Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I expecting too much?

35 replies

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 18:49

My husband works long hours, 11am till 11pm. He had two days off a week, one whole day to himself where kids are at school and nursery and I’m at work, and one day where he has toddler home.

I don’t feel our chores are split evenly. He does the laundry and bins but I essentially do everything else. I also work full time, 9-5 but my two days off are on my own with the kids so I don’t get as much done as I would like.

Today’s his day off by himself. I don’t begrudge him this, and I certainly encourage him to do stuff he wants to do as his mental health got very bad a year ago. However he has done literally nothing. I’ve come home from work and yet again I have to do all the tidying and cleaning in the kitchen before I can start the kids dinner. He was asleep on the sofa. We fall out the time because I feel like such a mug.

He says that the house is not always tidy when he gets home from work but he doesn’t seem to think about the fact that I’m not at home all day doing fuck all so sometimes the house is a mess when he gets home because I’ve been at work all day, then had to come home, do dinner, bath the kids and get them to bed and sometimes I fall sleep with the toddler.

I just want him to pick up after himself or just consider me at all. The other night I asked if he could tidy up while I was putting toddler to bed. He said he wanted to sit down for 10 minutes. I knew full well he was going to fall asleep so I ended up having to do the tidying after putting the toddler to bed. He didn’t seem to understand hat if he had just spent 15 minutes having a quick whip around we could have both had a sit down and relax when I was done.

Aibu here? He makes me feel like I over react all the time and that it’s me that’s the problem. I don’t get any time to myself but I just think well, that’s just life when you’ve got young kids but he doesn’t seem able to accept that.

OP posts:
Sletty · 11/03/2024 18:56

I hear where you’re coming from but he’s working 60 hours a week? 5 days a week he does 12 hour shifts? I’d be really struggling if I was him tbh. And I’d also be really struggling in your shoes too OP. The whole situation sounds crap and totally exhausting - is there any tweaks to days or hours that could be looked at? Life is honestly too short for this shit

pootlin · 11/03/2024 18:58

He has 2 days off and does fuck all, that’s unacceptable.

OP, I would lose my shit.

For a start, stop cooking and doing his washing for him.

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:00

pootlin · 11/03/2024 18:58

He has 2 days off and does fuck all, that’s unacceptable.

OP, I would lose my shit.

For a start, stop cooking and doing his washing for him.

He does the laundry, but lets it pile up…

OP posts:
DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:01

Sletty · 11/03/2024 18:56

I hear where you’re coming from but he’s working 60 hours a week? 5 days a week he does 12 hour shifts? I’d be really struggling if I was him tbh. And I’d also be really struggling in your shoes too OP. The whole situation sounds crap and totally exhausting - is there any tweaks to days or hours that could be looked at? Life is honestly too short for this shit

He’s had the opportunity for other jobs but still hasn’t sorted his CV out or chased any leads.

OP posts:
JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:07

Why couldn't he have spent 15 mins having a whip around the next morning? Does it have to always be done there and then? He works 60 hours a week as well so it's not surprising he's falling asleep, he's basically barely in the home apart from his days off.

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:09

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:07

Why couldn't he have spent 15 mins having a whip around the next morning? Does it have to always be done there and then? He works 60 hours a week as well so it's not surprising he's falling asleep, he's basically barely in the home apart from his days off.

Because things needed doing ready for the morning. I also can’t just sit amongst mess like he can.

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 11/03/2024 19:18

60 hours is a lot, any chance you can get a cleaner?

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:20

But he can even if you can't. So maybe expectations need chatting through and a compromise. He works easily 20+ hours a week more than you.

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:21

ACynicalDad · 11/03/2024 19:18

60 hours is a lot, any chance you can get a cleaner?

No he won’t entertain it.

OP posts:
DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:21

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:20

But he can even if you can't. So maybe expectations need chatting through and a compromise. He works easily 20+ hours a week more than you.

Yes he does but he actually has more free time than I do.

OP posts:
Bananasandtoast · 11/03/2024 19:23

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:20

But he can even if you can't. So maybe expectations need chatting through and a compromise. He works easily 20+ hours a week more than you.

This logic is just straight up unacceptable in 2024 I'm afraid.
OP is getting barely any time to herself and he gets a full day every week!
Both people in a partnership should have equal down time.

Sletty · 11/03/2024 19:25

If you work 5 days a week 9 to 5 and he works 5 days a week 11am to 11pm something’s gotta give! Either the days and hours get tweaked or you have to outsource the tasks that neither of you have time for! Can neither of you reduce your hours? Sound’s totally crap and no way to live

TwilightSkies · 11/03/2024 19:26

Get a cleaner. I wouldn’t let him have a say in the matter.

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:27

Bananasandtoast · 11/03/2024 19:23

This logic is just straight up unacceptable in 2024 I'm afraid.
OP is getting barely any time to herself and he gets a full day every week!
Both people in a partnership should have equal down time.

What's unacceptable? The fact that they need to talk and compromise? OPs expectations sound really high, and her DH needs to up his game a little. Both compromising. I dont see anything wrong with that "I'm afraid".

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:28

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:21

No he won’t entertain it.

Why is it his choice? He would be getting told to get fucked if it's not him doing any of the cleaning.

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:28

Our finances are joint so an expense like a cleaner is a joint decision.

OP posts:
JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:29

But yet you're letting him decide....

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:30

Yeah I guess I am. I would probably just leave if I could tbh.

OP posts:
JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:32

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:30

Yeah I guess I am. I would probably just leave if I could tbh.

Maybe there's a lot more at play here than what you first posted about it just being the cleaning etc?

Bananasandtoast · 11/03/2024 19:32

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:27

What's unacceptable? The fact that they need to talk and compromise? OPs expectations sound really high, and her DH needs to up his game a little. Both compromising. I dont see anything wrong with that "I'm afraid".

The bullshit about him working more hours so just means he gets to sit on his bum and let OP continue to run around doing everything because she apparently doesn't deserve equal down time is unacceptable.
Thought I was pretty clear, apologies if I thought wrong.

Sletty · 11/03/2024 19:33

DarcyHargrove · 11/03/2024 19:28

Our finances are joint so an expense like a cleaner is a joint decision.

So why is he deciding?
Can you not pay cleaner out of your own money ?
Honestly you need to find some way through this. You’ve got a family together but are stressed out working long hours, can’t keep up with household tasks, you’ve no time to yourself, he can’t keep his eyes open …. Just a total disaster all round for both of you. You’re not wrong and he’s not right - it’s just a crap situation that will only get worse and could drive a wedge between you

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:34

Bananasandtoast · 11/03/2024 19:32

The bullshit about him working more hours so just means he gets to sit on his bum and let OP continue to run around doing everything because she apparently doesn't deserve equal down time is unacceptable.
Thought I was pretty clear, apologies if I thought wrong.

That's not what I said though was it. I said a compromise is needed. Yeah I also did say he works 20+ hours a week because he does.

Bananasandtoast · 11/03/2024 19:36

JadieC · 11/03/2024 19:34

That's not what I said though was it. I said a compromise is needed. Yeah I also did say he works 20+ hours a week because he does.

Running a home and looking after children is also work.

neverenoughplants · 11/03/2024 19:36

He couldn't work those hours if he didn't have you running around sorting out the kids, cooking, cleaning etc. I've worked similar hours in the past and yeah it's exhausting, but with the best will in the world, he can and should do more. He is getting all the benefit of a lovely family home and kids who are taken care of - but what are you getting? He's doing one job, you're doing two, and you don't even get any time to yourself. YANBU.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/03/2024 19:40

Everyone in a partnership should have equal child- and work-free time. You have none. He has a whole day.

Why can't you leave?

Swipe left for the next trending thread