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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

How do I get him to grow up and start taking responsibility?

13 replies

mrsmum123 · 22/04/2011 15:08

I have been with my husband for about 15 years now, and whilst I do love (and still am in love with him) I'm not sure if I can live with him any more.

DH is a loving husband and good dad, but he is laid back / disorganised / lazy and it is driving me mad. I feel it is affecting our marriage and making me really unhappy. It isn't just issues at home, he is like this at work too and has, in the past been sacked for his poor organisation which led to him making mistakes. Last time he was sacked, I told him I couldn't go through it again and that he needed to change. He promised me he would, but he hasn't and we bumble along until the next time the issue rears up. Recently, he has just had (another) disciplinary at work for his poor organisation and so the issue has been raised again.

Trouble is, I'm a worrier and so I keep asking about how it is going, and he (as always) sticks his head in the sand and tells me it is 'fine'. When I try to press him for more info it ends up in a row. Except half the time its not fine, he is not facing up to the problems. Everything was going 'fine' last time -until he got sacked (and then he felt it was unfair etc etc).

What he does though is through laziness / head in the sandness / whatever it is, to be lazy and not do things until the very last minute. This then causes problems. And he gets so caught up in trying to solve these little problems that he can't /won't see the bigger problem - his disorganisation.

At home, There are tasks that I have been asking him to do for almost 4 years now, and I'm still waiting for them to get done. Our latest row was over a form that needed filling in. He has had it a month, and I asked him to have it ready to fill in last week. So last night, when I checked if he had done it, he told me he had been too busy at work to fill the form in (which is when he had promised it would be done, although it is not a work related form). Yet, he has spent the past two nights on the sofa doing nothing, so could easily have filled out the form then. Cue yet another row about it.

He does have most of saturdays to himself, as I take the DC to their various hobbies. I have said to him that I don't mind him taking the half the time to do what he wants to do, but I would appreciate it if he spent half that time doing one of his outstanding jobs. To help him, I wrote down six of the most important jobs on a list for him (as he had previously said he has poor memory / forgets), yet I gave him this list in January and I'm still waiting for him to start on any of them.

So what happens is this. I ask him to do something, he fails to do it. I remind him (usually at least two or three times) he still fails to do it and then I lose my rag. We have a huge row and I end up going too far, saying things I later regret and generally being a bit of a bitch and then the next day he apologises and tries to make things better by doing one of the things I have asked him to do, but still not really addressing the other jobs /tasks / problems. It'll be better for a few weeks, and then goes back to normal. He does this at work too.

I'm fed up of being the bitch that is always having a go, and I don't want to continue living like this. I have asked him to move out for a few days to think about why he is like this (I first asked him to do this two years ago) and how we need to change. He says he doesn't want to. So now, he is paying lip service to me, by being helpful for a little while but all the time not addressing the bigger problem and so the cycle never breaks.

So how can I get it to change?

PS Have name changed for this.

Also, long one sorry - didn't want to drip feed the info.

OP posts:
nijinsky · 22/04/2011 17:11

I don't know if you can change a person's basic character. Or at least I think a person has to have self motivation to get out of bad habits and into good. And its not just you thats having a go at him - one disciplinary at work for lack of organisation would be bad enough, never mind being sacked, but not to learn from that and let it happen again - indicates he just isn't bothered about the consequences. Call it lack of organisation, I would say he is just very, very lazy. Sorry, not much help!

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 22/04/2011 21:42

SOrry but you can't make him change. Hedoesn't want to change. He's got you there to rescue him time after time.
I would seriously suggest throwing him out as it much be such a massive strain on you living with a passenger like this.
Is he very goodlooking and great in bed? Or does he have any other qualities that make you feel you could carry on living with him if you accept that he has no initiatve and is lazy, selfish and immature? Because (just like the serially unfaithful partner) if someone repeatedly promises to change and doesn't do so, you have only two choices, which is accept the person or get rid. There is no Option c of a magic button that will make the person behave in the way you want.

Miggsie · 22/04/2011 21:45

After 15 years of letting him get away with it he will have no motivation to change. So unless you start treating him like a toddler who won't eat his greens and start on tough love, he won't change. His ability to do nothing way exceeds your ability to sit by while he does nothing...which is why he's never had to do anything.

If he doesn't want to change...well, the chances of him changing are zero.

hairless · 22/04/2011 21:54

Well, I think he probably does want to change, but doesn't know how. I too am very disorganised and I hate that about myself. I have a tendency to be lazy. I really want to change. So if anyone knows what steps to take in order to change, I'd love to hear them. :)

springydaffs · 23/04/2011 20:10

I wish I had some tips but I don't. I am naturally organised and get stressed if things aren't in order. Are there any books out, or courses you could both do? Maybe google 'disorganised' and see what comes up. Sometimes it's like a cognitive disorder re dyslexia etc (which is not an excuse! my dd is dyslexic but has seriously addressed it and puti n a lot of work). though tbh absolutely nothing will come of it unless he wants to change - you can lead a horse to water etc. You also always bail him out and your relationship follows the exact same pattern - perhaps you could address this in relationship counselling. imo it has become a significant problem if you have asked him to move out. You are both following a pattern that doesn't work and relationship counselling can explore how you can change the pattern to benefit you both.

springydaffs · 23/04/2011 20:15

Here's one for starters

www.amazon.co.uk/Why-So-Disorganised-Sort-Stuff/dp/0749924802#reader_0749924802

FabbyChic · 23/04/2011 20:46

You have lived with it for 15 years, I feel it is too late to change him, and only a short sharp shock might bring him into action.

I'd stop doing things for him so he has to do things for himself.

Fill forms in yourself and get him to sign it.

mrsmum123 · 25/04/2011 01:42

Wow. Honest answers. Lots of food for thought but they are appreciated and I think there is a lot of truth in them.

We have had a big discussion, and he tells me he really does want to change, but just struggles to know how to do it. He has ordered the book.

Only time will tell if he actually will change. Thank you though for your honest comments.

OP posts:
Tortington · 25/04/2011 02:17

if it were my dh - i think i would ask him how i could help. if i knew that dh wouldn't sign a form of fix something for four years - then i'm afraid i would have to have a discussion about how we could manage the situation. this for me would mean spending an alloted time every single night talking about things that needed to be done, making a list and putting it on the door, or fridge or chalkboard - noticeboard.

we have a calendar for important dates to aid with organisation. no, this isn't a kick up the arse - this way isn't mothering him either. we are talking about having a discussion and a division of responsabilities.

just like one one in a team at work, with regualr meetings to discuss the issue and set timelines. this is how i would get my marriage to work around this situation.

i would - once things at home were in hand then ask him about work and what needs to be done, he could discuss things with you - knowing he has your support not dissapointment/annoyance -perhaps make a list that he can take into work - for you to discuss the next evening. i really do think that a regular slot of time has to be given each night for this to work - the time itself is both of your committment to managing the situation and putting things right.

LostInSockLand · 25/04/2011 02:44

Your husband actually sounds much like my dyspraxic son, no short term memory, things seeming too difficult....might be worth looking into?

beatenbyayellowteacup · 25/04/2011 02:56

I agree with LostinSockLand - check out dyspraxia.

2rebecca · 25/04/2011 14:02

If you want something done then why don't you do it yourself? I don't understand women who have long lists of "jobs" for their husbands to do.
If I have something I want doing I just get on with it. There's very little my husband can do that I can't. Similarly he doesn't give me "jobs". If several things need doing because we have visitors coming we divide the tasks and just get on with them.
My husband does pull his weight around the house, but Iwouldn't have stayed married to him if he didn't. I have no desire to be a servant.
If it's a form that needs both of you to fill it in then I would give it to him and tell him it needs completed before he comes to bed. If he's relucatant to fill it in I'd wonder if he really wanted whatever the form was about and would discuss it.
Not sure why you've waited 15 years to tackle this.

blackeyedsusan · 25/04/2011 14:34

is he capable of looking after the children whilst you do some of the jobs?

if you are carrying the load of organisation, he needs to carry another part of the responsibility of running a family.

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