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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH threw sentimental toys away

256 replies

VSadMum · 15/06/2024 19:16

My DH has an issue with throwing things away without speaking to me first. If he tidies up in our house he just bins stuff without checking it first. He’s binned my passport and other important documents before now. He promised me that he would stop doing that. God forbid if I threw away so much as a paper clip that belonged to him.

About a month ago our 3 y/o DS got hold of a sharpie and you can imagine, he drew on a lot of his toys. He also drew on some toys that had belonged to my older son (21 y/o) that had been passed onto him. I read up that acetone can remove sharpie and put the toys and stuffed toys into bags in the downstairs shower room that we use for storage. I specifically told my DH that I was going to try and get the sharpie off. I’ve been busy, we’ve been on holiday etc and I have two young children who I look after, I hadn’t got round to cleaning the toys up.

There was also a sweet little bear made up of fabrics from clothes I bought for a baby I later miscarried. I liked that my subsequent children played with that bear. I imagined my grandchildren playing with those toys and that bear one day. I wanted to clean it without destroying it so I’ve been looking online for how to do it, so yes, a month later it was still all sitting there, not in the way or anything.

So today I found out he just took it all to the tip. It’s the sentimental value of some of these toys I am most upset about, especially the bear. I can’t replace them. If I had wanted them binned I would have done it myself in the first place. He didn’t ask me about it, or tell me he was going to do it. He told me afterwards. I am very upset, particularly about the toys that belonged to my older son and the bear. (Not his son) They were all really nice wooden toys, a train set, stacking toys etc. there was nothing wrong with them except some sharpie on them. They were quite old and the sort of things I wanted to keep.

He said he did me a favour going to the tip (I asked him to take some stuff from the garden) and I had no right to be mad with him and now he’s sulking. I’ve asked him time and time again to stop just throwing things away. He’s forever binning my things, because he’s decided I don’t need them or it’s rubbish and he always says it’s “accident.” He can’t understand why I’m upset. I’m very upset and mad because he KNEW that I wanted to clean them up. He’s acting like I’m being silly and unreasonable, I don’t think I am. I keep imagine all those well loved little toys sitting in a skip and I’m genuinely so, so upset. I genuinely believe he did it on purpose, as he’s now saying it was accidental. How can it be accidental?

Am I making a big fuss about nothing?

OP posts:
EsmeSusanOgg · 15/06/2024 20:03

OP this is not an accident. He did this knowing it would hurt you. And he never throws away his own things. Think on that.

WhatsMyEmail · 15/06/2024 20:12

I'm a complete anti-horder and will throw anyway anything not nailed down, but I wouldn't get rid of anything in a communal area of the house without discussing it with my husband (and checking with my children that none of it was theirs).

I might give a deadline before disposal (we have to book our tip in advance), but everyone would be aware and have plenty of time to remove items. I would never do it slyly or without discussion.

I would be seriously looking at ending my marriage as I couldn't live with someone who cared so little about upsetting me. I would be mortified if I got rid of something that was sentimental to someone else.

YankSplaining · 15/06/2024 20:22

That’s just heinous behavior. The sheer insensitivity and disregard would be a dealbreaker for me.

ButtonsB · 15/06/2024 20:44

I couldn't be married to such a deliberately selfish prick who couldn't care less about you, your feelings, your wishes, nor your possessions.
He's an absolute prick.
I am so sorry.
Completely unforgivable.

Absolutely deliberate and abusive, covertly.
This is a really bad man.
Womans aid asap.

DeedlessIndeed · 15/06/2024 20:51

What an absolute cunt. Unless he changed his tune sharpish and started grovelling for an apology I'd tell him to fuck off and out of my life.

Mum2jenny · 15/06/2024 20:53

Bin your husband, rather than the toys.

bergamotorange · 15/06/2024 21:01

I just want to acknowledge your feelings, you are not overreacting, this is really dreadful Flowers

ThunderQween · 15/06/2024 21:02

That is unforgivable and I know it sounds a little silly as it's a bear but it's not just a bear and I'd divorce him

sprigatito · 15/06/2024 21:07

Inkyblue123 · 15/06/2024 19:31

I’m so sorry he did that. Although I have to admit if my OH leaves stuff lying around, I ask once, I ask twice for it to be put away and then I bin it without another word. If it’s important stuff, put it away. Do you really think he did it out of spite or becouse he can’t bear to have junk lying all over the place?

Are you serious? That's appalling. Isn't your DH an equal adult in the house? What right do you have to bin his belongings in his own home?

RainbowWoman · 15/06/2024 21:09

@Inkyblue123 That’s abuse in my book. No one should have to live in fear of their things being thrown out in their own home.

Staringatthewalljustmeagain · 15/06/2024 21:10

He did that deliberately. He’s enjoying your pain and enjoying the chance to belittle you for it.

Let that sink in.

If it was me, I’d get that vile prick out of my home and life.

LeaveTheClocksAlone · 15/06/2024 21:12

DeedlessIndeed · 15/06/2024 20:51

What an absolute cunt. Unless he changed his tune sharpish and started grovelling for an apology I'd tell him to fuck off and out of my life.

This. Tbh even with an apology I don't think I could get past this and I'm not usually in the "LTB" club as it isn't always that straightforward. But I couldn't forgive such cruelty.

ZellyFitzgerald · 15/06/2024 21:14

My husband did this.

He decided to be 'helpful' one day while I was at work and cleared my daughter's room of toys. This included an old doll of mine that I had given her for her first Christmas.

I was devastated and luckily managed to get it back after contacting the lady he sold it to from Facebook.

I then cleared out his clothes and took them to a charity shop including a really shitty 90s hat that he had kept for sentimental value. By the time he got to the charity shop they had surprisingly sold it.

Yeah he learned his lesson, nothing ever leaves our house without being checked by me first.

JT69 · 15/06/2024 21:15

Go to the tip - the guys there are usually super helpful if you can identify which skip maybe and explain. So sorry OP ,I’d be devastated.

AFmammaG · 15/06/2024 21:15

He did it before and you forgave him. You forgive him again and he’ll do it again. Your choice.

fiftyandfat · 15/06/2024 21:15

Of course he did it on purpose.

IncognitoUsername · 15/06/2024 21:19

The number of people on here suggesting that you throw away something of his is worrying. Is this sort of tit for tat relationship common? Stooping to his level seems childish.
Either forgive him and move on, or leave him and move on.

Boating123 · 15/06/2024 21:21

I agree with everyone else, but if I was with someone who had form for throwing wanted stuff away I would always check what he is taking to the tip, before he goes.

Dramatic · 15/06/2024 21:26

I'm with everyone else, he did this on purpose. The fact that he knows he's thrown out really important things of yours in the past should mean that he double and triple checks with you before he throws something in the tip.

I highly doubt the passport was an accident either. This is a form of control and abuse, his reaction just confirms it.

I'm a bit of a hoarder and my DH is the opposite, he'd chuck out everything and anything he could. However, he would never dream of doing this, in fact he bought me some decent boxes to put all my sentimental items in so they'd be neat and tidy and wouldn't get ruined/dusty, don't put up with this shitty man any longer

AthenaBasil · 15/06/2024 21:27

He’s horrible! I’d hate that. It’s so intrusive.

SOxon · 15/06/2024 21:32

IncognitoUsername · 15/06/2024 21:19

The number of people on here suggesting that you throw away something of his is worrying. Is this sort of tit for tat relationship common? Stooping to his level seems childish.
Either forgive him and move on, or leave him and move on.

also provocative, antagonistic, harmful and potentially dangerous

Alainlechat · 15/06/2024 21:33

@sprigatito exactly. I have experience of this.. one partner seeing my stuff lying round as junk to be moved.. not so much their own stuff lying around in equal measure. Infuriating.

PearlJoker · 15/06/2024 21:39

This is 100% abusive, I don’t believe the passport was an acsident either, exactly as someone else said he doesn’t ever seem to throw, his own things away and only he seems to specifically choose things that mean a lot to you to “acsidentaly” throw out I bet he was over the moon to see you panic about losing your passport and than I assume miss out on some opportunity because you did not have it and than he gets to swoop in and save the day by buying you a new one. I would suggest privately don’t tell him seeking a therapist to get some perspective and decide you future. Your post made me so angry for you and I hope that you will find peace and a better future without someone like this.

Iaskedyouthrice · 15/06/2024 21:49

Also agree this was absolutely intentional.
Please do go to the tip first thing if you want these soft toys back @VSadMum they will do their best to help you if you explain. You need to go when it opens though. Any obstacles he puts in your way, jump over them. Won't watch your child? Take child with you or see if someone can watch him for an hour while you are at the tip.
Good luck

Soñando25 · 15/06/2024 21:50

Oh I'd be devastated too, especially about the bear 💔I don't think I'd be able to get past this to be honest.,
I agree with others who've suggested going to ask at the tip tomorrow. You just never know and the guys who work at ours are very nice and would try to help I'm sure.
Sorry this has happened.