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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To find it really irritating when DH says this?

68 replies

ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:10

I've booked a day off work today, and DH has spent all of yesterday and this morning going on an on about how lucky I am to have a day off. Lots of "best go to bed then as I've got work in the morning, you're lucky you don't have to" or "I'm off to work now, unlike you, lucky you". At every single opportunity.

It's really starting to wind me up.

Backstory:
My company started wfh a week before the first lockdown, so I have worked all year. He took some time off at the start of the first lockdown while it was up in the air whether he was allowed to work.

During the first lockdown my workload went up massively, and I had to balance that with homeschooling a DS(8) and DD(6). Then mid way through the year I changed job roles, from customer service to IT, so quite a change and a lot of additional training. It's been a hectic year - plus I'm doing an OU degree (things were much less hectic when I signed up to it). I have obviously taken annual leave during the rest of the year, but all of it was taken to look after the kids and give them a break from having to be quiet in the house due to me constantly being on the phone. This is the first day I've had all year that I've taken for myself (I plan to get some blissfully uninterrupted studying done), and I only get part of it to myself anyway because his mum is coming over around lunchtime to borrow our scanner/printer.

As I've started wfh I've taken on all the school runs (we used to share them depending on which shift I worked), all the packed lunch prep, all the dinner prep, and DH frequently calls me during the day to ask me to do stuff around the house (which means me reminding him I'm working).

DH is self employed, he earns more than me per hour, but works less hours so we end up bringing home roughly the same income. But it means that there's always a part of the day where I'm working and he's just sat watching TV or browsing the web. During those times I never tell him how lucky he is to have that time, starting to wonder if I should.

I do get the impression he thinks his job is harder than mine, because it's physical whereas mine is sitting at a computer. But I also know that he tried doing a more junior IT office job than me and quit because he couldn't cope with it - so he clearly wouldn't find it easy at all.

I don't get the impression he is saying I am objectively lucky - I've had a really easy year in comparison to most people, I know I'm lucky in that regard. So that would be fair enough. But because he always pairs it with a comment about how he's working today (until 1.30pm Hmm) it feels like a jibe to make me feel guilty. So AIBU?

OP posts:
ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:10

Oh.. that was long Blush

Apparently I had a lot to get off my chest

OP posts:
7yo7yo · 11/12/2020 09:13

Tell him to piss of.
He’s jealous.
My DH is self employed too and likes to occasionally mention how I don’t have the pressure he has because I work for someone else.
I told him he’s more than welcome to close his business and get a job or shut his whinging up.

LadyAcony · 11/12/2020 09:13

I would find that intensely irritating. I mean it’s a day off, not a year!

Redlocks28 · 11/12/2020 09:16

He is being a twat about this and could do with having it spelled out to him why.

Biglieyoutold · 11/12/2020 09:18

It’s barely 3/4 hours off not even a half day!

Nottherealslimshady · 11/12/2020 09:18

"Well I've warned it haven't I? I've worked twice the hours you have this year."

People who always think they have everything worst do my head in.

Butterymuffin · 11/12/2020 09:19

he's just sat watching TV or browsing the web. During those times I never tell him how lucky he is to have that time, starting to wonder if I should.

YES. Be ready with the 'nice to be able to sit around and relax during the day, you're so lucky'.

I would also start asking him to do things like the packed lunches, in the way that he calls and asks you to do things.

Nottherealslimshady · 11/12/2020 09:19

*earned not warned

DonLewis · 11/12/2020 09:20

Eugh, how unattractive. I'd just tell him that's its a massive turnoof when he doesn't see how hard you've worked and how undervalued you feel and how him going on about you having a couple of hours off to study is deeply unattractive.

ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:21

Biglie I know! I'm so gutted, I knew it wasn't going to be like having a full day off anyway, because of getting the kids from school, but to lose even more of it so I can sit around awkwardly with his mum for a few hours too (we don't have a lot in common)

I booked next Friday off too (I always store up a few days annual leave for unexpected events, and then have to use them sporadically in December) and now it looks like the kids might be breaking up for the xmas holidays a day early. So this will be my only day off this year without childcare responsibilities.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/12/2020 09:22

Oh that would annoy me.

I would definitely be passing some comments next time he's watching TV while you're wfh. "Feet up again, part timer?" Etc.

ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:25

I would definitely be passing some comments next time he's watching TV while you're wfh. "Feet up again, part timer?" Etc.

Haha, using that one definitely!

OP posts:
pumpkinpie01 · 11/12/2020 09:25

I'd be really annoyed at those comments , why does he feel it necessary to have a 'who's the busiest/most stressed/ competition' with his wife ! You should be working as a team together. I would arrange for his mum to come round later when he is back so you have more time to yourself.

Biglieyoutold · 11/12/2020 09:26

Can you bring forward your next week’s day off a day or two days forward? And don’t tell him!

ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:27

pumpkinpie Technically she is back once he's finished for the day, he'll be back around 1pm. I'm hoping that she doesn't do her trick of arriving an hour early today. I told him I'd barricade the door.

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 11/12/2020 09:31

Start sharing tasks out equally again, he does his share of school runs, packed lunch prep and dinner prep. He needs to get the message that you working from home doesn’t absolve him from his responsibility around the house. And plan some jobs for him while he’s sitting round the house and you’re working.

ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:31

biglie I probably could, but Friday's are a quiet day at work so I prefer to take them off and not miss too much. Kind of weird having a job where I'm actually enjoying working, even if it is fairly stressful at the moment. Grin

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 11/12/2020 09:33

Oh mine does this too annoys me. We both do the same job for the same company.

We are in different locations and the work at mine is seen as easier/better. His life is sooo much harder than mine 😂 it's all I hear.

Plus I've had 8 months off this year, cancer, and he's all like "it's alright for you - you've hardly been at work all year" 🙄 yes I was having a blast during chemo and radiotherapy. Best time ever ....

pumpkinpie01 · 11/12/2020 09:39

Does he always finish early on a Friday ?

Derelictwreck · 11/12/2020 09:42

If he wasn't working at the start of the pandemic - why were you doing the homeschooling?

And he works less hours than you but you do all the school runs and housework during the day when he rings and gives you tasks?

What the...

SueblueNZ · 11/12/2020 09:51

Next time you book time off don't tell him. And I'd definitely not have his mother there mucking up your plans.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/12/2020 09:57

Plus I've had 8 months off this year, cancer, and he's all like "it's alright for you - you've hardly been at work all year"

Shock
ThisIsWhatADayOffFeelsLike · 11/12/2020 09:59

chesney Fucking hell! That's awful, I'm sorry to hear you've been through that.

pumpkin Every other Friday.

Derelict He took the chance to get some work done around the house, plus he hates helping them with stuff like homework. He has no patience, especially if they are getting frustrated. So either I did it or it didn't happen at all. I initially pushed back, but gave up on arguing about it eventually.

OP posts:
ImEatingVeryHealthilyOhYes · 11/12/2020 10:02

Sounds like he thinks you don’t deserve to rest and/or he completely undervalues what you do.

Wanker Flowers

IntermittentParps · 11/12/2020 10:05

DH frequently calls me during the day to ask me to do stuff around the house

Why didn't you put a stop to that after the first time he tried it?
He needs a kick up the arse.