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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel hurt by my husband's list of faults?

460 replies

Timeforachange2026 · 21/06/2026 12:42

Dh and i have been on the rocks for a while. Had come to heads with a massive argument today and he decided to list all my faults during an argument. Below is the list

Don't pay him enough attention.
Don't mase him feel special enough
Am too soft with the kids
Am too boring. Don't have a social life (came up when he called me an awful wife, said I coukd be worse and be out drinking every night etc and he said ooh imagine if you had a social life)
Work too much (both work full time)
Put the kids before him
Put work before him
Don't do enough around the house (I do the washing, load/unload the dishwasher, do all school drop offs and majority of pick ups bar a few odd days. Also all household admin, bills, appointments etc.)
Never listen...this came from an argument where he was shouting upstairs to our eldest...I wasn't listening as it was a conversation between them and didn't hear my name mentioned...and he got thr hump that I didn't answer

In regards to making him feel special or pay enough attention, not sure what else he expects. We work full time, have two young children and various school activities. He finishes work earlier than me and moans i don't finish work at the time on my WFH days to spend time with him (i'm contracted to 5pm??)

Oh and I don't cook dinner enough.

If someone gave this as a lift of flaws...how would you feel

OP posts:
pinkfondu · 21/06/2026 16:07

How certain are you that he’s not getting undivided attention from someone else

NotTheMrMenAgain · 21/06/2026 16:08

Divorce him.

Live a happier life, without this copper-bottomed bell-end insulting you and dragging you down.

That is all.

BillieWiper · 21/06/2026 16:10

Summerhillsquare · 21/06/2026 13:00

He sounds selfish and unpleasant but you sound like a nice normal mum.

I think by the time contempt arrives the functional marriage is over anyway. All you need to consider is if you're staying in a disfunctional marriage.

I'd say it's more 'why?' than 'if'.

VoReason · 21/06/2026 16:11

Hadalifeonce · 21/06/2026 12:44

And this man is still breathing????

How is this comment OK?

nutbrownhare15 · 21/06/2026 16:14

I wouldn't be able to come back from this. And he calls you thick and stupid? Let him find out how much you do do once he's single and living on his own.

ToddlerFun7482i292 · 21/06/2026 16:15

Almost none of that is a "flaw". You not paying him attention, working too much etc, are facts / actions, not actual flaws. The fact you see them as personal flaws means your self esteem is very low. I only say this to emphasise that your starting point is not correct.

I dare say if you dumped his shitty arse, you would feel a lot better.

VoReason · 21/06/2026 16:15

If you want to leave, leave. But if you do want to work on the marriage, it's pretty clear he doesn't feel like he's special or important to you in any way. That's a soul crushing feeling for any spouse (husband or wife).

Honestly this feeling might be going both ways, so you both need to work on your marriage. But the number one obligation in a marriage is to make your OH feel like the most important person in your life. If you do want to continue, work on that.

Timeforachange2026 · 21/06/2026 16:17

So he will cook dinner 3 nights a week. The other nights I am either in the office so we have something quick. I cook on a sunday and one night we have swimming lessons.

He hoovers as he moans i don't do it well enough. I've been moaned at enough times even when I have tried to do it to his standards that I just don't now.

The bathrooms get a deep clean bybwhoever gets to them first (or last) at a weekend but there are usually comments made that I should be doing more as I wfh

I do the food shop. He will pop to the shop if we need a top up. I didn't order a food shop one week as a combination of his shifts changed and us being out meant there was no plan for the week and we got low on a few things - it was all my fault that I never went to the shop etc even though he was also perfectly capable

OP posts:
AfraidToRun · 21/06/2026 16:18

I had one like this, I was too boring but if I did anything I wasn't giving him enough attention, the way I yawned was stupid, if I achieved something it wasn't worth doing, if he did it was like he cured cancer, I was too distracting, I was ugly and didn't put in enough effort, when I did I looked like a slut etc etc etc

No-one should live like this, it's suffocating. It will not improve. How good would it be if he just stfu? Even better, how good would it be if he wasn't there and you could decide your own worth and build your own confidence? Bin the twat and make your own happiness with out him setting your self esteem on fire every 2 minutes...

FinallyHere · 21/06/2026 16:24

Other than providing you with a list of your so called faults, what does he do to make you feel special?

Ceramiq · 21/06/2026 16:25

Two problems here: your husband wants more of your time and exclusive attention (this is good! he loves you!) and you are legitimately way too busy to give it to him (very bad). Answer is to outsource some of the things that keep you so busy, either to him or to someone else.

JassyRadlett · 21/06/2026 16:27

Ceramiq · 21/06/2026 16:25

Two problems here: your husband wants more of your time and exclusive attention (this is good! he loves you!) and you are legitimately way too busy to give it to him (very bad). Answer is to outsource some of the things that keep you so busy, either to him or to someone else.

You don't see a husband calling his wife thick, stupid, useless etc over anodyne things as a problem?

Slowandsilentindifference · 21/06/2026 16:29

So why is he with you if you are so very dreadful?

Is this his list of excuses to leave? - I’ve experienced this and it’s deeply hurtful, cutting to the core.

The comments about you not paying him enough attention etc - imply you have all the responsibility for maintaining the relationship.

BravasPatatas · 21/06/2026 16:32

Ceramiq · 21/06/2026 16:25

Two problems here: your husband wants more of your time and exclusive attention (this is good! he loves you!) and you are legitimately way too busy to give it to him (very bad). Answer is to outsource some of the things that keep you so busy, either to him or to someone else.

Can I add a third problem?

He calls his wife ‘thick’ and ‘stupid’.

BleedinglyObvious · 21/06/2026 16:34

Ceramiq · 21/06/2026 16:25

Two problems here: your husband wants more of your time and exclusive attention (this is good! he loves you!) and you are legitimately way too busy to give it to him (very bad). Answer is to outsource some of the things that keep you so busy, either to him or to someone else.

Well he's got a funny way of showing it.
I'm not sure how calling someone "thick and stupid" is meant to endear you to someone.

Chefpig · 21/06/2026 16:35

GreenFootstool · 21/06/2026 12:44

Oh isn't he a poor wee sausage, neglected by his wife and not made to feel special 🙄.

Frankly I'd book myself onto a nice course I fancied, book a night out with my mates twice a week and leave the selfish prick to sulk at home as often as possible.

When they go low, we go high. Head up, tits out and suit yourself.

Love this! That's going to be my mantra...head up, tits out.

andthat · 21/06/2026 16:40

God @Timeforachange2026. What do you get out of this relationship?!

Seriously… what are the good points?

The person who is meant to love you the most hasn’t got a good thing to say about you. Why would you want to stay?!

HopeIsAScaryThing · 21/06/2026 16:41

He's being emotionally abusive and a prick.

If you worked in an office, you wouldn't be doing household chores. You're paid to work. Just because your office is 'at home' doesn't mean you're not working and can drop it to do household chores during working hours. Just like he can't.

Seriously. He sounds awful.

Vaxtable · 21/06/2026 16:43

I would provide him with a list of what’s wrong with him, then tell him if he is unhappy he is free to leave and start divorce proceedings

Anonyhouse · 21/06/2026 16:47

Life’s too short, lovely. Don’t waste another second living with a bully. You’d be much happier doing everything to your own standards and not walking on eggshells in your own home than trying to live up to his idea of a perfect wife. Let him do everything for the kids 3/4 days a week and see if he can live up to his expected level of perfection then. You can use that time to have a much deserved break and work on that social life he expects you to magic time for x

Newyearawaits · 21/06/2026 16:54

I'm speechless OP, wouldn't know where to begin.
You sound amazing.
Please take care of yourself OP

ChirpieCheese · 21/06/2026 17:00

OP, does he have any good points?

His attitude must be pulling you down.

Time to get rid?

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 21/06/2026 17:10

Ceramiq · 21/06/2026 16:25

Two problems here: your husband wants more of your time and exclusive attention (this is good! he loves you!) and you are legitimately way too busy to give it to him (very bad). Answer is to outsource some of the things that keep you so busy, either to him or to someone else.

This and the post from the ‘marriage counsellor’ are the two worst responses by far. Did you miss the continual abuse ffs?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 21/06/2026 17:12

He’s horrible, this is not the love of your life please leave him.

also, from experience, he has met someone else and/or is planning his exit and is creating a narrative that this is all your fault.

get your ducks in a row and stop engaging with him and focus on yourself your friends your health your looks your hobbies only

MyDeftDuck · 21/06/2026 17:13

I’d be asking them which ‘school of perfectionism’ they attended…….🤣🤣🤣🤣

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