Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband's disgusting habits

101 replies

ToastofLandon · 18/05/2024 22:20

I've been with my husband for 20 years. We have a 10 year old and for the most part we've had a great relationship. He really is my best friend. I don't know if he's getting more gross with age or I'm getting more intolerant in my perimenopausal age, but he's starting to really gross me out and I'm losing attraction for him fast.

He's some recent things I've noticed him doing over the past year:

  • Hands always down his trousers. The bathroom is littered with pubes but now all around the house. I've found a pube on the water jug in the fridge and even once on my plate.
  • Rubs his nose then doesn't wash his hands. He's got a lot of allergies so itches his nose a lot. I have to tell him to wash his hands or he doesn't do it.
  • Shit stain in the bed. This has only happened once, but it's once too many.
  • He sneezed phlegm onto his arm and then licked it up. Yes, I'm serious.

I've pulled him up on this many times and he just days "I'm a gross man, what do you expect".

He didn't used to be like this so I don't know what's happening. He gets defensive when I pull him up on it.

Other than that, we get on so well mostly. We share the load pretty equally, he's a great cook and terrific father. But I'm finding his habits hard to live. It's hard enough to keep the fire going after 20 years without this.

Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Anyone else relate?

OP posts:
Lurkingandlearning · 18/05/2024 22:27

No of course you aren’t being unreasonable. What you’ve described is nasty.

With those things in mind I don’t think I would be able to enjoy his great cooking.

Grazyna80 · 18/05/2024 22:35

Oh dear. You guys seem to have a good relationship apart from the grossness, so seriously taking to him might help. He might not realise how much it bothers you and puts you off him .We all bit nasty sometimes but this is ugh . Tell him that you can’t look at him in the same way when he’s being disgusting . My ex boyfriend used to didn’t flash his toilet properly after his morning crap and left for work leaving me to use bathroom after that . Bastard . I screamed at him and got him to clean out the entire bathroom. Tell your husband to clean up his pubes ! Yanbu !

Posithor · 18/05/2024 22:49

Mine keeps hacking up phlegm into my kitchen sink and honestly it makes me feel physically sick. Absolute hard relate from me.

ToastofLandon · 19/05/2024 12:33

Posithor · 18/05/2024 22:49

Mine keeps hacking up phlegm into my kitchen sink and honestly it makes me feel physically sick. Absolute hard relate from me.

solidarity 🫡💪

OP posts:
hattie43 · 19/05/2024 12:34

I'm sorry but that's vile

Nanny0gg · 19/05/2024 12:36

ToastofLandon · 18/05/2024 22:20

I've been with my husband for 20 years. We have a 10 year old and for the most part we've had a great relationship. He really is my best friend. I don't know if he's getting more gross with age or I'm getting more intolerant in my perimenopausal age, but he's starting to really gross me out and I'm losing attraction for him fast.

He's some recent things I've noticed him doing over the past year:

  • Hands always down his trousers. The bathroom is littered with pubes but now all around the house. I've found a pube on the water jug in the fridge and even once on my plate.
  • Rubs his nose then doesn't wash his hands. He's got a lot of allergies so itches his nose a lot. I have to tell him to wash his hands or he doesn't do it.
  • Shit stain in the bed. This has only happened once, but it's once too many.
  • He sneezed phlegm onto his arm and then licked it up. Yes, I'm serious.

I've pulled him up on this many times and he just days "I'm a gross man, what do you expect".

He didn't used to be like this so I don't know what's happening. He gets defensive when I pull him up on it.

Other than that, we get on so well mostly. We share the load pretty equally, he's a great cook and terrific father. But I'm finding his habits hard to live. It's hard enough to keep the fire going after 20 years without this.

Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Anyone else relate?

Is he the same in public? Or just for you?

Does your DC notice or copy?

MrsMonzo · 19/05/2024 12:38

Oh god, nope. That would be divorce for me, the thought of him licking up his snotty phlegm has turned my stomach 🤢

Deathbyfluffy · 19/05/2024 12:40

That is vile - you need to have a chat with him and let him know you’re serious about it being unacceptable.

The ‘shit stain’ is the only one that is perhaps forgivable - if he was ill and didn’t know he’d done it in his sleep (be honest, we’ve probably all over-trusted a fart) then that’s not really his fault.

Did the same after a particularly bad flare up of as-then undiagnosed intolerances, and while I was mortified I really couldn’t help it.

SneezedToothOut · 19/05/2024 12:40

I've pulled him up on this many times and he just days "I'm a gross man, what do you expect".

Next time he wants sex, tell him you don’t sleep with gross men.

you don’t kiss men that swallow phlegm.

collect up the pubes and put them on his pillow/garnish his dinner with them.

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 19/05/2024 12:41

Deathbyfluffy · 19/05/2024 12:40

That is vile - you need to have a chat with him and let him know you’re serious about it being unacceptable.

The ‘shit stain’ is the only one that is perhaps forgivable - if he was ill and didn’t know he’d done it in his sleep (be honest, we’ve probably all over-trusted a fart) then that’s not really his fault.

Did the same after a particularly bad flare up of as-then undiagnosed intolerances, and while I was mortified I really couldn’t help it.

IMO, its been going on for so long, it will take time for him to change - disgusting behviour

betterangels · 19/05/2024 12:42

I've pulled him up on this many times and he just days "I'm a gross man, what do you expect".

"For you to have some fucking respect for me as a person and your wife and not leave your pubes all over the damn house."

I'm sorry, but I would lose my shit at his indifference.

Wanttolikekimchee · 19/05/2024 12:42

Totally disgusting. He has no respect for you or your family. How can you share a bed with him?

fieldsofbutterflies · 19/05/2024 12:44

Was he always like this? I couldn't live with someone who was this disgusting, let alone get to the stage of marriage and children. Bleurgh.

Allelbowsandtoes · 19/05/2024 12:46

I knew I shouldn't have opened this thread while I was earing my lunch.

Your husband is being absolutely rank ( and I say this as someone who isn't overly concerned about germs etc)

If I was finding pubes everywhere including on drinking implements and I had kids in the house I'd go absolutely mental.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/05/2024 12:47

🤮

MoleAndBadger · 19/05/2024 12:48

Raise your bar and leave him. Why on earth would anyone put up with this sort of behaviour from an adult.

S00tyandSweep · 19/05/2024 12:49

Have you thought about getting him one of those electric shock collar la they use on uncontrollable dogs?

Make him wear it every time he's in the house and zap him every time he does something gross.

If he's going to behave like an animal, treat him like one.

festivallove · 19/05/2024 12:52

Don't wish to be flippant but don't think I'd chance eating at yours even if he's a 'great cook'

BananaBender · 19/05/2024 12:55

This thread needs a trigger warning: may trigger a gag reflex. I was eating when I read it. Bad choice.

@ToastofLandon He’s fucking vile. What’s he doing in his pants? Playing with his genitals? Scratching? Warming his hands? I’m guessing he doesn’t wash his hands after they’ve been down his pants. Ask him if he needs a dermatologist or an STI check for whatever he’s scratching down there. That or suggest he gets waxed, full sac and crack, so you don’t find his disgusting pubes everywhere anymore. His nasal secretions and other mucus make me want to vomit. I’m not surprised you’ve lost attraction to him.

SauvignonBlonk · 19/05/2024 12:56

I feel sick.
Could not live with that- gross.

Wishimaywishimight · 19/05/2024 12:59

I wouldn't be eating anything he cooked for starters...

LifeExperience · 19/05/2024 13:00

Poor hygiene shows a lack of respect, and where there is no respect there can be no love.
You need to have a frank conversation.

5128gap · 19/05/2024 13:04

This behaviour needs hard correction the first time it happens well before it becomes a habit. So the very first time you see something gross you should react strongly and show your utter disgust. Never turn a blind eye or assume its a one off. I think your best bet now is to tell him straight that he makes you feel physically sick. Don't pull your punches. Dont let it become a half joke, yeah I'm a man fob off. No normal person is going to want to hear that from an intimate partner, so it should pull him up.
If it doesn't you may have to accept that your husband doesn't care that he disgusts you, and decide what that means for your marriage.

jeaux90 · 19/05/2024 13:08

JFC I would absolutely not stay with someone that gross

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 19/05/2024 13:19

Does he do these things at work or when out shopping?

Swipe left for the next trending thread