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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to not like being told the truth by my DH

259 replies

onsabbatical · 29/06/2010 22:07

I bought a new dress at the weekend. I was shopping with my 13 year old DD and she said I looked beautiful in a rose print dress from Hobbs. I put it on to go to a World Cup BBQ at a friend's house on Sunday and asked DH if he liked it. I felt great in it.

He said that it put 10kg on me and that it was fine if I wanted to look fat. I am 8 stone but only 5ft 2 so can be swamped in unfitted shapes. AIBU to wish he had just said I looked great even if he secretly thought it was unflattering?

It's too late to take it back as I had cut out the labels already but I don't think I will ever have the heart to wear it even though both my DD's (the other is 16) say I looks lovely in it.

When I was in my thirties, I let DH buy all my clothes as I got sick of taking back ones that I bought for myself because he didn't like them. BTW he is very generous and buys me much more expensive outfits than I would buy myself but somehow I want to choose! AIBU or should I be grateful that I have such an honest DH with great taste?

OP posts:
MumOfAPickle · 30/06/2010 10:00

Sorry, just read that back and I get a bit soap box towards the end there! I do appreciate that its hard and that sometimes you just let thigs go because its easier but really, really, read through these messages carefully and think about the way he treats you in general. Has it changed since you got married? If he treated you then how he treats you know how would you have reacted?

Sorry, off again....I'll stop now

GrendelsMum · 30/06/2010 10:06

Your DH is the lucky one, not you. He was lucky enough to find a very intelligent, hard-working, well-educated, dedicated and attractive woman (and yes, it's pretty obvious from your posts that you are all of these), who was happy to put her life on hold for a year to look after one of your DDs, while he carried on as usual.

I'm less sure that your DDs are lucky. Frankly, it sounds like their dad is quite unpleasant, and that he's setting them up for some major issues. In your house, a man's place is to leave dirty underwear around the house, dirty dishes around the sink, and to criticise women. A woman's place, in your house, is to pick up dirty underwear, wash dirty dishes, and to take criticism without complaining. Your DH has set up this dynamic, and you are demonstrating to them every day that you agree with it. Is that what you went to Cambridge for? Is that how you would have put up with being treated as a student? Is that how you want your daughters to live?

I think you need to put a stop to this, for your daughters' sake, if not for your own.

JaxTellersOldLady · 30/06/2010 10:06

Is that the dress that jamie linked to? I like it and think you would look nice in it.

As for the other things, the ironing, cleaning etc. Send out his shirts, get a cleaner in once a week to help you keep on top of things and if he complains again, tell him to bugger off. No way would I re iron shirts, DH would be found gagged and tied up with said shirts in the wardrobe. And yes I too am a SAHM and 'have it all' but I am not treated like a skivvy or dogs body nor am I patronised about what to wear and how to wear it.

aquavit · 30/06/2010 10:21

What GrendelsMum said.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 30/06/2010 10:25

you dont have everything sweet, you dont have happiness and fulfilment, or confidence or identity, these things are more importnant than a bank balance.

The really sad thing is that your daughters are being brought up in this and will ultimatly emulate you, then all the thing above will be missing from their lives too

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/06/2010 10:37

Yiu have it all? Bloody hell he's got you brainwashed!

"DH earns more money than we could ever spend, so he feels that he has done his bit. Unfortunately he also feels too important to help with the house ... I wouldn't mind him putting ... his dirty underwear in the laundry basket though. I have a degree from Cambridge and was a very confident child which has somehow deserted me in this gilded cage."

I don't care how much he earns, how important he feels, how exhausted he is after a very long day at work - no adult leaves another adult to pick up their dirty underwear! It takes no more time to drop it in the basket than to drop it on the floor. 'Tis a small thing, but significant. It denotes a lack of respect. But then it does get swamped amongst all the other lack of respect he exhibits - the criticisms, the expectation (insistence?) that you come up to his "standards", the sheer f*ing treating you like a possession/employee/serf/handmaid - buying your clothes ffs - what is that, clothing the hired help in a uniform to reflect on his wealth?

allbie · 30/06/2010 10:47

Just maybe you looked so fantastic in the dress that he was worried others would find you gorgeous. Maybe he controls you because he's a jealous type? I'm not condoning any such behaviour or saying that is the reason he is like he is...only suggesting a possibility. You are obviously quite a catch and the moment you take back control of your own life, he may wise up and appreciate you properly.

Sn0wflake · 30/06/2010 10:49

I have read most of the thread. I think your husband is treating you as another possession not as an equal. He may not even know he is treating you badly but he needs to be told.

I would quite calmly sit him down and tell him that you are unhappy with the way he is treating you and ask him to go to relate with you (or other couples therapy) and discuss all of the things that you have mentioned.

It's not just for you that you would do this but as an example for your daughters. Have you seen the play the Dollshouse by Ibsen....maybe you should take him to it.

chipmonkey · 30/06/2010 10:50

The dress Jamie linked to is one I would probably wear because I know that shape slims me down and I am a size 16!

You sound lovely and slim, at 8 stone how could you be otherwise?

Your dh sounds like an awful twat who is far too impressed with himself!

GeorginaWorsley · 30/06/2010 11:03

What a controlling bully.
My Dh works hard and is very well paid but I pretty much buy/wear what I like.
He also irons his own shirts and has done all the time we have been married.
He didn't like the fact you chose the dress yourself and looked good in it.
As the mother of 3 DDs I would chose their opinion over DH'S on matters sartorial any time!

RunawayWife · 30/06/2010 11:07

I am guessing as you have two teenage children yourself you are not 5 years old.
Stop letting him get your clothes, go shopping yourself and tell him to stop being a controlling bully, What will he bring home for you next? A burka?

zipzap · 30/06/2010 11:11

I bet if your husband had gone shopping with you and been the one to spot the dress and 'choose' it, he would have loved it. Like everybody else is saying, it sounds like he is saying these things to give him control over you.

Have you ever said anything about his clothes to him - what do you think he would say if you just randomly criticised what he was wearing or had just bought? Might be worth trying one day just to see his reaction. And then if he accepts your comments graciously - fine. If he goes off on one about how he knows he looks fine, then if he ever passes comments like this against you again, try his response back at him and see how he likes it.

Might also be worth practising some stock comments to come out with at these sort of moments to give you confidence and not let him bully you. Things like 'The shirt has been ironed beautifully (assuming it isn't really creasy!) but if it's not good enough for you then iron it yourself and show me how you like it done. I'm not your ironing slave'. Or 'Are our daughters and I not allowed to have our own opinions any more?' Or 'Who voted you to be dictator in charge? I thought you wanted a wife when we got married, not a slave'. Or just 'that's just your opinon - what a mean and nasty thing to say to me' when he is priding himself on being 'honest', 'factual' and 'truthful'

However one of the things that worries me most about your post is the fact that you say that you are not fat - but if medical opinions are saying you should weigh a little more then chances are you are not even normal or slim but on the underweight side of things. If your husband is suggesting that you should go against medical advice (I realise I'm extrapolating here from your posts - sorry if I'm wrong) and stay the weight you are or lose more then that is worrying on so many levels.

What would he say if you were to sit down one day and say to him that you are worried about him working so hard, that money is not the only thing in life, be better to have less money and more time together, you hate just being a domestic skivvy, you want you to both share the responsibility of running the household together... I think he would be horrified - it sounds like he has got everything just the way he likes it and everybody looking after him. But it might make him realise that you are not going to take it for too much longer and that he does need to change.

YOu are the one that says you are in a cage - cage is still a cage whether or not it is gilded. and as others have said, what would you do if you thought your daughters were in the same position?

And remember that MN is here to support you and provide the honest opinions - be it on clothes or his behaviour, they don't have any other agenda like he does (ie keeping his nice life)

Start wearing your dress again. It's good that it can't go back. Reclaim it as the first step to unlocking your gilded cage - you KNOW you look good in it - you didn't need your dds to tell you but they did anyway because they are honest and love you. And even though this is an AIBU thread, pretty much everybody is in agreement that YANBU - but your dh is. So wear the dress and think of it as armour imbued with the strength and wisdom of your dds and MN because every time you do, you will be showing your husband that he can't control you. And if he makes any nasty remarks about it again, just blow them off with a 'funny, I've had so many positive comments about how good I look in this dress (you have on here!), seems this time you're the only one that doesn't like it' and use it to build up strength and courage to start getting your life back to what you want it to be.

Now go and put the dress on!

dandycandyjellybean · 30/06/2010 11:11

Haven't had time to read all the posts, but can only say one thing. This man is your daughters role model for the men in their life... Put them in your 'gilded cage' is it really what you want for them?

sarinha2203 · 30/06/2010 11:12

He sounds like an insensitive over critical "twit" to me!! He nshouldn't have said that to you! Also, I think you should buy what you like and wear what you like not what he likes!! If he doesn't like it but everyone else thinks you look great then tell him to fuck off!!

pigletmania · 30/06/2010 11:14

I am , what a dick! At 8 stone you hardly a 11 stone heffer like me . I bed you look bloody gorgeous. How come men can get away with looking like tramps, but can criticise women for what they wear.

zipzap · 30/06/2010 11:18

oops. got a bit carried away there, sorry.

most important bit of my previous post was the last bit though - reclaim your dress for you. You know you look fab in it and every time you wear it you will be telling your husband that you are not his slave...

proudnsad · 30/06/2010 11:20

8st and 5ft 2?! I am 10st and 5ft 2 and I thought I looked fab in my maxi dress for world cup day. My dh said I looked absolutely gorgeous.

Maybe he needs to be more honest with me!!!!!

Hullygully · 30/06/2010 11:22

Where is the poor op?

She has probably stoved her head in. Though it should be his.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 30/06/2010 11:23

Gilded cage is right. Your husband is a fuckwit

Oblomov · 30/06/2010 11:23

My dh has bought/ suggested many of my clothes in the past. many. not all but quitea few. in fact all the dresses that i have had the best comments about have been suggested by him. but he does have very very good taste. i also buy alot for myself. he always tells me when i look lovely. and now a get a little voice that pipes up from ds1(6) "mummy you look bootiful". when he doesn't say anything, i know. he might say " i prefer you in the green one". that is tact.
I think the thing the Op's dh is really lacking here is tact.
but he also sounds controlling. but she has to answer for that aswell. why does she allow anyone to be controlling to her ?

lemonysweet · 30/06/2010 11:27

basically, read MumofaPickles post over and over and over again.

and you shouldnt feel like you shouldnt complain. you deserve the BEST.

if my DH started criticising my clothing choices and expecting me to change or buying all my stuff for me id-wait, i wouldnt be in a relationship with such a controlling uppity over critical idiot.

what you wear is absolutely feck all to do with your husband. thats dress was lovely, and you and your daughters sound gorgeous.
and i wouldnt take my daughter's honesty over my husbands anyway. if my daughters said 'mum, it doesnt flatter your shape' or 'mum, its a bit old on you' [you know, this thing called 'tact' that your husband might like to look up] then i would take that into account because they have great taste and are women themselves.
my DH says nice things even when im in my baggy jumpers and worn out leggings slobbing on the sofa, because he's not there to make me feel like crap, he's there to make me feel good, because thats what love IS.

and this is to everyone:

ONLY EVER WEAR CLOTHES THAT YOU FEEL FUCKING FANTASTIC IN.

NicknameTaken · 30/06/2010 11:30

So he pays for everything, eh? Including the right to trample all over your feelings? How much did you sell that for?

I suggest reading Patricia Evan's book on verbal abuse. This is not a lack of tact by your H, this is an utter lack of respect.

proudnsad · 30/06/2010 11:31

I have to say my dh has never made even one detrimental comment about my body - it's me who has bad body image like 90% of female population depressingly - but he is honest in a tactful way about what I wear. He'll say something like 'It's nice, but you look fabulous in that other dress...'
But on the other hand I think posters here are going OTT about OP's dh being controlling. Making a big jump there.
And yes feel fab about yourself do not agree what you wear is feck all to do with your dh - I like him to like what I look like!

cory · 30/06/2010 11:35

I like zipzap's idea of reclaiming the dress.

TubbyDuffs · 30/06/2010 11:35

I am 5 foot 2 and have (about 7 years ago) been 8 stone; nothing on this planet could've made me look fat, unless it was one of those blow up sumo suits!