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AIBU to say 6:30am isn’t the middle of the night?

258 replies

Shezz95 · 30/08/2026 06:52

Little backstory:

We have two children (4 and 4 months), I breastfeed so wake up with the baby but he’s a good sleeper and usually wakes up once around 4/5am. At the weekend my husband and I take turns having a lie in and getting up with the kids - in my eyes a lie in should be an hour ish so that we can still spend time together and do the morning dog walk

Yesterday I woke up at 6 to feed the baby and then went downstairs with them both around 6:20. Baby’s routine is having first nap on the dog walk 2 (ish) hours after waking. Husband is still asleep at 8:20 so I’m trying to get dressed and get kids sorted without waking him, but am also a bit annoyed as he will be out from 10am all day, so kids won’t see him

He wakes up and quickly gets dressed to come on the dog walk and then is out at the football from 10:30 - 3:30, he then gets home and says he’s popping to the pub as it’s his friends dads birthday. He comes back at about 6 and we do bedtime together - not really relevant but just that he’s not seen the kids much today and he usually does either football or cricket one day a weekend so we only have one family day

My 4 year old hasn’t been very well, very lethargic and doesn’t want to eat. This morning he comes in at 6:20 saying he’s thirsty and wants milk. Husband says we don’t get drinks in the middle of the night and that he can only have water. 4YO is crying more and more as he wants milk (probably hungry after not eating much). The baby then wakes up happily babbling.

I say it’s probably best to just wake up now as it’s usual wake up time anyway and he’s poorly etc. husband is trying to get him back to sleep - he’s not going to go as it’s 6:30 and he’s just getting more upset, so I go into the room and husband starts shooing me away and saying I give in to every little whim (I don’t, I’m usually the one disciplining/carrying out consequences). I said I’ll just wake up with them then. He calls me a martyr and starts telling me to fuck off and that I’m being fucking ridiculous etc. I feel like he just doesn’t want to wake up early with them even after hardly seeing them yesterday

AIBU to say 6:30am isn’t the middle of the night and our ill child should be allowed to have a glass of milk!?

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 30/08/2026 09:54

There is nothing wrongl with saying only water that early and to go back to bed until 8pm. That's what my children got used to. No need for everyone to be sleep deprived. It also gives them clock reading skills. Leave a glass of water at the side of the bed.

friedaklein · 30/08/2026 09:58

I think I have been parenting all wrong. I gave my sick kids anything they asked for at any time, and certainly at 6.30 am.

ThatBreezyScroller · 30/08/2026 10:02

As your child was poorly, then I would have woken up with them and got them milk.
I’d have likely dozed on the sofa.

But on a day when they’re not poorly, I would have told them to have water for now and they can have milk when you get up in a bit.

I assume most parents of young kids get up around 7 anyway and so it’s not like it was ridiculously early.

ForBusyDuck · 30/08/2026 10:05

BakersKitchen · 30/08/2026 09:33

I don’t think that’s very fair tbh. I often tell my husband to fuck off, sometimes it’s playful, sometimes it is in mild annoyance.

He’s playfully winding me up
“oh will you fuck off”

He’s trying to get on with something and I’m being peformatively clingy
“go on, away with you, fuck off”

One of you is faffing about trying to leave the house
”could you hurry up and fuck off to the shops please”

One of you is making a slightly ridiculous point about something
“oh fuck off what are you talking about”

etc etc.

None of them are inherently poor ways to speak to someone within the context of your relationship. Tone and context do matter.

In the OPs case it’s hard to tell - she sounds like she was interfering when it was supposed to be DHs turn to sort the children and martyring herself by giving up her lie in. Children can be asked to wait or go back to bed, particularly at the weekend. He doesn’t need to come in at 6am and demand milk at 4. The way she has written it makes her DH sounds like a dickhead but his version of events could easily have been

My wife and I disagree about morning wake up times at the weekend. I think our 4yo should have to wait until 7:30 to go downstairs but she is happy for them
to be up from 6am. It’s causing a problem because we take turns to lie in and she ends up getting up on her lie in day to sort children and then accuses me of taking her time to rest. At 4yo I think children can be told to go back to bed and rest or to play quietly until a more socially acceptable hour.

it’s really easy to paint him as the villain from a one sided story. My exSIL used to do the same thing with my brother and their behaviour management for my niece. She would accuse him of not backing her up or not doing any parenting because her strategy was to shout at her and make her sit on the naughty step. When you watched it actually he WAS doing some parenting but it was softer and he preferred to jolly her along or distract, rather than cause a scene in front of people. If she had written a post he would have come out as unsupportive and lazy but it wasn’t the reality at all.

I mostly agree with all this but that pov leaves out the detail of the child being unwell and not eating much yesterday. That would be the difference between me sticking to the water only rule or getting up and giving milk.

Epdrenching · 30/08/2026 10:08

OP, this is appalling verbally abusive behaviour by a selfish bare minimum dad.

Only the really poor dads behave like this.
He's like a single man.

Unfortunately your bar is low if you think his single lifestyle is compatible with a family.

His foul language, no doub around your children, is completely unacceptable.

I hope you have family support because you and your children deserve better than this arsehole.

LateSeptembersunshine · 30/08/2026 10:08

When I read posts like this and a lot of the replies it all just sounds so depressing.

When our kids were small and they woke up early one of us would go and get them milk then we’d put them in our bed in the middle with some cartoons and we’d usually all end up dozing until 8.

There was none of this dh disappearing for half the weekend every weekend.

Weekends were for visiting family together, going to the park with the dc, cooking together, days out or doing the garden/DIY.

It’s like some couples on mumsnet hate spending time together.

mindutopia · 30/08/2026 10:10

If he’s out all day at football, he should be up with the kids as soon as they’re up, walking the dog on his own (why the hell do you do it together?!) and giving you a lie in, as much as possible around feeds, until he leaves.

If Dh is out with friends at night (and that is rare because we prioritise weekends as a family) and I’m at home doing everything, he’s the one who gets up at 6am, drinks the night before or not, and takes the kids out for the day so I get a break then.

Livelovebehappy · 30/08/2026 10:21

Find your voice OP. We’re treated how we allow ourself to be treated. Personally I’d be making arrangements to disappear for a couple of hours. I mean surely he can’t complain, as he does the same weekly? Get in touch with a friend or family member and go for lunch or coffee somewhere. Hint that this might become a regular thing. Take back control, even if just for a couple of hours a week.

Pinkissmart · 30/08/2026 10:23

Shezz95 · 30/08/2026 07:15

Bit of an antiquated view isn’t it? I’m on maternity leave at the minute and have saved up so that I will continue to pay my half of the bills until I’m back at work early next year?

Christ this is sad. You’re on reduced wage but still expected to pay half, so you had to save up? I view that as financial abuse

Hellohelga · 30/08/2026 10:24

Alltheusefulitems · 30/08/2026 07:19

I think you've both had a crappy start to the day. Have a cuddle with your husband, hopefully he'll apologise for swearing at you and you can both move on with the day. No need for any drama

I wouldn’t be cuddling anyone who told me to fuck off. Especially when I spent the previous day caring for their poorly children while they go to football and pub. Whilst running down my savings to pay bills on maternity leave. What a revolting, selfish man.

DailyEnergyCrisis · 30/08/2026 10:33

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How on earth does she seem unbearable?!

OP- I totally agree- a 4 year old who’s been unwell wanting milk at 6.20am is entirely within the realms of reasonable/normal. If it were my turn to get up I’d just be pleased they were better and sort them out with milk, blanket on the sofa and some tv whilst I pottered/had a coffee.

Mine are old enough to get themselves breakfast but we used to alternate weekend lie ins and 9am was the norm unless one of us had been out/very tired or up with the kids a lot in the night.

MissMappsGardenProduce · 30/08/2026 10:39

LimpingPigeon · 30/08/2026 07:10

Telling you to fuck off means nothing in itself. Tone matters.

Just when I think the bar can't get any lower...

I agree with you.

Unless swearing is the norm in a household, then a man saying or doing something that he wouldn't have dreamed of doing on your first few dates is totally unacceptable.

It shows that familiarity has bred contempt and once that has happened who know what will happen next.

He should speak to you-and you to him-with love and respect.

If either party loses their head, there should be an immediate apology.

Do not allow yourself to be treated worse than he would treat his mother, his friends or his employer. If you think you are being, then you need to have a long cool look at the situation.

Loving someone means you treat them better than anyone else or at least try to. No-one is a plaster saint but if being loved and treated well is the exception rather than the rule, then why make yourself into a rub rag.

Of course, if you live in a chaotic unloving household when you are both telling each other to fuck off to the extent that "tone matters" then crack on and revel in the happy home.

Thatsillymama · 30/08/2026 10:48

I couldn't stand to be in a relationship with someone who disappeared for half the weekend and spoke to me with such disrespect.

SandyHappyPerson · 30/08/2026 10:48

Morethanalover · 30/08/2026 08:30

I think this is hyperbole to be honest.

The child was not denied a drink, just not milk.

It isn't hyperbole at all!

I feel sorry for the poor 4 year old! Not very well, waking up at his normal wake up time, hungry because he's not eaten, and being told by his dad that he can't have a glass of milk and he needs to go back to bed. Then he wants to stop OP seeing to him and causes a scene over it

What a prick.

Livelovebehappy · 30/08/2026 10:48

Pinkissmart · 30/08/2026 10:23

Christ this is sad. You’re on reduced wage but still expected to pay half, so you had to save up? I view that as financial abuse

I don’t think OP has elaborated outside this one point, that much, on how they do things jointly, financially. Everyone does things differently when it comes to finance. Me and my dh have separate accounts. Although he earns more than me we split bills 50/50, but it all balances out, as he will pay for holidays or meals out. Everyone has different set ups. There’s no wrong or right way, just a way that works for you.

Gurgletummy · 30/08/2026 10:51

Morethanalover · 30/08/2026 09:21

Whatever. I don't care to be honest.
Rather that than live vicariously through other people's drama and be somebody. who trawls through other people's past posts frothing all the time.

It's obviously a storm in a teacup that's over.

As I said if he were actively forbidding here from taking care of the child it'd be different.

Doesn't seem to have been the case though.
Not really.

Just focus on your own relationship issues maybe @Morethanalover

Gurgletummy · 30/08/2026 10:52

Morethanalover · 30/08/2026 09:39

Great post.
'Fuck off' isn't always used as a term of aggression these days, just, as you say, mild annoyance.

It's replaced 'Oh for goodness sake' these days.

Maybe in your relationship @Morethanalover

but clearly not the case in the OP’s hence her starting the thread

Epdrenching · 30/08/2026 10:56

After being unwell and possibly off his food, the little child might suddenly be hungry.

I feel so sorry for children that are exposed to such foul men.

Lie ins, football, the pub, verbally abusing their post partum partners, angry and foul mouthed around a child recovering from illness.

Absolutely toxic and abusive behaviour.
OP, tell your family and friends you need support.
I feel so sorry for you and your children.

He's a low life and you need support.

Gurgletummy · 30/08/2026 10:57

Morethanalover · 30/08/2026 09:53

What's the point of this?

They've made it up. Storm in a teacup.

Why are others still hell bent on creating drama?

The OP and her dh are probably enjoying time together now. Doesn't look as if she'll be back.

I'm only still here to defend myself against what I can consider myself to be weirdos who dredge up my past posts and seem to have some kind of weird fixation on me.

Oh calm down

Here you are, thankfully a tiny tiny minority basically saying that the OP is in the wrong and saying fuck off to you partner in front of your children is totally ok, when you have your own relationship issues and planning to leave. So focus on that rather than downplaying what to most of us is a pretty disturbing spat

Iloveeverycat · 30/08/2026 10:59

Shezz95 · 30/08/2026 07:19

I’m not saying that - he can be quite sweary sometimes

I’m just saying that he doesn’t usually completely check out of parenting so wondering what caused this reaction to our son waking up at his normal time but wanting milk

You say he is quite sweary
BUT he is swearing at you. I have been with DH for over 40 years never sworn at each other.

IsItOverYetPlease · 30/08/2026 11:01

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Wow. That's an interesting take.

Morethanalover · 30/08/2026 11:05

Gurgletummy · 30/08/2026 10:52

Maybe in your relationship @Morethanalover

but clearly not the case in the OP’s hence her starting the thread

I'm sorry if you continue to reply to me after this post I'm going to have to report.

I've already done so and though I'm unsure if a post of your's that has been removed was because of me - or indeed addressed to me-I will say that while it's fine to disagree and robust disagreement is fine, it does seem that you are a bit fixated on me in particular.

I find that disturbing.

I'm going to have to report if you reply to me again.

The way you are following me around is starting to feel a bit creepy.

Gurgletummy · 30/08/2026 11:05

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SandyHappyPerson · 30/08/2026 11:06

BakersKitchen · 30/08/2026 09:33

I don’t think that’s very fair tbh. I often tell my husband to fuck off, sometimes it’s playful, sometimes it is in mild annoyance.

He’s playfully winding me up
“oh will you fuck off”

He’s trying to get on with something and I’m being peformatively clingy
“go on, away with you, fuck off”

One of you is faffing about trying to leave the house
”could you hurry up and fuck off to the shops please”

One of you is making a slightly ridiculous point about something
“oh fuck off what are you talking about”

etc etc.

None of them are inherently poor ways to speak to someone within the context of your relationship. Tone and context do matter.

In the OPs case it’s hard to tell - she sounds like she was interfering when it was supposed to be DHs turn to sort the children and martyring herself by giving up her lie in. Children can be asked to wait or go back to bed, particularly at the weekend. He doesn’t need to come in at 6am and demand milk at 4. The way she has written it makes her DH sounds like a dickhead but his version of events could easily have been

My wife and I disagree about morning wake up times at the weekend. I think our 4yo should have to wait until 7:30 to go downstairs but she is happy for them
to be up from 6am. It’s causing a problem because we take turns to lie in and she ends up getting up on her lie in day to sort children and then accuses me of taking her time to rest. At 4yo I think children can be told to go back to bed and rest or to play quietly until a more socially acceptable hour.

it’s really easy to paint him as the villain from a one sided story. My exSIL used to do the same thing with my brother and their behaviour management for my niece. She would accuse him of not backing her up or not doing any parenting because her strategy was to shout at her and make her sit on the naughty step. When you watched it actually he WAS doing some parenting but it was softer and he preferred to jolly her along or distract, rather than cause a scene in front of people. If she had written a post he would have come out as unsupportive and lazy but it wasn’t the reality at all.

In the OPs case it’s hard to tell - she sounds like she was interfering when it was supposed to be DHs turn to sort the children and martyring herself by giving up her lie in.

I'm absolutely disgusted at this response.. for OP to be a 'martyr' it would mean that she has chosen to forgo a lie in just so she can feel hard done to.. that isn't what's happened at all, she was woken up and has prioritised the needs of her child over her own need for a lie in because her DH refuses to help him.. nothing "martyrish" about that at all.

I couldn't lie in bed while all that was going on, I'd be too furious to go back to sleep anyway, listening to my DH trying to engineer himself more time in bed, rather than seeing to our child who has been unwell.. selfish prick.

Kokonimater · 30/08/2026 11:09

Merrymoonage · 30/08/2026 07:04

I dunno, he shouldn’t have told you to fuck of but it’s sounds like you were trying to undermine him at every turn and take over what he was doing. It’s fine to tell a 4y no milk until usual morning time and only water, I would do the same. My 5Y isn’t allowed up and out of bedroom until 7 and I wouldn’t be getting them milk earlier than that.
I’m not sure how the back story is relevant, yesterday was his day to lie in which is did, and still got ready in time to go on the early dog walk so what’s the issue?
This morning was his turn to deal with them and you kept trying to tell him how to do it.

What????? Did you read the post??

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