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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

How to get partner to do more around the house?

7 replies

thisisarubbishname · 14/09/2023 20:48

We have been married 15 yrs and have 2 kids, one of which has complex medical needs. I am at my wits end with the amount of housework left for me to deal with.

Background is my DH works 2 x 12 hour shifts a week, mainly weekends. I work full time mon-fri. We do this as our child needs one of us home when not in school. We have a cycle of me getting more and more frustrated with the amount of stuff not done around the house, I end up asking for help and I get maybe 2 days of him doing more than the bare minimum and then it reverts back to his old ways. I have tried calenders, lists, a household chore app (that actually shows what needs doing and who did it) and yet he still can not/will not consider it an issue.

For example here is how today has gone - both kids in school, I'm at work. what got done? the dishwasher got emptied. not even refilled with dirty crockery - I came home to the dirty dishes all over the kitchen. he's literally sat in front of TV all day. I've come home and had to start cleaning and sorting stuff out. I say it's not fair that I'm left carrying the load of the housework and he genuinely thinks he's done enough as he waited in a telephone Q for 80 mins waiting to cancel our broadband contract. Then says he can't eat his evening meal as I've hurt his feelings and he's no longer hungry. wtaf?

He has suffered from depression for years. I have suggested counselling and he has said counselling either for him or as a couple won't help so will not try it.

I have no idea what to do. I cant leave the house unclean as we have children and basic hygiene isn't negotiable for me. This sounds awful but I can't even stand to be in a room with him now, I resent him so much. I can't afford to leave him as I'd need to leave my job to ensure my son had care outwith school hours and term time isn't an option. I feel completely and utterly trapped with him.

Any ideas on how to have a conversation with him about where we go from here without him going in a sulk like he has tonight?

OP posts:
Poontangle · 14/09/2023 20:51

This is what divorce lawyers are for, seriously.

thisisarubbishname · 14/09/2023 20:52

Easier said than done with a disabled kid in the mix unfortunately

OP posts:
Watchkeys · 14/09/2023 22:04

Do you think it's your responsibility to get him to do stuff, then?

AnneLovesGilbert · 14/09/2023 22:24

He’s not going to change because he doesn’t want to. You know that, nothing you say will make him decide to get off his lazy arse and do what needs doing.

Ditching him won’t be easy but it is always possible.

Given you know he’s happy to watch you work yourself into the ground doing it all, what do you hope will happen? He literally thinks he’s too good for housework. I wouldn’t want to look at him either.

Sparkleapple · 15/09/2023 07:49

Sorry you're in this position. I have been too, for years. I tried everything - discussions, lists, listening to his feelings about it and trying to work with it, couples therapy, individual therapy. Nothing worked. So the last few years I gave up trying and I just did everything myself - it was actually easier.

But I felt so alone and just couldn't understand how he could be so selfish - he'd see me exhausted trying to sort all the house stuff out and he would just walk off and lie on the sofa. My DH has always had depression too.

I am now at the point where I am about to leave him (other reasons as well have led to this). The children are older and more independent, financially it will be tight, but possible. One of my dc has additional needs, it's much easier now but a lot harder when he was young. So I totally understand how trapped you feel - I was so exhausted just keeping the show on the road I would not have had the energy or resources to leave.

My advice would be - please don't waste any energy on trying to get him to change - he will not change. It would be better for you to conserve your energy and spend it on yourself, your children, your job. Maybe in the future there will come a point where it will be possible for you to leave, because living in a relationship like this is soul destroying. In the meantime, just take care and look after yourself.

junebirthdaygirl · 15/09/2023 08:25

If you were divorced could he not still have his time with the dc after school in his own place. At least you would not have any expectations of coming home to a clean house as it would be as you left it. As the way it is at the moment is just soul destroying. And frustrating.
Can you both afford a cleaner mid week so at least one evening is clean. But for someone to treat you so selfishly is heartbreaking and not a way you can continue to endure.

JudyEdithPerry · 15/09/2023 08:29

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

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