Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stay in bed when DP gets up with his child?

216 replies

probablynoted · 28/02/2026 19:54

DP and I have lived together for 2 years, he has a son aged 5. There is constant tension because I don’t wake up on the weekends he’s here when he gets up (around 6am).

He is with us Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week.

DP has made comments saying “I’ve been lonely” when I’ve woken up around 8:30/9 and joined them in the living room. Weekdays I usually am up anyway because of work.

DP has said that going forward he wants us to be a “family” which involves me waking up and having breakfast together. He also expects me to look after his son if he’s going on a night out. For example, he’s told me next Saturday he’s out with friends. I’ve said I’m not able to look after his son, so he’s asked his mum (DPs mum).

Hes said that if we have a baby he’ll enjoy all the lie ins in getting.

aibu to not wake up with him and his little boy?

OP posts:
Luckyingame · 28/02/2026 20:51

myglowupera · 28/02/2026 20:01

I think that other poster has described him perfectly.

Me too.
Would add a lazy, entitled bastard into the mix.

ThiagoJones · 28/02/2026 20:51

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:47

If you live together as partners you are a family.
Its not a student house share. She chose to be part of this family. She was not tricked into it and being held against her will

Still doesn’t mean she should get up with the child at 6am.
Her partner has 50:50 custody of his child. That means the child’s mother gets up with him at 6am 50% of the time, and the child’s father gets up with him at 6am 50% of the time. There is absolutely no need for the OP to take over any of the early mornings. Her partner gets his lie ins on the 50% of mornings that the child is with his mother.
I’d have absolutely no respect for a man who couldn’t cope with getting up with his own child for half the week, and a man who said he was ‘lonely’ spending time with his own son for a couple of hours, 3/4 mornings a week wouldn’t be the sort of man I’d reproduce with.

Sassylovesbooks · 28/02/2026 20:51

Your partner's son is his responsibility, not yours. It's his responsibility as his child's Dad to parent him, and yes, that means getting up with him at 6 am. It's not your responsibility to babysit your step-son because your partner is going out. If your partner wasn't making such a song and dance about you laying in on a weekend, I'd say babysitting your partner's son once in a while would be fine.

Your partner wants to pass the responsibility of his son to you. He doesn't want to parent his son, as far as he's concerned it's a chore. His son is a nuisance because he stops your partner from being able to do what he wants/when. Of course he wants you in full blown 'step-Mum' mode, because then he can step back and have you take on the role of parent.

Your partner is showing you who he is, please believe him. If you have a child with this man, you will be making a massive mistake. Not only will you be fully responsible for your joint child, and be the default parent, you will end up being the same to your partner's son too. Your partner won't lift a finger to help you, you'll be the one up every night, exhausted, whilst he throws the fact you had lay ins, when he had to get up with his son.

He wants a nanny to his son, a maid for the home and sex when required = nanny with a fanny. End the relationship.

Luckyingame · 28/02/2026 20:49

YABU.
To choose a man with a dependant at all.
Be very careful as for what you want for yourself.

Bonkers1966 · 28/02/2026 20:48

Are you sure you want a baby with a man who resents parenting his existing child? Field of flags.

ThePieceHall · 28/02/2026 20:48

CatherinedeBourgh · 28/02/2026 20:18

I'm a mum to both my sons and I never got up early on a weekend, dh did the early mornings.

Being a mum doesn't mean never having a lie-in.

It does if you are a totally lone parent.

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:47

thewonderfulmrswatson · 28/02/2026 20:42

He has a mum, and it isn't her. His dad is responsible for him, not her.

If you live together as partners you are a family.
Its not a student house share. She chose to be part of this family. She was not tricked into it and being held against her will

HortiGal · 28/02/2026 20:44

I’d be moving out or asking him
to, whatever the home situation is, he’s looking for someone to do his job for him. His comment about if you have a baby is out of order, fuck him off.

Pasta4Dinner · 28/02/2026 20:43

He clearly thinks because you are a woman this is your job, even though it’s not your child.
If you ever want to have children, don’t have them with this man.

RightOnTheEdge · 28/02/2026 20:42

Him saying he was lonely because he has to get up and be with his child for a couple of hours woukd give me the massive ick 🤢
I couldn't be with a man so needy and feeble.

Absolutely do not have a child with this man!

thewonderfulmrswatson · 28/02/2026 20:42

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:13

Sounds like you dont want to be a mum to this little boy. Perhaps dating a man with kids was the wrong choice on your part.

He has a mum, and it isn't her. His dad is responsible for him, not her.

ThiagoJones · 28/02/2026 20:39

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:36

Exactly. So choosing to date a man with a child was perhaps the wrong choice for her. Which is exactly what I ssid
I ain't getting up at 6am and looking after a child on Saturday night. I therefore wouldn't choose a man with kids.
If you want a man with kids you adapt to that lifestyle

You can be involved with a man with kids and also not get up with said kid at 6am, when said kid has a father who can do that.
Having said that, I agree that she shouldn’t be involved with this particular man with kids, because it’s clear he thinks he can pass his responsibilities for his kid on to her.

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:36

marcyhermit · 28/02/2026 20:25

She doesn't want to be involved at 6am on a weekend. Who does?
But you have to for your own children.

Exactly. So choosing to date a man with a child was perhaps the wrong choice for her. Which is exactly what I ssid
I ain't getting up at 6am and looking after a child on Saturday night. I therefore wouldn't choose a man with kids.
If you want a man with kids you adapt to that lifestyle

TiredCatLady · 28/02/2026 20:35

Oh and is that split 50:50, so he pays no child maintenance? Yeah run for the hills. Do it now.

Driftingawaynow · 28/02/2026 20:34

Mate. Run.

myglowupera · 28/02/2026 20:27

I recognise you from your other thread, @probablynoted. This man has red flags all over him. He’s every woman’s worst nightmare when they’re with a man with a child. Every stepmum’s worst nightmare.

I really hope you get rid of him. He’s got more shit up his sleeve for you for sure.

PurpleLovecats · 28/02/2026 20:27

I’m a step parent. I shared the get-ups with my husband but I was happy to do it, I married him knowing there were children involved and I wanted to be part of it.

You don’t. So this is a big red flag. Particularly if he is saying he won’t equally parent any children you may have together.

FaceBothered · 28/02/2026 20:26

You need a new boyfriend.

This one sounds like he's priming you for as much future childcare as possible.

Won't be long before he's constantly telling you how really keen he is for you two to have a baby together.

I mean if you're looking after a baby anyway, you may as well look after his 5 year old, right?

InterestedDad37 · 28/02/2026 20:26

Move out and move on!
He's showing what he actually wants, which is you to do all the work, even with his child. Don't have a child by him. Move out.

TiredCatLady · 28/02/2026 20:26

Chuck him in the bin - he just wants a “nanny with a fanny” to use a MN classic.

He’s lonely because he has to parent his own fucking child? Boo fucking hoo.

Do Not Have a Child With This Waster.

marcyhermit · 28/02/2026 20:25

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:24

No mums can have lie ins as can dad's. Her whole post just sounds a bit off to me like she doesn't want to get involved.

She doesn't want to be involved at 6am on a weekend. Who does?
But you have to for your own children.

tripleginandtonic · 28/02/2026 20:25

ReadingCrimeFiction · 28/02/2026 20:00

You've posted about this before?

Ridiciulous that he wants you up all the time. Does he think you'll be doing it ALL when you have a baby?

I do think that if you're together and your DSS is with you this often, SOME aceptabce that you are are a parent figure would be appropriate.

This.

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:24

CatherinedeBourgh · 28/02/2026 20:18

I'm a mum to both my sons and I never got up early on a weekend, dh did the early mornings.

Being a mum doesn't mean never having a lie-in.

No mums can have lie ins as can dad's. Her whole post just sounds a bit off to me like she doesn't want to get involved.

ThiagoJones · 28/02/2026 20:22

intrepidpanda · 28/02/2026 20:20

He is with them half the week. She's still a mother figure even if not his biological mum. She cant just shrug him off.

Who said she’s shrugging him off? She just isn’t getting up with him at 6am. His dad is. His dad shares the early mornings 50:50 with his child’s mum.

TheBlueKoala · 28/02/2026 20:22

He shares responsability for his dc with her mother. If he would have a dc with you he would share the getting up with you. Since he has made it clear he thinks a baby would be 100% your responsability you should take precaution to not become pregnant. You don't want your dc to have a crap dad. If you want to live with a crap partner who expects a nanny with a fanny that's on you. But don't drag another innocent child into this mess.

Swipe left for the next trending thread