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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

To give this ultimatum?

14 replies

ReadingMum68 · 21/01/2025 19:51

I’ve been with my partner (woman, same-sex) for a while now, she’s only started spending the night at my house for the last 2-3 months, but stays over quite regularly (2-3 nights per week).

I have a DD (age 9) and a dog. When she is here, I cook for all of us and clean up after us, every single time. DD is autistic and I have several chronic illnesses which often leave me feeling very tired and run-down.

I, of course, always make breakfast and dinner for DD (she has lunch at school) but me and my partner often eat different things due to dietary preferences and because the mornings can be quite busy, I usually don’t eat with DD and wait until she’s at school instead. Some mornings, I don’t have the energy to eat or make breakfast, sometimes I have to go back to bed and stay there until DD finishes school because my body won’t let me do anything else (I’m off work long-term due to my health issues at the moment).

My issue is, that my partner will never ever offer to make any food - not for me (which is fine), but not even for herself. I have told her multiple times to help herself and she said she knows she can do that etc, but if I don’t get up and make food - she literally just won’t eat, it’s like the expectation is there for me to do it and she’s waiting for me to offer sort of thing. It’s almost making me dread when she comes over because it uses up so much of my energy cooking for and cleaning up after another adult when usually it’s just me and DD.

AIBU in almost issuing an ultimatum saying that you either cook for yourself when I’m not feeling up to it from now on or we’ll just stick to seeing each other during the day when she's off work from now on so she can eat before/after at her own place?

On the one hand, I know she's only been staying at my house for a couple of months, but on the other hand she stays over quite a bit and she says she feels more comfortable here than at her own house, so I'm then just thinking she's just being lazy if that's the case?

TIA!

OP posts:
Largestlegocollectionever · 21/01/2025 19:54

Ask her to make you breakfast!

Or just don’t make any and don’t worry about her not eating, she’s an adult, if she wants to eat she will!

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 19:55

I don't think you should be issuing an ultimatum just yet, you haven't even really had a conversation.

Maybe suggest going shopping together and going half on the shopping so she feels more comfortable eating at your house if she's paying towards it. Or just ask her to make you both a sandwich or whatever rather than the open ended "help yourself".

I wouldn't feel comfortable helping myself to food when I know the person is struggling with various things and finances were limited.

HoppityBun · 21/01/2025 19:56

why does it have to be an ultimatum? As far as I can tell, you have not yet told her that you would like her to cook. You’ve said she can make herself a meal but that’s completely different

ReadingMum68 · 21/01/2025 19:57

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 19:55

I don't think you should be issuing an ultimatum just yet, you haven't even really had a conversation.

Maybe suggest going shopping together and going half on the shopping so she feels more comfortable eating at your house if she's paying towards it. Or just ask her to make you both a sandwich or whatever rather than the open ended "help yourself".

I wouldn't feel comfortable helping myself to food when I know the person is struggling with various things and finances were limited.

Financially, I’m actually doing okay due to an inheritance, so she knows I’m not struggling for money… we do go food shopping together when she’s here… but I end up paying for everything (even the things she picks out for herself)…

OP posts:
2025willbemytime · 21/01/2025 19:58

Be careful about spending all your inheritance on someone who is manipulating you.

Catofthesouth · 21/01/2025 19:58

David Attenborough voice “an interesting example of the female of the species being a bastard COCKLODGER” or at least one in the making. In the bin x

SnugCoralFinch · 21/01/2025 19:59

Has there been any discussion prior to this? It’s possible she just assumed this was something you were happy to do - if there hasn’t been any conversation about it jumping in with an ultimatum is a bit much.

TwistedWonder · 21/01/2025 20:00

Sorry but she sounds like a lazy freeloader. You’re not her servant.

Just seen your update that you pay for all
of the food when you go shopping - if she was a man she’d be what’s known as a cocklodger.

Id tread very carefully here. There’s a lot of red flags including the fact she knows you’ve had an inheritance and seems to think that means you bankroll her

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 20:01

ReadingMum68 · 21/01/2025 19:57

Financially, I’m actually doing okay due to an inheritance, so she knows I’m not struggling for money… we do go food shopping together when she’s here… but I end up paying for everything (even the things she picks out for herself)…

Next time ask her to transfer you over X amount of money for the shopping.

She will keep doing it if you don't speak up. Whether that's through greed or thoughtlessness will become apparent when you ask her.

IsItSummerSoon · 21/01/2025 20:03

I don’t think this bodes well. Sure you can have a conversation about it, but ultimately you’d want to be with someone who helps out of their own initiative, who pays for things in turn without needing to be asked. For me this would not be the sort of person I’d want to be with.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/01/2025 20:03

How long have you been together?.

Get rid of her. This person is your Mrs Wrong and she loves your inheritance more than you. You are letting her use you.

Shoemadlady · 21/01/2025 20:16

What positives does she bring to your life? Doesn't sound like many? Does she support you with your ill health? Help with your DD? She sounds like a massive freeloader, I'd get rid

MyNewLife2025 · 21/01/2025 20:16

I think I’d start by talking to her.
Tell her you’re very happy she is staying at yours BUT you can’t cook for her the way you ate doing atm. Surely she knows you’re ill so it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Then lay down boundaries: one meal for both of you not two different things. She cooks half of the time (for the two of you).

Her reaction will tell you everything.

fwiw I’ve learnt that a lot of people don’t believe you if you say you’re ill but push yourself to let’s say cook a lot. They assume that of you do it, then you can do it. Because they’d never say Yes to do said cooking being as tired as you are.
So don’t. Look after yourself first. And learn to say No when you can’t do stuff rather than pushing yourself like this

category12 · 21/01/2025 21:24

Just say "if you're staying, we need to take turns cooking and cleaning up after".

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