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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

Feeling like a maid

136 replies

Evermoreobsessed · 30/10/2024 11:43

I am at the end of my tether with DP. We have lived together for 6 years. He has always been messy so probably is my own fault. I could see past it initially and then got into the unhealthy dynamic where i ended up doing most of the housework just to have a nicer house (even when we lived in his place). Over the years I have been trying to get him to pull some weight and he will do the odd cleaning job when I tell him specifically what needs done. I'm not bothered about doing the bigger house clean as I like things done my way anyway.
But the things that are starting to bother me are more recent developments. For example he has stopped putting his laundry in the basket just leaves on the floor, will trim his beard and leave hair all over the bathroom after I've just cleaned, leaves food packaging and dishes around the kitchen rather than putting away, and most disgustingly won't even check if he has flushed the toilet properly. It's all making it a huge turn off. I have spoken to him about it with little change and it's embarrassing having to tell a grown man to make sure he's flushed the toilet properly?! I feel he is being disrespectful and acts like there's a maid running after him to the point I'm wondering if I should just tell him it's over if he won't change. What would you do in this situation where you knew he was messy but it's gotten to this point - would you leave?

OP posts:
AmyDudley · 30/10/2024 17:09

When you have asked someone repeatedly not to do something because it upsets you, and they still keep doing it, they are doing deliberately because they enjoy upsetting you.

He wouldn't leave the toilet unflushed at work, or in someone else's house, so he's leaving it unflushed because he enjoys the idea of you having to flush the toilet for him, because it is demeaning for you.

Catoo · 30/10/2024 17:12

Evermoreobsessed · 30/10/2024 16:54

To be fair I have lost it on occasions it just doesn't seem to have made a difference so now all this resentment has built up.

I never really thought he was doing it to demean or control me tbh, I have just thought he was a lazy bast*rd however it's got to the stage where it feels like a lack of respect. Whatever the reason I can't tolerate it much longer in reality and I'm questioning why I have let it get this far.

Not flushing a toilet isn’t laziness. Probably takes more mental effort to deliberately not flush it.

He either wants you to break it off so he’s being repulsive. Or he isn’t liking your promotions. He’s reminding you what your role should be. Maybe watched some Tate-esque crap about trad women and how feminists who value careers have ruined everything for men.

I’d be done. Life too short to spend on people like him.

DeepRoseFish · 30/10/2024 17:29

Sounds just like my ex. He won’t change.
He expects you to clean up after him. He has a sense of entitlement like most men.
I live alone and it’s absolute bliss.

user1471538283 · 30/10/2024 17:36

He's doing it on purpose. It's contempt. You are not worth him even flushing the loo. Each time he's saying "there you go, she's not worth it".

I bet he flushes it at work, friends' houses, when he's in a bar. I couldn't be with someone who had so much contempt for me and my time and so little pride.

You've got a toddler and you are not his mother.

Barbarella73 · 30/10/2024 17:47

Time to heave ho, OP. Not flushing the toilet? I’m betting he manages to flush the toilet at work and at other people’s houses - because he cares about what those people think of him. It’s disgusting and disrespectful, and kills desire stone dead.

My ex husband used to regularly ‘forget’ to empty the bin (one of his few tasks as I took care of almost everything). One day I couldn’t take yet another overflowing bin and I emptied it on to his bathroom floor (we had separate bathrooms). That worked for a while, but before long the bin was overflowing again. So I emptied it into the back of his car, and that did the trick for the next few years.

We’re divorced now, and every day i’m
grateful that I no longer live with someone that won’t even do the minimum.

Stormyweatheroutthere · 30/10/2024 17:49

Is your sex life OK? Next time he initiates it tell him you can't feel in the mood after seeing his turds in the loo /dirty pants /socks on the floor..... When dh use to be quite grumpy I told him he sounded like his df so no way was I shagging him!

buttonsB4 · 30/10/2024 17:56

Is it a rented house? His house? Your house? Do you both own it?

You need to make plans to leave, because this won't get any better, he simply doesn't value you.

Your life will be so much nicer in a home where you just have to clean up after yourself instead of him as well.

Work out how to split and separate asap, you've wasted enough time on this man-child.

MrTwatchester · 30/10/2024 18:28

Jesus, so much overthinking going on in this thread, with all these elaborate "that'll show him" schemes.

Just dump him.

Evermoreobsessed · 30/10/2024 18:41

@buttonsB4 We own the house jointly which I msure makes it more difficult but obviously not impossible.

@Stormyweatheroutthere haha no we rarely have sex now mostly as I'm never in the mood, god knows why...

@Barbarella73 yes he is meant to do the bins and recycling but he can't even put stuff in them to begin with and quite often forgets to put them out for collection despite being told the night before.

I'm not even asking what I should do anymore as it's quite glaringly obvious I can't live with this sh*t but it's nice to rant about how bloody useless he is.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 30/10/2024 18:53

You are right you need to leave. He doesn't respect you and is content to watch you clean his shit and not pull his weight despite you both working full time.

If you end it he may promise to change. He won't, if he wanted to change for you he would have done so when you asked the many times previous. It won't last he will make an effort for a few months or weeks then when he's comfortable he will switch back. And he will know he can convince you to stay.

Eddielizzard · 30/10/2024 18:59

He doesn't treat you with respect. That would be a mega turn off for me. How can you turn this around? You could try going on strike. See who caves first (hint: it can't be you). But that would be V hard.

PaminaMozart · 30/10/2024 19:05

Tomorrow, on your way to work, call on 3 local estate agents and make appointments for them to come and value the house.

Right now, grab a pad and pen and go around the house and make a list of things that need doing to get it ready for sale.

At the weekend, do a thorough declutter.

It's called getting your ducks in a row. You'll feel infinitely better once you start getting proactive and set things in motion.

Evermoreobsessed · 30/10/2024 19:06

Eddielizzard · 30/10/2024 18:59

He doesn't treat you with respect. That would be a mega turn off for me. How can you turn this around? You could try going on strike. See who caves first (hint: it can't be you). But that would be V hard.

Yes I know I can't do that as the thing that's got me in this position is the fact I can't live in this mess. Initially he used the excuse that I have higher standards (which I do agree) but it's got to the point where anyone with basic standards are higher than his! I have tried to go on strike before but get so fed up that I just end up picking up or cleaning up whatever it is.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/10/2024 19:09

I don't want to live in a pig sty which is why I've taken on more cleaning because I have higher standards than him and I'm fine with that, but I'm not fine with being disrespected at the level it's gotten to.

He doesn't clean to his standards. He could clean the 50% be cares about and leave the rest to you. But he doesn't.

I have lower standards than DH but I don't leave everything to him.

Savingthehedgehogs · 30/10/2024 19:19

Evermoreobsessed · 30/10/2024 16:54

To be fair I have lost it on occasions it just doesn't seem to have made a difference so now all this resentment has built up.

I never really thought he was doing it to demean or control me tbh, I have just thought he was a lazy bast*rd however it's got to the stage where it feels like a lack of respect. Whatever the reason I can't tolerate it much longer in reality and I'm questioning why I have let it get this far.

Unless he has severe learning disabilities he would have learnt to flush at 3/4 years old onwards. Most people do so automatically. It takes more effort to not do so. It is deliberate.
Most people would be very embarrassed to leave dirty pants all over the floor in full view:

How much more would he need to do to cross your red lines?

How dare he treat you in this way op. Your relationship sounds so miserable.

IsawwhatIsaw · 30/10/2024 19:31

As a minimum he resents you, more likely he hates you.
Jealous of your success maybe? Who knows. But its clear he won’t change, so I wouldn’t waste any more time on him.

Maray1967 · 30/10/2024 19:33
  1. Laundry - pick it up and throw it in his wardrobe. If he asks, tell him - anything you leave on the floor will be thrown in your wardrobe.
  2. Rubbish - shove it all in a bin bag, take it out to his car if he has his own, and shake it out in there. Tell him that this will happen every time he leaves the kitchen in a state.
  3. Toilet - hit the roof - preferably when he’s on the phone to someone.
Maray1967 · 30/10/2024 19:34

And make sure he knows he’s on probation. Step up, or we’re done.

Savingthehedgehogs · 30/10/2024 19:50

He probably feels angry you won’t have sex with him, and this is his way of getting revenge/feeling slighted or rejected.

HangingOutInRaccoonCity · 30/10/2024 19:52

Is he trying to assert his dominance and put you in your place because you out earn him?
Whatever his reasons, this is an unacceptable way for you to live. Can you imagine a lovely future with this man?

Time to let him know and let him go.

VoteDappy · 30/10/2024 20:42

IsawwhatIsaw · 30/10/2024 19:31

As a minimum he resents you, more likely he hates you.
Jealous of your success maybe? Who knows. But its clear he won’t change, so I wouldn’t waste any more time on him.

Or wants out of the relationship but doesnt want to be the bad guy .
when you end it he can blame you for being a horrible nagging woman blah blah 🙄
Tale as old as time

AdoraBell · 30/10/2024 21:01

I could not live like this OP

If you don’t want to live as a non paid maid, which he wants, then walk away. You are worth so much more.

Undercovermole · 30/10/2024 21:26

This sounds like my relationship with my ex. I ended up staying for 12 years but it fell apart as I felt like his mother. I should have left after 3 years, as the writing was on the wall. You won't change him so it's up to you to decide whether you can put up with it and whether you can handle parenting on your own if you ever have children.
I met someone else and we now have a daughter and he pulls his weight so they are out there!

Crikeyalmighty · 30/10/2024 21:28

@category12 any room for a turd in there??

Brombat · 30/10/2024 21:34

I'm thinking this is a dominance thing, keeping you busy keeps you in your place.

Think how much time you'd have in a calm, ordered, clean house.

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