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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I'm too boring for DH

504 replies

Wowserbowser88 · 06/02/2026 23:20

Not even sure where to start with this one

Dh has been off with me all week. Snappy, short answers to any questions and just not engaged at all.

He had a drink tonight and finally admitted that he thinks i'm too boring for him. Because I don't have many friends. Don't go out and when I do its usually with work friends.

He thinks I am a terrible friend because I don't have many so I must be.

I don't go to any clubs or activities etc and we don't go out at the weekend often.

Here's the thing.. we have 2 children (8 and 4.) Both work full time and up until a year ago he worked shifts (earlies/lates/nights) so I could never make plans as he was always on shift. Even now he often works shifts. tho less of them and has weeks where he is on call 24/7 so I can't do anything

He also goes to football most weekends all day on Saturday so i'm at home with kids and he may stay put in the pub after until late

He was away with work last week and said he sat in a hotel room just thinking how badly he'd messed up by marrying someone so boring

He seems to think people, even with young children are out socialising every weekend and we're not and the children will suffer because of it

OP posts:
Aphroditesangel · 08/02/2026 08:20

I’d be planning my escape if my dh said that to me. There is no way you can continue to be together after that devastating announcement.
Sort your finances out and get family or friend support if you can and get the fuck out of there. You will regret it if you don’t.

ourSusie · 08/02/2026 08:22

Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 07/02/2026 22:14

I actually understand where your DH is coming from. I’m sorry.

I love my DH and I think he’s wonderful, but he is boring. And I didn’t realise how boring until we were already married with dc. He has no friends. Literally, not one. He goes out to work and thats it. He loves football and watches it on tv every weekend. The only 2 people he texts are me and his dad.

I love going out. He will go out with me, to please me, because he’s lovely. But he’ll have 1 pint and then sit and nurse the second uncomfortably until it’s time to go home. He won’t get up and dance with me. He’ll play the puggy, go out for smokes, engage in small chat with me.

He’s funny, he makes me laugh, he’s my best friend. But I have other friends too. Sadly, I am his whole world. Because he is boring.

seems your DH feels the same

what does ‘play the puggy’ mean?

Holidaymodeon · 08/02/2026 08:29

pig

working9 · 08/02/2026 08:32

Okay… what does play the piggy mean?

ScrimMN · 08/02/2026 08:35

Ponoka7 · 06/02/2026 23:36

He's had his head turned. The men leave their wives and then realise that the woman who likes a good night out, isn't going to play housewife, like you do. Stop examining yourself, this is on him and whoever he's been tempted by, or whoever his mate is shagging and he now thinks he's got more getting offered on a plate, than he has at home. He's a fucking rat. You've supported his working pattern at a cost to yourself. Your kids will suffer because you aren't out on the piss? Is he offering to babysit?

absolutely this 👏👏👏

Coopee · 08/02/2026 08:45

ProfessionalTeaDrinker · 06/02/2026 23:27

You need to go back to him and say that you are really pleased he's noticed, you feel the same and are so grateful that he understands and will now be giving up his Saturday football so you can have the time to socialise while he watches the kids.....

This 🙏🫶💕🥰

bertomi · 08/02/2026 08:46

What a horrible man. How dare he sit in his hotel room thinking how could he have married someone so boring. He’s a prize twat.
What you are is a fabulous Mum who has supported her husband whilst he worked shifts and allowed him to be out watching football and then go to the pub til late …. Time to make some changes …. He needs a wake up call.

Owly11 · 08/02/2026 08:48

Wtaf? So because you look after the kids all the time to facilitate his lifestyle you are boring. The first thing to do is no football this weekend. Get up really early on Saturday morning and leave the house for a day out somewhere leaving him with the kids all day. Take sandwiches for lunch and eat dinner out. See an old friend. Get back at kids bedtime. If he asks you what the hell just tell him calmly that you agree with him that your life has become boring looking after kids all week and weekend and that you are going to change that from now on by leaving him in charge of the kids more often so that you can take up some hobbies and reconnect with old friends. And then follow through.

Blondiney · 08/02/2026 08:49

ByDreamyNavyDreamer · 06/02/2026 23:30

I would be looking for evidence he’s cheating. He’s looking for ways to blame you.

Absolutely this. Exact same scenario happened to a friend of mine, turns out he’d met a woman online dating, 30 years younger of course. 🙄

shhblackbag · 08/02/2026 08:50

You should go on holiday alone and leave him to parent his children.

Then call a divorce lawyer. More than likely he's fucking someone else. If they want to, they will find the time and opportunity.

Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 08/02/2026 09:09

ourSusie · 08/02/2026 08:22

what does ‘play the puggy’ mean?

As in a puggy machine

Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 08/02/2026 09:10

Thingscouldntgetanyworse · 08/02/2026 09:09

As in a puggy machine

“A "puggy machine" (or "puggie") is a Scottish term for a fruit machine, slot machine, or one-armed bandit commonly found in UK pubs, arcades, and clubs”

I had no idea the word was Scottish haha! But yes I am in Scotland. Curious what you English folk call them!

BountifulPantry · 08/02/2026 09:21

Ok just my opinion.

He’s trying to get you to end it so he’s « not the bad one for leaving ».

MrsHGWells · 08/02/2026 10:00

Your DH is a narcissist manchild and off loading his parenting responsibility to you as his second mother. His entitlement having every Saturday is a self indulgent luxury at you and your family expense. I presume DH is a write of on Sunday’s post hangover.

You are creating a stable home life for your children.. and probably don’t have a huge amount of energy left for yourself .. 4 and 8 are busy years and require routines.
I strongly suggest you book a few weekends away have been selected on TV show recording for the 1% club and its not negotiable on 3 Saturday’s just to piss DH off. And let him know this is what he wanted and you are doing this with your friends ..you give zero f@ks about his football.

GlomOfNit · 08/02/2026 10:03

I mean, why on earth would he think you WANTED to go out socialising with him after hearing that disgusting diatribe? Ignore all apologies, OP, he just showed you who he really is. And I do wonder, like half the commenters here, if he's already having an affair and already sees himself as disconnected from you, which enables him to be so vile to you and his family situation.

Go carefully, I think it sounds like he wants you to be the one to leave... and none of this is your fault whatsoever.

Laurmolonlabe · 08/02/2026 10:50

This is not a problem with you being boring, it's a problem with your husband being a bad husband- all day every Saturday and the pub? When is he spending any time with his kids-or you?
Your DH is clearly not happy in your marriage, but he is projecting it onto you so he is not to blame-but it is him who is dissatisfied, so it is his problem.
I would suggest counselling- how are you supposed to be super interesting and glamourous with a full time job and 2 children under 10 to look after-I'm amazed you find time for any friends.
It is normal not to socialise at all if you have young children- it sounds as if your DH is a child himself.

GallopingGirlie · 08/02/2026 11:19

Wowserbowser88 · 06/02/2026 23:20

Not even sure where to start with this one

Dh has been off with me all week. Snappy, short answers to any questions and just not engaged at all.

He had a drink tonight and finally admitted that he thinks i'm too boring for him. Because I don't have many friends. Don't go out and when I do its usually with work friends.

He thinks I am a terrible friend because I don't have many so I must be.

I don't go to any clubs or activities etc and we don't go out at the weekend often.

Here's the thing.. we have 2 children (8 and 4.) Both work full time and up until a year ago he worked shifts (earlies/lates/nights) so I could never make plans as he was always on shift. Even now he often works shifts. tho less of them and has weeks where he is on call 24/7 so I can't do anything

He also goes to football most weekends all day on Saturday so i'm at home with kids and he may stay put in the pub after until late

He was away with work last week and said he sat in a hotel room just thinking how badly he'd messed up by marrying someone so boring

He seems to think people, even with young children are out socialising every weekend and we're not and the children will suffer because of it

It's this a sudden change in his behaviour?

I hate to tell you this, but he's either got another woman on the go, or there's someone in his sights/something in the early stages.

This is classic cheating behaviour... putting you down and gaslighting to help him square his behaviour in his own mind, and shift the blame to you.

brightpinkchoc · 08/02/2026 12:15

This is one of the worst things men like this do to their partners. Cheating is one thing but it's the attempted demolition of a person mentally which is just horrific and damaging - all to support their bad behaviour. It's unforgivable.

TicTac80 · 08/02/2026 12:46

OP, I was a boring wife too. An absolutely fucking terrible wife, if you'd listened back then to the plaintive whinings of my then "D"H.

My crimes?
-wasn't "present enough" (I didn't have a "happy sexy party girl" sort of attitude) for "D"H.
-wasn't fun, was a killjoy.
-frumpy, and "never up for it" (sex)
-never relaxed or went out socialising.
-I was "always" working or doing housework, or focussed on the DC....never anything fun.

My reality (back then)?
I was working FT as a nurse. I was the breadwinner. I supported "D"H and two young DC (plus my DSS). I was juggling FT shift work (and often bank shifts), plus parenting, plus housework, plus trying to study (to progress in my work). "D"H was an alcoholic (and I found out later was also using a lot of drugs): he was gaslighting me into believing he was doing rehab/getting sober (either via AA etc or even the private residential rehab I paid for him to go to) or job hunting, or doing stuff around the house. It was all lies. I'd come home from a 13hr shift to find the house in a state, the kids not fed and ready for bed etc. I couldn't make any plans as he would wreck them (either by going AWOL - on benders as I found out later), or take to his bed (due to come downs, as I found out later). I'd sometimes wake up early (to get ready for work) and find he had gone AWOL at night and I had to scramble for someone to have the kids until school/nursery drop off. Our mutual friends would tell him about events (expecting him to let me know, and expecting him to try and sort babysitting so we could go as a couple): he wouldn't bother telling me, or sorting babysitting, and would show up and tell them I couldn't be bothered to go/was too busy working (that all came out in the wash at the end), or not to bother messaging me as I was busy at work. You never knew from day to day what antics he would get up to next. Yet I was the "boring" awful wife.

Not really a surprise that I was so fucking "boring" and awful, eh? I was literally trying to firefight each bloody day and keep treading water. So no energy for anything else, and it really is amazing (not!) what a passion killer and contempt builder it is to have a husband that behaves in such a way.

One day (after lurking here and reading many wonderful posts of advice from others), I got my lightbulb moment, reinforced my boundaries and stuck with them (he never thought I'd get to the point where I said "enough's enough"). We separated (so he could get sober etc/work on marriage - it was a final chance). I then found out about his OW and filed for divorce. Mutual friends found out all the shit he pulled (and about OW) and dropped him (they're all still friends with me). I have the best life now: still single, still working FT and solo parenting the DC. But it's bloody wonderful: me and the DC have fun, go places and have a happy/peaceful home.

XH and OW didn't last more than another 4 or 5 months. He still says to this day that the way he treated me was the biggest mistake of his life. These men don't know how lucky they are to have us....until they don't. After all the fun times and partying is done, what have they got?

I'm sorry he's treating you like this. I know how it feels. All I'll say is quietly take stock of situation and get an idea of logistics, finances etc etc. You don't have to do anything with it, but it's good to have the information. Don't tell him. Figure out YOUR boundaries and stick with them. Go and enjoy your time away with the kids. Also, reduce your mental load by stopping doing some boring things: his laundry etc. I also used to do small things for self care for myself, even if I couldn't get out of the house: a small box of posh chocs, curl up with a book in bed, a face mask, doing an exercise video at home. Easy stuff that made me feel better about myself :)

Moulez · 08/02/2026 13:11

hey @Wowserbowser88
hope you're out alone today

Littlejellyuk · 08/02/2026 15:16

I'm sorry your husband is such a cunt 😠
You deserve better.
Only you can make the hard choices.
💐

catlover123456789 · 08/02/2026 17:56

Sounds like now is the time to take up a bunch of hobbies and leave him to mind the kids while you're out. He sounds like a dick.

San8 · 08/02/2026 19:32

Good you are getting lots of support here. Remember though that this has nothing to do with you it’s just his attitude to you as a person and his attitude to his children and family life in general. Without you and the children he would be a sad soak out working the week and out on the piss at the weekend. He seems to value neither you nor time spent with his children. You are all better off without him.

Jamba0 · 09/02/2026 12:46

Men are cunts. That's the reality. I wish women focused more on building their own careers and prepared for their future, than focus on finding some useless man that makes their life miserable. Very few are happy in their relationships. Besides, men have always told me the only reason they marry is for sex. They expect they won't have to chase for it and get it any time, any day, any moment.

CarrierbagsAndPJs · 09/02/2026 21:21

Wowserbowser88 · 07/02/2026 18:23

I'm now looking at somewhere to go during half term. I have the week off as there is obviously no possibility of him taking any of it off

So trying to find somewhere just me and the kids for a few days for some space for all of us.

Great idea. Do you have ring doorbells?

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