Husband’s complaint noises.

[Anonymous]

My husband helps out a lot around the house. Truly. He does a ton of laundry and dish washing and is a great dad. I am very lucky. But whenever he picks up a sock or straightens a pillow or closes a Tupperware or does just about anything, really, he makes this sound, this sort of big exhale sighing sound that if you were to put words to it sounds to me like “Oh my God this is so hard I can’t believe I have to do this why is my life so terrible.” I can’t overemphasize how constant this is. Like, all the time, every day. And even though we’ve talked about it and I’ve pointed out how his dad does the same thing he just never stops. It’s been driving me crazy for years. I alwaywant to say “WHATS THE MATTER?!!” It’s like the kind of noise a person makes when something unusually bad happens but he makes it over all the everyday little things we all deal with a hundred times a day. I am at the end of my rope.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure you have your own annoying quirks.

[Anonymous]

"There's one!"

"There's two!"

"Wow, what a day. There's nine. If you make it to 10, I'm going to take myself out for dinner, and you can deal with the kids."

[Anonymous]

Ha! My father totally does this too.

You have my upmost sympathy OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha! My father totally does this too.

You have my upmost sympathy OP.

UTmost

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband helps out a lot around the house. Truly. He does a ton of laundry and dish washing and is a great dad. I am very lucky. But whenever he picks up a sock or straightens a pillow or closes a Tupperware or does just about anything, really, he makes this sound, this sort of big exhale sighing sound that if you were to put words to it sounds to me like “Oh my God this is so hard I can’t believe I have to do this why is my life so terrible.” I can’t overemphasize how constant this is. Like, all the time, every day. And even though we’ve talked about it and I’ve pointed out how his dad does the same thing he just never stops. It’s been driving me crazy for years. I alwaywant to say “WHATS THE MATTER?!!” It’s like the kind of noise a person makes when something unusually bad happens but he makes it over all the everyday little things we all deal with a hundred times a day. I am at the end of my rope.

Could be passive aggressive. Or he may not even realize he's doing it. It could be totally unconscious.

Just call him on it. "What's with all the sighing?"

[Anonymous]

Uh-oh. I think I do this! I've perfected this sigh each time I bend down to pick one another errant sock or lego piece.

But in my defense, I'm the primary person caring for the house and kids (husband does practically nothing and leaves his mess around), and my family hasn't complained to me yet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband helps out a lot around the house. Truly. He does a ton of laundry and dish washing and is a great dad. I am very lucky. But whenever he picks up a sock or straightens a pillow or closes a Tupperware or does just about anything, really, he makes this sound, this sort of big exhale sighing sound that if you were to put words to it sounds to me like “Oh my God this is so hard I can’t believe I have to do this why is my life so terrible.” I can’t overemphasize how constant this is. Like, all the time, every day. And even though we’ve talked about it and I’ve pointed out how his dad does the same thing he just never stops. It’s been driving me crazy for years. I alwaywant to say “WHATS THE MATTER?!!” It’s like the kind of noise a person makes when something unusually bad happens but he makes it over all the everyday little things we all deal with a hundred times a day. I am at the end of my rope.

My wife does this. Annoying. Despite the fact that she stays at home while I work, I still do a ton of the work around the house -- and I make damn sure I don't sigh and complain while I'm doing it. Honestly, I wish she would just do nothing at all, if it is darn hard for her. It would be easier than having to listen to her childish noises.

[Anonymous]

My husband audibly sighs ALL the time as well. It's not high on my list of annoyances though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband helps out a lot around the house. Truly. He does a ton of laundry and dish washing and is a great dad. I am very lucky. But whenever he picks up a sock or straightens a pillow or closes a Tupperware or does just about anything, really, he makes this sound, this sort of big exhale sighing sound that if you were to put words to it sounds to me like “Oh my God this is so hard I can’t believe I have to do this why is my life so terrible.” I can’t overemphasize how constant this is. Like, all the time, every day. And even though we’ve talked about it and I’ve pointed out how his dad does the same thing he just never stops. It’s been driving me crazy for years. I alwaywant to say “WHATS THE MATTER?!!” It’s like the kind of noise a person makes when something unusually bad happens but he makes it over all the everyday little things we all deal with a hundred times a day. I am at the end of my rope.

My wife does this. Annoying. Despite the fact that she stays at home while I work, I still do a ton of the work around the house -- and I make damn sure I don't sigh and complain while I'm doing it. Honestly, I wish she would just do nothing at all, if it is darn hard for her. It would be easier than having to listen to her childish noises.

Okay, way to make it all about you PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"There's one!"

"There's two!"

"Wow, what a day. There's nine. If you make it to 10, I'm going to take myself out for dinner, and you can deal with the kids."

It would drive me batty, OP. I like this poster’s suggestion!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband helps out a lot around the house. Truly. He does a ton of laundry and dish washing and is a great dad. I am very lucky. But whenever he picks up a sock or straightens a pillow or closes a Tupperware or does just about anything, really, he makes this sound, this sort of big exhale sighing sound that if you were to put words to it sounds to me like “Oh my God this is so hard I can’t believe I have to do this why is my life so terrible.” I can’t overemphasize how constant this is. Like, all the time, every day. And even though we’ve talked about it and I’ve pointed out how his dad does the same thing he just never stops. It’s been driving me crazy for years. I alwaywant to say “WHATS THE MATTER?!!” It’s like the kind of noise a person makes when something unusually bad happens but he makes it over all the everyday little things we all deal with a hundred times a day. I am at the end of my rope.

So, it's not the sound driving you crazy but the thoughts and attitude you are attributing to it. Does he really think/feel this way? Or is it just a tic he doesn't really even notice?

I think you need to talk to him about it. If his attitude is really that negative and this is how he expresses it to you, that is not cool. But neither is you inserting thoughts into his head that he might not even be having.

[Anonymous]

Is he old and out of shape, is that the problem?

[Anonymous]

"I want you to WANT to do the dishes."

[Anonymous]

If you’ve already discussed it with him without a change, learn to tune it out. Seriously, OP, I see why it’s annoying but it’s so small in the scheme of things. Let. It. Go. Everyone has annoying quirks.