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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 many arguments has a dirty kitchen started?

3 replies

Callmepale · 04/09/2022 10:20

Years ago, I stopped nagging DH to do housework. As a result, I do most of it and he seems to get a random surge of energy to do it every few weeks or so. It works ok. He's a great attentive dad to our DS so I'd say things are pretty equal.

HOWEVER

Over the last few weeks I've been so so tired around 9pm. DH has said a couple of times that I should go to bed and leave all the washing up in the kitchen for him. He does this around 1am when he goes to bed and not to a great standard. While I'm not a clean freak, I feel much better going to bed knowing, dishes are clean, dried and put away and the sink and surfaces are clean. Last night 9.30 rolled around and he said he'd clean up. There were dishes from 2 hours previously so I decided to do the kitchen clean up instead.

Very out of character, DH stormed in shouting 'i said I'd do it!' He saw me doing the cleaning as 'undermining him' and as an attack. I explained why I wanted to do it and he called me insane and told me to eff off.

I was so angry and scared. I asked about the over reaction. He said I always make him feel bad, not enough and undermine him. I apologised and said it was never my intention. He apologised though my feelings are still a bit hurt.

Things are a bit awkward today and I don't seem to be able to break the ice. How would you move forward?

OP posts:
morbidd · 04/09/2022 10:23

What is wrong with the way he does it?

Callmepale · 04/09/2022 10:28

@morbidd leaving visible marks on dishes, not drying up, sink left dirty, surfaces not cleaned. It sounds a little petty but the kitchen is the one thing I like to go to bed knowing is clean.

OP posts:
GiftIdeasAlwaysNeeded · 04/09/2022 10:32

Years ago, I stopped nagging DH to do housework. As a result, I do most of it and he seems to get a random surge of energy to do it every few weeks or so. It works ok. He's a great attentive dad to our DS so I'd say things are pretty equal.

It's not equal thought, is it? Assuming you are also a great attentive Mum to your DS, you're still doing the majority of the housework and resentment is now starting to (understandably) build up on your part.

I'd have no issue with him sorting the kitchen much later than you did, if it was done to a proper, hygienic standard, which it's not.

Time to have a proper conversation - he can start to clean up properly, you can work out which jobs both of you are best at and agree to stick to those, or he fucks off.

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