Sigh - it's another of those jobs DH wants to tackle himself

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

Our bathroom basin has a hole in it (courtesy of a glass jar falling on it last night). I've managed to source a similar one online but when it arrives DH wants to 'have a go'himself rather than just get someone into fix it. This will mean a basic 2 hour job by a professional will take up at least three weekends and he'll end up cracking tiles, flooding the house whilst I am left with the two kids to keep out of his way.

I'm in no way stressed about the basin itself, shit happens, but he'll turn it into an entire fiasco.

Why can't a man who works long hours, often abroad and who still has not completed other pressing jobs (because he doesn't want to pay someone to do it) not realise that it's the easiest way forward. It's not like we can't afford it FFS

But does he enjoy it? DH loves mending stuff. Fortunately he's pretty good at it - but it does take time for everything to get done, because he also works away a lot. But it's a sort of hobby for him. I let him get on with it.

No he doesn't. But I think he sees it as a challenge to his masculinity. Take the door bell for instance. He made a total hash of it and given that he is an electrical engineer I figured that one would have been OK. He did eventually fix it but only after I figured out the problem was the ancient mechanism of the bell needed a good clean.

We don't have much quality time as it is so why not just let me sort it out during the day when he's at work and the kids are at playgroup or nursery rather than him faffing around at night/weekend. He is too easily distracted and doesn't think things through properly then he sits and stares at the bits whilst barking orders at me (who is trying to keep an inquisitive 2 year old out of Daddy's toolbox) to go and get this that or the other whilst he just stares at it 'thinking'

It is an engineer thing I'm sure. Dh is a mechanical engineer, and is sorely disappointed that engineering is not more hands-on I think. So he mends stuff at home. I'm resigned used to it.

This would drive me nuts. I would just deal with it while he's out if I were you.

Voluptua - I don't think you should even be asking your DH's opinion - just get the man in to fix it and pay the bill. An executive management decision .

Well, I think you're all mean. He works long hours, is away a lot - he probably feels this is his contribution to the home. Not that I haven't been tempted to take the car to the garage rather than wait for DH to fix it, but it's his thing...

I shall do. I just called a 'handyman' who said he'd do it no problem.

Good for you .

Word of warning though, I did this with our bathroom renovation. Took ages choosing buying organising workmen etc. D-day comes and he tells me that he's going to do it himself and made me call it off. Hugely embarrassing, took ages BUT saved money.

Moral of this tale - don't tell him too much, just get on with it.