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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To split from 'D' H because

149 replies

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 08:59

He just won't do his share of chores and won't listen to me when I try to talk to him about it?

Eg Asked him to bring the bins in last night (I always put them out and bring them in) and to clean the kitchen bin because it was skanky at the bottom. He said yes but he hasn't done it.

This happens all the time with general chores

OP posts:
Dulcetto · 16/12/2022 11:53

Makes you wonder how these men hold down jobs - oh right, silly me! It’s because they’re aren’t in fact incompetent, they just care so little about the people around them they’ll let their nearest and dearest run themselves into the ground doing everything, whilst pretending to be oblivious or not caring.

He needs to be put on notice in no uncertain terms. Sort your shit out or get out.

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 11:59

SapatSea · 16/12/2022 11:47

When you have DC it becomes so complicated - you can't go on a cleaning strike as you want a clean house, especially a bathroom for the DC, you don't want them to be hear arguments or feel tension in the home.

Exactly this

OP posts:
RishisProudMum · 16/12/2022 12:01

potatoesalad · 16/12/2022 11:33

No words of help but I totally get you OP. I do EVERYTHING at home ,with the exception of cooking for DC because I go out to a second job in the eves at the supermarket, so I am physically not here to do it. I work FT in the day.

I do the online food shop, take delivery of it & put away & clean fridge/cupboards while putting away. I also then go out to the shop to get any missing bits that haven't arrived/were not in stock.
I do all the washing inc DC & bedding. I dont' do DH clothes.
I do all the cleaning
I do the bins
I tidy up after ALL of them - DC & DH
I plan/buy for/suggest every occasion & day/night out
I manage all the finances
I keep the house running. I make sure we never run out of anything. I make sure finances are healthy and we can pay bills. I move debt to take advantage of interest-free options
I get DC up for school and sort all their school stuff. I manage all school admin
I make sure we have enough loo rolls and each bathroom has a loo roll with spares, type-of-thing
I take my car for repairs/MOT
I arrange house/life/travel insurances
I change the beds
I arrange the oven cleaning
I arrange the carpet cleaning

and I am FUCKING sick of it. DH doesn't appreciate any of it.

I bought some de-icer for the cars the other day. I told DH I had brought a large can for us to share and I would leave it by the front door for either of us to use on our cars in the mornings. He said something like 'urgh I wont use THAT'.

I brought him replacement gloves as he lost the first pair (I was accused of moving/hiding them) he said thanks but then was passive aggressive to accuse me of hiding/moving the second pair when I had actually brought them in from my car - after he borrowed my car & knowing he would need them when I was out in the car - and left them in the hallway for him.

I feel for you OP xx

Why are you being such a doormat? What possible reason is there for living like this?

Sundala · 16/12/2022 12:07

There is a book and also a set of cards for the system called Fair Play, this is where couples can see what tasks there are to run a house and you divide up the tasks fairly between you What you decide is fair is up to the both of you. There are 60 cards for couples, 40 additional cards if you have children. There are several videos on YouTube of people reviewing it. I am fortunate that my MIL raised an incredible son (not FIL, he was a typical I work therefore that is my entire contribution, never changed a nappy and proud of it type of chap, which is why I say MIL) so Dh has always cooked, cleaned, shopped and been full hands on with the children, now mid-late teens.

However, weaponised incompetence is a thing and it isn't just related to house stuff. It extends to children, ie you can't possibly have an evening out because he won't stick to the bedtime routine, you worry that he can't put a nappy on effectively, you have to leave a list of times to feed his child etc etc.

There was a great instagram story where a woman had bought tiny middle finger hands ie a fuck you hand and every time she saw something in the house where her partner had left his dirty clothes on the bedroom floor, she left a little hand, or his plate on the work top instead of in the unpacked dishwasher, another little fuck you hand. No nagging just demonstrating he lack of care toward his partner. Nagging occurs because our expectations are not met. We expect to have an equal partner, we want them to share in the domestic crap. We nag because we don't want overflowing bins etc.

I am going to bet my house that your husband isn't incompetent at work. Doesn't need a list of tasks from his boss telling him what he should be doing on a day to day basis, does everything expected of him? Never has to have disciplinary meetings over incomplete work. Funny how it only happens when he is at home isn't it?

HouseyHouse22 · 16/12/2022 12:09

He doesn't respect you. He thinks his time is worth more than yours. That he's too good to do these things.

You've told him time and time again and nothing has changed. Sorry OP, but there is no solution to this that doesn't slowly break you.

Do your children realise what he's doing?

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 12:16

MIL just phoned asking if I had got the pressie for DD from her. So another example of my chores not only am I buying all pressies from me and husband, I am also buying MIL's too and my Mum's. MIL rings me because her DS (my husband) doesn't ring her back

OP posts:
LondonLovie · 16/12/2022 12:16

I would 100% give me DH the heave-ho if he didn't pull his weight 50/50. He wouldn't bloody dare, and i wouldn't either as we fully respect each other and that it's a joint effort in life.

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 12:17

HouseyHouse22 · 16/12/2022 12:09

He doesn't respect you. He thinks his time is worth more than yours. That he's too good to do these things.

You've told him time and time again and nothing has changed. Sorry OP, but there is no solution to this that doesn't slowly break you.

Do your children realise what he's doing?

My DS remarked that I had 3 children without any prompting from me.

OP posts:
Badger1970 · 16/12/2022 12:25

When our DC moved out, DH thought he'd be King again and have me running round as his skivvy.

I think he's a bit disappointed that I no longer get away with anything for fear of arguing in front of the kids...... and I don't nag, he gets one clear warning that something needs doing and then I shut up. He worked out the other day that he's bought 5 golf caps this year and can't undersand why he keeps losing them ... yes, the idiot hasn't realised that I bin them if they're left just inside the back door on the worktop.

arethereanyleftatall · 16/12/2022 12:25

So we can all agree the ops husband and other husbands on this thread are selfish, lazy, thoughtless and are making you all miserable.

That's a given.

So, the actual question is...

Why do you stay with these men?

Finances? - ok, could be, but work towards changing that.

Children? - that's nonsense, it's been researched over and over that happy parents are far more beneficial to children than unhappy ones who happen to live in the same place.

fifteenohfour · 16/12/2022 12:26

Always, chores aren't just about the job chores are a direct reflection on your worth to them. You own the house jointly that's his property he is letting turn to shit and you are the default cleaner. He thinks that job is not worth his time yet it's worth YOUR time because that's how he feels about you. I'm going through the same thing.

mum11970 · 16/12/2022 12:27

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 10:25

Sorry that was responding to @mum11970

A lot of that list is cleaning, yet you were the one who said you haven’t cleaned for ages! I don’t consider emotional support for my children a chore.

pointythings · 16/12/2022 12:37

@mum11970 OP hasn't cleaned for ages out of protest at her husband's laziness.
Looking after the children's emotional wellbeing may not be a 'chore' but it is absolutely a responsibility that both parents should share in. If you do not get this, you are a handmaiden.

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 12:42

@mum11970 ok I will change the term from chores to 'shared responsibilities of the parents' is that better for you?

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 16/12/2022 12:44

Pismascrescents · 16/12/2022 09:04

Well if it’s indicative of a general level of disrespect in the relationship, possibly. There are other ways to handle it though that don’t include splitting eg every time he doesn’t do his share, don’t cook for him or do his laundry.

You realise that if you split you will be doing everything alone, right?

I think there’s a difference between doing everything alone because you live alone and doing everything alone because your partner refuses to do anything.

Personally, I just couldn’t live with this. It would build resentment and anger inside me constantly to think another adult was doing absolutely nothing and living chore free because they thought I should do it all for them.

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/12/2022 12:44

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 12:42

@mum11970 ok I will change the term from chores to 'shared responsibilities of the parents' is that better for you?

Just ignore her and her surrendered wife nonsense. We all know what you mean.

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 12:48

@Kanaloa I do have resentment and anger.

Thanks @MrsTerryPratchett

OP posts:
Oaktree55 · 16/12/2022 12:55

Completely mental reason to split up with someone. Not that you'll hear that on here as there's not a lot of common sense on here! Not everything in a relationship has to be 50:50 perhaps he contributes in other ways. You need to consider the relationship as a whole not break it down into individual areas and insist each is 50:50.

LondonLovie · 16/12/2022 12:56

And worse for me, all these families with this disrespectful, self centred DHs mostly have kids growing up in that environment! Seeing their Mum's, women, being treated like crap, like skivies. Being abused domestically.

How will we ever break this bloody cycle?

We tell our daughters to reach for the stars and yet so many women tolerate this behaviour. What does that do to our daughters, our sons? What does it teach them about their own future roles and relationships.

PrinceHaz · 16/12/2022 12:57

Oaktree55 · 16/12/2022 12:55

Completely mental reason to split up with someone. Not that you'll hear that on here as there's not a lot of common sense on here! Not everything in a relationship has to be 50:50 perhaps he contributes in other ways. You need to consider the relationship as a whole not break it down into individual areas and insist each is 50:50.

I think we can take it as a given that he’s not contributing enough in other ways. OP sounds very frustrated. She wouldn’t feel this way if he was generally ok.

Bestcatmum · 16/12/2022 13:02

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 08:59

He just won't do his share of chores and won't listen to me when I try to talk to him about it?

Eg Asked him to bring the bins in last night (I always put them out and bring them in) and to clean the kitchen bin because it was skanky at the bottom. He said yes but he hasn't done it.

This happens all the time with general chores

She will be doing half the work and not having to clean up all of his mess as well.

Theskyisfallingdown · 16/12/2022 13:03

Baffling how many posters on the (almost daily) threads like this who suggest OPs do yet another task-creating a little tick list for the absolute failures they picked to marry. Why? Non functional misogynists openly don’t care. There’ll always be some woman to perform the drudgery for these failures-next wife/back to their mother.

Really poor example to have shown your (plural) kids for what’s acceptable and how women are treated.

Anothermanicmumday1 · 16/12/2022 13:04

Ncgirlseriously · 16/12/2022 09:08

Honestly I’m biased because I’m happily single after being with someone who didn’t pull his weight but I couldn’t go back. I don’t want to pick up after another adult ever again.

It just shows a fundamental lack of respect. Also there was that recent study showing that being with a manchild kills your sex drive. If your picking up after a man like you’re his mum, it just kills the feelings.

Sad thing is he’d quickly start doing that shit if you left.

Can you share please I'd be interested in the study. Thank you

Livingwithcrap · 16/12/2022 13:04

Oaktree55 · 16/12/2022 12:55

Completely mental reason to split up with someone. Not that you'll hear that on here as there's not a lot of common sense on here! Not everything in a relationship has to be 50:50 perhaps he contributes in other ways. You need to consider the relationship as a whole not break it down into individual areas and insist each is 50:50.

Could you give me an example of the type of other things he might contribute to please? I'm concerned I might be missing something

OP posts:
Bestcatmum · 16/12/2022 13:09

The laziness of my last husband made my vag seal shut. He left because he wasn't getting enough sex.
He knew this - he decided he would rather just leave than have to debase himself doing any gardening or household chores.
He assumed he'd get half of my house during the divorce, he got nothing. I owned the house outright before I met him.
I was ordered to pay him for the fence that he had just paid to get put up. 1K. That's all he got.
He was livid.
He is now living in his filthy rented bedsit on his own after his last girlfriend left him for living like an animal.