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Relationships

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

Feel under pressure that DH expects me to fill too many roles

67 replies

Stripeyfrog · 02/03/2020 17:54

I have been with DH for 20 years and we got together when I started working for his company.
Since then we married and have tween/teen DC.
When DC were little we agreed together I would be a SAHM but went back to work when they started school.
Since then I have done probably 95% of house work and dealt with school admin/childcare etc.
Recently I feel like DH seems to be stepping back or absolving himself of responsibility and wants me to be wife, mother, PA, business partner, cleaner and general skivvy.
At work although I work fewer hours he seems to be handing over more responsibilities, and I found things like making tax digital and workplace pensions really stressful to sort out. He doesnt get involved with any of that.
At home he couldnt tell you what class or year group DC are in and doesnt come to parents evenings.School emails come to our joint, and his personal email, but he doesnt read them or note any information. Every school holiday seems like a surprise and I arrange childcare.
At home he often says to me (or sometimes teen DD) "can you just look up xxx . " or "find out where xxx is " some piece of information that he could easily google or find out himself!
I suppose it really came home to me recently regarding 2 incidents. I had to make an appointment for the flu vaccination for youngest DS because I had missed the consent form for him to have at school. I know why I hadn't replied, because it was sent the week my DDad died at the end of last year. Dh was talking to his parents complaining about having to rearrange something due to the vaccination apt, and said "I dont know why we missed him having it at school"

Then at the weekend we got a fine from the congestion charge because I forgot to top up our account.AGain DH said "I dont understand why we didnt have enough on our account"
I know there are lots of super mums on MN and maybe I just need to buck up and get on with it but I feel like we're not working well as a team or partnership.
I did try raising it the other day saying I'm taking on more workload at work but nothing has changed at home and he mentioned "doing more with DC" but I think it was just to placate me. I know he will be really defensive if I raise it again, or just go into a sulk and not talk about it.
Any ideas on how to discuss without being nagging??

OP posts:
ModelCitizen · 02/03/2020 18:04

You will not achieve a more equal relationship given how long this has gone on for and to what extent unless you do alot more than nag. You need to be clear and direct about just how much you are doing compared him and what jobs you require him to pick up in future. If he complains about those jobs he can choose something else equally onerous to show you are a reasonable person, but one way or another the responsibility is now his for those job. No stepping in when he forgets or prompting his forgetfulness. Be ready in advance for any arguments he might use around the demands of his job etc. Honestly though, you will need to be tough and immovable. Otherwise, things will continue as they are because people who take advantage of others do not voluntarily step up.

Todayissunny · 02/03/2020 18:16

Talk to him but also delegate tasks to him so he ends up taking responsibility for them. If he complains tell him to reduce and work PT like you do.

BaolFan · 02/03/2020 18:30

YANBU.

You need to raise this with him. Sit down and have a very clear chat about all of the things that he expects you to do, and ask him if he thinks it's fair that you have to take on the mental load for everything at work as well as being at home.

If he's going to carry on treating you like this, I'd hand your notice in and work somewhere else.

I'd also point out that it's pretty shit of him to be so disinterested that he didn't even remember about your Dad dying.

Grumpelstilskin · 02/03/2020 18:39

Go on a total all out strike! Seriously, I mean it. Just book a few days for yourself and go away. I think only a real shock of just how much he piles on you will make him realise. Frame it as a warning of what is to come if you collapse and perhaps are out of action for good or for a much longer period.

Stripeyfrog · 02/03/2020 19:11

BaolFan
To be fair he didnt know it was sent the week my dad died because he ignores all the school emails! (Although I was, by default responsible for getting a card for a family function we went to 2 days after Ddad died and checking the congestion charge)

Grrrr even as I type the post hes going to the gym hes asking where his water bottle is (it's in the cupboard where all the water bottles are!)

OP posts:
SophieSong · 02/03/2020 19:21

So he’s started treating your daughter like a PA as well. Does he ask your son to complete these sorts of tasks, too?

ukgift2016 · 02/03/2020 19:21

You created this man-boy.

RandomMess · 02/03/2020 19:25

Honestly go away for two weeks and leave him to it...

Boils my piss, it's learnt helplessness and boss syndrome in one with the underlings running around doing everything to make his life easier.

I would seriously look for another job.

DICarter1 · 02/03/2020 19:32

I understand this to a degree. I’ve been a sahm because two of our kids have disabilities. Now I’ve gone back to work PT I’m still responsible for all the same things but now also a busy PT (18 hours a week) job. Although my dh says we’re a team he has picked all the duties he wants and left me whatever he doesn’t want. And talking to him does no good either. So no suggestions from me. Other than telling him to look stuff up himself or replying I don’t know when he asks you something.

AFireInJuly · 02/03/2020 19:34

It sounds like he still sees you as his employee.

dustibooks · 02/03/2020 19:40

He is treating you as staff at home as well as at work. You're not his subordinate PA, you're his wife, and he doesn't seem to be viewing his marriage and family life as an equal partnership.

Go on strike.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 02/03/2020 19:43

I’d stop doing everything unless it was essential for dc. I certainly wouldn’t do his

BrendasUmbrella · 02/03/2020 20:13

I feel like we're not working well as a team or partnership

Because you're not? You're boss and assistant, clearly. And from the sounds of it, he/both of you are grooming your dd to take on that role in her future relationships.

You need to separate work and home life. Pull him up on delegating tasks to you (and especially his daughter) at home. Why can't he do it? Pull him up on putting too much on your shoulders at work. Are you even being properly financially compensated for the extra work?

You're not powerless in this situation and it's down to you to break out of these dysfunctional patterns, he's certainly not going to be the one to do it, it benefits him. Keep in mind that you are the most powerful role model in your dd's life, make that your motivation.

BrendasUmbrella · 02/03/2020 20:15

To be fair he didnt know it was sent the week my dad died because he ignores all the school emails!

But when he said "I dont know why we missed him having it at school" did you reply "Because it was the week my Dad died and I had a lot on my mind?" Or even just "I don't know, why didn't we do it?"

gamerchick · 02/03/2020 20:25

Start with the words 'im not your fucking PA' to the next request.. with a steely gaze.

Then the next words will be 'we're going to have a chat later about the division of labour in this house, you and me' with another steely gaze.

Come to Jesus conversation needed OP. Stop pussy footing around him.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 02/03/2020 20:39

Wheres my water bottle? Where did you leave it? Or where is it usually?

can you just look up xxx? Why are you asking me? Why dont you look it up?

You need to bat it back to him every time. He'll get the idea eventually. You need to be direct with him. I do not have the time or capacity to keep check of everything. Rstuvwxyz are things that need to be done. Pick (insert number) of them. Write down any passwords he may need. Write down who is responsible for what.

AgentJohnson · 02/03/2020 22:32

It sounds like there were a number of issues predating the school ‘sex talk’. Obsessing about sex could be a distraction or an association she’s made with a difficult period. Her parents marriage was rocky for a period of time, her father has suffered with depression, she’s been, or is still, being bullied and she might not be NT.

It sounds like she needs professional support.

Livandme · 02/03/2020 23:15

My h was similar to this. I lost all respect for him.
I was sick of being everything to everyone and he wasn't there for me.
I felt like his mother, that's no basis for a relationship imo

Quartz2208 · 02/03/2020 23:17

How do you get paid

But yes look at what you are showing your daughter

RantyAnty · 03/03/2020 03:15

Talking does nothing. It will go in one ear and out the other. Or they will do a couple things for a week and go right back to how it was.

The only way to make it stop is to just stop doing everything.

I have to ask what exactly does he do?

It sounds like you're starting to do more at work than he does plus everything at home.

So just stop doing everything. If he starts to grumble just say you don't know or yeah somebody should do that shouldn't they.

Stuckupsnob · 03/03/2020 03:39

I think you have two options. Either you ignore/dismiss/ deny knowledge of his requests, or you sit and talk to him about what an arsehole he is. Allocating duties to him is a good idea and then you can blame him when the duties are not done.

Give him an ultimatum that if things don’t improve you will disappear or search for a new job.

FireflyAurora · 03/03/2020 03:54

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timeisnotaline · 03/03/2020 04:04

Stop worrying about ‘nagging!’ I’d

  1. Take a day off from the business, send him an email saying it’s stress leave for not being valued at work or home and not having a partner to share the load. Say personal emails will not be checked this week. Disappear for the day.
  2. At dinner time ask what’s for dinner? Ask what’s in the cupboard? Ask him is the washing done? Ask him are we missing any school forms? Ask him if he’s caught up your work from today? Ask him what the dc have on tomorrow.
Explode, say you’re on breakdown point. Say he needs to take some time off work to focus on home then you together can rebalance your life.
mathanxiety · 03/03/2020 04:51

Buy and read 'Emotional Blackmail' by Susan Forward. The way he forgot about your father's death, didn't even suspect that you dropping one of the balls might have had something to do with this, is hurtful in the extreme.

He is playing power games and it has to stop. He sees your attempts to start a discussion on the topic of making him an equal partner with each of you accountable to the other as a threat to his lofty position of Grand Poobah.

I note you are pretty sure he will sulk if you challenge him.
Presumably you have past experience of this. You need to persist regardless of his cold shoulder. If you want to discuss something he doesn't get to just fold his arms and say no and punish you for trying.

Write a list of all the items at home that you are responsible for - this will be a long list. Go on strike. Do nothing for him at home - absolutely nothing, and give non-responsive answers to 'Where's my...?' questions - until he gets over himself. Stop trying to keep all the balls in the air.

Rehearse answers to everyday questions like, 'Where's my water bottle?' - the answer is, 'Where you keep it.' He is not the lodger. He is a grown adult living in his own home, and is behaving like a spoiled child. Stop letting him get away with this.

While you're writing your list, research how much you should be paid for the responsibilities you have at work. My guess is you are underpaid. Bill him if so. Tell him you will find a job somewhere else unless he stumps up what you are worth.

His lack of engagement with the children is horrible and has probably already done some serious damage. Previous posters have commented on the effect of his treatment of your daughter, but if you have a son he is also soaking up all of this toxicity, observing the role women play.

You should find an individual therapist for yourself to delve into the relationship, the stress of it all, and to find support as you work to change it. It will be very hard to push him in the direction you want him to go. In his eyes you will be an uppity harridan when you set yourself to the campaign you need to wage and there will be pushback.

I suggest asking your children individually how they feel about dad and his disengagement from home, what they would like to see instead, what particularly angers or saddens them in their relationship with them and what saddens or angers them in their perception of your relationship with their father, or causes them shame. There is always shame in a family where there is a power imbalance. It's toxic.

Then you all need to do family therapy.
www.aft.org.uk/view/index.html?tzcheck=1

If he resists all of your efforts then I think you have a tough decision to make.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 03/03/2020 05:22

My DH pulls stunts like this too.
I'm in Australia, where guide dogs are called "seeing eye dogs" - I keep telling DH I'm not his "thinking brain dog", because that's how I feel sometimes.
Things like standing in front of an open fridge and asking me where X is, rather than just using his eyes.
I do EVERYTHING to do with the kids, he does nothing unless asked and repeatedly reminded (except football training, he seems to manage to remember that Hmm)
I'm not sure he even knows what year they're in at school! Well the older one he does, because he's just started high school, but he'll forget soon enough.

I don't know what you can do about it, in all honesty - the older DH gets, the less he bothers to try, he just devolves all responsibility onto me whenever and wherever possible.

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