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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:
wereonthemarket · 06/10/2023 09:57

That is not a friend. Unfriend her!

TheFormidableMrsC · 06/10/2023 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Oh I do, I know somebody just like OP's friend whose paranoia knows no bounds due to her marriage starting as an affair. Insecure, absolutely obsessed with getting one over on the ex wife and very opinionated on other people's marriages. She's a twat, frankly.

BadBarry · 06/10/2023 09:58

I can't even fathom their thought processes, I would ignore them completely.

IncognitoMam · 06/10/2023 09:59

They're not friends. Get new friends.

junebirthdaygirl · 06/10/2023 09:59

I absolutely do not understand discussing any of this with your friends..Two friends! My friends have no idea what l feed dh and couldn't care less.

Wordsmithery · 06/10/2023 09:59

I rather suspect she's jealous.

You're in a partnership where you work together and are both happy with the arrangements. She, meanwhile, has discovered that life with her poached-from-another-woman husband is like living in a 50s time warp that she can't escape.

Tell her to do one, and get on and enjoy your life.

SmileyClare · 06/10/2023 10:03

I would have lost respect for her (and her opinion) when she started shagging a married man.

You don’t have to justify yourself on here!

I mean you know you’re not in the wrong don’t you?

IAmHeartless · 06/10/2023 10:03

Friend is batshit and terrified she will lose her catch of a man and is projecting onto you.

DarkWingDuck · 06/10/2023 10:03

These women are batshit. Marriage is not about one day or one meal it’s about equal effort over months and years. As long as each one feels appreciated and communication over who does what is good then it’s all good. I’m sorry for your friend and her paranoia about being left, that must be a very stressful way to live.

Thepeopleversuswork · 06/10/2023 10:04

She's a wannabe trad wife.
I thought you were going to post that she'd had a go at him for not doing more childcare/domestic work. What a specimen she is.
Why on earth are you even friends with someone like this, let alone giving headspace to their views on your (perfectly normal) marriage?

Pottedpalm · 06/10/2023 10:04

Wordsmithery · 06/10/2023 09:59

I rather suspect she's jealous.

You're in a partnership where you work together and are both happy with the arrangements. She, meanwhile, has discovered that life with her poached-from-another-woman husband is like living in a 50s time warp that she can't escape.

Tell her to do one, and get on and enjoy your life.

This.

StarlightLime · 06/10/2023 10:05

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.

RowenaEllis · 06/10/2023 10:05

Who are these women who a) know the boring detail of who does what and what you cook for dinner and b) care enough to share their opinions?
You need better friends but you also need something more interesting to talk about.

Hbh17 · 06/10/2023 10:05

Has your friend travelled in time from the 1950s, OP? There was nothing wrong with your dinner, and no doubt your husband appreciated having a meal made. But it is NOT solely a wife's job to cook and clean, especially not to "keep a man". You organise your life however you like, and maybe find some nicer friends!

MrsElsa · 06/10/2023 10:06

She's trying to justify her own choices no doubt. Unhinged

stayathomer · 06/10/2023 10:07

The 1% person is either your 'friend' or they hit 'yabu' by mistake! I'm astounded but then I'm not-I always remember when Hilary Clinton was running a lady being interviewed who said it was a travesty that this woman wasn't supporting her husband and staying home like a good wife should. I couldn't believe people like that still existed

Cowlover89 · 06/10/2023 10:08

You are definitely not in the wrong. Fuck off those bitches

Heyheyitsanotherday · 06/10/2023 10:10

I’m angry on your behalf! What a stupid friend with stupid outlook. Totally agree with you!

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 06/10/2023 10:10

You need new friends. My husband is working a 12-hour day today, I had the day off. I went to the beach (not in the UK), met a friend for lunch and we are having a takeaway for tea. My husband won't bat an eyelid, as it happens vice versa too.

Iknowthis1 · 06/10/2023 10:10

Of course you're not BU. You need to find friends that you have more in common with.

Ozgirl75 · 06/10/2023 10:12

Ha, my DH loves it when I make “low quality” meals like that 😄
If a man’s going to stray, he’ll stray, however many nice meals she cooks.

DamnUserName21 · 06/10/2023 10:13

YANBU.
Your 'friend' is an unsupportive knob!

You worked all day, in and out of the home, plus cooked a decent dinner. Your husband had it easier just being able to focus on his work and not have to manage child and chores.

Agree with PP, well done for standing up for yourself.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 10:13

I don't think you did anything wrong but she's not wrong that there are women who will do the whole putting the man first. I've seen 2 relationships break down where the man has gone off with a subservient women, depressing.

panelbottle · 06/10/2023 10:14

she's also incredibly insecure so is projecting

NotsurewhatBarrywasonabout · 06/10/2023 10:14

Your life sounds balanced and healthy, you friend’s not do much.