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Comments on mess... why?

69 replies

Thissucks125 · 14/03/2025 06:05

When I met my boyfriend 4 years ago he was around 2 years single. He was 13 years older than me. I was 31. I remember him telling me his ex had been really messy when they met. He described it as her full house was hoarded up. A cat pooing everywhere etc..he told me how she was struggling with paying a mortgage. He helped her sort the house out. Turn it around. Did the garden. Re pointed the bricks. From what I had seen on Facebook of her she was a normal person. I didnt see any signs of mess. She was independent. No children. Worked hard. I couldn't see any way she would have been dependant on him.

When we met I still shared a house (now sold) with My ex. So 18 months ago I began renting. I have a nice bungalow. Its 6 years old. It's small I guess. Open planned. When I moved in I bought sofas. Table. Beds and bedroom furniture all brand new. Plus a washer and fridge freezer. All my kitchen stuff was new aswel. I wasn't hoarded up at all. The kids have had 2 Christmas and 2 birthdays each so they have more toys.

My house is cleaned regular and can be tidied up in an hour usually. The actual bedrooms can need a serious tidy up twice a month because the kids do play and get their toys out. My 10 year old is currently into messy projects like Loom bands, making stuff and crafts. So her room often is a little upside down. She's not the best at putting washing and rubbish in the bin. But that's the story of many parents.

Overall I feel I have a nice home. When my boyfriend comes over. He acts like he's constantly running about after me. I find it really patronising. If I make a sandwich he's constantly saying I've just tidied this kitchen and how have you managed in 5 minutes to trash the place. He also comments that the table gets stuff put onto it. He says when you open my cupboards everything falls out because I'm so messy.

Recently he's been needing to stay with his daughter because of work reasons and he's searching for a new house as landlord has sold his. He told me while she was working he tidied up her whole kitchen and it was messy bla bla bla. Because she had been baking a cake etc.

He then said why is it when I come to your house or go to my daughters I always end up tidying up after you both.

He doesn't have much anymore. He got into allt of debt last year as he lost his job for a while. He's not got any furniture etc. Sometimes I find it weird he has a suitcase to show for his entire life. But I'm really fed up of him putting me down when I'm capable of running my home and working and caring for my kids too.

He also commented that his ex wife and he never allowed the kids rooms to be a mess etc. Their house was always spotless. Yet they had a miserable marriage!

OP posts:
Dealormeal · 14/03/2025 06:06

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Mumblechum0 · 14/03/2025 06:08

It’s not you, it’s him.

He’s weird.

DenholmElliot11 · 14/03/2025 06:11

He just doesn't want to do his actual share, so he's trying to make out he does everything.

Loopytiles · 14/03/2025 06:11

He sounds dull and critical and showed you what he was like from day 1, poor choice to date him.

BitOutOfPractice · 14/03/2025 06:11

Mmm he sounds such a catch.

Theunamedcat · 14/03/2025 06:12

Is he actually cleaning your kitchen though? My ex used to claim he cleaned and he never had

Horsesandyoga · 14/03/2025 06:15

You realise you have a choice here. Why are you putting up with it?

pictoosh · 14/03/2025 06:17

Have you asked him directly?
"I'm quite happy with my own housekeeping. Why do you feel the need to take the lead on it?"

DorothyStorm · 14/03/2025 06:19

DenholmElliot11 · 14/03/2025 06:11

He just doesn't want to do his actual share, so he's trying to make out he does everything.

That is interesting. Is he actually cleaning? He doesnt sound like a good prospect for ling term.

BlondiePortz · 14/03/2025 06:21

Yet you stay with him and put up with it, that is weirder than anything he could say or do

TheAmusedQuail · 14/03/2025 06:26

He's negging women who have their own adult lives, while he lives out of a suitcase.

He's aiming to be a cock lodger, but is going the wrong way about it by irritating all the women he's had!

You're right. How DOES a man in his mid 40s end up with just his clothes to show for half a century of life?

Meadowfinch · 14/03/2025 06:29

Op, why don't you just tell him that you are happy with the state of YOUR house, that there is no need for him to tidy,and your DCs are fine.

If he doesn't like being there, he doesn't have to be.

Job done 😊

OhamIreally · 14/03/2025 06:29

Just skip to the end and get rid OP. No good will come of this relationship.

Snoken · 14/03/2025 06:47

He’s the one of those inadequate people who needs to put others down to compensate for their own shortcomings. He thinks if he can criticise you enough you somehow won’t see that he is in fact a middle aged whiny homeless man living out of a suitcase, or at least he thinks you will think that’s the best you can do. Basically, he knows he’s onto a good thing with you but he can’t show you that because then you might come to some realisation about him.

Channellingsophistication · 14/03/2025 06:49

He sounds really weird. It’s your house you can do what you like. I think you would be better off ditching this man.

Thepossibility · 14/03/2025 06:52

He's talking out of his arse hoping you won't notice what an absolute loser he is, and realise you are way too good for him. Like PP said absolutely negging.

Comtesse · 14/03/2025 06:56

TheAmusedQuail · 14/03/2025 06:26

He's negging women who have their own adult lives, while he lives out of a suitcase.

He's aiming to be a cock lodger, but is going the wrong way about it by irritating all the women he's had!

You're right. How DOES a man in his mid 40s end up with just his clothes to show for half a century of life?

Yup. He’s 48 but age has not improved his rudeness. What a peach!

ButchCassidysSundanceKid · 14/03/2025 06:58

It sounds like he has some kind of fixation on "mess". I have a friend like this, it's a symptom of his OCD. He sees messiness where others wouldn't. Incidentally he now has a child who is on the ASD and it's opened up a fascinating insight into the nature/nurture debate regarding behaviour (which my friend himself has raised, I'm not trying to be bitchy or dismissive of people's mental health and learning abilities).

That he made these comments about his ex and is now doing the same about you, indicates a deeper problem to me. Perhaps his own exceptionally minimalist lifestyle is a way of avoiding bringing "mess" into his own habitat? Either way, you either need to challenge it and tell him to back off, or end it on the grounds of incompatibility. You deserve to feel comfortable in the home you've created without unwarranted and subjective criticism.

Summerhillsquare · 14/03/2025 07:00

Either he's rather obsessive about cleaning and can't bear anyone else's standards, or he's trying to asset some sort of dominance to get his feet under the table.

Joystir59 · 14/03/2025 07:02

He's probably doing it because he has no control over his own life and nothing materially to show for it. Just let him go- why on earth would you want a bossy critical man in your life?

DorothyStorm · 14/03/2025 07:03

Summerhillsquare · 14/03/2025 07:00

Either he's rather obsessive about cleaning and can't bear anyone else's standards, or he's trying to asset some sort of dominance to get his feet under the table.

I also wonder of he ever cleans another room? Kitchens are ready. What about the bathroom? Does he ever clean those?

DustyLee123 · 14/03/2025 07:04

Id end it, you don’t need the hassle. Plus, I hope the kids don’t hear what he’s saying, criticising you.

CuriousGeorge80 · 14/03/2025 07:12

My awful MiL is a bit like this about cleaning. Obsessive to the point of constant criticism and it makes being in her presence very unpleasant. Hers is a control and OCD thing but I worry for my kids as they get older and hate the impact it has in everyone. If I could get rid of her I would. But he's also a twat in many other ways - is he?

Thissucks125 · 14/03/2025 07:46

What I find strange is whilst he is always tidy. He has dirty mirrors. Mucky skirting boards and bits of tobacco in his cuterly drawers. He doesn't wipe down cupboard doors etc.

My house is so normal and average. It's never shockingly messy unless the kids are here with the living room upside down etc. But he's not here to see that.

It is making me question him and me. I can't be arsed with it. The other day I was at work. I came home and he'd don't some hoovering and the worktops were clean. It was all done. But like I say I made myself a sandwich. I was knackered from working. He was complaining of how tired he was. I was actually ready for food and a sit down. He's not here this week and it's bliss being able to do my own thing. I feel like he takes over when he's here. Takes over my evenings. My mornings. I dont feel I can be fully me when he's here.

OP posts:
Jacopo · 14/03/2025 07:51

I think you’ve answered your own question in your second post.

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