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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being unreasonable to think this is actually quite rude?

28 replies

BuyWhichHouse · 06/01/2026 16:50

Whenever I get a rare hour to myself and start doing something I genuinely enjoy (reading, painting my nails, watching something just for me), my husband suddenly decides that now is the time for “a quick chat”.

It’s never urgent. It’s not a crisis. It’s just commentary — something he’s read, something he’s thinking about, or a “have you got a minute?” that somehow turns into 20.

If I say I’m in the middle of something, he looks a bit wounded and says he just wanted to talk to me, which then makes me feel unreasonable for wanting to finish what I’m doing.

If I don’t stop and engage, he later tells me I was being “distant” or “snappy”, even though I’d said at the time I was busy and would talk later.

What bothers me isn’t the talking — it’s the assumption that whatever I’m doing is automatically less important and should be paused. Especially as I would never interrupt him when he’s absorbed in something unless it really mattered.

Am I being unreasonable to think this is a boundaries/respect issue rather than just me being antisocial? Or is this just normal couple stuff and I need to relax?

OP posts:
cheeseonsofa · 06/01/2026 18:32

Mine is like this, he is ND
Just doesnt pick up the signals.
We agreed that I get the afternoons to myself and he goes off to do his hobby.
Its a feeling of burnout where you just want to relax.
He also chats during films and TV programmes as he isn't really watching.
To combat this,I hit pause and give him the look 👀

This is agreed between us and has improved things no end.

Springtimehere · 06/01/2026 18:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Cosyblankets · 06/01/2026 18:43

Bombinia · 06/01/2026 17:28

You don't think that being in the middle of reading a book is being busy?

Op yanbu, my DH does this to me and I tell him to go away. Usually I ask "is this urgent?" and he will admit it isn't, and so I tell him to go away as I'm busy.

Like i said it depends on how it was said and if they actually have time to speak to each other

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