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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

disagreement with DH

65 replies

biancap26 · 26/04/2023 18:40

Hi all, just wondering if AIBU. The below example is just the most recent one but it is the behaviour itself that really bothers me.

Last night I was packing the dishwasher and noticed a specific utensil that would benefit from going in the dishwasher. To clarify, it is a specific spoon used for the coffee beans. I loaded the dishwasher with our plates and realised that it is almost empty which meant we would run it the next day, once it got full. DH makes us coffee in the morning and uses it religiously, so I called him and explained that I am gonna put it in the dishwasher and asked him to use any of the other spoons for making coffee the following morning as the dishwasher wouldn't be done at that point. He said ok.

I had a look this morning and realised that he took it out of the dishwasher and washed it by hand instead. The washing itself doesn't bother me, it's washed doesn't matter, it is the fact that I took the time to say to him hey, this is what I am doing, please use any other utensils and he has done the exact opposite of what I asked. When I brought it up, he said it doesn't matter, he washed it so there is no reason for me to bring it up or have an arguement as nobody would have a problem as it is a spoon. This is not what I am upset about. I am upset about the fact that I mentioned it to him in advance and he raised no issues whatsoever. I asked him and he said he made his own decisions as he is a grown up man and that he does not remember the part where I told him to leave it in for a proper clean and that he thought it would be fine to just take it out. I explained that it did matter as I asked - can we leave it in please and he did not object to it or communicate that my idea was wrong.

This is a thing that happens quite often and please note I do realise it is over trivial matters so it's not as if he goes and makes big decisions that concerns both without communicating.

But when I do mention, hey I am going to do this, please can you do this while I sort it out and he goes and does the opposite of what I asked or mentioned it drives me insane. Again, they are mostly over trivial matters around the house. We spoke about this before and he keeps saying he is making his own decisions which is obviously fine but I wish he would tell me then and there - Hey no, I disagree, let's do it this way instead. He just says yes, absolutely fine and then the opposite happens. I brought it up and asked to please communicate, but it doesn't happen and he keeps saying he did not hear the part where I asked him the specific thing or in that specific moment he thought it would be better done in a different way.

We spoke about this quite a few times and it really, really gets to me. I explained this too and he is saying it doesn't matter because it is a small thing and nobody would ever have a problem with it, just me.

Please AIBU? thank you for reading

OP posts:
midgemadgemodge · 26/04/2023 18:46

A spoon is such a trivial thing I could easily forget that you had made any statement on it and it seems odd you getting offended that he washed a spoon rather than use a different one

Arightoldcarryabag · 26/04/2023 18:46

You sound very controlling and he sounds somewhat dismissive, possibly disrespectful and a bit rude in how he handles things.
I guess the 2 play off against each other and you wind each other up. It'll only lead to bitterness unless you relax a bit or he puts more thought into why you're asking things of him and either has the discussion up front or does as you ask.
I don't think you're unreasonable but without sitting down and having it out to the point where you can agree going forwards, it'll just carry on.

Boomboom22 · 26/04/2023 18:48

But if it hadn't been on yet why didn't you add it after coffee?

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 26/04/2023 18:48

If they are the same type of thing you mention in your OP, then I think you sound very easily irritated and it would do my head in.

He's right. He took the spoon out and cleaned it, but just because you told him he wasn't allowed to and he did it, it's annoyed you.

It sounds more like you don't like him making his own decisions over such trivial matters for the sake of nothing else but bossing him about.

Saffronn · 26/04/2023 18:49

Why on earth does it matter to you what spoon he used? Why ask him not to use it in the first place, rather than just letting him know where it was so he could choose to wash it or not?

Karwomannghia · 26/04/2023 18:49

Men can’t plan that far ahead. He would have thought fine and then when it came to coffee making wanted to use his spoon and remembered it was in the dishwasher.

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 26/04/2023 18:50

Men can’t plan that far ahead

What patronising, sexist bs is this??!!!

biancap26 · 26/04/2023 18:51

thanks all, I guess I really need to let things go and was clearly unreasonable.

OP posts:
midgemadgemodge · 26/04/2023 18:51

Anyone who needs to plan ahead their spoon washing system needs something new in their life

Merrow · 26/04/2023 18:51

So your DH likes a specific spoon for making coffee, you thought it needed washed and put it in the dishwasher, and he washed it himself? YABU - he's achieved the same end point of the spoon being washed.

Mochinated · 26/04/2023 18:51

If you want your marriage to survive then you have got to unclench about the dishwasher, the spoons, all of it.

If on the other hand you want to destroy it, carry on

DiddyHeck · 26/04/2023 18:52

Good Lord OP, who died and made you boss of the house?

He used the spoon and washed it, like most adults are allowed to do in their own homes.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/04/2023 18:52

You sound incredibly controlling and he sounds like he's going against you deliberately to try and make a point.

Why do you think you had any right to tell him what spoon to use and whether he was allowed to get it out of the dishwasher or not?

biancap26 · 26/04/2023 18:53

Noted, I think I needed to hear this and I appreciate the honesty.

OP posts:
fluffiphlox · 26/04/2023 18:53

Do you have a hobby?

BadGranny · 26/04/2023 18:53

YABU.

DumpedByText · 26/04/2023 18:54

FFS if this is all you've got to worry about you're doing OK. It's a spoon, get a grip! 🙄

Oysterbabe · 26/04/2023 18:54

Of all the trivial shit in the world, this wins.
He's perfectly entitled to make his own call on which fucking spoon to use.

tealandteal · 26/04/2023 18:55

I’ll be honest if my husband tried to tell me which spoon to use or how to wash it I wouldn’t be very impressed. Washing it by hand achieves the same result as putting it in the dishwasher.

CrystalMaisie · 26/04/2023 18:55

I get exactly what you mean. I had a similar chat with my dh and something in the dishwasher.
like your dh, he said yes at the time and then disregarded and did his own thing.

it’s not about the spoon, it’s about communication. A small example of a wider issue I feel.

Firevixen · 26/04/2023 18:55

So a spoon needed washing, the spoon got washed, and now you're annoyed because the spoon was washed and then used? What?

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 26/04/2023 18:56

Your DH is an adult. He's allowed to agree to not using the spoon then change his mind and wash it. I wouldn't even think twice about this tbh

Quinoawoman · 26/04/2023 18:56

You are micromanaging him.

StopMindlesslyScrolling · 26/04/2023 18:57

OP, you really need to rejoice at the wonderful life you lead if your main complaint is about a coffee spoon that was washed by hand rather than in the dishwasher.

Honestly, you are incredibly lucky. Please recognise that and be thankful for it.

Fansandblankets · 26/04/2023 18:58

I think it’s been said plenty on this thread but honestly this is ridiculous!