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I was in a hit-and-run on River Road 15 years ago. A large truck scraped against the left side of my car, with two young children in the back seat, and left without even perhaps realizing what it had done (or the driver knew and still drove past me?). Both doors were dented and scratched. We filed a claim, got some money... and did not get the doors repaired at any body shop. My husband looked at YouTube videos on repairing dents and manage to smooth out the worst of them, and most importantly, he put anti-rust on the scratches that had torn the paint off. That's it.
That car is now 20 years old and will not die. It's more reliable than our more recent car. We drive it, scratches and small dents and all. Just FYI, this is a possible outcome. |
I agree with this. I scraped up my new car last year and was so upset, and DH was like "no biggie." I can't imagine if the roles were reversed on this board. I'm glad we each give each other leeway. Why don't couples have systems? Our system was always I deal with my car, he deals with his, even when I was a SAHM. Who makes dinner? Who buys kids clothes? It's exhausting to make decisions every damn day and try to negotiate with a spouse. Negotiate over a glass of wine, then decide once. You wouldn't act like this at work. |
+1. OP, a lot of this would also drive me crazy too. On the car - if it's driveable and he's the primary driver of the car then leave it up to him to do anything. On the cleaning - hire housecleaners. Tell him the choice is the cost or you make a chore chart and he agrees to follow it. On activities for the kids - just do them and let him gripe. My husband refuses to acknowledge that the house occasionally needs preventive maintenance or actual maintenance. I'm not going argue that the driveway is crumbling and needs to be re-surfaced. I'm just going to have the people come and do it. |
DH doesn't act like this at work where he is very proactive, solution oriented, and likes to figure out how to solve problems. He sees himself as a problem solver. At home, he is all "I have no idea what to do about a dented car. I didn't see who did it so there is no possible way to figure it out. I'm not calling insurance. I'm not getting an estimate. We now have a dented car. Nothing to be done." |
I am very, very, very close to hiring house cleaners. I've tried to work with him and not spend large amounts unless we both agree, but that leaves me doing it all. We've had chore charts several times. He does what he agreed to do for 1, maybe 2 weeks, then stops. When I've brough up cleaners he always says "it isn't that much work, we can do it ourselves." But that really is just me doing it. |
He ignores the systems he agreed to. |
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OP based on your last two replies, why don't you sit him down like you would a colleague and come up with solutions. You have to do it when you're not mad, and not going to blame him. You wouldn't respond well to someone who did that either. Don't be a boss, be a lateral.
If you want to come with a proposal, come at it with data. Cost, how it fits into budget, priorities. Can you fit a regular date night in? GL! |
He’s not refusing to solve a problem, though. He simply doesn’t think there is a problem to be solved, here. And that’s okay! You sound like one of those absolute energy vampires at work, making mountains out of molehills rather than focusing on stuff that actually matters. That behavior is the opposite of productive. |
I don't understand. If DH were a colleague I would do my work. He would do his work. The final product would show my contributions and lack of his. A boss would notice and give appropriate feedback/promotion. How does that apply here? |
He is literally doing nothing and telling me there is nothing that can be done. |
How do you do that? Can you give examples of what stuff you let slide? |
Your point? |
And that's lying and gas lighting! |
Thank you. Yes. |
It sounds like neither one started a conversation about it. He could have said, "Oh man, I noticed the car had been hit. I'm not sure it's worth it to call insurance? I'm driving it and don't mind, or want to possibly increase premiums." Or, she could have said, after he commented, "Oh man, do you think it's bad enough to get repaired? Should we call insurance to explore actions?" Or, a gazillion other ways. This couple is not communicating. It doesn't benefit OP either. |