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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This isn’t fair

194 replies

Raynaodld · 04/06/2025 15:09

Me and DH are in the process of getting back together after separating. He came back with terms and conditions saying he would only agree to work on the relationship if he didn’t have to “help” with the kids all week. For context: I am a SAHM and he has never been hands on. Always complains about having to help with the kids, never changes nappies (we have 2 under 2), literally never cooks and justifies his actions by dangling his business over my head. He claims he works too much as it is and parenting should be my job. Well we both came to the conclusion that our relationship was toxic: I hate his controlling and lazy behaviour and he hates how he gets no free time. He proposed that we work on our relationship by him never having to come home during the week so he is able to go to the gym, go out with friends or go on trips which he has already started planning for. I also manage a business but on top of that have to watch 2 babies for 14 hours straight with no break. He suggests that if he watches the kids on the weekend (even though he will just ask his mom to anyways) that it’s fair as we will get the same time away from the kids. I don’t understand how his worked that out. In a nutshell, I told him kick rocks and I don’t want to be with anyone that selfish. If he wants to act single he can be single. He only wants to stay together so I don’t meet anyone else and his already said if I go on holiday he would not feel comfortable as my friends are all promiscuous in his eyes. Am I being unreasonable to think his got a screw loose?

OP posts:
Petitchat · 04/06/2025 18:07

OP
To put my mind at rest because I'm frazzled, can you possibly put into words why you are considering getting back with this guy?

I'm trying to get my head around it, but can't.

You can't really be planning to expose yourself and DC to this?
Is this a sick joke or are you serious?

MatildaMovesMountains · 04/06/2025 17:55

Mrsbloggz · 04/06/2025 17:54

Since there is no mutually acceptable deal to be had here the OP should walk away from these negotiations.

She won't, though - she's just here for a moan and a vent. Her poor kids will end up paying the price.

Mrsbloggz · 04/06/2025 17:54

Since there is no mutually acceptable deal to be had here the OP should walk away from these negotiations.

Richiewoo · 04/06/2025 17:52

Put him in the bin. Your already a Single parent.

OneNewLeader · 04/06/2025 17:52

It’s not a relationship it’s servitude.

SamPoodle123 · 04/06/2025 17:51

TBH I think it depends on the situation, if he takes the kids all weekend (or his mother does) then I think it is fair because you get a break. Many women/men work long hours and can not be home to make dinner or do the kids bedtime routine so they either hire nanny help or one parent stays home. You cannot just demand he does his share during the week if he has to work. Someone has to pay the bills and if you have the weekend off, you are lucky. Can you afford to get some help during the week? If yes, do that.

andthat · 04/06/2025 17:49

My19thNervousNameChange · 04/06/2025 15:11

It's not just him with the screw loose if you even consider getting back with him.

This

ThatCyanCat · 04/06/2025 17:49

It doesn't matter how they raised him. The point is, this is who he now is.

BethDuttonYeHaw · 04/06/2025 17:48

What an arsehole - don’t even consider getting back together

MatildaMovesMountains · 04/06/2025 17:47

Raynaodld · 04/06/2025 17:39

Tell him I said thank you. I’m kicking myself how I fell for him in the first place!

So you're definitely letting this abusive twat back into your children's home 🙄

teenmaw · 04/06/2025 17:46

Op I want to shake you. I was you 8 years ago and I went back for 5 more years of this shit. He ruined my life and damaged my children so badly. Go make your own life without this selfish piece of shit. His own mother is telling you he’s scum, believe her and believe what he’s showing you. It’s hard but just do it. Save you and your kids the (further) trauma

teenmaw · 04/06/2025 17:46

Op I want to shake you. I was you 8 years ago and I went back for 5 more years of this shit. He ruined my life and damaged my children so badly. Go make your own life without this selfish piece of shit. His own mother is telling you he’s scum, believe her and believe what he’s showing you. It’s hard but just do it. Save you and your kids the (further) trauma

teenmaw · 04/06/2025 17:46

Op I want to shake you. I was you 8 years ago and I went back for 5 more years of this shit. He ruined my life and damaged my children so badly. Go make your own life without this selfish piece of shit. His own mother is telling you he’s scum, believe her and believe what he’s showing you. It’s hard but just do it. Save you and your kids the (further) trauma

teenmaw · 04/06/2025 17:46

Op I want to shake you. I was you 8 years ago and I went back for 5 more years of this shit. He ruined my life and damaged my children so badly. Go make your own life without this selfish piece of shit. His own mother is telling you he’s scum, believe her and believe what he’s showing you. It’s hard but just do it. Save you and your kids the (further) trauma

IPreacts · 04/06/2025 17:43

He clearly doesn’t want to be with you either OP. It’s just cheaper for him to stay with you than him have to pay for a divorce and pay you maintenance. And he’ll have to pay maintenance as he clearly won’t want much contact time with them. I’ve no doubt his discovery of how much divorcing would cost led to his decision to get back with you.

Bikergran · 04/06/2025 17:42

Do NOT get back together. Think about it. You're going to do everything PLUS having to look after/put up with HIM. Might as well do everything on your own and be your own boss. Tell him good luck finding a doormat.

Raynaodld · 04/06/2025 17:41

LaLaLaLavaChChChChicken · 04/06/2025 16:53

Fucking hell. My son died as a teenager. Me and DH lived to provide a happy, family home for our children and enjoyed spending time caring for them, as well as their company. I cannot comprehend how anyone sees their children as inconveniences.

This bloke is an entitled prick. LTB.

Sorry for your loss <3

OP posts:
Raynaodld · 04/06/2025 17:40

NotWorthTheHeadache · 04/06/2025 16:49

Honestly OP, the disdain he’s shown for his own children alone would make me leave this man and rinse him for everything he has got. He doesn’t have any interest in his children? Fine, they have a wonderful mother who does and he can pay handsomely for them.

Are you close to his family? What do his mother and sister think of this? Surely they are disgusted?

They said they didn’t raise him that way and his a narc.

OP posts:
Raynaodld · 04/06/2025 17:39

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/06/2025 16:46

Indeed. I just read the original post to my partner and she said "She's not just unreasonable to even consider getting back together with him, she's utterly stupid."

Tell him I said thank you. I’m kicking myself how I fell for him in the first place!

OP posts:
IsItSnowing · 04/06/2025 17:36

He’s not trying to work on the relationship at all. Please just leave him. You deserve better.

Postprobs · 04/06/2025 17:34

I stopped reading after the first sentence. He’s an arse

Imisscoffee2021 · 04/06/2025 17:30

Does he not like his children? Or at the very least parenting them?

I took an extra year off work to strategically avoid high cost of living area nursery fees, so am technically a SAHM though do some freelance work. My husband works from home, and when he finishes at half 5 he 9/10 feeds our toddler. I then have stuff to do round the house, or sometimes jump in the bath before the toddlers bath time. Then he'll bath and put our son to bed on weekdays 99% of the time, because he's not seen him properly all day and WANTS to spend time with him. Come half seven his evening is free, obviously sometimes washing to hang out or dishes etc but generally we just keep on top of that ad hoc. Weekends I do some baths and beds as he's not at work and we just go with the flow more.

I'm sick of reading about this attitude some men have that their time not at actual work is enshrined to be leisurely when they have a family. It's 100% of the day work sometimes, it just is! Or you carve free time out equally with your partner, being a SAHM gives one very few opportunities to be alone, think our own thoughts, look after ourselves. It boggles my brain that your husband can't see you need your own time to and that he should want to be an active parent all the time, not just weekends.

Channellingsophistication · 04/06/2025 17:27

Why on earth would you want to be with this man who is setting conditions and opting out of his role as a parent? Doesn't sound very loving does it..? He is just as responsible as you are for those children. Also, you are not SAHM if you are working as well.

So basically, he's saying he wants to be at home with you looking after him whilst he goes around doing what he wants to do? Perhaps he is frightened of what you would take from him if you divorced him.

I don't see what's in it for you in this arrangement?

justasking111 · 04/06/2025 17:23

@Raynaodld

Do you have any money?

Do you have a car?

fdwisfbr · 04/06/2025 17:22

What the fuck have I just read?

Why the hell are you "in the process" of getting back with this useless waste of space?

Tell him to sling his hook.

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