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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:
Dakin · 07/10/2023 20:00

Aquamarine1029 · 06/10/2023 09:38

Stop talking to these batshit women.

This made me lol. So on the money.

Amie50 · 07/10/2023 20:02

She is just jealous that your husband wants to help and appreciates you.
She can fuck off and keep keeping house to keep her man.

BlueSky2023 · 07/10/2023 20:03

@muchalover

It won't stop her husband having another affair. That's what she's really worried about. She just wants you to be as anxious as she is

I agree with this, she is anxious and jealous that you have a healthy relationship where you can make a normal dinner for your husband and expect him to wash up afterwards without fear of him leaving.

You reap what you sow.

T1Dmama · 07/10/2023 20:04

UR 100% not U!

Just because your paid work finished before your husbands, your unpaid work did not, you continued to work after he stopped and cooked for him, him washing up HIS dishes means your relationship is made of mutual respect and is fair!
Your friend is a home wrecker and I wouldn’t even entertain having friends like her. Her and her partner are sexist pigs who clearly think women should work all day, then cook, clean and tidy away while DP snores on the sofa…
I agree with you… I’d rather be single than with a man like that.. she should mind her own business

GirlOfTudor · 07/10/2023 20:04

She sounds crazy. You're doing great!!

Whattheflipflap · 07/10/2023 20:11

As the old mumsnet addage says. Your mate is on glue

Cakeandcoffeea · 07/10/2023 20:13

Your friend is an utter bellend !

Sennelier1 · 07/10/2023 20:17

Your husband, your life, your family etc. If it works it's good, right? Nobody else's business!

Starssi · 07/10/2023 20:17

I think you should get yourself some new friends. You’re doing your “out of house job” as well as the job of taking care of your home and taking care of your child. Men who cheat will cheat regardless. If your husbands happy with your set up don’t listen to anyone else.

Nicky197449 · 07/10/2023 20:18

You are totally right to tell her to f off. I'd have said worse. Your husband is just as much responsible for the day to day stuff.
He lives there too and nothing wrong with a quick meal when you're tired.

As for A if she needs to work that hard to keep a man, instead of giving you advice she should look at her own situation and find a decent man and not to tar your husband with the same brush. She sounds very sad to me. Show home or not, he will leave her anyway eventually. Leopards don't change their spots.

Point out to her it's not another woman who's willing to put in effort he wants, its just another woman and he will again.

On a negative note it sounds like your hubby needs to make more effort to help you, not the other way around. You both work and it should all be halved. Your health will suffer if you don't slow down eventually my sweet x

Pclou45 · 07/10/2023 20:20

Sounds to me like she wishes your husband was hers. Well done.

AbbeyGailsParty · 07/10/2023 20:21

muchalover · 06/10/2023 09:40

It won't stop her husband having another affair. That's what she's really worried about. She just wants you to be as anxious as she is.

This. Exactly.

Iamnotabat · 07/10/2023 20:21

What goes on between a married couple behind closed doors is their concern and nobody else's.....telling her to f**k off was absolutely the thing to do!!!

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 07/10/2023 20:25

muchalover · 06/10/2023 09:40

It won't stop her husband having another affair. That's what she's really worried about. She just wants you to be as anxious as she is.

Yep, this.

Start distancing yourself from this craaaazy bitch, don't pay any attention to her stupid remarks.

Sounds like you and DH have a good working relationship and she probably doesn't.

Anon1979 · 07/10/2023 20:27

I'm going to.assume neither of these "friends" have kids.

RadoxRita · 07/10/2023 20:29

YANBU to be annoyed by your friend. Pretty misogynistic views there!
YABU to call that meal “nutritious” if you know anything about UPF.

DizzyBrunette1979 · 07/10/2023 20:35

She's a 'pick me'. These women are dangerous because they're not women's women and will throw you under the bus (or steal your husband).

Ssme92 · 07/10/2023 20:40

I would casually drop a link to this thread into the WhatsApp group and then leave the chat! 😂

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 07/10/2023 20:46

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 07/10/2023 20:25

Yep, this.

Start distancing yourself from this craaaazy bitch, don't pay any attention to her stupid remarks.

Sounds like you and DH have a good working relationship and she probably doesn't.

This.

And while I agree that every adult should ideally have some time to themselves without having to do mundane tasks, I hope that your DH does some general housework and prepares your evening meal on the days he isn't working midweek (provided he hasn't gone out for the day himself).

strawberry2017 · 07/10/2023 20:55

She would no longer be a friend of mine.
She's horrible to even think that. You did right telling her to fuck off

Lizzieee2727 · 07/10/2023 21:00

I'd be happy if my husband made me toast! In fact he made Chinese chicken curry tonight and it was bloody delightful.

Your friend sounds ridiculously paranoid and I'm completely on your side. You and your partner have a much more even load from the sounds of it.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 07/10/2023 21:00

This reminds me of a story in a book by Brené Brown called 'I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't)'.

I definitely recommend this book and in fact it would make an excellent passive-aggressive gift for her. It's about shame, and how it can motivate unhelpful behaviours. Such as being critical of other people. (It's clear you've already spotted where this is coming from...)

Pinkfluff76 · 07/10/2023 21:01

I wouldn’t be friends with her
Not only is she batshit and rude and yes it’s none of her business anyway but I don’t think I could be friends with someone who stole another woman’s husband

Dopejack · 07/10/2023 21:01

Frankly, any woman who thinks the way to a man's heart is through his stomach is aiming a little high... 😉

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 07/10/2023 21:04

I very much doubt she got him away from his wife with her cuisine