Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not understand why DH thinks everything is my job?!

27 replies

TheOverlord · 13/03/2023 10:01

I know the responses already will be that I need to put my foot down - but I have and he’s still not getting the message.

Last week, DH wanted a quote sorted for something and arranged a guy to come over and give him a figure. I WFH but said to DH that I’m busy and he’ll have to handle the guy coming over (if DH left work on time then he’d be home about half an hour before the guy was due). DH said not to worry and he’d sort it. DH ended up staying late because he “forgot” the guy was coming so I had to let him in and discuss with him etc. The same guy needs to come back again later today to do another check, I again said to DH that I am working and cannot facilitate it. He promised to be home on time to do it (this time, he’s coming an hour later, so an hour and a half after DH should be home).

Yesterday was my birthday and I didn’t get a gift or a card or even a “happy birthday” until I suggested we do something nice. DH suggested we go to a garden centre down the road where the food is objectively awful because I have a voucher for there (that I only got because the time we ate there they served me food with mold on it). He then said I should’ve planned something. So I found a restaurant and called to book a table.

Last night before bed, DH reminded me that the guy is coming today. He said “oh, I just realised you’ll be at home so I don’t need to be back in time for that”. I’m home every single day, how has he “just realised that”?! So, I called him out. I said that he hasn’t just realised anything, he’s always known full well I’ll be at home and also knows I’m not dealing with it. So, he had a strop and eventually admitted that he just didn’t want to do it himself.

On Friday night, it became apparent that DH had to send a difficult email to his employer. He asked me for help with it and I said I’d help him whenever. He didn’t bring it up again… until this morning. He phoned me when he was driving to work, and I was getting DD ready for nursery and dropping her off. He was asking for my help writing the email so I reminded him of important points - he was clearly in a huff. Then he asked me to dictate it to him so I tried to dictate an email to him over the phone whilst walking to nursery. Then, after a few minutes, he complained that it was taking too long and “why couldn’t you just write it for me?” in a pissed off tone. At that point, I had it. I said that it’s absolutely not acceptable for him to except me to write his work emails for him, I’m under no obligation to even help him and so he has no right at all to be angry with me for not writing it for him in full without him even actually asking me to do it.

AIBU to not understand why everything is my bloody job? We’ve reached the point where he expects me to do his work emails for him by myself without actually even asking me and then I get a bollocking if I haven’t done it!

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 13/03/2023 10:05

He sees you as staff, not his wife who’s an equally important human being with a life of your own.

Not sure that can be fixed.

ObamaLlamas · 13/03/2023 10:09

I'd be mostly massively pissed off about the birthday thing, you've kind of glossed over that. Do you love him? Like really love him and want to stay with him forever. Because I'd seriously be considering LTB just based on the birthday thing alone. He sounds awful. For now when you're working stop answering the door and stop answering your phone to him.

DirectionToPerfection · 13/03/2023 10:13

He's not going to change and you deserve far better.

What does he actually offer you?

He sounds uncaring, miserly and entitled. What a horrible way to treat you on your birthday.

KILM · 13/03/2023 10:13

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/03/2023 10:05

He sees you as staff, not his wife who’s an equally important human being with a life of your own.

Not sure that can be fixed.

This. He's put more effort into organising the house thing (and he's shirked most of that) than your birthday. You are staff. Sorry.

purpleboy · 13/03/2023 10:15

Well he does it because you don't stop him.

When he called for dictation, you tell him you're too busy to help and he needs to approach when your not.

He organizes someone to come to the house. Don't open the door.

Don't make it your problem and he will soon buck up his ideas.

Jadedandlost · 13/03/2023 10:17

purpleboy · 13/03/2023 10:15

Well he does it because you don't stop him.

When he called for dictation, you tell him you're too busy to help and he needs to approach when your not.

He organizes someone to come to the house. Don't open the door.

Don't make it your problem and he will soon buck up his ideas.

This!

Regularsizedrudy · 13/03/2023 10:17

It’s your job because you keep doing it. Stop.

FunkyMonks · 13/03/2023 10:17

Wow if my DH forgot my birthday I would be pissed and I think I'd have to start forgetting his too.
But that takes it to next level him taking you to garden centre for a treat using your own voucher lovely.

Newusername21 · 13/03/2023 10:22

I used to have a husband like this.

He's now my Ex

Why do we let men get away with this behaviour???!!

Wishimaywishimight · 13/03/2023 10:23

Tell him a) to do his own work, you are neither his manager nor his PA and b) he is a miserable selfish bastard for doing absolutely nothing for your birthday.

He sounds pretty horrible all round, clearly does not think much of you. No doubt you will be back to say he has his good points or is a fantastic dad or some such.

The birthday thing would piss me off no end. Make sure you make an equal "effort' for his.

billy1966 · 13/03/2023 10:26

You poor woman.

What a deficit of self esteem you must have to be with such a selfish, mean, disrespectful, unpleasant man.

....and you have had a child with him.

Very sad.

He sounds deeply selfish and unpleasant.

This is who he is.

He clearly could care less about you, but truthfully you must not care for yourself much to allow him to treat you so poorly.

I feel very sorry for your child with such a shit husband/father as a role model.

I bet this is just the tip of the iceberg with him.

Bullet proof your contraception and have a good long think about the life you have and what you want your future to look like.

He's not someone who will ever have your back.

He's too mean and selfish.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/03/2023 10:26

Yanbu to feel like this at all.

Ywbu to let this become your life now.

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 13/03/2023 10:28

He needs dealing with. Treat him the same way he treats you - with contempt

Dodecaheidyin · 13/03/2023 10:29

He thinks it's your job, OP, because he doesn't have the confidence or competence to do it himself. As for your birthday, he wants you to know how much he disrespects (and dislikes) you.

He won't change because it's working for him. There are no consequences, apart from your reaction, to which he can react angrily. Which is a result for him.

SpringleDingle · 13/03/2023 10:32

I had one of these, now ex-H. It rather snuck up on me as he became more and more "unable" to cope with sorting stuff himself. Eventually I just felt used and lost all respect for him and that was it. Try reading "she divorced me because I left my cup by the dishwasher". This sort of stuff eventually just grinds you down.

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 13/03/2023 10:34

My ex used to do that. Note ex. He didn't realise until we split up the extent of what I did and found it very difficult to function without me spoon feeding him everything. We are still friends and amazingly, years later he still occasionally phones to ask things like what's the password for something. I have no idea why I put up with it for so long.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 13/03/2023 10:38

He thinks it's your job because you're a woman. So he must be completely sexist (unless he treats everyone in his life like this, in which case he is inherently lazy and entitled). Neither option is attractive.

I think you do need to not answer the door if you're working / don't take his calls when you're busy. I've had similar where my husband has organised stuff when I've got meetings and now he just arranges to wfh or leaves money / instructions out in an envelope somewhere.

Whyisitsososohard · 13/03/2023 10:42

Sorry it sounds like you're married to an entitled baby. Do you love him and find him attractive when he's this useless and entitled? You're worth more than being treats like his mum/staff.

StClare101 · 13/03/2023 10:49

What a depressing read. Does he have any positive traits?

Botw1 · 13/03/2023 10:50

He does it because you let him

It won't change.

Neither will you.

Mumsanetta · 13/03/2023 10:50

I think you need to have a good long think about why your self esteem is so low that you have been willing to accept this behaviour for so long.

It’s not just a matter of putting your foot down, it’s about realising that you are worth so much more than your DH is currently giving you. The only way to change him is to make it very clear that you are willing to walk away if he doesn’t (and 100% mean it). This same scenario plays out in so many different areas of life - work and friendships for example. Bullies generally only bully people they know won’t fight back.

PoshCoffee · 13/03/2023 10:54

He thinks you’re his mum not his wife.
my DH tries this shit occasionally. I don’t stand for it.

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 13/03/2023 10:55

Phone the guy that's coming this afternoon and cancel.
Tell him your DH will contact him to rearrange an appointment.
Then check out from that task. Don't get dragged back in.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 13/03/2023 10:56

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/03/2023 10:05

He sees you as staff, not his wife who’s an equally important human being with a life of your own.

Not sure that can be fixed.

Not even staff - my boss treats me better that this!

SkyandSurf · 13/03/2023 10:57

Did you hit the roof about how he behaved on your birthday? That's appalling.

Fuck him and his work email. I wouldn't contemplate doing a favour for someone who couldn't be fucked wishing me a happy birthday.

You need to lose your temper now.

What a selfish arse.

Swipe left for the next trending thread