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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

How do I encourage DP to be more house proud...

37 replies

Mumtooneandoneonway · 28/07/2009 12:03

Hi ladies, I'm after some advice. DP & I have a DS (who's 2 and a bit) and another on the way. As DS is picking up more on the way we behave and live our lives I'm trying to encourage DP to be more tidy around the house, more aware of hygiene in the kitchen and basically to think a bit more about the way he looks after the house. He cooks every evening and takes the rubbish out (which i do appreciate and am grateful for) but he leaves dirty underwear on the floor, isnt bothered if a bit of raw meat or egg lands on the work surface. He thinks I'm making a fuss by keep asking him to do things (i only ask about a third/quarter of the time as its usually easier to just do it for him, tidy up behind him for the sake of avoiding an argument) but he just doesn't think and he needs to change for the sake of our kids. I had to keep asking him to rinse DS's toothbrush afterwards as the following morning it'd be full of old dry toothpaste. Its all little bits but he just doesn't think. If I haven't washed up he'll do it but do it badly and say it's better to be done badly than not at all. All I want him to do is think about his actions and show DS how things should be done. He often shouts and I hate this and he never listens and twists what I say. He never thinks about why I keep asking just the fact that I do keep asking which is probably once a day or every other day there'll be something I can't ignore. He put up a slide in the garden and tutted because I asked him to put a ground sheet under it rather than have DS keep landing in the grass creating a tonne of washing including grass stains. AIBU? Any advice anyone? I'm at the point where I want to say things but he resents me when I do. I know we should just be happy and DS would prefer happy parents than a clean house but surely there's some compromise?

OP posts:
pleasechange · 28/07/2009 14:07

I have some sympathy for most of the things you've said (not the swing tho!). DH constantly leaves things on surfaces, pants on floor etc, and it drives me mad. I have slowly come to realise that no matter how much I nag, he will not change, and I have to either just put up with the mess or tidy it myself.

I think (most) men just don't get the whole need for a tidy house thing. If I mention tidying up to DH, he thinks I want to live in a show home and that the house should look like a hovel lived in

I guess you'll just have to accept the fact that this is the way he is sorry

SausageRocket · 28/07/2009 14:19

Ok the tooth brushing once a week is VILE. I'll give you that one.

How on earth have you managed to get pregnant again if he is so replusive ?

Mumtooneandoneonway · 28/07/2009 14:32

He's not repulsive, where did that come from? I'm now regretting this post big time. DS brushes his teeth every morning and every night. I only ask DP to do it if he hasn't seen him all day.

My point was there are lots of little things that take a second to do. The sheet was right next to him and like I said it was put it in the shed or lay it down. I actually thought laying it down would be the preferable option for DP as it would save him putting it away! We have a dog who wee's all over the lawn and to me laying the sheet under the slide makes perfect sense but thats just me. There is still plenty of lawn for him to get dirty in.

I'll say no more about it. I realise I do nag but to me they are all such tiny things that really shouldnt need reminding but I'll just have to accept them. I'm a stay at home mum now so it's my job to teach him and I'll carry on as I see best.

OP posts:
SausageRocket · 28/07/2009 14:40

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

I thought you meant DP only brushed hius teeth once a week. Not that he brushed DS's teeth once a fortnight!

LOL

Sorry. I'll butt out

SausageRocket · 28/07/2009 14:41

once a week. Sorry, I've gone loopy now. It's the swine flu.

Cies · 28/07/2009 14:45

Hang on. I can see where the OP is coming from. Yes, it's great that her DP cooks dinner etc, but it doesn't have to be at the cost of all marital harmony.

OP, I would say think hard about what is really important to you - pick your battles. Then sit down with DP at a time when he's not annoying you and explain that you find it stressful / annoying / unhygienic when he does XYZ. Listen to his response.

FWIW I too would find the not wiping up egg and meat unhygienic. And I would mention it to DH and he would probably say he hadn't realised and he would wipe it up.

doggiesayswoof · 28/07/2009 14:50

Mumtoone - take a deep breath, please, it's not worth getting annoyed about this thread

(not meant to be patronising btw, I know it sounds it)

Bottom line - you CANNOT make him more houseproud

IMO it's a good idea to have some rules - that you both agree on - about things that are important in your house. Wiping raw meat off the surface would be one for me

I would also tell him that things in the laundry bin get washed, if they are on the floor they don't. This is what I do with DH. He understands now

But you must have known about his standards before you had your DS. Loving someone and living with them means compromise and accepting who they are, really.

If he often shouts and twists what you say that is a far more serious problem, imvho.

allaboutme · 28/07/2009 14:54

why dont you just do the things yourself though?
if you are a sahm and DH works full time, plus he comes home, sorts ds out AND cooks dinner every night then you should be cleaning up after dinner. Not nagging him to clean up immediately and in the way you specify!
maybe he is feeling that things are a little unfairly shared out at the moment and is resenting the fact that you are nagging him about the way he does things when he is doing a lot already

Mumtooneandoneonway · 28/07/2009 15:09

allaboutme... your name says alot. you need to actually read the posts, "sorts DS out"? read first then comment.

Thankyou to those who are actually reading my posts and its nice to know some agree with me on the raw juices matter.

I'll work on his shouting but he is working 8 til 6 sometimes 7 and is tired (some would say not as tired as a pregnant lady with 2 year old )so probably doesn't need me nagging so I will take a step back and accept there's more to life.

I'm off out now so we'll leave it there.

OP posts:
allaboutme · 28/07/2009 15:17

by 'sorts DS out' I mean bath, teeth, bed etc.
You said you ask him to do those things with DS when he gets home as otherwise he wont see him all day.
Sorry if I misunderstood.
I do the same - my DH gets in at 8pm most nights. If the DC are still up then he puts them to bed so he gets to see them.
I do make dinner and tidy up while he's doing it though, so maybe that would be a better solution for you - swap roles, so that he looks after DS when he gets in (they get to spend time together, you get a break from DS) and you cook dinner, and wipe surfaces etc to your own standards...

CybilLiberty · 28/07/2009 16:02

I'm not sure we could say anything to OP to make her situation better. I'm not sure she knows what the real problem is anyway.

Bibelots · 28/07/2009 16:57

I'll be honest, your style of communication on this thread has been a bit abrasive - do you think maybe you come across that way to your DP? I mean that in a helpful rather than a nasty way, really

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