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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband is a boring bastard

358 replies

bosslady24 · 23/08/2026 18:47

Sorry but it’s true. He works full time and helps around the house but has no interest in family life, days out etc. We had a holiday this year that he was miserable for. Didn’t really want to leave the resort as it would be ‘too much hard work’ with our youngest. If ever he can get out of opting out of something he will. When he has our youngest on his own there are a select few activities he might do like the park or NT but would never dream of taking her to the cinema or swimming because it’s too difficult. Whenever I suggest getting in the car and going somewhere he will huff and claim he has too much to be doing at home or that he’s ill/tired/skint. I don’t want to be busy every weekend but feel as parents we have an obligation to do stuff with our kids when we can and give them a good childhood. He is just lazy and disinterested.

There is an age gap between us - he’s in his early 50s now with a 3 year old and I understand it’s difficult. In hindsight he probably didn’t fully appreciate what having a child later in life means. But she’s here now and I’m finding his lack of enthusiasm for anything quite a turn off. I have resolved to start doing things alone with dc (I have an older child from previous marriage) but I find it sad that I’m with someone who doesn’t share my values around this stuff.

Leaving isn’t an option for me at the moment but I just need to vent. If I bring this up with him he will list a load of excuses and/or sulk so it’s not worth it. It’s bank holiday coming up and I said I might take the dc away for a night and he is practically gleeful about the prospect of being left alone. I don’t get that opportunity because he’d never offer to take them anywhere himself.

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 24/08/2026 20:55

Gwenhwyfar · 23/08/2026 19:45

"There is an age gap between us - he’s in his early 50s now with a 3 year old and I understand it’s difficult. In hindsight he probably didn’t fully appreciate what having a child later in life means."

YOU also chose to have a child with an old man.

50s old lol. 😂

It's nothing to do with the age, it's down to the person.

Gwenhwyfar · 24/08/2026 20:57

Netcurtainnelly · 24/08/2026 20:55

50s old lol. 😂

It's nothing to do with the age, it's down to the person.

He's not 50, he's in his early 50s.
I'm nearly 50 and I don't have as much energy as I used to. In 5 years, it's quite possible I'll have a bit less energy. It IS old to be running after toddlers.
Of course, not everyone is the same, but in general we do slow down. It's silly to deny that because of some outliers.

Excited101 · 24/08/2026 20:57

My DH is 60 and we have a 2 year old. It’s not an age thing, yours is just incredibly lazy.

Plmnki · 24/08/2026 21:02

Did he become boring the instant your latest child was born? Surely the signs were there.?

He is probably regretting his life choices as much as you are. Can’t understand why you chose to have a child with him but that was your choice.

Now you can choose to stay with him and put up with this … or split up.

your move.

Greyhoundsmittenlady · 24/08/2026 21:05

Sorry, but perhaps he will change as your daughter grows older. For now make the most of this wonderful age, children grow up so quickly. Go out with her or spend quality time playing with her at home, it doesn't have to be big excursions every weekend at that age.

AlwaysExtraHot · 24/08/2026 21:10

I have friends with an age difference and a young child. The older parent is mid-60s. They’re always going out for country walks, National Trust outings etc and my friend does all the driving.
He works from home while their child is in school, and works and stays away from home a couple of nights a week. He also gardens, does diy etc at
hom.
The OP’s husband just can’t be arsed IMO. He sounds useless.

friedaklein · 24/08/2026 21:15

AlwaysExtraHot · 24/08/2026 21:10

I have friends with an age difference and a young child. The older parent is mid-60s. They’re always going out for country walks, National Trust outings etc and my friend does all the driving.
He works from home while their child is in school, and works and stays away from home a couple of nights a week. He also gardens, does diy etc at
hom.
The OP’s husband just can’t be arsed IMO. He sounds useless.

Ops husband gardens, cooks and takes care of the dog + works full time. He also takes the child to NT properties and the park.

AlwaysExtraHot · 24/08/2026 21:21

friedaklein · 24/08/2026 21:15

Ops husband gardens, cooks and takes care of the dog + works full time. He also takes the child to NT properties and the park.

Edited

He huffs at suggestions of going anywhere, and can’t be arsed taking his own child swimming.

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 21:21

This reply has been deleted

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AffableApple · 24/08/2026 21:28

HinzKunz · 23/08/2026 19:52

Ey?!? My DH was early 50s with a 3 year old. He’s more active than me 😂
we‘re off doing stuff all the time.
On MN people seem to be decrepit by the time they turn 49 and ready for the care home. Bizarre!!! I genuinely don’t know any 50 year olds who like to do nothing.

he sounds checked out rather than too old. That’s a totally different matter.

This! 4 year old twins, with their dad in his 50s. He is more energetic with them than I am. Hard can't relate to this mumsnetmumbojumbo.

Has he had his iron levels checked? Is he depressed? Stressed? Sleeping ok? Got anything going on? He's not old FFS! Best case scenario he needs more vitamins. Worst case he's just content being a crap dad.

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 21:36

AffableApple · 24/08/2026 21:28

This! 4 year old twins, with their dad in his 50s. He is more energetic with them than I am. Hard can't relate to this mumsnetmumbojumbo.

Has he had his iron levels checked? Is he depressed? Stressed? Sleeping ok? Got anything going on? He's not old FFS! Best case scenario he needs more vitamins. Worst case he's just content being a crap dad.

Edited

You are way too old to have a 3 year old in your 50s. Lots of people are kidding themselves on this thread.

friedaklein · 24/08/2026 21:38

Agreed @AlwaysExtraHot. I am just saying he does garden and do the NT stuff!

I am rather astonished by the number of posters who have energetic toddler wrangling husbands in their 50s.

ForGutsyMember · 24/08/2026 21:44

With all due respect I'm a 53 year old man with a 9 year old son. I work a full time job which involves long hours and heavy lifting. I take him out every weekend without fail to the park, the seaside, both Saturdays and Sundays. He gets 2 or 3 holidays in this country every year and the odd one abroad. My partner works in the evenings so my day starts at 7 and finishes around 11pm. We walked up the highest mountain in south Wales 3 days ago. He's not 90 for Christ's sake, sounds like he needs to man up or at the very least invest in some stamina.

AffableApple · 24/08/2026 21:44

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 21:36

You are way too old to have a 3 year old in your 50s. Lots of people are kidding themselves on this thread.

LOL. I'll send my lively, healthy, loved 4-year-olds with their ancient parents back then.

dials Social Services to report self for crimes against geriatric procreation

PrettyLittleRose · 24/08/2026 21:46

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 21:36

You are way too old to have a 3 year old in your 50s. Lots of people are kidding themselves on this thread.

100% this. Mumsnet parallel universe strikes again. In the real world, most people aged 53 have kids who are about to leave secondary school, or have already left school and are at Uni. (Some by their mid 50s even have no kids left at home.)

PrettyLittleRose · 24/08/2026 21:48

friedaklein · 24/08/2026 21:38

Agreed @AlwaysExtraHot. I am just saying he does garden and do the NT stuff!

I am rather astonished by the number of posters who have energetic toddler wrangling husbands in their 50s.

Edited

This. ^ SOOOO many posters know so many bouncy energetic men in their mid 50s who just love wrestling and playing with toddlers! 😆

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/08/2026 21:51

We have grown up kids in our 50s and have a good deal of freedom now. Can't imagine having a three year old at our age.

ThePoliteLion · 24/08/2026 22:08

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/08/2026 21:51

We have grown up kids in our 50s and have a good deal of freedom now. Can't imagine having a three year old at our age.

Hey! Breaking news. Everyone is different.
I’m an “older mum” (hate that expression), I’m energetic, nobody misses out on anything. The last time I checked I was living in a village in the UK, not a parallel universe

DraigCymraeg · 24/08/2026 22:14

bosslady24 · 24/08/2026 20:51

Don’t worry he won’t read this.

That's not the point.
If that is how you refer to him, surely the marriage is already done for.

PrettyLittleRose · 24/08/2026 22:17

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/08/2026 21:51

We have grown up kids in our 50s and have a good deal of freedom now. Can't imagine having a three year old at our age.

Same.

RafaFan · 24/08/2026 22:21

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 21:36

You are way too old to have a 3 year old in your 50s. Lots of people are kidding themselves on this thread.

Even people who actually are in their fifties with a three year old, and therefore know if they're too old or not? It's the outlook, not the age, that counts.

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 22:24

RafaFan · 24/08/2026 22:21

Even people who actually are in their fifties with a three year old, and therefore know if they're too old or not? It's the outlook, not the age, that counts.

No, it really isn’t the outlook. Starting parenthood in your 50s is too old. I feel for the guy tbh, although he’s made his bed and appears to be lieing in it. My neighbour is 54 with a 4 year old and he openly tells us he is permanently exhausted. His younger wife wanted another one but he said absolutely not.

RafaFan · 24/08/2026 22:29

TaleOfTwoHalves · 24/08/2026 22:24

No, it really isn’t the outlook. Starting parenthood in your 50s is too old. I feel for the guy tbh, although he’s made his bed and appears to be lieing in it. My neighbour is 54 with a 4 year old and he openly tells us he is permanently exhausted. His younger wife wanted another one but he said absolutely not.

I will agree to disagree. As somebody else said up above, everyone's different.

bosslady24 · 24/08/2026 22:38

DraigCymraeg · 24/08/2026 22:14

That's not the point.
If that is how you refer to him, surely the marriage is already done for.

I don’t think me calling him a naughty word on an anonymous forum will be what dooms the marriage somehow.

OP posts:
ClairDeLaLune · 24/08/2026 22:52

MCF86 · 23/08/2026 19:02

My parents were mid 50s when I had my DC and, actually I was going to say they'd have been exhausted doing it full time but they both managed to be more active with him than your husband seems to be!

So were mine and they were late 60s and early 70s. Your husband does indeed sound like a boring bastard sorry OP.

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