Anyone else look forward to weekend but then Husband does jobs ?

[TulipVictory]

I know I'm probably sounding ungrateful but doesn't anyone else often end up in this situation. Currently at home with the kids as am on mat leave. I look forward to the weekend all week as then we're all together. However, often, like today, he decides to do a job (I'm aware it needs doing). Like today he said he needed to strim and mow the front and back. He's spent all day doing it so far and that's just the front, he hasn't even done the back yet. Meanwhile I'm sat around feeling like a spare part with nothing to do all day like the rest of the week. It's just like any other week day as he's not here with us anyway.

He's avoiding childcare because it's hard work and somewhat boring.
You mow the lawn and find 'jobs' to do and let him wrangle the DC.

I wondered about this too.

In circumstances like these I did the jobs instead… still wasn’t an exciting weekend but mowing the lawn felt like a break from childcare and meant DH spent a day with the children!

Are we both married to the same man OP? My DH is exactly the same. He spends every weekend doing diy jobs at a painstakingly slow speed and wants myself and the DC out of the house to facilitate this, because, in his words, we're "in the way". He then moans that no house work gets done, er, I'm working all week and after school have the kids to deal with. I'd like to use the weekend, but we get kicked out. I literally can't remember the last time that we all spent a weekend together. I understand that these jobs need doing, although some are of his own making, but I'm fed up. No advice op, just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

Five hours to cut the lawn at Buckingham Palace perhaps, not the average front garden. Even if you then do weeding or cut edges manually, an hour at most.

If it is not a way of avoiding other things, does he have some condition that he is hiding? A low level of dyspraxia perhaps, if such is possible?

My exh used to do this op because he was avoiding being with me and the kids. He could zone out, put his music on, grab a beer and do 'outside chores' for basically the whole weekend. I can only suggest either sending the kids out in the garden with him and going out somewhere yourself or sit down and talk to him about it.

This sounds like my first marriage. When we went to Relate he said "She even complains if I say I'm going out to mow the lawn or clean the car". The counsellor winced and told me I sounded very controlling. Until I explained that "mowing the lawn" was never just that, it took all day. Cleaning the car was not a quick wash, it was a fine detailing job plus a service (he was a mechanic) and replacing/repairing any little faults he found.
It was such a relief when I married my second husband and I realised that "I'm just going to mow the lawn/ clean the car" meant just that!

My DH spends the weekends doing jobs which are actually things that he quite enjoys doing and are generally time consuming like cooking without clearing up afterwards , gardening and DIY. He has never spent weekends cleaning.

I started mowing the lawn myself to tick that off the lists of jobs he "needs" to do.

You need to discuss a plan during the week

For chores
For family time
Check the weather
Activities outside the home

OOOOh yes OP, next time say that you are cutting the grass and let him look after little ones. (I cut the grass with headphones on and listen to music btw

These men who hate having kids usually take up cycling along roads in Lycra, or golfing, or some sport that gets them away from the house for hours and hours. Being shit at mowing grass is a new one 😄
Good luck with that.

@ImInACage

Are we both married to the same man OP? My DH is exactly the same. He spends every weekend doing diy jobs at a painstakingly slow speed and wants myself and the DC out of the house to facilitate this, because, in his words, we're "in the way". He then moans that no house work gets done, er, I'm working all week and after school have the kids to deal with. I'd like to use the weekend, but we get kicked out. I literally can't remember the last time that we all spent a weekend together. I understand that these jobs need doing, although some are of his own making, but I'm fed up. No advice op, just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

You poor woman and your poor children being thrown out of their home at the weekend.

I would call that abusive.
You need to stand up for your children and yourself.
How dare he tell you get out of your home.
I suggest you call Woman's Aid and have a chat.