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.

To want to murder recently retired DH?

408 replies

ŁadnaPogoda · 10/09/2023 22:26

He’s been desperate to take early retirement for a couple of years and finally took the plunge. Although he’s not doing anything with his time. I wfh 2-3 days a week and when I am wfh, he just stands behind me and listens in to all of my Teams calls, making comments. I have to say to him “Please go away, I am going to turn my camera on and speak shortly.” I was interviewing last week and he spent the days lying in bed in a huff, because I wouldn’t let him into the room where I was interviewing. (He could have gone into the sitting room or indeed anywhere else.)

I am going to London tomorrow to spend some time in the office and stay in our London flat to get away from him. He’s just announced that he thinks he will come up to London tomorrow as well, and meet a friend for a drink on Wednesday. Which means he is going to be looming around for three days. Although he can’t follow me into the office, he will be there every evening. I am going to a friend’s big birthday/retirement drinks on Tuesday and he is hugely pissed off that he’s not invited (he doesn’t know friend, has met him a couple of times at most) and thinks he should be invited as my plus one. I’ve said there are no plus ones, it’s not a fucking wedding, and he is now even huffier.

I’ve said I can’t carry on like this and he needs to do something meaningful with his life, or at least do some of the cleaning and cooking, rather than expect me to do it all, but he doesn’t like that suggestion either. I swear I will kill him if he carries on like this. I have a work trip overseas planned next month, and he has said he “might come along.” Nope, not going to happen. It’s a city I lived in when I was growing up, and he is going to want me to be a tour guide “I can’t go out on my own, I don’t speak the language.” It’s like he’s morphed into this giant, helpless baby since retiring, and I can’t stand it.

OP posts:
SUPsUP · 10/09/2023 22:29

I’d acquit if I were on the jury

cansu · 10/09/2023 22:30

Sounds very annoying. He needs to find a hobby.

AppleKatie · 10/09/2023 22:30

Sounds like you split OP.

you don’t like him or respect him. So time to cut the cord.

doesn’t much matter who’s right or wrong, you feel how you feel. (And the way you’ve described him I’d feel the same).

Lizzieregina · 10/09/2023 22:31

Oh you’re making me worried as my DH is about to retire and I fear he’ll be like this!

Good to know there’ll be potentially friendly juries though!

gemloving · 10/09/2023 22:32

Golf? He's your husband. Talk to him, isn't marriage all about communication?

Regarding the work trips, my husband would love me to come along. He goes to LA, Tokio, Barcelona, Berlin, Miami etc lovely places but we have two kids 2&4 and I said. I'd rather be here with them than pretty much solo travel with the kids whilst you're working. No thanks.

Fairyliz · 10/09/2023 22:33

I feel your pain op as I have one of these.

Have you ever seen the film ‘Stranger on a train’? Just asking 😉

Pepperama · 10/09/2023 22:34

Adjustment to retirement takes time - but you need firm boundaries.
Listening in on confidential or indeed any of your calls is totally inappropriate.
Tell him what time you are free and happy to spend couple time, and stress that there needs to be work time, ‘me’ time and couple time if the transition to retirement isn’t going to end with a very unhappy relationship

Mistressofpemberly · 10/09/2023 22:34

🤣.
you really do need to have a frank conversation with him.

he sounds awful but he’s presumably trying to find his place in life. You just need to make sure it’s not in your pocket and that he makes himself useful. Good luck!

MissAmbrosia · 10/09/2023 22:35

I feel your pain. Mine was 66 last month and is desperate to stop. He has no hobbies, no interests apart from watching football and playing solitaire on the PC. He has not yet understood that once he stops, so does the weekly cleaner, and me doing the shopping and also whatever it is he spends a fortune on his credit card on. Some patio digging might be required.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 10/09/2023 22:35

I slightly chuckled at the standing behind you while you are on teams calls - I'm imagining him sipping tea with his arms folded - , but that sounds excruciating.

bellac11 · 10/09/2023 22:35

Isnt it the case that when someone retires they are somewhat bereft? Part of their identity has gone, it may take time to build a new part of that and find ways of being, surely he's working through that

Personally I hate the fact that my OH works from home and resent our home being used for work, he has taken over one of the bedrooms. You should go into the office if you dont like him mooching around when you're working at home although he shouldnt stand over you and interfere when you're in meetings but the bottom line is, its his home

Yes he needs a hobby, or a part time job perhaps, voluntary work, etc

ŁadnaPogoda · 10/09/2023 22:36

@Doingtheboxerbeat yes, that is exactly it. In his pants.

OP posts:
Changingplace · 10/09/2023 22:37

Did he have hobbies/interests before he retired? Hadn’t he got things he’s planned to do with his time?

I’d be going insane OP, I feel your pain!

Doingtheboxerbeat · 10/09/2023 22:37

ŁadnaPogoda · 10/09/2023 22:36

@Doingtheboxerbeat yes, that is exactly it. In his pants.

🤣🤣 omg , stop it, that's hilarious but so wrong.

ŁadnaPogoda · 10/09/2023 22:37

@bellac11 it’s my home too. And I can’t work from the office every day. There’s no space. We have to book a desk, and although we are guaranteed two days, it’s very difficult to get more.

OP posts:
Desecratedcoconut · 10/09/2023 22:37

Fairyliz · 10/09/2023 22:33

I feel your pain op as I have one of these.

Have you ever seen the film ‘Stranger on a train’? Just asking 😉

🤣

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/09/2023 22:38

He sounds awful!

I would tell him right out “no you’re not coming to London when I go, I’m going to get away from you”.

No one would be coming into the room when I was wfh - honestly my kids know better than to do that (NB - I don’t habitually work with primary aged DS9 in the house, and even 14 yo won’t often be there).

ErrolTheDragon · 10/09/2023 22:39

Bloody hell, OP. He needs to get a life. One of his own, not leeching off yours.

My DH retired a while ago, I wfh. He shares the office with me (deals with our financial stuff etc) but nearly always leaves the room if I've got a meeting or someone calls me. He has other interests, does most of the shopping, plans the holidays etc etc....ie behaves like a normal grownup human being.

BitOutOfPractice · 10/09/2023 22:39

He’s missing managing someone isn’t he? And now He thinks he’s your manager.

No jury made of 12 honest women and true would convict you.

bellac11 · 10/09/2023 22:39

ŁadnaPogoda · 10/09/2023 22:37

@bellac11 it’s my home too. And I can’t work from the office every day. There’s no space. We have to book a desk, and although we are guaranteed two days, it’s very difficult to get more.

Well I think I would be kicking off a bit at work to be honest, thats not fair on anyone living in your home, and you're right it is your home, not your work place, although its morphed into your work place.

But ultimately he needs to find things to do even if you were at work.

JaukiVexnoydi · 10/09/2023 22:40

Sounds like reasonable grounds. Go ahead. We can provide an alibi. We were drinking wine together at the time.

Fantapops · 10/09/2023 22:40

I'd be putting a lock on the door of the home office or in the short term putting a door under the handle. If he's having a hard time adjusting I do feel for him but that would do my box in!

Primproperpenny · 10/09/2023 22:40

Divorce!

Septemberlady · 10/09/2023 22:41

I feel almost sorry for him. He sounds rather lost. I suggest he tries volunteering.

Moonflower12 · 10/09/2023 22:42

I have a 200 acre wood behind our house. It is never disturbed. Nobody would ever find the body...

Swipe left for the next trending thread