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DH won’t let me go out during ‘work hours’

536 replies

rippedjeansniceshoes · 29/08/2023 17:26

Hi name changed as I don’t know what to make of this.
DH owns his own company and works from our home office. I am a stay at home mum with 3 young DC.
Having 3 children under 5 means I am hands-on and very busy with the children day-day.
My husband works a few hours a day, Mon-Fri. He is very lucky as his business takes care of itself at this point. He makes a few phone calls, sends a few emails and he’s done. Once sometimes twice a week he will spend the whole day doing a hobby that he loves. He does this mainly with his business partner (very good friend) and with business associates. After the hobby they chat and have a few drinks. He said this is classed as his work as it is during the Mon-Fri work hours.

A friend of mine (also with 3 young DC) asked me if I was free for lunch this Thursday afternoon as her siblings were looking after her DC and she had some child-free time! Knowing that my DH is very quiet work-wise of an afternoon (and had no golf planned) I said yes! I was so excited to get out without DC and honestly didn’t think it would be an issue for DH to look after them for 2 hours of an afternoon.

Just by me asking it has created WW3 😥 I’ve cancelled the child-free plans with my friend and I am just so upset.

DH said no as it is during his work hours. I don’t understand. I explained to him that after a long summer at home with the kids I really needed a couple of hours with my friend! His response is that I need to get it though my ‘thick skull’ that Mon-Fri are his work hours and he can’t look after the kids during that time. I explained he has lots of child-free time during the week for golf and I have none. He said golf doesn’t count as it is ‘work’ for him.

Every time I ask for child-free time this happens. Although I did go to the cinema with some mum-friends in June without the kids and he was ok (eventually) with that (DC asleep, evening showing) I drove.

Is it me? Am I wrong here?

OP posts:
User13579367337 · 29/08/2023 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

billy1966 · 29/08/2023 17:42

Hugely abusive OP and controlling.

He is breaking the law.

This is coercive control.

Please call Womens aid for a chat, support and advice.

They will confirm that you are in an abusive relationship.

Start telling friends the truth.

Have you family nearby?

Tell them the truth.

This is a very bad man.

Not normal at all.

Spacecowboys · 29/08/2023 17:41

I think you should have checked with him about having the children when it is Monday- Friday. As others have said the golf etc may well be dealing with clients and not just a hobby. That is absolutely no excuse for the way he has spoken to you though which is abusive. He sounds controlling if you haven’t been able to go anywhere on your own since June. I can guess how he will react to you getting a job- which you absolutely should do because you need to get away from him.

ladeluge · 29/08/2023 17:41

When you are in the middle of it you often can't see the horror of your situation as others see it. I am so sorry but I could not live like that.

I don't know your circumstances but I wouldn't be surprised if you have very little control of your share of family money. You have few friends, family are not near you and you feel trapped. If I am wrong about this then you have the motive, means and opportunity to get away permanently. I doubt your situation will improve. One step out of line and there will be hell to pay.

If you ARE somewhat trapped call Women's Aid for a chat. Now.

DinnaeFashYersel · 29/08/2023 17:40

Just go and leave the kids with him. Whar a dick.

bestbefore · 29/08/2023 17:40

What a knob. Controlling idiot.
Please leave him

Clymene · 29/08/2023 17:40

Icannoteven · 29/08/2023 17:37

Yabu expecting him to look after the kids during his working hours. I can’t believe people are saying you aren’t. He is working!

Do you both get free time outside his working hours?

Can you actually read? He's not working

Spottypineapple · 29/08/2023 17:39

You lost me at 'DH won't let me'

Get rid. It's not normal to be told what you can do or not to do by a supposed partner in life.

Tinkerbyebye · 29/08/2023 17:38

He’s an abusive twat

simple answer though. Just tell him at 9am one Saturday that you are going out and he is in charge, go, turn the phone off and come back late afternoon

rippedjeansniceshoes · 29/08/2023 17:38

Thank you so much everyone. I'm actually having a little cry of relief as I knew deep down it wasn't me being the unreasonable one.
He just makes me question things sometimes, he is so convincing that he is right and I am wrong.

Weekends I only have 1 day free as the other day his team plays football and he likes to watch that without the kids. Even writing this down is ridiculous.
My friends are often busy with their own families on a weekend.

I rarely have a friend who asks for a child-free meet up like this Thursday. That's why I was so excited. I see my friends often but always with the children for play-dates.

DH doesn't mind me going out with the DC. It's just when I want to go alone the arguments start 😔

OP posts:
Icannoteven · 29/08/2023 17:37

Yabu expecting him to look after the kids during his working hours. I can’t believe people are saying you aren’t. He is working!

Do you both get free time outside his working hours?

MiraculousLadybird · 29/08/2023 17:37

Get it through your thick skull?

Nope. Nope. Nope. Regardless of the work hours bullshittery do not tolerate being spoken to like that.

ByeByeMr · 29/08/2023 17:36

He is seriously taking the piss. I'm fed up of reading threads like this. Sorry OP.

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 29/08/2023 17:36

He's a pig, leave him and get a job where you actually get paid and have time off. He can look after his children by himself for a change.

BCBird · 29/08/2023 17:36

Patronising prick. Controlling c*not. Abusive arsehole. I could go on. Don't let him.get away with this

LastNightAPandaSavedMyLife · 29/08/2023 17:35

The really big question though is even if you accept that 9-5, Mon-Friday is his "work time" what happens outside of that? Because based on the way you wrote your OP, I'm guessing you don't get the option to go out with a friend on a Saturday or hit a gym class on a Wednesday night?

Nailed it.

longwayoff · 29/08/2023 17:34

Another frog. What an utter twunt. Take all advice you're given on here OP.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 29/08/2023 17:33

Come on, OP, you know that SAHM does not mean 24 hour sole carer.

Every time I ask for child-free time this happens. Although I did go to the cinema with some mum-friends in June without the kids and he was ok (eventually) with that (DC asleep, evening showing) I drove.

This is the bit that worries me - not so much the Mon-Fri work hours stuff as actually I have never asked DH to look after DS while working unless I had something like the dentist.

Cherrysoup · 29/08/2023 17:33

He sounds extremely controlling. Has he isolated you from your family too?

DustyLee123 · 29/08/2023 17:32

Is the hobby golf or cycling by any chance ?

LimeCheesecake · 29/08/2023 17:32

Ok, so he works Monday - Friday unless he takes a day leave. But you also work Monday - Friday caring for your dcs and only get a day off if he takes leave for that. So as his leave has to cover you both, he needs to allocate you half time he takes off work. Or pay for childcare so you get time off.

but given how he spoke to you, I’d be looking for a job.

LlynTegid · 29/08/2023 17:32

It's him. Sad you had to ask.

Dolores87 · 29/08/2023 17:32

This is coercive control. He is an abuser. You should leave him.

InOffice · 29/08/2023 17:32

I don't you should expect to go out while he's working. I think his golf and drinks are work if they're with clients - this was the worst part of my job when I had to entertain clients.

Obviously he should be more respectful in his language, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a SAHM to have the children during his working day.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 29/08/2023 17:32

Why do I suspect that this is the latest in a long line of cuntery by DH….