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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not accept this was an accident

144 replies

Chesnutty · 06/12/2025 18:52

Dh is always doing something that imo is ridiculous and normally leads to trouble. Examples include allowing toddler dc in the teenage playground/gym equipment after I asked him not to as it was too big for dc and a few minutes later dc broke their arm on a

dropping stuff on my feet all the time but because he doesn’t want to do two trips from the fridge or whatever so carries too much and drops it. All the time.

anyway today I was standing next to dh and getting something out the boot, I went to straighten up and before I could he slammed the boot straight into my shoulder. He says it’s an accident but I don’t know how he can view it that way. I’m right next to him. Haven’t moved and he shut the boot on my shoulder. Maybe I’m just absolutely fuming still but aibu to say it’s not an accident when you can avoid it. He could have waited for me to shut the boot he wasn’t even in it, could have waited for me to move. I was lucky as our eldest was there and their head was just shorter than my shoulder so it hit me before dc. Hurts so much as well.

OP posts:
PGmicstand · 07/12/2025 16:47

The more you've said, OP, the worse it sounds.
He's inconsiderate and arrogant (driving toward people). He doesn't take any responsibility for injuring people and doesn't seem to care if he has (the incident with both you and the broken arm).
I'm not sure that being with him is safe for you or your children.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 07/12/2025 16:23

Chesnutty · 07/12/2025 12:16

I do find it extremely stressful, since the broken arm incident I’ve felt like I can’t leave him because I know he’d be in charge of dc if I wasn’t there and I don’t trust him, he does other things weirdly, drives towards pedestrians and refuses to stop the car completely, insists on rolling the car slowly towards them at crossings because ‘why should I stop the car they’re moving in a minute’ I don’t know if I’m wrong but things like this piss me off because the pedestrians always hesitate because the cars still moving and it takes longer than if he’d just stop the car (which I do) makes me die inside.

I’ll look into the dyspraxia thing a bit more as some things ring true but maybe if he apologised and acted appropriately if the dc or me get hurt I’d feel a bit less angry about the whole situation and more like maybe it’s not his fault.

I feel like a mug every day tbh. Feels like having a permanent extra dc to sort out. Thanks for the advice. Even if I abu I feel better just not simply screaming internally.

Your updates are incredibly worrying.

Are you scared of your husband?

Fdsew · 07/12/2025 16:21

GTGGD · 07/12/2025 13:16

I think it’s more than dickish. He’s arrogant, contemptuous, bullying, threatening and dangerous.

I agree. His refusal to take any responsibility is chilling.
See the GP.
You need to tell someone.
He is injuring his family and takes no responsibility.
This is red flag and dangerous territory.
Stop trying to convince yourself that this is normal.
Its not.

FairKoala · 07/12/2025 16:07

Has anyone ever stood on the zebra crossing infront of the car and waited for him to stop. What happens if the person doesn’t cross in time

I would be telling him you can’t do anything because of your shoulder so he now has to make dinner, drive you to A&E, wait for you there, feeding the metre each hour.

Until he learns that all this time saving actually wastes his time and money he will keep on doing it.

FairKoala · 07/12/2025 15:58

Chesnutty · 07/12/2025 12:16

I do find it extremely stressful, since the broken arm incident I’ve felt like I can’t leave him because I know he’d be in charge of dc if I wasn’t there and I don’t trust him, he does other things weirdly, drives towards pedestrians and refuses to stop the car completely, insists on rolling the car slowly towards them at crossings because ‘why should I stop the car they’re moving in a minute’ I don’t know if I’m wrong but things like this piss me off because the pedestrians always hesitate because the cars still moving and it takes longer than if he’d just stop the car (which I do) makes me die inside.

I’ll look into the dyspraxia thing a bit more as some things ring true but maybe if he apologised and acted appropriately if the dc or me get hurt I’d feel a bit less angry about the whole situation and more like maybe it’s not his fault.

I feel like a mug every day tbh. Feels like having a permanent extra dc to sort out. Thanks for the advice. Even if I abu I feel better just not simply screaming internally.

This update makes me think these “accidents” are definitely deliberate.
Especially when he is more concerned about the narrative being accident rather than asking how you are feeling or apologising

Taking your young child into a teenage area of the park is also deliberate. What did he think was going to happen?

I would be logging these “accidents” and your mistrust of him being in charge of dc and all the incidents that you can remember at the doctors

If you do decide to leave and protect yourself and dc then he might get supervised visits and not be left alone with dc

Wobblylegs1 · 07/12/2025 15:44

Just read your updates. How old is this man? He’s acting like an impatient and impetuous child.
To be honest, if it was me this would be ultimatum time. Either he makes a sustained effort to be less self-centred and careless or the relationship isn’t going to work out.

Wobblylegs1 · 07/12/2025 15:38

He sounds like me when I was young. Chronically careless. In his own little world and so busy doing things his own way / at his own convenience that he isn’t thinking of the collateral damage.

He needs to feel the consequences, that’s the only thing that will make him change.
I don’t mean to punish or shame him, that will cause bad feeling.

Try stepping back, hand over more responsibility and never ever ‘save’ the situation if it’s going to go pear shaped. Was it he who took your child to the hospital and all further appointments when he broke his arm? I hope so.

Eventually being careless will become so inconvenient / embarrassing / stressful he will have to make more effort and take more care.

financialcareerstuff · 07/12/2025 15:30

OP I don’t think you have answered whether he hurts himself too? If not, then I would be very worried that there is unconscious and possibly dangerous stuff going on. If he does injure himself, then yes- I was thinking dispraxia. But I would definitely have a serious talk with him one way or another.

Nessiesfoodprovider · 07/12/2025 14:52

Yikes. Your update makes your husband's behaviour alarming. This is someone who doesn't care about anyone else or the consequences. If you don't get out of his way, tough on you.
Contrary to my last post, your children need to never be left alone with him. He's a safeguarding risk.

Wrenjay · 07/12/2025 14:48

Chesnutty · 07/12/2025 12:16

I do find it extremely stressful, since the broken arm incident I’ve felt like I can’t leave him because I know he’d be in charge of dc if I wasn’t there and I don’t trust him, he does other things weirdly, drives towards pedestrians and refuses to stop the car completely, insists on rolling the car slowly towards them at crossings because ‘why should I stop the car they’re moving in a minute’ I don’t know if I’m wrong but things like this piss me off because the pedestrians always hesitate because the cars still moving and it takes longer than if he’d just stop the car (which I do) makes me die inside.

I’ll look into the dyspraxia thing a bit more as some things ring true but maybe if he apologised and acted appropriately if the dc or me get hurt I’d feel a bit less angry about the whole situation and more like maybe it’s not his fault.

I feel like a mug every day tbh. Feels like having a permanent extra dc to sort out. Thanks for the advice. Even if I abu I feel better just not simply screaming internally.

He is a dangerous driver and should give up driving. He will kill someone soon.
This is another red flag.

Wrenjay · 07/12/2025 14:28

Shutting the boot on someone's head is NOT an accident, it is deliberate.

Not seeing that a child is seriously hurt and is in pain is NOT an accident and is also deliberate.

These are only two examples of his behaviour. His actions are putting your child and yourself in danger. He could have killed you by closing the boot. Can you not see all this is very dangerous and escalating?

His attitude is another red flag: Not taking any responsibility and blaming others.

Please take action to protect your child, you and other people.

Renamed · 07/12/2025 14:12

Ok, he’s either dangerously aggressive or has some extreme phobia about stalling the car.

none of this is okay

GTGGD · 07/12/2025 13:16

I think it’s more than dickish. He’s arrogant, contemptuous, bullying, threatening and dangerous.

IAmKerplunk · 07/12/2025 13:14

That rolling the car towards pedestrians is just dickish. No excuse for that.

Chesnutty · 07/12/2025 12:16

I do find it extremely stressful, since the broken arm incident I’ve felt like I can’t leave him because I know he’d be in charge of dc if I wasn’t there and I don’t trust him, he does other things weirdly, drives towards pedestrians and refuses to stop the car completely, insists on rolling the car slowly towards them at crossings because ‘why should I stop the car they’re moving in a minute’ I don’t know if I’m wrong but things like this piss me off because the pedestrians always hesitate because the cars still moving and it takes longer than if he’d just stop the car (which I do) makes me die inside.

I’ll look into the dyspraxia thing a bit more as some things ring true but maybe if he apologised and acted appropriately if the dc or me get hurt I’d feel a bit less angry about the whole situation and more like maybe it’s not his fault.

I feel like a mug every day tbh. Feels like having a permanent extra dc to sort out. Thanks for the advice. Even if I abu I feel better just not simply screaming internally.

OP posts:
Goditsmemargaret · 07/12/2025 10:10

I know he's not doing it on purpose but I would find it appallingly stressful living with a man like this. I'd be constantly on edge.

Is he caring in other ways and a good husband OP?

IAmKerplunk · 07/12/2025 10:04

The way he reacts after these accidents is what would give me cause for concern. One can be clumsy and acknowledge it and still be able to check if the injured person is ok. Reminds me of my ds when he 6 or 7 - everything was ‘it’s not my fault, I didn’t do it, it was an accident’ Thankfully he is now 11 and takes accountability more than your dh does by the sound of it

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 07/12/2025 09:46

GiantTeddyIsTired · 07/12/2025 09:34

Terrified? Or just doesn't want to?

I assure you in my ex's case he wasn't terrified, he just didn't want the blame/responsibility and would minimise at every step (unless it was my mistake). And yes, he also took care of his things, but ruined mine regularly.

I don’t know.
That’s why I’ve said she should speak to him about it.

Because this is her husband we’re talking about. Not yours.

SwallowsandAmazonians · 07/12/2025 09:37

I slammed the boot on my 5yr old's head once, very hard. Obviously an accident and I was terrified but fortunately she was fine. So it could be an accident but sounds like there are wider issues.

GiantTeddyIsTired · 07/12/2025 09:34

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 07/12/2025 06:59

No but having dyspraxia as a child where you will be continually punished for things you can’t help, can affect people differently as adults.

A poster on here has written that they tell their children there’s no such thing as an accident only carelessness. Imagine being dyspraxic and having parents with that attitude?

OP, I think the problem here is that your husband is terrified of owning up to his mistakes. You need to talk this through with him and emphasise the point that accidents do happen but his reaction to them are what upsets you. That you expect him to apologise, take responsibility and try to rectify the situation.

Terrified? Or just doesn't want to?

I assure you in my ex's case he wasn't terrified, he just didn't want the blame/responsibility and would minimise at every step (unless it was my mistake). And yes, he also took care of his things, but ruined mine regularly.

AgnesX · 07/12/2025 09:31

That he's not apologised means he's a bit of a prick tbh.

GiantTeddyIsTired · 07/12/2025 09:28

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 07/12/2025 06:47

I’m dyspraxic and care about people, but I’d still probably do this a second time.

But you'd be sorry about it though? Kicking yourself for not taking more care? Unlike OP's DH

BeardOToots · 07/12/2025 09:24

Sounds like he might be dyspraxic.

C152 · 07/12/2025 09:21

It's hard to say. My ex seemed to completely destroy a lot of things by "accident", but they were only ever my things (especially favourite, irreplaceable things). He'd also never take steps to mitigate these "accidents", like using his own plates or buying cheap ones from Sainsburys (he'd rather break my expensive ones that are no longer made). It took me almost a decade to realise that it's not actually possible to be as accident prone as this with only one person's belongings.

It sounds like your DH is immensley impatient, thoughtless and a man child (not taking action when he"s caused an accident, like your toddler breaking their arm). I'd actually take this seriously, and if he doesn't start to change, consider leaving. I'd start with a conversation with him, saying his impatience is hurting everyone in the family, and he needs to change. He needs to take a moment to think about consequences and alter his actions accordingly. And when an accident does happen, he needs to take respomsibility, own up, apologise and do whatever else is necessary (like taking a child to a hospital). If he can't do this on his own, he needs to seek an experience therapist to teach him life and coping skills.

GiantTeddyIsTired · 07/12/2025 09:20

Notmyreality · 06/12/2025 21:12

Different people with a shared condition can in fact be different you know.

Yes, but, knowing that he's clumsy, my son takes extra care not to hurt other people.

That's the difference I'm talking about - not how clumsy you are, but how you deal with that and how it impacts other people.

Injuring other people because you can't be bothered to take a moment isn't acceptable - accidentally sometimes, perhaps, but a caring person would be very apologetic, and would be much more careful next time. My son would be horrified if he shut the boot on my head. He wouldn't brush injuring me accidentally off as though it was nothing.