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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

I have had enough (apologies for some gross details!)

125 replies

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 09:21

I have been with my husband for years, we have 2 young children and l am about to go back to work after maternity leave. I have gone back quite quickly due to money concerns, us not getting on very well especially due to the way he speaks to me. I admit l do feel a bit of resentment about this. There have also been rows about division of chores e.g. he reckons it isn't possible for us to do ANYTHING but the bare bare minimum at the weekend when he is off work e.g. cooking, washing up etc. But somehow l can do it in the week when l am on my own with 2 young children -l am yet to get an explanation from him that explains how that works. The dynamic often feels like me living with 2 young children and my teenage son -he always wants to do the bare minimum, stopping him doing dangerous stuff e.g. putting bouncers on tables with baby in etc.

Last night he started asking me what would l do to induce him to take better care of his personal hygiene. l have made it clear l am grossed out by his long black toenails, have stopped washing his pants when he hasn't wiped his bum properly and they are stained. I obviously said well, none. You keeping on top of your personal hygiene is on you, l don't need to persuade or reward you for doing it. He is 40 years old after all! He is then annoyed and said l need to be "more sensitive". I said you have no medical problem, l even suggested you go to the GP but you declined. He thinks l am being unreasonable and pushed for an inducement for him to be better kempt. Like l said to him if l left my used sanitary towels on the floor, l doubt you would be offering inducements and instead would tell me to stop being so grim!

To add insult to injury he starts making sexual advances when we go to bed which l make clear l am not in the mood for. Funnily enough our discussion and his reaction wasn't very attractive to me. I woke up this morning having slept badly after strange dreams, weirdly enough after dreams of trying to buy a flat as we had split up and gone our separate ways.

OP posts:
HawdMeBack · 27/09/2023 10:43

Just got a new pair actually, they're great 👓

Stop slavering!

Bored1000 · 27/09/2023 10:46

From what I read he sounds deeply unattractive in many ways but I’m not the one married to him.

Do you find anything attractive about him, has he more good qualities than bad.

Is the lack of personal hygiene a recent thing.

Well at least you can be sure he isn’t having an affair ….as who would have him

Janieforever · 27/09/2023 10:52

That’s what I’m thinking it must be recent, so potentially depression or other mental health issues. No one would willingly have sex with someone like this. Not unless they also had issues, so op this is the key point. When did he start to decline to this stage?

amd is he trying to say you should reward him for personal hygiene with sexual favours.

i honestly feel nauseous just writing that. One of the grimmest things I’ve read but I do empathise if he is very unwell.

Gettingbysomehow · 27/09/2023 10:54

Oh Jesus I won't even let workmen into my house if they stink. Let alone a husband I'd be off asap.

Daleksatemyshed · 27/09/2023 11:01

It's bad enough he's grubby and expects you to give him an incentive to stay clean, I presume he was fishing for a sex act. He's just lazy Op, too lazy to keep clean, too lazy to do a decent amount in the house. When you're working and looking after the DC and doing 90% of the housework your resentment will grow and grow. If you can find a way to talk him around then great, but I can't see it happening

wildwestpioneer · 27/09/2023 11:07

Wtaf, he wants YOU to tell him what he needs to do, to improve his personal hygiene? Is he 4 years old?

I also read it that he wants you to tell him what to do so he can be rewarded with sex - which is doubly grim.

As for his attitude towards house and life admin - make that 3x grim

CoffeeBeansGalore · 27/09/2023 11:08

Incentives for good personal hygiene?
He is 40!!!!
Clean yourself up or you're out Sonny Jim.

Janieforever · 27/09/2023 11:11

Daleksatemyshed · 27/09/2023 11:01

It's bad enough he's grubby and expects you to give him an incentive to stay clean, I presume he was fishing for a sex act. He's just lazy Op, too lazy to keep clean, too lazy to do a decent amount in the house. When you're working and looking after the DC and doing 90% of the housework your resentment will grow and grow. If you can find a way to talk him around then great, but I can't see it happening

I don’t think it is laziness. It must be mental illness. He doesn’t even wipe his own bottom properly, his toenails are filthy and long. I really doubt the op got with him like this or was happily shagging him last year if like this, who could stomach it unless they were also very unwell, so this must be a decline and understanding that is key.

out of self respect as adults we wipe our own arses if physically or mentally possible. He must smell awful. So there must be more to it. The other option of course is learning difficulties or additional needs, but the op would have said that.

millymog11 · 27/09/2023 11:51

If you have very young children with him it cannot be that long ago that his personal hygiene was dramatically different to the extent that your children were conceived?
That aside, just reading your posts makes me sooooo so so so so glad I am a single mum and its just me and the kids living here.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 27/09/2023 11:53

Toenails and skidmarks - Ick.

The baby bouncer situation would drive me insane. The thought of them bouncing off the table onto a hard floor... Who would do that?
It means that you have to watch him and can't relax if he insists on doing things like that despite being told the risks. ( I understand the mum who does it whilst child is in reach) but what if your DH wandered off?

Couples counselling. minimum -
Let him see the counsellor's reaction to his germy and careless behaviour.
He needs to learn some self respect and grow up enough to parent properly.
Sorry if that sounds harsh.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 27/09/2023 12:06

I think I’d be making that dream a reality!

Thats just disgusting.

KnottyKnitting · 27/09/2023 12:11

He wants incentives to keep himself clean? Make him a sticker chart and put him in the shed.

Bleugh- he sounds revolting!

Medusaismyhero · 27/09/2023 12:16

Would a reward chart with stickers help OP? Maybe you could also have a bag full of pound shop tat toys that he can pick from once he gets 5 or ten stars. Wiped his bum properly = 1 star, cuts his toenails = 1 star etc etc. Hope that helps!

bemorebernard · 27/09/2023 12:19

I'd turn that dream into reality op.

I cannot stand men who are such pathetic creatures that they expect someone else to remind them to cut their nails or wipe their arse

I wonder if my ex husband has changed his ways since he now has to wash his own underwear.

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 12:42

Medusaismyhero · 27/09/2023 12:16

Would a reward chart with stickers help OP? Maybe you could also have a bag full of pound shop tat toys that he can pick from once he gets 5 or ten stars. Wiped his bum properly = 1 star, cuts his toenails = 1 star etc etc. Hope that helps!

Loving these suggestions! Definitely borrowing them. Might even throw in some Haribo if he's especially good!

OP posts:
Anothagoatthis · 27/09/2023 12:48

There’s been a lot of comments on his personal hygiene and I agree he is clearly disgusting. I definitely wouldn’t tolerate that but the overall communication between the two of you actually sounds more of a bigger issue, which ties into a wider problem of lack of respect and consideration :

I have gone back quite quickly due to money concerns, us not getting on very well especially due to the way he speaks to me. I admit l do feel a bit of resentment about this.”

Are the money concerns just the usual relating to the hike in cost of living etc or is there some level of poor money management going on as well?

How exactly does he speak to you? Disrespectfully no doubt but I’m wondering are his words also aggressive or abusive?

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 12:50

VeridicalVagabond · 27/09/2023 09:43

Am I correct that he's hinting that he wants you to perform sexual favours in exchange for him cleaning his arse and cutting his toenails?

Because that is repugnant if so.

No. I do the clothes washing as l hate doing washing up, whereas he hates doing clothes washing. So we trade chores we don't like sometimes.

Not sure what l would do in exchange for maintaining minimum hygiene standards. I wash my hair every other day, brush my teeth 2-3 times a day and always have clean nails. What do l get for all of that with his logic?! In reality l should be doing those things anyway

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 27/09/2023 12:52

This man is an absolutely appalling example for your kids.

Honestly op, you need to do a lot of thinking to figure out why you've allow your bar to sink so abysmally low. This is just not normal.

Anothagoatthis · 27/09/2023 12:55

Aquamarine1029 · 27/09/2023 12:52

This man is an absolutely appalling example for your kids.

Honestly op, you need to do a lot of thinking to figure out why you've allow your bar to sink so abysmally low. This is just not normal.

I agree, it’s all so grim. If a man had just one of these issues OP has mentioned it would be a dealbreaker but to have all of them is completely awful.

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 13:00

Anothagoatthis · 27/09/2023 12:48

There’s been a lot of comments on his personal hygiene and I agree he is clearly disgusting. I definitely wouldn’t tolerate that but the overall communication between the two of you actually sounds more of a bigger issue, which ties into a wider problem of lack of respect and consideration :

I have gone back quite quickly due to money concerns, us not getting on very well especially due to the way he speaks to me. I admit l do feel a bit of resentment about this.”

Are the money concerns just the usual relating to the hike in cost of living etc or is there some level of poor money management going on as well?

How exactly does he speak to you? Disrespectfully no doubt but I’m wondering are his words also aggressive or abusive?

A lot of the time talking down to me like lm an idiot quite frankly. Money issues are mainly to do with cost of living crisis e.g. our mortgage went up £100 a week. We have cut back as much as we can but have to be careful.

OP posts:
BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 13:02

Aquamarine1029 · 27/09/2023 12:52

This man is an absolutely appalling example for your kids.

Honestly op, you need to do a lot of thinking to figure out why you've allow your bar to sink so abysmally low. This is just not normal.

But my bar hasn't sank, his has and he gets annoyed when l said he has to pull his socks up. I am being "mean" when l challenge him about it apparently

OP posts:
BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 13:05

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/09/2023 09:49

I couldn’t share a bed with him, that’s just rank, makes me want to puke in my mouth. When did he start being so disgusting? Why would a GP need to help with wiping his arse or cutting his toe nails?

You’re at the point of seeing him with contempt and that’s fatal, no coming back from it. Leave.

He reckons the bum thing is a medical problem, l obviously do not understand how it could be. I was humouring him with the GP suggestion. Surprise surprise he doesn't want to go to the GP. I am also loathe to work out solutions as he can work it out for herself or err use toilet paper. We have literally a dozen rolls in the house right now

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 27/09/2023 13:06

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 13:02

But my bar hasn't sank, his has and he gets annoyed when l said he has to pull his socks up. I am being "mean" when l challenge him about it apparently

But my bar hasn't sank...

I'm sorry, op, but your bar has absolutely sunk. It's a bitter pill to swallow but it's just the truth. You are allowing yourself and your kids to live with this. For myself and every woman I know, this level of filth would be a total deal breaker, never mind the horrible way he treats you.

You are your children deserve far, far better than this depravity. It's beyond grim.

BlueJeans501 · 27/09/2023 13:06

Oldthyme · 27/09/2023 09:50

I do hope he washes his nether regions before bed/making advances towards you? Could be a cess pit down there if he’s challenged by making sure he properly wipes during the day? Ick!

As for his toe nails why are they so dirty? Is he a manual worker on roads/farming/construction that kind of thing where dirt seeps into his boots? All he has to do is clip his nails, soak them in a bowl of warm water (in front of tv) use a nail brush with soap and job’s done. I know you’re not his mum but is that worth suggesting!

Yep he has a daily shower

No. He works at home or at an office. Nothing remotely manual

OP posts:
Duxelle · 27/09/2023 13:08

Sorry but this is utterly vile.
Such a lack of respect for you and for himself.