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AIBU?

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DH took our DD2 trampolining in her pyjamas

345 replies

Edenmum2 · 30/06/2024 23:06

I don't know why it annoyed me so much. He has her one-on-one on Sunday mornings (I have a lie in as I do all night wakings) and took her trampolining. He had 2 hours to get her up and ready. Im pretty sure he didn't clean her teeth either. Definitely didn't brush her hair.

He turns up at lunch time all proud of himself and she's still in her pyjamas! Now filthy because they went to the park after.

I don't want to be a nag, I don't want to be negative, I love them bonding and I'm appreciative of him taking her but I just can't shake the fact that his standards for her are so much lower than mine. Like every time I leave her in his care she looks like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards. Really I can't think he has any other reason to not get her dressed beyond 'I couldn't be bothered'

Am I being a terrible nag? Would it bother you? I just feel like I take on all the mental load of her entire life and he can't even be bothered to get her dressed.

Would it bother you?

OP posts:
mupersum1 · 01/07/2024 10:29

@Bushmillsbabe

My DH would have no idea what to put on her, so if he is getting them dressed then he asks me to put out their clothes the night before.

No idea? But he sees them every day, sees pictures of them, sees them all the time. He knows what sort of clothes she's wearing at the moment. He knows what the weather is like because presumably he dresses himself appropriately, and you don't do that for him too.

How on earth can he, as a grown man, not know how to choose a simple outfit for his child to the extent that you have to put them out for him the night before?

Dolphinswimmer · 01/07/2024 10:23

I would be really angry. But like the mothers you used to see a few years ago dropping of their kids in their nightwear some people's standards have dropped.

AlpineMuesli · 01/07/2024 10:23

She is learning that men (dads/partners) don’t have to do the same things as women.

CatrionaBalfour · 01/07/2024 10:21

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 01/07/2024 10:18

You don't know he didn't clean her teeth. You can't be sure he didn't brush her hair.

I couldn't get worked up about the PJs.

Non-issue for me

"the hair and teeth are a regular occurrence"
OP's second post.
He's being lazy.

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 01/07/2024 10:18

You don't know he didn't clean her teeth. You can't be sure he didn't brush her hair.

I couldn't get worked up about the PJs.

Non-issue for me

CatrionaBalfour · 01/07/2024 10:14

Natsku · 01/07/2024 10:13

The not brushing teeth is the worst thing. I assume he fed her, so she ate without brushing teeth first which is really bad for dental health. He's setting her up for cavities and other dental issues, its neglect not an amusing anecdote when she's older.

Quite. Not an amusing anecdote at all.

Natsku · 01/07/2024 10:13

The not brushing teeth is the worst thing. I assume he fed her, so she ate without brushing teeth first which is really bad for dental health. He's setting her up for cavities and other dental issues, its neglect not an amusing anecdote when she's older.

pinkyredrose · 01/07/2024 10:12

johnd2 · 01/07/2024 08:06

Sorry are you trying to say that mothers magically know how to take care of children or something? Because that's not true.

Do you really need to learn that teeth and hair need brushing and clothes need to be put on? Don't you do those things for yourself every day? I despair.

Beautiful3 · 01/07/2024 10:09

This post has actually reminded me of my child's class mate from primary school. When she stayed with the nan she came to school in clean uniform, teeth and hair brushed. When she stayed at her mum's, she never brushed or had clean uniform. The children avoided her because she smelled, she didn't have any friends. I felt very upset for her. In the end the nan got custody and the little girl moved away.

Ivyrosecrayon · 01/07/2024 10:09

LittleMonks11 · 01/07/2024 07:58

Why do you mollycoddle your husband so? What an charmed life he must lead. Do you have boys he's role modelling for?

How is not passing comment mollycoddling? I just leave him to it. Yeah the kids don't look like they'd look if I got them ready... but end of the day he's also their parent so I leave him to parent.
He gets them ready more days a week than I do.

Cliedi · 01/07/2024 10:02

This is awful. You shouldn’t need to be ‘appreciative’ of something he should be doing as standard as her dad. My DH isn’t the one who usually gets the kids ready but if he does do it they are clean, dressed and teeth brushed and hair done (albeit not as neatly as I do it). Sometimes I leave out an outfit as otherwise they’ll be wearing something horribly mismatched (although still clean and weather appropriate).

CatrionaBalfour · 01/07/2024 10:02

Cattery · 01/07/2024 09:53

Men just don’t see things how we do. We like the kids to be well presented but all they’d argue is that they’re safe and having fun. Which is true I suppose

Yes they do. Plus - it's not about presentation.

Beautiful3 · 01/07/2024 10:01

That's actually classed as neglect. If he made the time to get washed, brushed and dressed, then the same extends to another person, his child. It's grim taking her out in pyjamas and not brushing her hair and teeth. He has to do it because she cannot do it independently yet. Your husband is lazy.

CharlotteBog · 01/07/2024 10:01

Cattery · 01/07/2024 09:53

Men just don’t see things how we do. We like the kids to be well presented but all they’d argue is that they’re safe and having fun. Which is true I suppose

What a broad and insulting statement.
I think the vast majority of men know that children should wash their hands and face and brush their teeth in the morning. That isn't a difference in opinion on how well presented a child is, it's basic hygiene and also teaching the child how to look after themselves.

Greenlittecat · 01/07/2024 10:00

I would be annoyed too OP! Its providing basic care to wash and dress your children. He is probably trying to get out of parenting on a Saturday morning so is making it difficult for you.

I think it depends on the circumstances- there are a few examples up thread where I totally understand a one-off leaving the house like this. I think most of us have been in this position a couple of times. However, it sounds as though he is just lazy and hoping you will do it, which is shitty behaviour and totally unacceptable!

My kids are pretty much always in their jammies at home, but we wash/brush hair/clean teeth after every meal and they are always dressed if we leave the house!

Greenlittecat · 01/07/2024 09:56

Epicaricacy · 01/07/2024 09:53

I agree it's a bit of an over-reaction

but that said, it's completely unacceptable to show so little care for a child, and your own child. It's weird to be that lazy.

I think you could argue that if 1 parent is going to gaslight the other into writing a written statement for social services who are then going to interview family/friends and colleagues then the other parent is a victim of absue.

Trying to justify this sort of insanity because the dad is lazy is absolutely ridiculous

Epicaricacy · 01/07/2024 09:55

Cattery · 01/07/2024 09:53

Men just don’t see things how we do. We like the kids to be well presented but all they’d argue is that they’re safe and having fun. Which is true I suppose

I couldn't disagree more. "Men" who know how to function and get dressed in the morning have the exact same understanding of caring for a child as we do.

Putting the wrong colour jumper is one thing, but cleaning and dressing your kid is not about them being "well presented", it's the minimum care.

You feed them, get them dressed in weather-appropriate clothes, put suntan lotion on when needed, even another child would know the basics.

RosesAndHellebores · 01/07/2024 09:54

The thing that concerns me op is your comment that brought her home filthy. I'd ha e preferred if he'd washed her hands and face and shown her hair a brush and topped it with clean shorts and a tee shirt but if he'd done all that and you were upset ahead come home dirty due to having a wonderful time, that's a worry. Children should be allowed to get Grubby imo and having fun is more important than staying immaculate.

Epicaricacy · 01/07/2024 09:53

Greenlittecat · 01/07/2024 09:51

Wtf is wrong with you?!

Do you regularly make up outlandish lies to scare people? Fuck me this is one of the worst things I've ever read on here.

I agree it's a bit of an over-reaction

but that said, it's completely unacceptable to show so little care for a child, and your own child. It's weird to be that lazy.

Cattery · 01/07/2024 09:53

Men just don’t see things how we do. We like the kids to be well presented but all they’d argue is that they’re safe and having fun. Which is true I suppose

Greenlittecat · 01/07/2024 09:51

S00tyandSweep · 01/07/2024 08:41

It would be so tempting to phone him at work today (or get someone else to) and tell him that social services have called you and that the trampoline park gave your details as they were worried your daughter wasn't being properly cared for.

It was obvious she hadn't been washed or dressed recently and SS want to make an appointment to visit the 3 of you so he can explain why his child's basics standards of care weren't met; which day can he meet them this week?

SS also need to speak to his friends, neighbours, family and coworkers to see if they think he's a negligent father and if there's been any signs of abuse, because lack of hygiene for a child is often an early indicator of this.

He needs to prepare a written statement explaining why he didn't (in the two hours he had available) brush his daughter's hair or teeth, change her clothes or wash her face, so SS can ascertain if he needs to attend parenting courses and (in extreme circumstances) see if DD needs to be taken into care.

I wonder if he actually had to explain what he'd done (or hadn't done) to an authority figure, he'd actually realise what a pathetic parent he was.

The bar is set so ridiculously low for men and their parenting (if they bother parenting at all). Teeth cleaning is a literal 2 min job and can protect your child from years of pain and discomfort; why wouldn't you do that?

Wtf is wrong with you?!

Do you regularly make up outlandish lies to scare people? Fuck me this is one of the worst things I've ever read on here.

TinyTeachr · 01/07/2024 09:44

Pjs I could live with. When our eldest was little she woke up early and I'd had a bad night with the twins, so DH got her straight in th car to keep her quiet and they went to the automatic car wash as it was open and nowhere else was. She loved it and still remembers it now she's 7. They had cooked breakfast at a service station, so people will have seen her PJs. Not a big deal.

Notdoing hair before tranpolinng.... that sounds like a disaster! With mine I think that would be a half hour job wet combing with conditoner to sort that tangle out.

Yes, it's now standards. It's not brilliant. But if getting her ready properly would have disturbed your lie in it may have been with good, if slightly misguided intentions.

CatrionaBalfour · 01/07/2024 09:41

CelesteCunningham · 01/07/2024 09:41

My kids LOVE a pj day. They're out at childcare/school 5 days a week year round, so the rare opportunity to slob around in pjs is taken when we can. But they don't go out in them, and they still get their hair and teeth brushed and faces cleaned etc.

Yes, your last sentence is the point.

CelesteCunningham · 01/07/2024 09:41

Epicaricacy · 01/07/2024 09:33

Accepting shit standards? For one day?🤣 there’s a hell of a lot worse he could do

it's frightening how some people have such low standards.

What kind of slob leaves a kid in pjs all day?

Edited

My kids LOVE a pj day. They're out at childcare/school 5 days a week year round, so the rare opportunity to slob around in pjs is taken when we can. But they don't go out in them, and they still get their hair and teeth brushed and faces cleaned etc.

CatrionaBalfour · 01/07/2024 09:35

True, @Epicaricacy . Like someone upthread wisely said, the bar for men is set so low, it's subterranean.