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.

Living with a partner who is used to SAHM / homemaker dynamic

854 replies

glensof · 24/01/2025 17:08

Moved in together with a partner (6 months ago), and need advice.

Our relationship is brilliant in all respects, apart from one: he does absolutely zero "housework" of any sorts. Not only physical things (dishes, laundry, cooking, minor diy and such), but also no "mental load" of any sorts (doctor's appointments, bills, insurance, subscriptions - all his own). His level of competence in domestic duties / life admin is roughly at the level of a pre-schooler - I am serious.

All his previous partners / wives have been 100% homemakers (whether there were children in the relationship or not), and he doesn't have much experience living on his own, or with a woman who has to work for a living. He's been exceptionally financially successful in the past so it was no issue at all, but now his circumstances have changed quite dramatically and it is no longer the case.

I am the only breadwinner now, and it started to annoy me that after a long stressful work day I have a second shift picking his socks from the floor and collecting dishes / mugs from the house. We discussed it openly and he does fully understand where I am coming from, and is very apologetic. If I ask him explicitly to do something, he will do with absolutely no complaints - but I just can't constantly micromanage an adult to this level ("go and pick up your socks first darling, and then we'll discuss current affairs and geopolitics"). I feel like a nagging shallow bitch so I just do it myself. His problem is that he can't immediately unlearn nearly 40 years of previous coupled life - he's used to socks and mugs magically disappearing, the car somehow always being fully charged just when he needs it, fairies delivering a delicious dinner straight to the table each night and dentist appointments in his calendar just popping up when the time comes. He genuinely just doesn't see these tasks, understand how long they take or how frequently they need to be done - they don't even register with him as "something that needs to be done for my comfort by someone".

I love him to bits and I really, really want this to work. There's so much that is right about him, and I want this to be the last relationship in my life (in a good way). This post is not to complain, but genuinely to seek advice on how to fix the situation. I am quite a messy creature myself, and have a higher than average tolerance to domestic chaos - but it now started getting even to me, and I was a bit snappy several times.

OP posts:
Clychaugog · 10/09/2025 16:58

Make a chart with daily chores and give him a sticker for each completed. If he's earned enough stickers at the end of the week, he can stay in the house. Otherwise, boot the manchild out.

Valeriekat · 10/09/2025 18:51

you are the nurse with a purse

Shubbypubby · 11/09/2025 20:08

The relationship is brilliant? He brings in no money, does no housework and doesn’t do any life admin? He must be good in bed because I’m failing to see the attraction TBH.

Laura95167 · 11/09/2025 20:17

glensof · 24/01/2025 17:13

No, not in all respects. This one aspect is clearly not brilliant - that's why I am trying to understand how to work on it and fix it.

Why are YOU trying to understand this and fix it? Its not your problem.

Id pick up the things he leaves and bag them so I didnt have to look at the mess. I would NOT wash them. I would NOT make his appointments. I would not cook his tea. Let him figure our why hes hungry and smelly.

Also stop making excuses, I dont believe he went from living with this ex to living with you? How did he manage then? Because if he was dirty and smelly from being unable to figure out washing and cooking you wouldnt have fancied him. Stop letting this weaponised incompetence continue

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread