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Partner cannot watch the dc without my help.

82 replies

startfrom1 · 05/04/2021 16:57

It's actually getting beyond ridiculous now.

We have 3 dc aged under 10. He would look after them whilst I worked before they started school. Recently though he's really struggling to look after them by himself.

Some examples:
I had to work one Saturday recently and he called me up 4 times to ask/ tell me things that could have waited.

If I pop to the shop without dc, when I get back he tells me how difficult they have been. I was gone for 20 minutes max and when I got back they were all sat reading and didn't look like they had been difficult. He says from now on they will have to come with me.

I had a shower and by the time I was drying he was calling for me to come and help.

He literally cannot be left for 5 minutes without needed me to come and help.

It's driving me mad and It's embarrassing as people have noticed too.

Anyone else have a dp that acts like this?

OP posts:
Carbara · 05/04/2021 22:19

You have to stop thinking up excuses for him, live with the fact you picked badly and have inflicted a deadbeat embarrassment on your kids and move on. Get him to parent, give him all the ‘help’ he gave you in the past decade. Don’t accept this, he cannot be allowed to neglect the people he created.

TristantheTyrannosaurus · 05/04/2021 22:23

Does he behave the same at work?

MajesticWhine · 05/04/2021 22:56

I have a friend whose DH is like this. If we go for dinner and he is left in charge of his DC, there is usually a terrible crisis at home before the food has arrived at the table and it has ruined the evening on more than one occasion. I just advise her to turn the phone off but she's conditioned to doing everything and enables him to be useless.

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midnightstar66 · 06/04/2021 05:52

Of he managed toddlers he can manage school age dc who can do most things for themselves. Agree with the parenting course and also turning off your phone when you're out. Don't rush to help when you've gone for a bath etc

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 06/04/2021 06:44

What a complete useless idiot he is, of course he will moan about the kids expecting you to do it all, I would go out even more and he can get on with it like you have to.

startfrom1 · 06/04/2021 07:11

I talked to him last night about this and he said the reason he cannot look after them is because if they stress him out and he ends up shouting in front of them, they will get scared / upset.

Apparently if I were to raise my voice at them, it wouldn't bother them.

A few people have asked if he's like this at work, he was made redundant in may last year and has not found another job. This was discussed last night and he says he cannot work for anyone as the stress will be too much for him.

I feel like he's giving up on everything.

OP posts:
Clymene · 06/04/2021 07:17

Hang on, so he's not working, won't look for another job and won't look after his children?

What exactly is the point of him?

BikeRunSki · 06/04/2021 07:17

He clearly needs more practice!!

harknesswitch · 06/04/2021 07:21

So he's not working and still won't parent his own children?

Autistic people are very capable to looking after children

Sounds like he's looking for an easy ride

Paddy1234 · 06/04/2021 07:24

What does he do OP?

startfrom1 · 06/04/2021 07:34

@Paddy1234

What does he do OP?
He does do a lot around the house. When I'm at work he will clean the house, get the shopping done and sometimes cook dinner.

I've said to him before I would rather he uses his energy to look after our dc rather than make the house spotless, but he just says he can't do it.

When I'm home he will purposely have things to do so he doesn't have to watch the children.

I am grateful for all the things he does do, but I'd still rather he watch the children when I can't.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 06/04/2021 14:56

If he can't work and he can't parent then he needs to see his GP and get referred on. That's very serious!

Ineedaneasteregg · 06/04/2021 15:09

I agree.
If he isn't able to work or parent then he needs to book an appointment with the GP ASAP to look at issues like depression.

He may also seriously benefit from parenting classes which look at ways to communicate effectively with your dc. In some areas these are currently running online.

TristantheTyrannosaurus · 06/04/2021 15:15

I couldn't live with a person like this.

canigooutyet · 06/04/2021 15:15

But he coped with them when they were younger and more louder?
If he feels he cannot control his anger around them then he needs to get help with this.
Suggest he makes an appointment with his gp and see his response.

TristantheTyrannosaurus · 06/04/2021 15:15

And the whole 'he needs to go to the GP'. Well, you can't force him and with people like him, they usually don't.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 06/04/2021 15:26

When you get back be brisk and cheerful - "well no-one's in hospital so that's all fine, you did a great job" and ignore all forms of whingeing. In answer to phone calls, if you can't switch your phone off altogether, then repeat whatever variation of "sorry I don't remember where X is, do your best" or "whatever you think dear, it will be fine, sorry got to go" suits you and then ring off. Make it his problem, not yours.

Obviously people with autism can raise children, but wondering if it could all be Linked.

It sounds more like OCD and sensory difficulties than autism but could be whatever. Either way, if he can't be left alone with his own children, then he needs to see a doctor and find a way to pay for childcare. Autism (etc) doesn't give him the right to use you as his crutch and he can't expect you to earn the money and raise the children without his direct help. With three children under 10 shopping, cleaning and (sometimes) cooking doesn't cut it as a parent.

if they stress him out and he ends up shouting in front of them, they will get scared / upset.

He has the choice to shout at them or not. He can choose not to. If he doesn't know what else to do then (as someone else linked upthread) a parenting class will work wonders. And if he thinks he can't control himself then yes, GP and referral, pronto.

If he can't work and he can't parent then he needs to see his GP and get referred on. That's very serious!

Agreed. And if he wont do that then he is a waster, with or without autism.

When I'm home he will purposely have things to do so he doesn't have to watch the children.

My own father was a bit like this. One of the Great Undiagnosed, in the days before anyone had heard of autism. But he did always manage to earn a living, he respected my mother, and when we got older he made a huge effort (at my mother's insistence) to be a better less shouty parent and to build a relationship with us his children. Whereas I'm not convinced your DH is going to make it.

SleepingStandingUp · 06/04/2021 15:28

@startfrom1

I talked to him last night about this and he said the reason he cannot look after them is because if they stress him out and he ends up shouting in front of them, they will get scared / upset.

Apparently if I were to raise my voice at them, it wouldn't bother them.

A few people have asked if he's like this at work, he was made redundant in may last year and has not found another job. This was discussed last night and he says he cannot work for anyone as the stress will be too much for him.

I feel like he's giving up on everything.

I'd be honestly questioning my marriage op

He can't be trusted with the kids incase he shouts at them so much he scares them? So he can't keep a control of his temper enough to PARENT HIS CHILDREN?

Graphista · 06/04/2021 15:50

To be honest I am thinking it sounds more like he has ocd than anything else - I have ocd too. Certain aspects of parenting in the early years I found incredibly hard BUT as a single parent most of dds childhood I had no choice but to get on with it!

He does sound possibly depressed - again NOT an excuse. But he needs to go to the dr and tell them honestly what he is struggling with and get whatever help is needed.

None of this means he CANNOT parent his kids!

There is still most definitely I agree a large element of him just can't be arsed and that's not acceptable.

He needs to go to the dr, take a parenting class and step up as a parent.

It may not be easy but it's not easy for any parent. He does need to just suck it up to some degree.

Embracelife · 06/04/2021 15:53

Ex was like this
Combo of severe anxiety and plain controlling/abusive

Just ignore him let him get on with it

Love51 · 06/04/2021 16:05

My DH couldn't cook when I met him (in his defence we were teenagers, he is eldest of a large family and the kitchen was his mum's sanctuary!)
I did not want to look forward to a lifetime of being the only cook in the family, so when he moved out if mums and into a house share, he learnt. I taught him a few things, one of his housemates taught him a few things, and he bought a book.
When I had a baby, I didn't have a clue. He, as I said, was eldest of a large family - he could do babies and toddlers. I learnt quickly.
Basically your partner needs to practice. Every day for an hour while you aren't there.

Love51 · 06/04/2021 16:07

I agree with pp who suggested a parenting programme. Your local council will run them, mostly online right now.

dottiedaisee · 06/04/2021 16:10

Is his mental health ok? His concern about germs etc sounds a bit OCD and yes he could well be on the spectrum. It was my initial thought .

MadMadMadamMim · 06/04/2021 16:17

He needs to step up.

Frankly if he can't work and he can't parent his own children then he's not much of a partner, is he?

Did you want an extra child? Do you want to be his mummy?

It's so deeply unsexy. I'd be suggesting he deal with it or he leaves.

startfrom1 · 06/04/2021 16:22

Thank you everyone for all your responses.

His mental health is hit and miss. He does have a condition which he is taking medication for but I'm not willing to go into that here. I don't want that to be used as a possible excuse.

I know he can look after them. When we are all together he can play with them and always tells them how much he loves them.
He just becomes too overwhelmed when it's just him and them.

He reckons that he will be more able when they are older but to be honest I need the most help whilst they are young.

OP posts:
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