalking later on.

Where on earth does he work that he needs to leave at 630 Even if he starts work at 8 thats 90mins!!

PS don't have kids with this guy if thats his attitude. You deserve a lie in at the w/e too

WillSantaBeComingToTown · 09/11/2020 12:09

Why do you need to feed them at 6am?

If you want consistency then go for 8am each day but just feed them later at the weekend.

GabsAlot · 09/11/2020 12:11

if its his day off maybe yabu but if he wakes you up all the time anyway i have less sympathy

seprate rooms works a treat btw

Sexnotgender · 09/11/2020 12:12

He’s BU, he’s up anyway so makes no difference to him.

Perhaps if he didn’t wake you ridiculously early and unnecessarily midweek he’d have a stronger case.

Whatisthisfuckery · 09/11/2020 12:13

Why do they always need feeding at 6am? They aren’t going to starve if they aren’t fed at the same time every day. Likewise they probably aren’t going to make a mess if they aren’t put out at 6am either. As long as you aren’t laying in bed to 10am I can’t see why there should even be an issue. My dogs have always been fine to be left an extra hour or two at weekends when I had a lie in.

SheilaWilcox · 09/11/2020 12:18

My mother complains that their dog gets her up at 6 everyday to go out. When it stays at our house, I don't let it out until about 9 at weekends and it is fine. Dogs adapt to new routines quickly. Just feed them later.

Not sure this is really about the dog feeding though.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 09/11/2020 12:18

One weekend day each is fair.

Weekdays don't count as he's up anyway and if he wants to be a test about it I suggest he starts doing his share of washing the dogs bowls etc

Is he pulling his weight with walking/training in the evenings & at the weekend?

Yes, it's a different issue, but you need to have a serious talk about his inconsiderate morning behaviour. It's selfish & horrible, it really says a lot about how little he cares about your well-being and things like that add up & destroy relationships.

YABU though!!

Where's the photo of the little monsters?

SockDrawer · 09/11/2020 12:22

Where on earth does he work that he needs to leave at 630 Even if he starts work at 8 thats 90mins!!

@RB68 the OP said he’s a teacher. He probably gets there for 7/7:30 - pretty standard starting time for teachers. When I was doing teacher training I remember a mentor said to me “if it’s 8, you’re late”!

Anydreamwilldo12 · 09/11/2020 12:22

Totally agree about his morning behaviour, its so bloody inconsiderate and selfish.
Take turns at the weekend.