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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think this is really not THAT big of a deal?!

21 replies

CheerfulYank · 27/02/2011 02:01

All right, so I've posted about my best mate's DH before. See this thread. I honestly think if I didn't post about him on here I'd show up at their place and slap him round the head, so I need to vent. :)

The other day my friend called me in tears. She said that she'd left her daughter (she's almost 5 months old) in her bouncy seat on the couch, and then run to grab something and her little girl tumbled off. It was a stupid mistake, but her DD is fine. She called the nurse line right away and was told that it happens all the times, and as long as there were no signs of a concussion she should be fine, just keep an eye out and be more careful next time.

When my friend's DH got home and she told him what happened, he went ballistic and told her that "even the worst parents don't leave their babies on elevated surfaces!" He also said something about not knowing if she could "be trusted" with DD.

(IMO "the worst parents" beat their children and, you know, leave them alone for days while they're out scoring drugs, so I think his perspective is a little skewed Hmm )

Anyway, my friend was distraught and I told her that of course it wasn't the best thing in the world, but it happens and everything was fine. (My DH actually dropped our DS off the couch at about the same age)

She seemed to be feeling better but when I talked to her later she defended DH saying, "well he's right, it was my fault." He told her that he never takes his eyes off the baby for a second, blah blah blah.

I feel she's going to end up walking on eggshells with her own child

Ugh. AIBU, or is he a bully?

OP posts:
BunnyLebowski · 27/02/2011 02:07

YANBU.

She was silly to put her DD on the sofa in a bouncy seat but lots of us make these mistakes. My DD fell rolled off our bed at around the same age. I was distraught Sad

My DP, however, couldn't do enough to console me and reassure me that these things happen. He was completely understanding and supportive. Parenthood is, after all, a learn-as-you-go experience.

Your friend's DP sounds like a Grade A fuck-knuckle.

CheerfulYank · 27/02/2011 02:10

I just snorted with laughter at fuck knuckle, Bunny . If you've got time, read the thread I linked. You'll be ready to invade America and boot him in the globes yourself.

OP posts:
missjulie · 27/02/2011 02:15

Hello, I agree with bunny. A similar thing happened to my DD when she was about that age too, and i was also distraught! I know exactly what it is like. YOu beat yourself up so so much, and do not need unsupportive partners to remind you that it may have been your fault!

AgentZigzag · 27/02/2011 02:17

Are you sure he's a nice bloke 99% of the time?

Because your friend seems totally sucked in by him.

I know it's right that you defend your DH, but I would be devastated if DH said that to me when DD2 clocks herself on something and wouldn't be able to hold in how I felt about him.

Yes it was a basic mistake, but blimey, to have your own DH making you twitchy about being trusted with your own baby? Shock

Do you think she might hold back on telling you the worst of his behaviour to stop you worrying about her?

I mean, she's going to know you hate seeing her in a difficult situation and feeling helpless to stop him.

Guacamole · 27/02/2011 02:18

Just wait until something happens 'on his watch'! It will...

Your poor friend will be feeling guilty enough without her DH flying off the handle! YANBU.

CheerfulYank · 27/02/2011 02:24

Believe me, AgentZigZag, I am rethinking the "nice guy" comment I made a few months ago!

When she got one of those baby-gym things (you know, with the play mat and the dangly toys) he was irritated that she didn't sterilize the toys first.

He was irritated when our other friend's little sister came over and opened her bag because it "made the house smell like pot." My friend said he spent forever wiping things down afterward.

When their DD had colic, another friend recommended gripe water and he had to speak to a doctor or nurse and research it on the internet before giving it to their DD.

Maybe those things don't sound so bad, but it's hard to put in the patronizing tone that pervades everything. It feels like he's the boss in the relationship and my friend's the employee, and he gets the final say in everything.

OP posts:
missjulie · 27/02/2011 02:26

Sounds like he has a bit of OCD?

CheerfulYank · 27/02/2011 02:28

Think he's got a bit of Jerk-itis Angry

OP posts:
missjulie · 27/02/2011 02:28

Yes, that too!

Morloth · 27/02/2011 02:31

Sounds like he is an overprotective father. Reverse the rolls and we would all be having a chuckle at how silly he is, but because he is a man everyone thinks it is a bit more sinister.

CheerfulYank · 27/02/2011 02:32

Nah, I think if the roles were reversed and my friend were behaving the way he is, I'd definitely tell her to calm down and that she was acting like a crazy person. :)

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 27/02/2011 02:40

I think there's a crossover morloth between a dad being protective over his baby, and a dad controlling the type of relationship the mother has with that baby.

She must be on pins all the time wondering what other random thing he's going to pick up on.

And the awful thing is, there is no right way, everyone's just stumbling on doing the best they can by their children.

Some people are happy to let someone who seems to know what's going on guide them, it makes the unpredictable world seem a bit safer perhaps.

Do you think your friend might 'let' things go because she doesn't mind in the scheme of things, or is she just stopping with him because she doesn't like the alternative of leaving?

Tortington · 27/02/2011 04:00

i think she clearly needs mumsnet

Teaandcakeplease · 27/02/2011 20:31

Eek cheerful! He sounds controlling as well as a bully. Vent away. Zigzag has some good points.

saffy85 · 27/02/2011 20:36

YANBU ofcourse he was cross he had every reason to be because it was a stupid thing to do. However, there was no need to go on about as I seriously doubt your friend will ever do that again.

Also can't think of anything more hurtful than my own DP saying he doesn't think I can be trusted with my own baby. Sad So horrible and really uncalled for.

Acanthus · 27/02/2011 20:38

He sounds like a horrible bully. She's going to need some help to make this work, I think.

RevoltingPeasant · 27/02/2011 20:41

Erm, he honestly does sound like he has OCD and/or some seriously controlling tendencies. I don't actually think we'd think differently if he was female - c'mon, can't you imagine this AIBU?

'My SIL complains when I open my handbag in her house and according to BIL spends an hour after I leave wiping down surfaces. My SIL sterilises her children's toys before she hands them over. My SIL said to me she's not sure if BIL can be trusted with DD because she slouched off the sofa once when he was watching her' -etc.

I think we'd all be saying SIL was a freakyweeky.

Also, he'd LOVE my mum, Cheerful - when I was little she dropped me off her knee onto a concrete floor and I had to spend 2 days in hospital!! Your friend has nothing on my mum, nothing Grin

zukiecat · 27/02/2011 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QOD · 27/02/2011 21:07

My dh was like that. Therefore DD is the fussy eater child. No marmite (she used to like it before he freaked it was too strong), no eggs for years (salmonella) just constantly critical.
Made me over paranoid

KaraStarbuckThrace · 27/02/2011 22:01

It was a really stupid thing for your friend to do, she was lucky her dd wasn't seriously injured.
Her DH is still an utter twat though. I think he has control issues.

CoffeeDodger · 27/02/2011 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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