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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think my DH has turned into a selfish git? Long rant sorry.

64 replies

PortoPandemico · 05/05/2009 10:42

Sorry - probably PMT but I feel like I need a rant. I'm feeling more and more taken for granted, and that dh never appreciates me/gives any thought to my needs/feelings, only criticises me when something "goes wrong"

DH and I both work full time. He's recently been promoted and is struggling a bit a work, so I try to cut him a bit of slack, and am generally "thoughtful" ie let him have a bit of breathing space when he gets home, cook his favourite dinner if he's had a bad day, make sure there is cold beer in the fridge, take dd to soft play when there's a big match on etc etc.

Plus I let him have his rant about the usual office crap, and try to either make useful suggestions, or just listen. I'm a nice supportive wife I like to think.

Housework aside (reasonably equal - though I do all shopping/cooking), I have to organise everything that happens in the house, or it wouldn't happen. From school dinner money to new passport applications, all the bills, dd's activities, school runs, babysitters, holidays etc.

I have to ask/remind/start a discussion to get him to do anything that is not on the "ordinary" list. Stuff gets done though, and as a whole I wouldn't be complaining.

But generally It is becoming more and more apparent to me that this "thoughtfulness" of mine is getting entirely one-sided.

In the morning, I have to rush to get out of the house. He usually oversees dd getting dressed, but only does half a job, so that when I finished grabbing lunch boxes/frantically getting myself ready, he'll be on the PC in his dressing gown and dd will be sat there needing her hair brushed, face washed, shoes etc.

Somenights he works late, but often recently when we get home, he is sat back at the PC playing World of Warcraft, whilst I get dd fed/ready for bed. Sometimes he stops and plays/watches tv with dd. Other nights he'll switch it off when his dinner is ready. Then he's usually got something lined up that he wants to watch on TV. He'll often start this why I am still in the kitchen, so even if I was interested I've missed half of it. He's supposed to let me know if he's working REALLY late, or popping to the pub after work which he does from time to time. He never bothers anymore.

Most weekends, when he gets up, he makes himself a coffee and loads up WOW. He then sits there til at least lunchtime. At least. If I was up first and on the PC checking emails or MNetting etc, I am expected to vacate. And " a cup of coffee would be nice, love". He has made me one cup of tea in the last month. When i complained that he wasn't pulling his weight on the tea making front, he just laughed it off. I still didn't get a cup of tea.

I usually try to get my jobs done first thing in the morning, shopping, tidying, ironing so that the afternoons can be for "fun". If I'm there he'll never knock up any breakfast, he waits for it to be offered, or he'll get something for himself.

When he's finished his morning stint on WOW, he will put some old clothes on, do his jobs for a hour or so, and guess what - then the bloody football is on. Back on PC for another 3 hour stint. This leaves no time for doing anything as a family. He never ever suggests doing anything. He is happy to sit in the house all weekend, without getting dressed properly even.

He never does anything spontaneous or thoughtful to me. It's our wdding anniversary coming up and Mother's Day on Sunday here. He has the dates loaded in one of those interflora reminder systems so that the same bunch of flowers gets delivered like clockwork. I don't mean to sound ungrateful about getting flowers, but it's like he doesn't even have to think about it or go to the shop, just input credit card, job done. He never bothers with a card. If we're going to go out to celebrate I have to organise it.

He moaned at me for "huffing" this morning. Says I have been doing it "all the time" recently. I expect I have, I am getting more and more pissed off. It wouldn't occur to him if to ask me if I am OK. Hence I cried in the car on the way to work/school. I know after last year, that even though I tell myself not to, I will be upset on Sunday morning, where absolutely no effort is made. I am probably spoiling for an argument now, and wanting to kick his arse. But of course there is more football on tonight.

Have I turned myself into a doormat, or is he a selfish git? Useful advice on how to handle this without a complete screaming argument would be much appreciated.

WOW that was long. Thnaks if you got through it. I feel a bit better now...

OP posts:
fumble · 06/05/2009 13:24

cos I disagree with her! so straight away that makes me someone else which is funny cos people believe something even if it isnt real so hey if she wants to believe im her ex thats up to her! Anyway as I said going to work now as some people get thier money by working!

ataraxis · 06/05/2009 13:43

fumble - again . If you have so little sympathy with anyone sharing their problems on here for a bit of advice, why don't you fuck off go and do something else instead? If you want to be constructive, then be constructive rather than abusive.

And can I suggest a short typing skills course to go alongside the empathy course you so clearly need?

Twat.

Poppity · 06/05/2009 13:44

Porto, it sounds very much to me as if it could be stress/depression that is making your DH behave like this. He needs to see that other things (family things etc) would have benefits in reducing his stress levels.
Many men people use those online long haul pc games as an escape, and he is obviously a little addicted to it, logging on 1st thing. It seems from the outside that he is going to need it spelt out to him in a non resentful way how you would like your lives to run day to day. Please don't think I am critisizing you, I think his behaviour is out of order, I just wanted to suggest a solution that may help you not fall out over it.
My DH likes to play computer games, and knows that time can pass very quickly when on them. So to stop it being an issue we worked out a full rota that included things like pc time, family time, just us time etc. It meant neither of us resented when the other one was doing their own thing as it had a boundary.
We aren't rigid about it, just so long as time is evenly shared, but it gives a base to work from iyswim. The children too, know when we will be doing family stuff, which keeps them happy.
It may seem a tad anal, but honestly we are terribly disorganised and busy, and the days would just get lost if we didn't do this.
Good luck

Poppity · 06/05/2009 13:45

BTW, if you like Flight of the Conchords, you could include 'Business Time' on there!!

ataraxis · 06/05/2009 13:46

Actually, I rescind the 'twat', as it lowers me to a par with other unnecessarily unpleasant comments.

welshbyrd · 06/05/2009 13:50

Sorry havent posted or read much of the thread

Just seen Fumble had made a comment
and for some bizzare reason ( perhaps the fact it has made some pretty stupid comments on a different thread) i had to come and type fook off to it

I see your comments on this thread have been as useless as on grumpy moos thread

What a dick

ataraxis · 06/05/2009 13:55

welshbyrd, I did the same.

Porto, trying to be constructive, I do think talking to him about it is the best solution. Maybe time (roughly) how long he spends on it over a couple of days, outline it to him, and suggest all the much more fun things you could be doing together in that amount of time? Recognising his need for time out is important too though (as it is for you!).

Joolyjoolyjoo · 06/05/2009 13:57

Porto- I could have written your op on many occasions (apart from the WOW bit) My DH is in the forces, so I got used to him being away for months on end, which meant I got used to doing EVERYTHING that needed to be done. Now he is shore-based, I STILL seem to do everything!

Every now and then I'll have a rant at him. He rolls his eyes and says, "Ok, what is it you want me to DO?" So I'll say, eg, "You could tax the car" (online, takes 2 seconds, so he can't see what the fuss is about) Only when he comes to do it, I get, "Where is the reminder thingy?" "On the desk." "Whereabouts on the desk?" So I end up having to get up and find it. Then "How do you want us to pay? Can you read out the card no to me?" etc etc. Then "See! No biggie!" and he feels justified- aaarghh!!

He really can't see that I have still done most of the work involved, and if I try to point it out it feels really petty

I've resigned myself to being a control freak, and console myself with the notion that if anything ever happens to me he is in for a rude awakening!

GrumpyMoo · 06/05/2009 14:13

By fumble on Wed 06-May-09 13:17:11
Wigglesworth far from it!!!!

What makes me laugh about this is that she thinks im the exDP! i just read her post and realised who it was!

I have read and re-read my op, what was it that 'gave me away' then? For my next bout of 'benefit cheating' you understand, always up for tips and hints....

jojos4angels · 06/05/2009 14:34

Hi all,i'm new to MN, and just felt that i just needed to day that please please please try and deter your DH from WoW (easier said than done for some men),
my DP would get in from work at 6pm and play it solidly til 4am,... his idea of interacting with the kids was to let them watch him play!!
I hate that game!!!

PortoPandemico · 06/05/2009 17:47

Thanks for all the advice! We had a few words last night! Unfortunately I had too much wine and can't exactly remember what they were .

It obviously had SOME effect, as he had made dd's tea, and is currently making a cottage pie. And he opened the door to us tonight wearing a pinny! He still hasn't offered me a cup of tea but hey, I'm not pushing my luck! More footie tonight, but i will certainly be trying to address the WOW habit at the weekend. DD has a party at lunchtime on Saturday, so I think a nice romantic lunch might be in order...

OP posts:
GrumpyMoo · 06/05/2009 18:57

Oh porto that is brilliant! Blokes need lots of encourage ment, just like children, to make them keep it up. Ego stroking at it's best, simple but effective. Bless the simple minded creatures.
Let's hope he can keep it up!
Wine is such a useful thing no?
xx

PortoPandemico · 06/05/2009 19:59

Cor I now I am a control freak, but the tea took him 2 hours to make! It is just about to make an appearance I hope. He's obviously done it in a man, overly complicated manner. I'm sure it will be gorgeous though. I'm starving!

OP posts:
jojos4angels · 06/05/2009 20:33

Good luck with that romantic lunch Porto

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