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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Absolutely fed up with dh

155 replies

fusspot25 · 20/02/2024 22:06

Ugh. Just annoyed with him. He is becoming a real grumpy old man and it shows. (There is a 10 year age gap which I never viewed as a problem up until recently).

He is great in the house. Cooks, cleans, helps with the kids even though I'm still very much the default parent. He's generous with money. But my god is he dull. He has no drive to do anything or go anywhere. He would never think of planning a holiday or a family day out. He doesn't socialise with friends, only leaves the house for a work and to walk the dog.

He's easily irritated by the dc - mostly my tween son from a previous marriage. He's kind and generous to him (we've been together since ds was 4 so we are a family) but he has no patience with typical teenage attitude or silliness. Ds was just messing around before bed, talking in a daft voice and dh sits there sighing and rolling his eyes.

Then because we can't agree what to watch on tv he goes in a mood. I honestly can't cope with his grumpiness and lack of desire to do anything. I sometimes think about how nice it would be to live alone (we both wfh so are probably together way too much as well).

Objectively I know he's a good man. And I know we are in the tough stages of parenting (with no help so no breaks), work, chores and very little time for each other. But i just dont know if our personalities are compatible anymore. He isnt pleasant to be around at times. He is good practically but there is no romance, just moodiness and rows over the telly. How do you know when enough is enough? I couldnt cope on my own financially and we really do rely on each other in order to work too. But when our shared dc is older i really dont know if this is the life i want forever. Sorry for the rant. Am i expecting too much?

OP posts:
Skodacool · 25/02/2024 12:10

He’s 50, crikey I dread to think what he’ll be like when he’s 70!

Mesoavocado · 25/02/2024 19:01

Are you in fact married to my DH? We have a larger age gap but he is King of grumpy town.

I frequently go out with different groups of friends. I’m not going to sit around waiting for him to make plans or be interested in anything I want to do

Broodywuz · 25/02/2024 19:53

Bearwithsorehead · 24/02/2024 14:41

Just to say, this might not be yo do with the age gap and just be personalities. I don't think you can generalise that everyone in their 40s goes out and is more fun than everyone in their 50s x

I don't think it's the age gap as such as in when they hit 40 they're grumpy. What I think I'm coming to understand, in a lot of cases is it's the personality/mentality of these men who when they're in their 30's have to be with woman I'm their early 20's because they're too selfish/self centred or not mature enough to have a relationship with someone their own age and as the woman then matures and hits her 30's, she realises she's stuck with a selfish, grumpy man child.

Kosenrufugirl · 27/02/2024 06:14

fusspot25 · 24/02/2024 08:29

So many replies, thank you again for the advice and solidarity for those with similar grumpy old men!

I've said this before but he wasn't like this at the beginning. He would organise weekends away when my older dc was at his dads. Meals. Nights out. When I look back I'm not convinced that he actually wanted to do this but he certainly made more of an effort to keep me happy and entertained for want of a better word. Over time things died down. I feel like during Covid he actually enjoyed the fact we couldn't go out and since then he's never been bothered. Of course then we had our toddler and were in a position where going out really does require a lot of effort and planning and that's his go-to excuse now.

There is literally no reason why he couldn't go out with friends. I've asked him time and time again to organise something but he won't. Truth be told he hasn't really got any friendships now because like many men he's just let them slide. He seems content with being home all the time. Which is ok, some people are homebodies. But it's dull and stifling and as much as I try to get out when I can, it's never with him.

I know a woman who divorced her dull and boring husband of 20 years over a hot man. The hot man grew tired of this woman within a year. She is now single, put on a lot of weight and her teenagers don't speak to her. I would say get yourself some girlfriends or hobbies. Yes your husband is no fun. However you have a secure base to come home to. Additionally if you stop focusing on his shortcomings he might liven up.

Jacesmum1977 · 03/03/2024 20:45

Sounds like manopause.
I suggest that he sees a GP and has blood tests done, maybe he needs a testosterone boost of sorts.
He does sound like he’s depressed from how you describe him, I hope some day he sees it in him and does something positive about it.
Sorry I don’t have any more helpful advice but life is short to be unhappy.
Try and tell him diplomatically how you feel. Be honest with him. Good luck x

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