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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have said this in front of my husbands (and mine boss)

237 replies

VickyMcVities · 29/08/2024 06:50

My DH has form for belittling my feelings about completely legitimate concerns I have. He literally laughs often in front of other people including our children. This has on more than one occasion resulted in literally injury to one of our children because he refuses to heed my worries (I asked him to close a door whilst I breastfed our youngest as I was worried our middle child would climb out of an open window in that room, he refused, laughed and guess what? Child fell out of window and cracked her head open. I could give more (less dramatic but highly irritating examples).
At a recent work BBQ we were having a discussion in front of his boss (not big boss but reporting boss) and I said "our 18 year old daughter is not sleeping in a car driven by Joe Bloggs (a young male we all know to be silly and irresponsible) after a party. She'll freeze and it's dangerous." DH laughs and makes out as if I'm going overboard and everyone is doing it and I'm fussing. As the BBQ was a family event my 13 year old daughter was also present and another colleague.
I finally just cracked and said very very calmly (possibly weirdly calmly!) "DH if you ever belittle my legitimate concerns in front of our children again I will instruct a solicitor to divorce you" and I walked off.
I accept on the face of it that I may have gone overboard in an inappropriate context. HOWEVER I have had fucking years of this and am sick of it. I am also under huge amounts of stress right now due to very very ill close family and I'm having to reduce my working hours at my own expense to look after them so am not in a good place. (Be gentle please!)

OP posts:
LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 29/08/2024 09:59

Say it in front of him only and not his boss, that was way out of line. You accused him of belittling you but then did the same to him.

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:53

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 29/08/2024 09:48

Oh come off it. By that argument women would never be able to feed a second or third baby unless another adult were present.

I’m not sure what your point is. There was another adult around this case. Yes, it can be very difficult to feed a second or third baby without another around - not impossible if you have to but that’s not relevant here.

Megifer · 29/08/2024 09:52

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:45

I might have because I had babies that were straightforward and easy to breastfeed but I know plenty of people for whom it wasn’t and I’d still point out he was a feckless prick.

BFing can always be paused when necessary. Whether its an easy BFer or a nightmare. The baby doesn't combust if they are unlatched for a few seconds.

chanipumpkin · 29/08/2024 09:52

I would have applauded you OP. Ignore everyone else. My partner does this too and it grates and grates, I'm sure I'll end up saying the same thing soon.

PhoebeFeels · 29/08/2024 09:49

I don't usually support things on the basis of "Well he stated it but in this case he had a go at you in front of an audience. Therefore it was fair enough you responding in front of the same audience.
Some people are like him, they don't take notice until you grab them by the lapels and shake them. Which seems to be where you have got to.

MostRidiculousDilemmaOfModernParenting · 29/08/2024 09:48

Your husband shouldn't belittle your feelings or concerns especially not in front of your children but yabu to threaten divorce in front of your children. Now he's got a tit for that he can use when you tell him off for being dismissive in public

However, I understand you cracked. I have said things that are inappropriate in front of others because I've finally had enough and I've seen many of my friends, family and acquaintances do it. Don't beat yourself up too much. It happens.

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 29/08/2024 09:48

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:45

I might have because I had babies that were straightforward and easy to breastfeed but I know plenty of people for whom it wasn’t and I’d still point out he was a feckless prick.

Oh come off it. By that argument women would never be able to feed a second or third baby unless another adult were present.

LadyKenya · 29/08/2024 09:48

LittleRedYarny · 29/08/2024 09:40

Second this. If i had been a work person in listening into this conversation I would have rather wondered what kind of arse your husband was to provoke his wife in to saying something so (rightfully) forceful in a public setting and be judging him not you.

Why would you automatically assume that the Husband is an arse, and had provoked the OP into saying that? Strange.

Duparsisoverrated · 29/08/2024 09:47

You’ve embarrassed him in front of his boss. That was out of order and to say that in front of someone else in any case was wrong and inappropriate. These are discussions to have in private, however frustrating your DH may be.

Your daughter is 18. You cannot dictate what she does. You are being very controlling.

Your DH does sound like a dick so I feel for you in that respect.

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:45

K0OLA1D · 29/08/2024 09:37

Correct. But then I assume you'd get up and shut said window or door to make your child safe?

I might have because I had babies that were straightforward and easy to breastfeed but I know plenty of people for whom it wasn’t and I’d still point out he was a feckless prick.

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 29/08/2024 09:42

BitterAndTwistedClub · 29/08/2024 09:30

Don’t torture yourself OP. I would imagine bystanders would have thought you were joking. OR, alternatively, they know him and the fact that he is a dick and glad got the earful he deserved.

I bet the OP's 13 year old didn't think it was a joke.

LittleRedYarny · 29/08/2024 09:40

angeldelite · 29/08/2024 07:25

Yanbu. He deserved it.

Typically, you’ll get loads of people telling you YABU because women are never allowed to answer back.

Second this. If i had been a work person in listening into this conversation I would have rather wondered what kind of arse your husband was to provoke his wife in to saying something so (rightfully) forceful in a public setting and be judging him not you.

KerryBlues · 29/08/2024 09:40

You washed your dirty linen in public, causing awkwardness to everyone in earshot.
You haven’t exactly covered yourself in glory here.
Your list of complaints seem to span a very large period of time, too 🤔
Something happened when you were breastfeeding, but your kids are 13 and 18 now?

Megifer · 29/08/2024 09:39

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:36

If I’m sitting on my arse doing fuck all and DH was in the same room and standing up, I’d think it was fine to ask him to close the door on the basis that he’s already on his feet and if he said no I’d think he was a dick.

100%

But then I'd get up and close the door, because "ha i was right, now our DD has split her head open" would feel a bit off.

jannier · 29/08/2024 09:38

Perfectly fine assuming you've told him before.

K0OLA1D · 29/08/2024 09:37

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:36

If I’m sitting on my arse doing fuck all and DH was in the same room and standing up, I’d think it was fine to ask him to close the door on the basis that he’s already on his feet and if he said no I’d think he was a dick.

Correct. But then I assume you'd get up and shut said window or door to make your child safe?

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 29/08/2024 09:37

BitterAndTwistedClub · 29/08/2024 09:30

Don’t torture yourself OP. I would imagine bystanders would have thought you were joking. OR, alternatively, they know him and the fact that he is a dick and glad got the earful he deserved.

I would have been either embarrassed or puzzled why the OP was bringing it up.

I had little, if any, knowledge, who my 18 year old child might be getting in a car with.

Josephinesnapoleon · 29/08/2024 09:37

DoreenonTill8 · 29/08/2024 09:35

So 'women' are a hive mind, and must always support the woman in the situation regardless of their thoughts? You're OK with telling these women to 'shut up'?

Agree, and I’m fairly sure if the genders were reversed the poster would have been giving it the husband was bang out of order

Coughsweet · 29/08/2024 09:36

If I’m sitting on my arse doing fuck all and DH was in the same room and standing up, I’d think it was fine to ask him to close the door on the basis that he’s already on his feet and if he said no I’d think he was a dick.

DoreenonTill8 · 29/08/2024 09:35

Fancycheese · 29/08/2024 09:26

Brilliant that so many women on here are so conditioned to “put up and shut up” that they’re jumping down this woman’s throat. The worst thing a woman could do is cause a scene in public apparently! Let’s all clutch our pearls. No mention of him belittling her constantly and putting her down? No empathy for someone at breaking point?

Women! Know your place and act “respectfully” at all times.

So 'women' are a hive mind, and must always support the woman in the situation regardless of their thoughts? You're OK with telling these women to 'shut up'?

Fortesque · 29/08/2024 09:34

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Josephinesnapoleon · 29/08/2024 09:33

DoreenonTill8 · 29/08/2024 09:28

Nothing in this interaction made the dh look like 'a knob'. THIS interaction was about the 18 yo at a party and op stressing 'she'll freeze' in the car. Threatening a divorce over this just looks ridiculous.

Agree, this would have back fired hugely, it’s the op who looks like the knob,

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 29/08/2024 09:33

Worriedmummy2400 · 29/08/2024 09:26

Did you think he had closed the window until the accident? Did he imply he had?

he refused, laughed and guess what? Child fell out of window and cracked her head open.

From the OP's post. Apparently breastfeeding triggers a temporary paralysis so OP couldn't close the door/ window.

Fortesque · 29/08/2024 09:33

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Josephinesnapoleon · 29/08/2024 09:33

Greydays3 · 29/08/2024 09:31

Well done. How your marriage survived the winfow incident is beyond me.

He sounds like a nasty twat and a tool.

When you are through this period of stress, do divorce him, it sounds like you are well done.

Don't blame you either.

😂