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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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My husband is lazy and it's driving me insane

91 replies

Ek232 · 24/09/2022 17:14

I don't even know where to start with this tbh.

My husband acts like a slob and I've tried everything I can think of to get him to try harder or to lower my standards but it's getting to breaking point. He's always been on the lazy side but it's getting too much for me to deal with.

He has really poor personal hygiene. He doesn't wash very often despite having a job where he gets dirty. He smells and tries to cover it with body spray - which really doesn't work. Plus he's visibly dirty a lot of the time. His hands are often grubby and he gets lines on the back if his neck which are gross. He leaves dirty finger marks on the banister and door handles etc until I nag him to wash his hands. We don't have sex because he smells. I usually end up sleeping on the sofa most nights because he's dirty and smelly. The pillow cases are stained because he sweats on them.

I've told him - nicely and not as nicely- that he smells. I've said I won't have sex with him unless he washes and brushes his teeth better. He just says I'm being bitchy. Earlier, I was cleaning and went to wipe the bannister which was filthy again and I complained that it shouldn't get that dirty so often and he denied it was him. Apparently he never touches the bannister. (Our son is 14 so it's not even toddler grubby fingers).

He doesn't get changed when he comes jn and will sit around in dirty clothes for weeks without washing them.

His attitude to housework is pretty much the same as his attitude to his personal hygiene. He dumps things everywhere. Dirty socks all over. Rubbish overflowing. He never puts anything away. If I ask him to help with housework his answer is always 'but the house isn't that messy' or 'but noones coming'. I can't live in a mess so I end up doing all the housework myself. Only for him to leave keys and rubbish and everything else everywhere.

It's the hygiene thing that's bothering me the most. It's a Saturday and I just want to sit and watch a film and snuggle tonight but I know I can't because he smells. I'll probably be sleeping om the sofa because he doesn't think he's dirty enough to shower. He hasn't showered in a full week.

He doesn't think any of this is his problem. I'm being ' a bitch' or I 'have ocd' etc. Sometimes it's like he takes a weird pride In his laziness. He went to kiss me the other day and I wasn't even trying to react but I instinctively pulled away because the smell was too much. He laughed and said 'oh yeah. Not brushed my teeth today...maybe not even yesterday ' then breathed in my face.

I honestly don't think I can take much more. It feels so silly to be considering divorce because he won't shower but this is where we're at.

I've tried suggesting we shower together. I've tried running him baths for when he gets home. Nothing works and tbh it's exhausting to constantly be thinking of ways to get him to wash.

It's not a mental health thing - he's always been lazy but it's getting worse/bothering me more. It's not sensory. When he's kn the bath or shower he can spend hours in there. It's more a 'can't be bothered' thing.

OP posts:
WooWooWinnie · 24/09/2022 18:07

Absolutely I would leave - he has absolutely no respect for you, your son or your home.

Badger1970 · 24/09/2022 18:08

DH would happily bath/shower once a week if he got away with it.

He doesn't.

Honestly, OP, this sounds like he doesn't give a shit about himself so how can you be expected to either?

WooWooWinnie · 24/09/2022 18:08

Used absolutely twice I’m that certain haha!

Greydogs123 · 24/09/2022 18:10

It’s not laziness, it’s a complete lack of respect for you and your home. He doesn’t care that he is actually repulsing you and is rude about the minimum standard you would like. If I were you I would be making plans to leave, your workload will halve and you can ensure your son understands that most partners expect a level of hygiene and respect.

Afterfire · 24/09/2022 18:13

The fact he’s laughing about it makes me think he doesn’t realise you’re being serious about it. Tell him you are going to divorce him unless he changes. Although personally I think it’s gone too far now, surely you’ve lost all love and respect for him? He sounds absolutely disgusting.

HangOnToYourself · 24/09/2022 18:20

This is one of the few times over ever see the poll as 100% YANBU

Dragonskin · 24/09/2022 18:24

It feels so silly to be considering divorce because he won't shower

But it's not because of that. It's because by not maintaining a level of personal hygiene, he is showing a lot of disrespect to you and your son who have to tolerate living with his stench.

AFP10 · 24/09/2022 18:28

Mmm my thought was you need to divorce him BUT I'm intrigued that you "want to snuggle" but can't because he's smelly. If some treated me and my home this way I'd want to be in a different postcode but you still have some desire for this man. You need to think about why this is. Do you not think you can do better, in which case you need counselling, or you genuinely still love this unwashed gent in which case contact relate for relationship counselling.
Either way this has to end for your sons sake if not your own!

Afterfire · 24/09/2022 18:29

AFP10 · 24/09/2022 18:28

Mmm my thought was you need to divorce him BUT I'm intrigued that you "want to snuggle" but can't because he's smelly. If some treated me and my home this way I'd want to be in a different postcode but you still have some desire for this man. You need to think about why this is. Do you not think you can do better, in which case you need counselling, or you genuinely still love this unwashed gent in which case contact relate for relationship counselling.
Either way this has to end for your sons sake if not your own!

This stood out to me too.

How on earth can you even want to “snuggle” with him?

Beachsidesunset · 24/09/2022 18:40

I want a shower just due to reading that ... ick.

Ek232 · 24/09/2022 19:15

Ugh. Was he like this before you got married? I assume not or you wouldn’t have married him?

He's always been a bit lazy but it's definitely gradually got worse.

It kind of hit me today how rubbish the situation has really got. I think I've been in denial of how miserable it's making me. I've been trying to rationalise it and make excuses like - I used to make a lot more effort by dressing nicely, doing my hair etc but now I'm less likely to. But it's not on the same level as his hygiene issues at all.

OP posts:
Ek232 · 24/09/2022 19:18

How on earth can you even want to “snuggle” with him?

I don't think I even mean snuggling with him necessarily. Just that I miss being able to do that with anyone if that makes sense.

I can think of nothing worse than being that close to him at all and can't see me ever wanting to.

OP posts:
ImNotGreta · 24/09/2022 19:19

This is awful, I feel so sorry for you.

It’s so extreme that I do wonder if there is a mental health problem involved. Has the change been over a lot of years, or did it come on over a few weeks or months?

I’m no going to try to diagnose anything out of your cry for help, but is it possible that this is being driven (in part) by depression?

Mummydoingmybest · 24/09/2022 19:21

Wow is this for real? No way on earth would I put up with that.. not even for a week. Get rid of the smelly pig. You’re worth so much more

Ek232 · 24/09/2022 19:24

He's being abusive. Just leave or better still get him out. You don't deserve this.

My previous marriage was abusive (physically, financially, emotionally) and I have such a hard time equating my husbands behaviour with being abusive. Even though I know deep down it probably is.

OP posts:
mamabear715 · 24/09/2022 19:24

That's awful, OP. I wondered about depression or something until I'd read your post through to the end. But if anyone's depressed, it's you. :-(

Norriscolesbag · 24/09/2022 19:24

I split up from my abusive ex last October- he is the dad to my children, I’d been with him years. It took some doing and an horrendous incident for me to actually do it.

The more I read on here the more I realize how much simpler my life is now. What is it with some men these days? Something has gone massively amiss.

OP you can do so much better. At least you’d have a lovely clean big bed of your own to sleep in.

FlowerArranger · 24/09/2022 19:25

So, @Ek232 - what's your plan.......... Clearly the only way out is to divorce him, so have you made a list of what you need to do to set this in motion?

limitededitionbarbie · 24/09/2022 19:28

Personal hygiene is a basic requirement for a person regardless of relationship status.

He seems to have no respect for himself let alone you. The people who he works with must be annoyed with him too.

Ek232 · 24/09/2022 19:29

ImNotGreta · 24/09/2022 19:19

This is awful, I feel so sorry for you.

It’s so extreme that I do wonder if there is a mental health problem involved. Has the change been over a lot of years, or did it come on over a few weeks or months?

I’m no going to try to diagnose anything out of your cry for help, but is it possible that this is being driven (in part) by depression?

It's been gradual over the last 10 years.

I really don't think it is a mental health issue (though not 100% sure obviously).

OP posts:
Ishacoco · 24/09/2022 19:31

What have I just read? A grown man REFUSING to clean himself? Wtf?!? Has he no respect for himself or others? Does he not care that he smells??

ISeeTrees · 24/09/2022 19:35

Honestly OP I'm not usually dramatic or squeamish but your first post turned my stomach. How awful for you, and your DC. I had an ex-boyfriend who was slack with personal hygiene and although it wasn't the definitive reason we split up, it was a huge contributing factor in what put me off him completely.
I appreciate this isn't just a boyfriend though and therefore a much bigger decision.
Have you had a "proper" sit down, cards on the table conversation? Does he realise that it's not just about the showering, but what his behaviour makes you think/feel about his regard for you? If not- do. If so- I really think you've done all you can.
I think coming out of an abusive relationship really skews your perspective and boundaries, so do be gentle with yourself.

ImNotGreta · 24/09/2022 19:40

Ek232 · 24/09/2022 19:29

It's been gradual over the last 10 years.

I really don't think it is a mental health issue (though not 100% sure obviously).

To some extent, of course, it doesn’t matter what the cause is if he’s not going to do anything about it.

I know that the standard response on here is “leave the bastard”, but maybe one step short of that is the better next step, which is sitting him down and making him understand how it makes you feel, and that if he doesn’t change it really is the end.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 24/09/2022 19:44

I’m so sorry. I think you need to leave him. This is very serious. You don’t have a future with him, please don’t stay and show your son that this is acceptable behaviour.

BoxOfCats · 25/09/2022 07:38

I don't think it's abusive. But I do think it boils down to a complete lack of respect for you. He knows it bothers you, but that apparently isn't important enough to do anything about it. I think you should ask yourself what you're actually getting from this relationship.

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