AITAH for flipping out on my boyfriend over housework?
Context: My boyfriend (24M) and I (22F) have been together for 3 years, lived together for 2.5 years. The past 6ish months have been ROUGH. We called off an engagement, broke up in April, began the process of him moving out, etc.
Now we’re in a weird cohabitating stage where he wants to work on things but I’m hesitant. I’ve been very transparent with him about these feelings.
Yesterday, we had some of our mutual friends over for dinner as they move across the country in 2 days. We had always floated the idea of hosting them for dinner, but I was the one to make the actual plans and inform him when they were made. I gave him 2 weeks notice, so as to not spring it on him. Altogether, it was 6 adults and 3 kids we had over.
I work a 9-5, M-F job and he works about 15-20 hours a week. I also spend all day on Sunday’s grocery shopping and meal prepping. So he has significantly more time for other housework and chores.
Seeing as I was buying the groceries, cooking the dinner, and still had work yesterday, I requested that he clean the downstairs (not a deep clean, just a basic clean before hosting!) on his day off, which was Tuesday. He assured me he’d “get a ton done”. I came home from work Tuesday and NOTHING was done. As a matter of fact, the downstairs was even dirtier with dishes and crumbs from him eating the meal prep.
I asked him why he didn’t do anything, and he said he needed a rest day. I gave him grace. He assured me it would be done yesterday morning.
Lo and behold, I came home at 5:15pm yesterday (with guests arriving at 6:15pm, and dinner still needing to be cooked by me!) to not a single effort of cleaning done. Same dishes, same crumbs, cat hair everywhere, coffee table a mess, etc.
I asked him politely why he did not do anything. He proceeded to tell me that since I was the one to officially make the plans, it’s not his issue to deal with and I should be the one cleaning. I reminded him I pay for everything in our relationship right now and do all the cooking and dishes consistently. I told him it was a matter of consideration. He called me lazy and told me I should’ve made time for the cleaning myself, claiming I “never lift a finger around the house”. I told him if he wanted me to clean, he could’ve at least told me that, but instead he promised he would do it and failed to keep his word.
Now here’s where I may be the AH; I FLIPPED out. I was so overwhelmed with the mess and lack of time I had to prepare. I yelled and told him that he contributes nothing to the household but stress at this point. I called him inconsiderate and ungrateful. Tbh, I think I have a right to feel that way, but obviously should not have yelled or been disrespectful.
He proceeded to leave the house and disappear. He did not come back inside until close to 7pm, when our guests had already arrived. He also refused to eat the dinner I made while everyone else ate, and instead Doordashed Chipotle, which made me feel humiliated.
Did I overreact?
Posted Aug 13, 2026, 4:37 PM UTC