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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:
user16395699 · 02/08/2021 13:52

So he's a misogynist who considers you his servant and is fine with that because you're a lowly woman, but is outraged at the idea of demeaning himself by doing inferior women's work.

He does sound abusive tbh, I agree.

This is not how you view or treat someone you love.

lightlysparkling · 02/08/2021 14:00

Why the fuck are you with him?! He's outright said you're their servant!

SarahDarah · 02/08/2021 14:26
  1. Get a cleaner . As PP said, not worth this strife if you have money for a cleaner which he/the joint account pays for.
  1. Get your kids doing chores and housework now otherwise they'll end up lazy and entitled.
HotPenguin · 02/08/2021 14:35

It sounds like he's saying that because you're working class you're used to doing grunt work, whereas he had a middle class upbringing and never had to lower himself to cleaning and tidying, therefore he's expecting you to continue doing the shit work for the rest of time as that's "your place". What a cunt.

HollowTalk · 02/08/2021 14:48

He sounds horrible. I'm sure he's nice enough when everything's going his way but that's not the sign of a nice guy.

LetUsAyy · 02/08/2021 14:55

@Timeforabiscuit

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.

He does not. I do. All of it. Every single bit of life admin.
OP posts:
LetUsAyy · 02/08/2021 14:59

@JovialNickname

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.
We have a disabled child and I am his full time carer. Some days it's constant and it's round the clock. I also work part time from home and am a student.
OP posts:
Skiptheheartsandflowers · 02/08/2021 14:59

@bigbaggyeyes

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.
This. Stop doing things for him so that he has to do them.
Aquamarine1029 · 02/08/2021 15:00

Are you not starting to wonder why you're with such a useless, selfish, misogynistic prick of a man? He is not lovely, there's nothing lovely about him. The fact that your children are witnessing this dynamic is just terrible. Dad's the king, mum's the skivvy.

Shakirasma · 02/08/2021 15:08

Your husband isn't actually lovely. He only appears to be lovely as long as you allow him to get away with being a lazy, disrespectful, misogynistic jerk.

As soon as you call him out on his unacceptable behabiour, he shows you exactly how lovely he really is.

Crikeyalmighty · 02/08/2021 15:22

I could have written this OP even down to the response, except dont have children still at home. The reason they respond as they do is they know perfectly well they don’t pull their weight housework wise and nor do they intend to. Their attitude is I’m the main earner and that’s enough

Jerima · 02/08/2021 15:31

If this is the only issue in your marriage then get a cleaner and it should be resolved.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/08/2021 15:39

@Jerima

If this is the only issue in your marriage then get a cleaner and it should be resolved.
This issue alone should be a deal breaker. This has nothing to do with cleaning the bloody house, and everything to do about the level of respect and equality in their marriage. Coming from the husband, there is none.
Isthisit22 · 02/08/2021 16:37

Wow. He has told you exactly what he thinks of you: you are working class therefore lovely tasks like cleaning are what you deserve. Whereas he is middle class so too good for such menial tasks.
This is not just a housework problem- he thinks he's fundamentally better than you.
Leave him

Shoxfordian · 02/08/2021 16:43

He’s basically not contributing other than financially to your lives. He’s sexist and he’s not a lovely guy at all. He doesn’t have any respect for you

HeckyPeck · 02/08/2021 17:13

The only time it's fair to not do half the housework is when it's agreed by both parties that one will do more or where one party wants an excessive amount of housework, like a full deep clean or the house everyday or something.

I would make a rota and sit with him to work out what he thinks is fair.

Hopefully if he isn't shit in other ways when he sees it in black and white he'll realise how unfair he's being.

SarahBellam · 02/08/2021 17:23

He is telling you that because he has a lump of gristle between his legs he is too good for housework and that the woman of the house needs to know her place and stop fucking around and get on with the chores without any backchat. KNOW YOUR PLACE, WOMAN. THE MAN OF THE HOUSE MUST BE WAITED ON HAND AND FOOT. ALL HIS NEEDS MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT ANY INCONVENIENCE TO HIM. That’s what he believes. He can either step up, or he can buy in someone to do his jobs for him.

Outbutnotoutout · 02/08/2021 17:26

I would.play him at his.own game.

As soon as he sits down, so would I
If he asks what your making for tea, ask him what he is cooking
Stop washing his clothes
Stop cleaning up anything to do with him
Stop doing his admin
If everyone does nothing at the weekend so do you
Provide for your child obviously but not him, at all

billy1966 · 02/08/2021 17:27

@Isthisit22

Wow. He has told you exactly what he thinks of you: you are working class therefore lovely tasks like cleaning are what you deserve. Whereas he is middle class so too good for such menial tasks. This is not just a housework problem- he thinks he's fundamentally better than you. Leave him
Unbelievable OP.

He his derision for you be ANY clearer.

You are the house skivvy.

Total deal breaker.

I wouldn't do another single thing for him and I would be looking to the future without a waster like him.

Stop doing ANYTHING and find your self respect because he is odious.

Flowers
RightOnTheEdge · 02/08/2021 17:33

He's got no respect for you OP. It's terrible.
He's a lazy, horrible snob. There is nothing lovely about him.

EarthSight · 02/08/2021 17:41

He never does a single thing unless he's nagged into it

Sorry OP, I think you've married a sexist man. Many women don't find out until it's too late.

"ALRIGHT, sorry I don't want to be anyone's fucking house servant!!"

There you go. Right there. - It's fine for you to be a houseservant, because you're a woman, you see. You're meant to be doing low-status, unappreciated, menial drugery......but him? Nah! He's too good for that. Doing housework for him would be humiliating - a challenge to his perceived masculinity and dominance. He's the king of the castle, kings don't lift a finger to do housework, do they? The servants do that, and he views it as subservient......tasks which are fine for you to do of course, but not him. This is why when women have careers the man will often prefer to get a cleaner in than do their fair share. It's because they don't want to lower themselves to those kinds of tasks, as opposed to getting a cleaner because they're really busy or hate doing the work for other reasons.

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

Sounds like he wants a medal for being a basic good partner. You know why? He wants a medal because looking after other people in this way isn't really natural to him. Therefore, he wants to be recognised for his good deeds that he wouldn't otherwise do.

Horehound · 02/08/2021 17:49

This is just all too common isn't it?

I had endless arguments about DH not doing enough. 4 years later it's a bit better but tbh I've just for a cleaner sorted and it's pretty good cause now I have more free time myself.
If you can afford it, I highly recommend.

However, I would want your DH to expand on the comment about your upbringing. Because if it means he thinks you are lower than him, I'd be outta there in a flash.

Adelais · 02/08/2021 17:51

So he thinks he shouldn’t have to do anything just because he doesn’t want to?
What a lazy twit! He has no respect for you.

YeokensYegg · 02/08/2021 18:08

How many DC do you have and how old?

He really isn't lovely. He basically thinks you're beneath him.

layladomino · 02/08/2021 18:23

He's responding in this way because he knows he's in the wrong but won't admit it, as to admit it would mean having to accept he needs to do more. Any he'd rather continue to be lazy and work you in to the ground.

It sounds like he has very little respect for you. Thinks you should do more than him / be the household skivvy (and his logic is either because you are a woman or because you are of a lower class - it would be helpful if you could ask him which is the reason).

I think this would make me re-evaluate the whole relationship, as it reads as though he feels superior to you, and he certainly doesn't mind you working yourself in to the ground while he sits doing what he wants. Not at all attractive.