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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

AIBU huge row with my partner?

54 replies

bumblebubble23 · 20/03/2025 21:23

3 children, I’m full time at work. DP is full time he’s in construction. I do 95+% of the housework and childcare. Get them ready for school. Iron uniform usually on a Sunday. breakfast, drop them off at before school provision, normally me but occasionally DP collecting from after school club. We both luckily are home around 4.15 ish I make tea every night, clean up after tea, put a wash on, put one wash away, do general cleaning quick vacuum etc then bath or shower kids do reading books put to bed. 3ish nights out of 7 DP with do a quick piece of toast for them for after their bath. I do the clubs after work as well, swimming, gymnastics etc. had parents evening tonight. I do all dentist/ doctors appointments making and attending and I stay off work every time one of our children are poorly. ( temp contract with chance for permanent) DP won’t do this as he says I make more money so you need to stay off if they are ill. Occasionally, he has his own boulder jobs on after work let’s say every 3ish month he will do late nights, for 2/3 days or a Sunday. Be home around 6/7. Tonight, when I was at parents evening, he was at a neighbours house just cleaned up some heavy materials which he has promised to move since December and hadn’t. It took him approximately one hour to do this. He was home for 5.15 waiting for his evening meal. I’m already shattered this week as our youngest has been poorly and I’ve stayed off work Monday with her, doctors Tue etc but me back in work Tuesday. After dinner tonight it’s was gymnastics. I get home, the house is a MESS. Clothes all over the landing, he can’t pick up and put in a basket pots in the sink. Few kids toys on the floor and his side of the bedroom in a shit tip yet again. Well I put the kids to bed, came downstairs he’s outside in the back garden vaping drinking a can of beer talking on phone to his friend. This is most nights. Well I finally told him I can’t cope anymore like this.I told him it’s misogynistic it should be 50/50 if I’m full time, it’s like I’m a single mother anyway. Etc I did shut the door so kids upstairs couldn’t hear, and my voiced was raised. I said might as well be on my own! Other woman I chat to at work don’t seem to live like this with their partners/husbands. I so think I cannot cope with him, I feel so upset that it doesn’t get through to him. Told him it would be nice if he made tea once a week at least! His response was to through a glass hard into the sink, told me can I go next door n fucking lift heavy stuff his jobs physical he earns more money, most men would of fuckimg left me after me speaking to him like that, then stormed out on foot as I reminded don’t drive he’s had few cans. I know I’ve rambled a bit here, sorry I feel stressed I don’t know where he’s gone but it is his birthday tomorrow so am I out of order do I ring him?? I asked him to come to the girls swimming lesson last week he did end up coming, I only asked because I’d had a car accident the day before and didn’t feel confident driving. Knew he wouldn’t take them on his own because of washing hair after it etc he came but shouted at me all the way. Telling me how ridiculous I am for arranging such a shit time to swim. Even though I’ve been doing this for over a year and it’s never bothered me I kept having to repeat myself it’s just a one off your coming don’t worry. What would you do?

OP posts:
CuppaTea23 · 21/03/2025 09:15

frozendaisy · 21/03/2025 08:40

He thinks women are to serve him basically.
“most men would leave you if you spoke to them like that”
screaming at family to shut up.

He uses carrying heavy things and earning a bog standard wage as some sort of golden penis complex.

He isn’t going to change if you stay in the house OP, so what do you want to do?

If you stop washing his clothes, let him prepare meals and take kids to activities whilst you earn more what would happen?

And you have 3 children, male or female it doesn’t matter they will be seeing this dynamic and think this is how men/women are. So the cycle will continue.

Edited

Great advice so far, and OP you sound like you already know this is far from ok?

I just had to comment to applaud @frozendaisy for "golden penis complex", genius phrase 🤣👏🏽

Hopefully having seen him blatantly distort the truth and lie to his sister OP that helps you see how manipulative he is? You can't get sucked into believing his narrative. Good luck!

SonK · 21/03/2025 09:15

Like a previous poster mentioned, simply do the bare minimum - make sure kids are fed and dressed in clean clothes etc.

Don't do his washing, or cooking. Grab yourself a takeaway or make a quick stir-fry for just yourself and give yourself a break and make time for yourself the same way he chooses to chill in the garden with a drink and chats away to friends.

If he complains, just casually say "well do something about it, stop complaining"

thepariscrimefiles · 21/03/2025 09:18

bumblebubble23 · 20/03/2025 22:02

He earns roughly, 20k a year more than me. My payslip does mortgage council tax etc car insurance mail my utility bills. His does food shop, car finance kids activities and general living off of that makes sense. My job is also physical I’m in a school mainly SEN children can be difficult at times. I also bank for NHSP for extra money in school holiday if my mum can have the children. We are not married but have a joint mortgage.

It sounds as though you are contributing more to the household finances than him, even if you earn less, if you are paying the mortage, council tax and utility bills. Surely they all add up to more than the food shop?

ScaredOfDinosaurs · 21/03/2025 09:54

myplace · 20/03/2025 21:34

Honestly I think I’d let him go. As you probably won’t, I’d try a different approach.

Just do what you have to- absolute minimum. Be ‘too tired’ to do anything else.
Don’t let the dc suffer.

Don’t argue or complain or defend yourself when he complains. Just agree that the house is a mess but you have been out all day and are exhausted so can’t do it.
Agree that your starving too and would love a meal.
Agree that it’s all pretty shit. And wait for him to come up with a solution. He may tell you that there must be something wrong with you- agree and tell him you’ll go to the GP to find out what.

It doesn’t matter who is right, just that you don’t keep wearing yourself out looking after an arse hole.

Great advice.

Also, stop ironing kids uniforms, it's pointless. Shirts can be hung up on hangers when wet, leave them to dry.

If they are old enough to care, they're old enough to do their own ironing. I was ironing from 8 or 9.

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