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A friend who constantly moans about her Husband

(30 Posts)
Judy54 Sun 04-Oct-20 13:17:40

My friend moans none stop about her Husband (perhaps with good reason) but I do find it too much at times. They are both retired and she says he does absolutely nothing around the house preferring to go out and play golf. He cannot she says work the washing machine or dishwasher, does not shop, cook, wash up or do any decorating/DIY. She spends a lot of time on her own as they rarely do anything together as a couple. I suspect she has brought a lot of this on herself by always doing these things over the years because she has exacting standards. I have talked to her about having an interest of her own, encouraging her Husband to do more round the house and perhaps going out for meals together. Rather than change things she just wants to rant on about him and I am starting to lose my patience and finding her company gets me down. Any thoughts on how to handle this?

welbeck Tue 06-Oct-20 17:15:19

why don't you sayto her, do you think maybe he goes out to get away from being nagged at.
life is too short.
be more direct. not horrid just honest.
something like, stop cynthia; i can't do anything about it, you don't seem to want to, and i don't want to hear about it. it's actually quite draining.
or swerve her. value your own time. and ears.

Willow10 Tue 06-Oct-20 13:43:56

When my mother in law used to complain about her 'useless husband'grin, his reply was always "Well if I was perfect I wouldn't need you, would I?"grin

Judy54 Mon 05-Oct-20 14:09:03

Thank you all for you helpful replies. Yes her Husband probably goes out to play golf to get away from her. I will try some of the suggestions given and hope that this makes her think about listening to me for a change!

sparklingsilver28 Mon 05-Oct-20 11:50:37

Judy54 Please be kind to her. My experience exactly like your friend's H. I never said a word to anyone - too ashamed of being blinded by his charm. This at a time when a woman's earning power of no consequence in a male dominated society. On his death my grief, the anger stored for 38 years. Twenty years on, I still berate him to myself.








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Gwenisgreat1 Mon 05-Oct-20 11:17:41

Think I would suggest a separation or divorce, might make her think about the impact she is having on others?

NotTooOld Mon 05-Oct-20 11:11:41

I'm glad someone told us what LTB is. I was trying to work it out.......Lesbian, Bi-, Trans-.......0bviously on the wrong track!

henetha Mon 05-Oct-20 10:42:49

A lovely friend of mine has just moved away from here and I miss her. But, she did that too, and I don't miss that!

Urmstongran Mon 05-Oct-20 10:30:15

Moaning minnies drag everybody down.
Maybe that’s why the husband enjoys his golf so much.

Witzend Mon 05-Oct-20 10:15:48

Sounds to me like one of those women who moan, but must apparently enjoy making martyrs of themselves (and having something to moan about) since whatever anyone says they won’t stop pandering to their dh or their children, and being an utter doormat.

I had a friend like this - it took me ages to realise that being a slave/doormat must have given her some sort of satisfaction, in that it meant her family ‘needed’ her so much.

Tea3 Sun 04-Oct-20 20:46:11

These sort of moaners serve a useful purpose in making you feel better about your old man's shortcomings.

M0nica Sun 04-Oct-20 20:37:55

She would find something, they always do.

Davidhs Sun 04-Oct-20 18:35:05

Thought it might be, then she would nothing to complain about!.

Hithere Sun 04-Oct-20 18:31:26

Leave the bastard

Davidhs Sun 04-Oct-20 18:26:57

What is LTB?.

MawB2 Sun 04-Oct-20 16:49:16

We get more than a few posts of that ilk from time to time on GN.
The Mumsnet response is LTB!

Hithere Sun 04-Oct-20 16:29:08

"I am here to support you when you decide to do something about it. How did you like the movie on TV last night?"

Barmeyoldbat Sun 04-Oct-20 15:41:12

Some people just enjoy being a martyr

M0nica Sun 04-Oct-20 15:36:40

Tell her politely, that there is no point in complaining if she does not intend to do anything about it and that in future you will be happy to discuss solutions, but as you know the problems there is no point in her continually repeating them.

dragonfly46 Sun 04-Oct-20 14:42:49

I have a friend just like that. She just moans all the time about her husband, he has dementia, so it is hard for her but he is still capable of a decent conversation and is a lovely man. We make suggestions to help her but she doesn't take any of them onboard. To be honest it gets me down as she is not at all interested in anybody else.

annodomini Sun 04-Oct-20 14:33:55

grumppa! grin grin grin

grumppa Sun 04-Oct-20 14:17:15

Sounds like an average Gransnetter (ducks behind sofa).

Jaxjacky Sun 04-Oct-20 14:08:34

I agree with Calendargirl but add that you would prefer to discuss cheerier subjects as there’s enough negativity at the moment and she’s obviously not going to tackle him. Perhaps she has nothing else to talk about?

lemsip Sun 04-Oct-20 14:01:42

Jump in with a complete change of subject, such as 'have you seen, have you read or even next weeks weather forecast !
this is what i would do!

geekesse Sun 04-Oct-20 14:00:05

I find that sympathising about the failure of a friend’s marriage and enthusiastically recommending divorce leads to a much more positive tone, and if it starts again, I can always say things like ‘I so admire your willingness to give him another chance, but it doesn’t seem to be working, does it?’

BBbevan Sun 04-Oct-20 13:40:22

I have a friend who was widowed early and suddenly. When a mutual friend goes on about her husband, she simply says ‘You at least have one’. That usually shuts her up.