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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

I don’t think I can live with my partner anymore

100 replies

ThisElatedMintDreamer · 11/02/2025 15:12

Hello Mumsnetters!
Just looking for a little advice or a moan - not sure which.
I have been living with my partner for just over a year with my child from a previous relationship. However, as much as I love him I just don’t know if I can continue to live with him and I’m starting to get easily irritated.
A few reasons as to why:
He eats everything in sight, and will gorge on full packets of biscuits in one sitting. My child asked for a certain packet of biscuits in the weekly food shop, they’ve had one biscuit out of the pack and my partner has scoffed the rest. He barely ever contributes financially to the food shop, and when he lived on his own he would only buy food that he would need for that day eg a microwave meal.
He never puts lids back on anything, which means when I come to use the bubble bath/milk or any liquid they end up spilling everywhere.
He constantly rams clothes into the washing machine to the point that the door will barely close. He will then continue wash after wash to proudly announce the basket is empty but there is nowhere to dry the clothes, and the clothes that are dry he will just throw on the bed for me to sort.
He never washes dishes, but will fill the sink with cold water. This leaves me to get up on a morning and wash his dishes from the night before.
If there is packets of food in the fridge, he will just rip them open to use and then leave them open in the fridge. I’ve tried explaining that we have bag clips to seal things, or if he actually uses the ‘pull me’ tab they will restick but it falls on deaf ears.
He shaves/trims his beard and will just leave all his hairs everywhere.
He never cleans his toothbrush and there will be toothpaste all over the sink/mirror after he has brushed his teeth.
He drops and breaks everything, but will not pay to replace items.
He never closes the back door, and will happily leave it open all day if he has let the dog out.
He will put the heating on in the morning and leave it on all day, and falls asleep with the television on rather than turning it off when he knows he is tired but doesn’t pay towards the heating/electrical bill.
He has point blank said he refuses to learn how to drive, but expects me to be a taxi driver to him and his child when it is his days and never offers petrol.
He does pay half towards household bills (barring gas and electric) but that is where it stops. He won’t pay towards days out, the rare takeaway, or anything financial in the house (our fridge broke and I had to pay for a new one). He also never contributed to anything when we moved into our house eg paint, wallpaper.
He offers to help with housework, but it normally ends with me having to reclean his idea of clean.
Sorry it is a long post but I am at my wits end! No amount of sit down discussions seem to get through to him. Other than the above he is a lovely person, and is nothing but caring towards me and my child. However, I just feel as though since we have moved in together I’ve became a mother to him rather than his partner. He was a very capable adult when living on his own. I’m also pregnant, and I’m beginning to worry about the fact I’m going to have to deal with this behaviour and a child and a newborn. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do other than tell him we will have to live separately?

OP posts:
Catoo · 11/02/2025 19:39

God I couldn’t get through that list of all the shitty things he leaves for you to sort out.

No idea how you got to the point of tolerating any of it.

I’d get rid personally.

But if you want to give him a chance then you need to be clear. Ask him to sort himself out or he needs to move out. And stick to that.

Tell him now that he lives with you and your child he needs to tidy up after himself. You are not his servant. Be very specific about what he must do. So you both wash and dry the dishes straight after a meal. He must put laundry away not leave it for you to do. He must wash the sink after shaving. Make a list.

Oh and he needs to contribute more financially. Tell him a figure that you need.

Good luck with him. I suspect he won’t change but I hope he does.

AnniePavlova · 11/02/2025 19:42

The only advice is to get rid of him. Sorry but from what you have said.. it is awful and when the baby arrives it is only going to get worse for you.. please do not subject your other child to any more crap.

TillyKister · 11/02/2025 19:55

Reading through your OP I was ready to chuck him out, and I don't even live with him 😁

You've got yourself a cocklodger for sure!

He's not a nice person, read through your OP and take off those rose tinted specs. He is all that you describe.

I'm afraid you're going to find life difficult when your baby comes along. He'll be like the 4th child. I bet his ex was glad to see the back of him.

I'd chuck him out, and start as you mean to go on.

RentalWoesNotFun · 11/02/2025 22:30

Bin the cocklodger.
How pregnant are you? If it's just a new situation you might want to consider your options rather than be tied to this lazy pig

Kitjo · 12/02/2025 05:23

"I don't think I can live with my partner anymore" - nor could anybody else!!

I would be in a permanent state of agitation and need mental health support if this slob existed in my space - just awful!

Pregnant- ohhh 😧

MaggieBsBoat · 12/02/2025 05:29

Print your post out and put it in an envelope for him and give it to him then start to pack your stuff.

goody2shooz · 12/02/2025 15:23

@ThisElatedMintDreamer ‘he is a lovely person’ sorry no. What you have described is a complete pig. Cannot imagine what you see in this creature, so I have to assume this is one of these silly posts where the op never returns!

Azerothi · 16/02/2025 17:42

I find it very hard to believe your boyfriend is this bad if you're pregnant, surely you're not that silly. You've made him out to be a horror.

BellissimoGecko · 16/02/2025 17:59

He's not lovely or caring. He's mean, stingy, unsupportive, lazy, greedy, untidy and a slob. What's lovely about any of that??

What did you think ttc with him was a good idea?

Leave. Get CMS.

CestLaVie123 · 16/02/2025 18:02

What the hell OP - just WHY????????

StormingNorman · 16/02/2025 18:07

He’s an absolute slob. I don’t really know what to say about having a baby with him. You are probably going to be a single mum even if you don’t split up. This prince isn’t going to be helpful.

Devianinc · 16/02/2025 18:09

This guy your with is trailer trash and it’s time to take the trash out. How can you let a man eat all your kids food, treats and ruins food. He’s just a big disgusting baby. Ewwwwwwwwwww

notatinydancer · 16/02/2025 18:16

Bloody hell. You're pregnant ?
You will soon have 3 kids.

Miaowzabella · 16/02/2025 19:04

It's not lovely or caring to treat someone else's home like a flophouse.

Shinyandnew1 · 16/02/2025 20:18

Blimey, that was exhausting read. What a waster and what a shame you are having his baby. I would ask him to leave.

BlueFlowers5 · 03/06/2025 00:52

Caring? And doesn't pay towards bills, buy household items when they are needed?

Bankiebabe · 03/06/2025 04:47

Sounds so grim and disrespectful. I couldn't live with him

Havvingaalaugh · 03/06/2025 04:50

Throw this one back. You will be far better just you and your child.

Mummblebee · 03/06/2025 05:36

What the hell??

SingleMama0 · 03/06/2025 12:29

Youve got the mum and teenage son/lodger dynamic going on here. I think you need a discussion on what needs to change. Give him a chance but then if no changes, get rid and live separately. You cant go on like this

ChocolateFairy25 · 03/06/2025 12:41

What a man child, I can't believe you allowed yourself to get pregnant with his child knowing all this about him.

The mess alone would drive me up the wall but everything you've said boils down to plain and simple disrespect. Of you and your home.

Living separately isn't the answer here, leaving this relationship is the answer. A partnership means your share everything from chores to financial responsibility, to childcare. He does none of this so what will change living separately? Other than your house won't be a mess, the rest of the issues in this relationship will still be there.

If he doesn't want to drive that's not an issue, however expecting you to taxi him around is. He needs to be responsible for his own child and the fact he isn't makes me very worried about the baby you are about to have with him.

He's essentially a sponging dosser who takes no care or responsibility in anything he does to the point he can't even put lids on things!!!!

You have 2 kids to think about, ypu don't need this adult baby as a third. Cut your losses and end this relationship for good.

MaryGreenhill · 03/06/2025 12:50

Oh you have a gold standard Cocklodger OP. He needs throwing back in the pond asap .

Whatifitallgoesright · 03/06/2025 12:52

You missed the bit about him leaving wet towels on the carpet.

This is not a lovely man. He clearly doesn't respect you and is using you. He is nice at times to pretend that this is his actual self. It isn't. You don't have to stay pregnant, you have a choice. It's hard to hear but he doesn't love you, he loves what you do for him.

SapphOhNo · 03/06/2025 13:02

" I have this really awful situation and i've created a child to live in it"

Mumsnet tale as old as time.

AirborneElephant · 03/06/2025 17:50

Why on earth are you with him? Just because he’s “caring”, but clearly doesn’t care enough not to be a tight slob and treat you like a maid and chauffeur.

He’ll get worse when the baby is here. Whose house is it, and can you afford it alone? It definitely sounds like you would be way better off living separately, although if he comes to visit you or the baby please do insist he pays for his own food and doesn’t rack up your electricity bill.

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