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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Th think my DH has been unfair. Bit long sorry

26 replies

Whitewithnosugarplease · 30/01/2011 16:16

My DH has always been one for going out at wkends
About a year after we got married I had to have major surgery. As I was discharged a day earlier than expected someone else had to pick me up as he was working. When he eventually got home he announced he'd made plans to go out clubbing and had told a mate he could stay over. I felt too I'll and shocked to argue but have never forgotten it.
When DS was born 3 years ago he carried on as normal and expected me to be out with him and friends. TBH he would spend most of the time we were out harmlessly flirting as he called it! DS was forever staying at his grandparents at wkends. I was really missing being with him so told DH I wouldn't be out nearly as often. He is still out every wkend, sometimes staying out all night.
To top it all I have PIL on my back as they are missing having my DS staying over so often and want it to become a regular thing again.........

OP posts:
bubblewrapped · 30/01/2011 16:18

He sounds a twat. Not sure why you went on to have a family with him when he had already shown what a selfish arse he is.

Not sure what you are asking an opinion on here though.

Eglu · 30/01/2011 16:19

I think you have put up with it for 3 years, so he doesn't see what the problem is.

Rhadegunde · 30/01/2011 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scaredofmycomputertoday · 30/01/2011 16:22

Yes he is a twat.

I had one just like this, I tried to keep up but as I bonded more and more with my ds after he was born I stopped trying. Ex H never stopped and hence he is Ex.

Same thing with in laws too after dd was born wanted same nights and weekends staying over as they had had with ds. I got round that by breast feeding till dd was. 14 months. Everyone still maintains that dd is "clingy" because I fed her "too long" oh well!

Rhadegunde · 30/01/2011 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

risingstar · 30/01/2011 16:23

yes he is a chilish selfish arse.

what are you going to do about it?

mutznutz · 30/01/2011 16:24

Sounds just like my ex Husband...I binned him. He was a total prick.

Scaredofmycomputertoday · 30/01/2011 16:25

Tbh I would like to think I would have dumped him after the major surgery thing but I am not sure, this men have a way of "normalising" their behaviour till you don't know your arse from your elbow! The things I put up with in my marriage would make your hair stand on end.

Scaredofmycomputertoday · 30/01/2011 16:26

These not this

LostInTransmogrification · 30/01/2011 16:27

Yanbu but if you don't say something to him (and pils) then I can't see things changing. Why don't you arrange something fun for you to do as a family at the weekend (go away somewhere?) so he realises that weekends don't revolve around hanging onto his single life.

bubblewrapped · 30/01/2011 16:27

I have sympathy for the grandparents here though. They possibly feel a bit used as a convenience and have now been dumped because they are no longer required, as well as missing a grandchild who they had a very close relationship with.

I wouldnt be too hasty to stop your son going over there to stay with them, but maybe allow it once a month perhaps so that they can maintain the regular contact.

When, (and I say when rather than if) you split up with your husband, grandparents who happily have your son for the night will be a great bonus.

A married bloke, who goes out every weekend is bad enough, but one who doesnt even come home is not worth having.

QueenofAllWildThings · 30/01/2011 16:28

Have you had a conversation with him about cutting back a bit on the going out? Say you would like to have a weekend with him and the baby? How on earth can he afford to go out every weekend clubbing, btw?!

Communication is the key - but if he is not prepared to even think about slowing down now you have a child, then you seriously need to think about whether you need him in your life.

Whitewithnosugarplease · 30/01/2011 16:33

Same old story I guess, he promised he would be different when we had a family and I was stupid enough to believe him. I don't regret having my DS one little bit and TBF DH is a good dad a lot of the time. When I read back through my post I can see it has doormat written all over it! What I'm rely asking is what would you do???

OP posts:
zikes · 30/01/2011 16:33

You've changed, he hasn't.

Have you talked to him about how you feel - and if so, how does he react?

AgentZigzag · 30/01/2011 16:35

I hope I'd have more respect for myself than to stay with someone who obviously didn't enjoy spending time with me, and more importantly, our DC.

What exactly does he contribute to your life if you factor out cash?

He's selfish and immature beyond belief, and if he wants to keep hold of his family he's going to need a huge kick up the arse.

He must have other positive points for you to have stayed with him for so long.

bubblewrapped · 30/01/2011 16:38

I would tell him if he wants to be part of a family, he should cut down on his nights out, (surely what he spends on them could pay for a brilliant family holiday in the summer).

I dont see why a married bloke would need to go out with his mates EVERY weekend. But if you have let him for 3 years, then he probably thinks its fine.

A night out with the lads is fine every now and again, but not this sort of regularity.

My husband has mates who are like this, and I always think what selfish pigs they are to be honest. And I hate to say this, but most of them certainly arent faithful, because they KNOW they can get away with it.

Nancy66 · 30/01/2011 16:39

What would I do?
Tell him that this can't continue that he has to change his ways - if he doesn't he must move out.

Lulumaam · 30/01/2011 16:40

any man who invites mates round the day after his wife is discharged from hosptial and spends every weekend out with friends, flirting and not coming home, is not one i would want to be married to, he wants the single life, while you bring up the baby

slightlymad72 · 30/01/2011 16:44

what would I do?
Tell him that his behaviour is not acceptable, give him the ultimatum shape up or ship out, give him time to change his ways, if he doesn't show him the door or if he does and slips back, give him a reminder.

He has responsibilities if he doesn't want them then he shouldn't have had kids.!!!!

Look in a mirror and repeat to yourself 'I am worth so much more than this'

AgentZigzag · 30/01/2011 16:46

I'd give him a specified time to get his act together, probably 4-6 months (anyone can do it for a couple of weeks) and then you'll feel better in yourself that at least you gave it a really good go if you decide to end your marriage.

Actually put a date on it, so it's not some random time in the future, get him to realise you're serious.

Does he ever say why he feels the need to go out on the lash and act like a teenager?

And the flirting in front of you??! Shock That speaks volumes about his shitty attitude to you.

fit2drop · 30/01/2011 16:56

I doubt very much he will change now, You have allowed and accepted this for too long .
Maybe when you initially told him you would not be going out so much was the time you should have said "actually we have responsibilities now, so we will not be going out so much " Then when he objected you would have had a reasonable argument.
But you didn't so now he will think you are being unreasonable trying to stop something you have previously allowed to go on.
You need to have a heart to heart, not an argument. Choose the time so you can make time to discuss how you feel.Listen to him too. Ask him what he thinks family is and how important it is to him compared to his relationship with his buddies.
Be prepared to compromise ..i dunno, maybe a night out with the lads then a night where he babysits and you go out with your mates and then a night out together (this is where grandparents can have quality time babysitting:))

Surely everyone wins then.

You will have to compromise, but so does he, if he doesnt then maybe you will have to ask yourself just what it is you are getting from such a selfish individual that allows you to accept this behaviour.

A difficult one , but not one that can't be altered without a lot of communication and compromise

doubleease · 30/01/2011 16:58

Stays out all night? As in doesn't come home til the morning?

Tell him is he wants to continue his single life then go for it...alone!

Whitewithnosugarplease · 30/01/2011 17:05

DS does still sleep over at PIL about once a month and they also see him every other Saturday afternoon with me, but because I am there it doesn't count as they want him to theirselves. As far as DH goes I guess I know I've put up with it for way too long, actually it's 5 years. IDIOT!!!

OP posts:
GloriaSmut · 30/01/2011 17:09

I've never considered myself as a doormat. Quite the opposite. But for some reason, when ds1 was born I simply assumed that (ex)DH would be as pleased as me to move into a new phase of our life as parents. One that didn't involve seven nights a week at the pub. In fairness, I never had any cause to distrust his fidelity and the pub going was a social thing rather than a hard drinking activity since we'd both been keen members of various sporting things attached to our local. But for all that, I assumed we would certainly cut down on the constant "outs" and enjoy the company of friends rather differently.

Now I'm not keen on laying down laws within relationships because it shouldn't be necessary. You are, after all, both supposed to be adults and theoretically able to tell the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. However, this is one area where I now realise I shouldn't have made assumptions and instead, from the outset, I ought to have simply said it wasn't acceptable for my ex to carry on as before. Because once the habit had been established it was even harder to break and ultimately, 6 years and another child later, I left him.

We didn't have grandparents who lived near enough to act as regular babysitters but I can see why the OP's ILs would now feel deprived of the seeing their grandchildren if they used to have them to stay so regularly. To be blunt, they must feel very used.

So no, OP, YANBU in being pissed off at your husband's behaviour - the episode when you were discharged early from hospital is shameful - but be prepared that, 3 years on, it's far harder to break previously accepted habits. Convincing him that his behaviour is inappropriate for a married man with children could be very difficult.

brightlightsandpromise · 30/01/2011 17:11

Christ on a bike, how old is this man? The money he must be wasting pissing it up the wall all weekend. Honestly, why do people think they can just carry on the way they did before they had children. If you think that, then don't fucking have them, its not fair on your partner or your children. No one saying people should never go out etc, but every weekend??? WTF for?? To be honest your OP doesn't sound like he has a grain of respect for you and you deserve better, somewhere out there is a man that will love and respect you - get rid of the deadwood so you can move on and find happiness you deserve.