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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

DH being fucking mean, IMO

52 replies

LetUsAyy · 02/08/2021 12:35

NC for this one

DH and I downloaded an app called Paired. Basically it asks you a question and when you've both answered it, it shares your answers with each other. Mostly fun but it also helps you identify where you're not on the same page.

Yesterday it had a quiz about the division of household labour. I answered honestly, in that I feel I do more than my fair share around here and that he doesn't do his, that I don't feel I get any appreciation for what I do and I don't feel that I have enough support in this regard. He knows this anyway, it's the only bone of contention between us that he clocks off when he gets home and I just keep on and on working, picking up after everyone. Weekends are for relaxing- for everyone except me! Every so often, he and the DC will realise I'm seriously drowning under all the extra stuff they heap on me and they'll pull their weight for approximately four days at most. I'm not martyring myself, but I don't want to spend all my waking hours nagging at others. It seems like smashing my head against a brick wall. Pointless drama that only hurts me.

Anyway. As soon as he opened the app, he dramatically went "oh, I bet you've been dying for this one to come up" and refused to answer anything! So I told him how I answered, because I don't think it's fair for him to shut it down when I have things to say. I wouldn't do it to him. He suddenly snapped, right in the middle of a sentence I was saying, "ALRIGHT, sorry I don't want to be anyone's fucking house servant!!"

As if I want to be!! ConfusedConfused

I said to him that doing his fair share isn't servitude, it's basic adulting and basic respect for me as his wife and he said that he never wanted a life where he came home from work and had to pick up after anyone else. I asked him why he thinks it's ok for me to have to do it and he launched into me having a totally different upbringing to him. I did not get what his point was at all. I asked him to explain that and he said if I don't know what he's on about there's no point getting into it.

He grew up in a middle class household where they had a cleaner come three times a week and his mum tidied his room until he moved out! I grew up in a working class household where we all had to pull our weight or God help us. So I said "if you're hoping I'm going to be your mum you are dead wrong." And he told me I was miles off base and looking to make him feel inadequate. Brought up how well he looks after me if I'm ill. I agreed that he does but said that I think that's largely because he knows it's temporary and he won't be needed to step up for long. I pointed out how long he gets to convalesce if unwell, which is almost three times as long as me, because he doesn't panic about his ever increasing workload.

He said I'm determined to cast him as a villain and he probably could do "a bit more to help out." I replied that it's not helping out because this isn't MY role, it's both of our responsibility and he needs to stop shirking. He called me impossible and went back to bed! He's still there now. I'm furious! What to do about this? In all other ways, he's lovely. But he is so damn lazy around the house that I absolutely despair. He never does a single thing unless he's nagged into it.

OP posts:
Sundancerintherain · 02/08/2021 12:37

Tell him to either step up or buy in his contribution, ie pay himself for a cleaner.

5128gap · 02/08/2021 12:44

Are you in full time work as well OP?

ComtesseDeSpair · 02/08/2021 12:45

If this is literally the only or main relationship issue you have, get a cleaner. Honestly, life is too short to bicker over the vacuuming. And no, it doesn’t solve the problem regarding his attitude to cleaning, but sometimes in life it’s better to be happy than to be right.

RandomMess · 02/08/2021 12:47

This is about so much more than you realise.

His dick means that he is absolved of all duties...

Do you get equal leisure time?

ChaToilLeam · 02/08/2021 12:49

He’s a right CF. So it’s okay for you to do more because of your upbringing, but heaven help us if Lord Muck dirties his dainty hands on a duster!

He knows you’re in the right, which is why he is being so arsey. He is showing basic disrespect to you.

username18702 · 02/08/2021 12:53

Draw up a family rota. If you have children they can help out. Parents should bring their children up to do household chores or they'll end up like Little Lord Fauntleroy who thinks cleaning up after himself or contributing fairly means he's a 'fucking servant.'

You understand that he sees you as a 'fucking servant' though OP. As a pp said, this isn't really about cleaning. He doesn't respect you.

MumDad1958 · 02/08/2021 12:54

DON'T do his washing! DON'T do his ironing! DON'T cook his meals! How dare he treat you like his skivvy & not as his equal!

Timeforabiscuit · 02/08/2021 12:54

You're not wrong and he needs to organise a cleaner.

However, does he do the life administration of Bill paying, car mot, insurance renewal, holiday planning, childcare cover etc? These should be included in general adulting. If he doesn't do that either I'd be struggling to see how he contributes aside from a pay packet and a bed warmer.

ravenmum · 02/08/2021 12:54

You both downloaded the app, together, because you both wanted insights into your relationship? He downloaded it? You did?

Do you come home from work and pick up for other people? If so, maybe stop?

bigbaggyeyes · 02/08/2021 12:54

I would down tools for him. No washing, cooking, cleaning or ironing. I'd do what I had to for my own mental health but nothing more. I'd also set out a Rita for the children to do their fair share. Depending on age they'd get the same treatment if they didn't pull their weight.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/08/2021 12:57

This wouldn't work for me. It's not his attitude about "cleaning", it's his lack of respect and near zero consideration for you as a person. He won't be a skivvy, but he's perfectly fine with you being one. He's a man and he won't lower himself to do "women's work." How he's "so lovely" is beyond me. Your husband is selfish, lazy and demeaning.

Kazplus2 · 02/08/2021 12:57

If it bothers you then just follow his lead and don't do anything more than he does.

User135644 · 02/08/2021 12:58

@MumDad1958

DON'T do his washing! DON'T do his ironing! DON'T cook his meals! How dare he treat you like his skivvy & not as his equal!
Dump him. Now.
Peace43 · 02/08/2021 13:01

I know what I did… I got divorced!

My husband says the same… he didn’t see why he should have to clean up after me. He was bloody fine with me cleaning up after him though! I was working full time and he wasn’t working but I still did everything in the house except load the dishwasher once a day.

I still do it all now I live alone but there’s 1 adult less mess to pick up!

Underpaidsnackbitch · 02/08/2021 13:07

So really what he is saying is that you should do the housework because you are working class, and used to getting your hands dirty, and he shouldn't have to as he is middle class? So he is better than you? F**k that. I would never do a single thing for him again.

frazzledasarock · 02/08/2021 13:14

Stop doing his work.

Don’t cook for him or clean his things eg laundry, ensure you don’t shop for him groceries or toiletries or anything. Don’t do a single thing for him. You’re not his skivvy.

And start chivvying your kids to pick up after themselves, don’t be racing around after them either. Designate Saturday mornings to tidy the house, one vacuums, one dusts, someone mops, someone tidies shit that’s been piled up on shelves etc until the house is pristine then everyone gets to relax.

Your H sounds like a dick. How nice for him to be able to spend Monday in bed sulking.

Unanananana · 02/08/2021 13:14

God, he sounds disgusting. What a massive turn off.

He doesn't respect you in any way, shape or form. As far as he is concerned you are his housekeeper and broodmare. Although it sounds like his Lordship thought he was lowering himself to associate with the riff raff.

Is that what you want your DC to learn and treat you? Is that how you think you deserve to be treated? WHy does he have so much power?

The first step would be stopping doing anything for him. Then divorce his disgusting person. How you could love that, I have no clue.

SamVimes6 · 02/08/2021 13:24

I’m sure you must already be aware that he doesn’t pull his weight, that he treats you like housekeeping in a hotel, that he thinks he is worth more than you.
The real question isn’t to do with an app, it’s what are you going to do about it/him?

JovialNickname · 02/08/2021 13:24

Do you work full time too? Because if you don't work, I think YABU (although he shouldn't have taken the tone he did). If your role and contribution is taking care of the house and kids whilst he earns the money, then I agree he shouldn't have to come home and do housework. If however you work too then you are completely right and his attitude is appalling.

SamVimes6 · 02/08/2021 13:27

Kazplus2
If it bothers you then just follow his lead and don't do anything more than he does

So poor op gets to live in squalor until her lazy arse of a husband says “oh I’ll just strip the bed, vacuum upstairs and clean the bathrooms”

Like that’s ever going to happen.

fuckoffImcounting · 02/08/2021 13:34

A man who is content to watch his partner run herself ragged is not a loving DH but an abusive arse.

Palavah · 02/08/2021 13:41

How does he think it should work? Does he think less housework is needed, or that you should do more?

Morechocolatethanbarbara · 02/08/2021 13:43

Tell him he's right and that you'd like your kids to grow up with the childhood he had.

So all he has to do is get a job which pays enough so you don't ever have to work again and allow you to also pay for a cleaner 3 times a week.

If he can't do that then the reason he can't live the lifestyle he wants is on his shoulders.

He can't live 1950s style unless he can earn the salary that allows for you all to live it.

He has "failed" to secure the standard of living that his Dad obviously provided so he can't expect you to provide the standard of housework that 3 x a week cleaners plus a full time SAHM can provide.

BTW I think this is all bullshit, he should obviously be taking on 50% of the housework and mental load as that's what being a grown up and parent entails, but maybe explaining that it's his failure to financially provide enough which means he has to do housework will be a language he can understand.

EKGEMS · 02/08/2021 13:48

He's disrespecting your family and being snobbish! So why the fuck does having a damn housecleaner as a child absolve him of those responsibilities when he doesn't currently employ one? OMG I don't tolerate a lazy ass partner and never will

MichelleScarn · 02/08/2021 13:49

he clocks off when he gets home and I just keep on and on working, picking up after everyone.

Who else is in the household and who by and when is the mess being generated? Kids over age of 4 should definitely be able to tidy their own toys away at least.

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