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WWYD - DH reluctant to change sports plans for DS birthday.

145 replies

Fizbosshoes · 03/10/2020 11:17

For background DH is self employed, and usually plays sport twice a week after work, but if not playing sport is otherwise quite late home, so he doesnt see much of DC once he gets home (sometimes DS has already gone to bed)
DH sometimes says he feels sad about this but since he is able to finish early for sports, I think he sometimes prioritises that over spending time with DC. (Hes never able to come home early for parents evenings etc)

Next week is DS 10th birthday. DH said he had doubled booked himself and agreed to his regular sports match on that day. I asked if he was playing 2 matches (sometimes he offers to be a reserve for a different team) and he said no his normal group had changed what day they play and he hadnt noted it was DS birthday. (Fair enough)

Today I asked if he had cancelled and he said "I'm only playing 7-8.30" ....but he had apparently cancelled an earlier session.
He asked DS if he was ok to have his birthday dinner at 8.30pm. Except it wouldnt be 8.30 because that's the time he finishes playing.
I dont want DS to wait til nearly 9pm to eat dinner, and he will have school the next day. DS is really easy going and undemanding but I think it's not on to ask him to wait to eat that late, or to not spend time as a family because DH chose to be out.
I've asked DH to cancel but hes pretty reluctant.i think it's selfish to prioritise his hobby over DS birthday. (We once went to a school event on DS birthday which I felt really shit about, but it was a one evening only secondary school open eve which we had no control over)

OP posts:
Hobnobswantshernameback · 18/10/2020 10:35

OP he's a twat
He's determined to be "right"
I have no suggestions other than to make DS's birthday as special as you can and make plans to move forward as independently as you can

FastAndCurious · 18/10/2020 10:40

Your poor son.

Slightlybrwnbanana · 18/10/2020 10:46

How is a self employed father never able to attend a parents evening? Not the ideal year for this as a test, but what is the next event you'd like him to be at, for the dc? And see what he does. Not that you really need any more evidence tbh.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

LittleBearPad · 18/10/2020 10:48

@Fizbosshoes

Update : I did speak to DH about this again and he still thinks I'm making a big deal out of it and apparently has spoken to a few people who agree it was not a big deal for him to be out for "just"1.5 hours on DS birthday. I said in a years time DS will remember his birthday , in a few weeks time no one will remember your match, who won, what the score was etc and he agreed Confused. Then he said he thought that its my depression and anxiety that's making me overreact....Angry
So now it’s all your fault OP. He really is a very unpleasant selfish person.

You may find your depression and anxiety can be traced to one factor. Get rid of that and they may magically lift

SameToo · 18/10/2020 10:59

What do you actually get from this marriage? Aside from bullied?

ukgift2016 · 18/10/2020 11:07

Considering he has done this before, you obviously have allowed him to be a selfish twat for a long time.

MJMG2015 · 18/10/2020 11:14

But he wasn't just out for 1.5 hrs on DS's birthday was he.

No wonder people have said he wasn't unreasonable.

It's NOT your fault your DH is a complete knob. It's not your 'job' to make him act like a decent father.

I would point out once more, very clearly, to him that your children are only young once & before long they'll be teenagers who don't want to spend time with you and then grow into adults who you don't know. NOW is the time to bond with them and that won't happen if he never prioritises them over football. Also explain to him that the way he treats your children is also affecting your relationship...

Sunnydaysstillhere · 18/10/2020 11:21

Mm wonder how your anxiety and depression would rate without him around altogether?

Enko · 18/10/2020 11:39

Op I feel so sad for you and your ds in this. I echo the above poster in questioning what your depression woild bi like without him there.

No this is not your depression speaking uts your inner lion mum. Dont silence her your kids need to know they are that important.

Also when he said its only 1.5 hours and firneds agree remind him it is NOT 1.5 hours it is 80%( l would estimate) of the time he could have spent with his child on his birthday. What does his friends think of that number.

MrsWhites · 18/10/2020 11:57

Let me guess - the people who he asked are the people who he plays the sport with?

Disgusting that he’s blaming your anxiety for this OP - absolutely appalling!

Scweltish · 18/10/2020 12:55

I’d ask him who’s opinion matters most. His wife and child’s or his mates

ohdearmymistake · 18/10/2020 13:07

Then he said he thought that its my depression and anxiety that's making me overreact

I'm so angry for you and your DC, sit the selfish twat down and make him read the whole of this thread.

Op it really isn't you that's the problem here.

Nicolastuffedone · 18/10/2020 13:17

I don’t know and I don’t like him.......

redastherose · 18/10/2020 19:13

This sort of shit was what my exH did all the time. By the time our youngest was 12 when we split up he had missed 4 birthdays for Golf Trips/Football/Nights out etc. He was selfish and always put himself first and I got sick of hearing him telling me that everyone else thought he was reasonable and I was in the wrong. It wasn't true he just lied to make himself feel better. He's an Ex for a very good reason.

Will0wtree · 18/10/2020 19:48

He's an arse.

And it's NOT depression and anxiety causing you to over-react. You're reacting perfectly reasonably to him behaving like a selfish arse.

OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 18/10/2020 20:01

@LarryUnderwood

This behaviour won't change. So you can put up with it or do something about it I suppose. Repercussions either way, very sad for you and your DS that you are both so used to being put last. The only unreasonable one in this scenario is your husband, but you know that already.
Exactly.

Great username btw... book or film?!

Wearywithteens · 18/10/2020 20:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 18/10/2020 20:15

@Enko

Op I feel so sad for you and your ds in this. I echo the above poster in questioning what your depression woild bi like without him there.

No this is not your depression speaking uts your inner lion mum. Dont silence her your kids need to know they are that important.

Also when he said its only 1.5 hours and firneds agree remind him it is NOT 1.5 hours it is 80%( l would estimate) of the time he could have spent with his child on his birthday. What does his friends think of that number.

And this! You did a great job making your sons bday special, he will remember that.

Sadly he will also remember his dad couldn’t be bothered and put his hobby above family. Again.

Growing up knowing you are not a priority, that in fact your ‘special occasions’ are actually an inconvenience to a parent can influence the rest of your life.

He’s a selfish arse OP.

Campurp · 18/10/2020 20:23

Unless he’s a professional footballer, your DH is a selfish person. Your poor DC!

chuffedasbuttons · 18/10/2020 20:36

Classic gaslighting technique.

You call him on bad behaviour. He twists it and blames you and aims his arrow directly at a part of you that is sensitive. It is done just this way so as to shut you up. You feel doubt. You're unsure. He struts. It is very cruel.

He's a nasty piece of shit.

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