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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for telling my "friend" that my husband isn't her concern?

401 replies

Empressofall · 06/10/2023 09:35

100% believe I'm in the right here but you never know.
Context: My husband and I both work full time. Both have stressful jobs.
He has long shifts (10+ hours) but his days off can fall during the week when our child goes to daycare so he has actual time off to do as he pleases (it's just how his shifts work. No shade that our kid isnt at home with him. We still send him so we can keep his place and its fun for him) and I do not. I often bring work home and either work into the night or grab some time during baby's nap time. My "days off" are weekends where I'm 100% in charge of the house and our baby if my husband is working.
My husband is as hands on as he can be in the time that he has.
On to the issue: last night, he came home at around 7.30pm (late for him) and I'd already done grocery shop, laundry, bathtime, bedtime, cleaned the lounge etc. I was pretty tired.
I made dinner. I made breaded chicken (from frozen, like a Birds Eye packet), roasted garlic potatoes and salad. Not really a chore. But somewhat nutritious.
Husband was super grateful and ate it all up.
He then did the dishes.
I was chatting to my friend (let's call her A) about our day and she was appalled that I'd made my husband a "low effort and low quality dinner" and that "making him do the dishes after a long day at work was bitchy and unhelpful". Like... excuse me?! I also worked yesterday. And did 100% of the childcare/housework. I was exhausted. I didn't even ask him to do the dishes. He did them himself because he's an adult who knows how and when to wash dishes.
I told her this.
She told me not to be surprised when he finds someone willing to put more effort into the relationship. More context: A was involved with a married man who left his wife for her, citing that his wife didn't make enough effort. She's paranoid AF that he'll leave if she isn't 100% perfect. Their house is like a fucking show home and every meal is organic from scratch blah blah blah.
I got angry and told her that my husband isn't her concern, that if he leaves me because of a dinner then he's not much of a man. She then said ahe was only telling me "for your own good". I lost my sh1t and told her to f**k off.
Husband says I'm in the right. Another friend agrees with A that I should have put more effort into the meal and offered to do the dishes because husband worked a longer day than I did.
But the way I see it, we both worked so why is his job and work day more important than mine?

If anyone's wondering, I started work at 7am, finished at 3.30pm, did the grocery shop at 4.30pm (after commuting an hour), bathed baby at 6.40pm, put him to bed by 7.20pm and had 10mins to myself before husband came home. I started dinner as soon as he walked in.

Husband started work at 9.30am and got in at 7.30pm meaning he finished at 7pm.

Was I wrong to tell her this? Am I just lazy?
Edit: my husband never EVER expects me or even asks me to cook for him. We have VERY different tastes in food so we often just cook for ourselves because it's easier!

OP posts:
ScotsGirl48 · 07/10/2023 18:36

how was your friend able to get over to visit to make that comment since by the sounds of it she is chained to the house making sure that there isn’t a loose hair on the carpet & the steak is tenderised & cooked to perfection like at a 5* restaurant, my god who is she to say anything since she is extremely insecure in her relationship, she is more than likely jealous of your marriage because your husband is happy with a frozen chicken steak & doing the dishes whereas she already knows how easy her hubby leaves women if they let anything in the house & probably looks slip she knows his wondering eyes will go looking for wife no.3 lol

Genericusername3 · 07/10/2023 18:38

I really thought this was going to be about how your husband should give you some time to yourself.

From what I’ve read, in your husband you have a partner.

In A’s husband she has someone who clearly expects their “partner” to mother them. Not a healthy relationship dynamic.

My ex was a lazy POS who in his eyes I could never do enough for, he practically wanted me to mother him. It’s women like A (and your other friend) who perpetuate this expectation.

WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 07/10/2023 18:39

I’d tell her to do one And how our household works is non of her business.

I wouldn’t be keeping that kind of negativity in my life either.

Telling her to F off was too polite.

YADNBU

YouJustDoYou · 07/10/2023 18:41

She can fuck the fuck right off.

Pickleswell · 07/10/2023 18:41

She is projecting her own anxieties on to you. Plain and simple.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 07/10/2023 18:42

They are living in the 1950's and she is paranoid as you say as she was with a married man who left his wife as he said she did not do enough. That would put me right off any man if he said that about his wife. You both work and seem to have a good relationship and share housework, dinner etc.

She is batshit crazy and he will most likely also leave her and nothing to do with if a dinner on table or house clean just that he is a knob and she is a homewrecker. Relax when you can as you both have busy lives and well done for telling her to feck off as she was doing your head in. It is great that he just does things and you do not have to nag him which means he cares and respects you and you both value each other. You had an extremely busy day and if someone cooks the other should tidy up, basic manners.

Sarfar45 · 07/10/2023 18:44

Your friends are bonkers!

Julimia · 07/10/2023 18:48

You are in the right. Completely. Shes probably insanely jealous of the relationship you and hubby obviously have. Stick hold of hubby, dump friend.

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 07/10/2023 18:54

There is no need for you to justify any of this to 'friend' YANBU this was rude, inaccurate and generally just a dick thing to say.

winterchills · 07/10/2023 19:01

YANBU! Your friend is weird and sounds desperate!!

TheRealLilyMunster · 07/10/2023 19:05

You are 100% right, and she is absolutely not your friend.

caznjoe53 · 07/10/2023 19:09

The 1% that voted YABU what on earth planet are you on. This isn't the 1950s where you wait on him and warm his slippers. Your "friend " sounds like a crackpot

AmberMcAmber · 07/10/2023 19:14

Your “friend” is mental. Get rid of them.
you have stumbled across a husband who can also adult (as in the verb) and he responded appropriately to your efforts. I hope he does the same for you in his days off
but A is bonkers… yes he might find someone out there who is a sh@g-nanny or whatever the parlance is now BUT it’s highly unlikely that this person will also bring a full time salary to the table too…

Bcmbc · 07/10/2023 19:15

The 1% person telling you are wrong is currently texting from a basement.

Adam1630 · 07/10/2023 19:16

Stop justifying what you do to yourself. You and your husband are partners and its right and proper that he does his fair share. You cook, he washes up etc,

helloreindeer · 07/10/2023 19:18

sounds like your friend is taking care of a “baby” rather than “her husband”.

YANBU.

Serrina · 07/10/2023 19:21

YANBU. It's none of her business.

SharonEllis · 07/10/2023 19:28

Aquamarine1029 · 06/10/2023 09:38

Stop talking to these batshit women.

This!! Who are these crazy handmaidens? Who is bringing them up to think like this?

Idontcareboutthestateofmyhair · 07/10/2023 19:29

You sound really too intelligent and normal and reasonable to be friends with these mentalists. Kick them into touch and enjoy your lovely balanced life with your husband. ❤️

carchi · 07/10/2023 19:29

Sorry but you need to find some new friends that live in a modern society and are not stepford wives. By the way you should never have to explain how you and your husband conduct your relationship.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 07/10/2023 19:30

The likelihood is that he’ll cheat on her like he did with her with his last wife.
can’t say I’d be sympathetic to her too as she knew he was married.
I’d stay well clear

caringcarer · 07/10/2023 19:40

Her DH has cheated once so she knows he's not trustworthy and it probably kills her. You are not wrong and no reason at all your DH can't wash up. I'd avoid her she sounds nuts.

MariePaperRoses · 07/10/2023 19:43

Your domestic arrangement is between you and your husband.

The so called friend 'advice' is worthless.

elfies · 07/10/2023 19:53

Your marriage sounds a good healthy relationship , with give and take on both sides , Respect !!!

twinmum2007 · 07/10/2023 19:56

She's batsh*t. And out of order. None of her beeswax.

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