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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my DH should occasionally get up to DC?

89 replies

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 09:24

I worked out last night that DH has got up to our 4 year old probably less than 10 times in 4 years. DC has never been a good sleeper, has various medical issues which mean often wakes in evening and at night and rarely sleeps past 5am. On average probably 3 wakings a night that need to be settled down after, until 2 it was more like 7 or 8! I am bloody exhausted tbh! Most nights end up with DC in our bed or me fallen asleep on DC bedroom floor :(
Last night I was so tired and did get a bit angry about it so DH actually got up to DC this am. But he is making a big deal of it, think he's looking for a medal. I look at him sometimes when he's sleeping and I've been awake most of the night and I truly dislike him. AIBU to think he should help out a bit???

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 22/05/2011 12:06

I'm sorry, but to be perfectly honest, his getting up in the night is the least of your problems isn't it :(

I don't know how you have put up with this for so long - it's a horrible, horrible way to be living. I'd rather live in a one bedroom flat on my own with the kids, than live how you are :(

I know it's easier said than done - but he would be gone if it was me.

Wamster · 22/05/2011 12:13

What ChippingIn said. For goodness sake, if he is so selfish that he cannot bring himself to give you a couple of nights where he gets up so that you can rest without the stress of getting up, that does make him an awful husband.

Can't agree that the getting up should be 50/50, but a couple of nights off for you to relax and recuperate? Not too bloody much to ask at all!

So YABU for asking if this should be 'occasional' because it should not be occasional it should be a couple of nights a week where you are guaranteed peaceful rest.

babyhammock · 22/05/2011 12:32

OMG felt really emotional reading through this thread and it brought back loads of memories of what it was like living with my ex.

He sounds extremely abusive. Everything you have said makes me feel he is almost purposely depriving you of sleep by just standing by watching you struggle and doing nothing. He is very controlling.

Have you read 'why does he do that' by Lundy Bancroft?

Sleep deprivation is a killer. You need to get some rest or you will get ill. I ended up in hospital with severe bilateral pneumonia which is very unusual for a young 'fit' person to have (I nearly died from it). I know it was the chronic lack of sleep and living with an abusive arsehole that did it.

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 13:06

Thanks all :) Certainly wouldn't want it to be 50/50. But think it could be shared more fairly. But I have asked in the past and know really that it won't ever happen. At least now I know I am reasonable to expect it tho!
To the person who asked how old my DC are - 12,8 and 4. Thankfully the other two don't wake up at night anymore most of the time!

OP posts:
atswimtwolengths · 22/05/2011 13:23

I thought your little one was a baby, to be honest. What makes him wake up so frequently that you are always exhausted? Your child must be exhausted, too.

Is your child in school? If so, can you really not sleep at all during the day? I know sleeping at night is preferable, but if you have the days free, surely you could sleep for a few hours?

atswimtwolengths · 22/05/2011 13:24

Sorry, just re-read the OP, so I know why he's waking so much. But surely he's exhausted? (Your son, I mean.)

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 13:29

No not in school yet. The spare time I get during the week goes on keeping the house as DH expects it.

OP posts:
CinnabarRed · 22/05/2011 13:37

Shock Sad and Angry

You need RL support. It does sound as though he's deliberately depriving you of sleep.

Dearheart, it's time to get rid. Even if he emigrated, you'd be better off. And so would the kids.

Could you move closer to your family? Or his, if they're reasonable people?

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 13:44

Cinnabarred - his family are elderly and have never liked me (no idea why). My family think the sun shines out of his bum!!! So I have to do on my own.
I don't think it's deliberate, just think he doesn't care tbh.

OP posts:
babyhammock · 22/05/2011 13:55

Hun he's making threats to you and infront of the children. Saying things to them like he'll have to leave as mummy is mean to him is awful.
As for threatening to emigrate...what a tosser!

I'd buy the 'he just doesn't care' if he wasn't being abusive in other ways. Don't underestimate how much he's aware of what he is doing.

As for his family thinking the sun shines out of his who ha..yes I can well believe it and it goes a long way to explaining his entitled attitude.

I now how isolated must you feel... its horrible

babyhammock · 22/05/2011 13:58

Sorry I misread it being YOUR family thinking the best of him.

That's because he's very manipulative. I imagine the OH he presents himself publically is a far cry from the one he is at home

hidingbehindnewname · 22/05/2011 14:15

If it is of any help gaining perspective, you could be talking about my DH back when the DC were little (and even though I worked FT when they were babies, my job was "less important" so I still had to do all the nights, and the house, and the cooking, and the car, and the garden, and the shopping, and the washing, and the nursery pickups and drop offs and the bins etc etc although he has always paid for cleaners). So where am I now? Like an earlier poster, a few years back, I ended up as an emergency admission to hospital with, basically, life threatening exhaustion. DH didn't lift a finger to help when I came out of hospital - my 10 yo was the one fetching me drinks and food until I could get up myself. At that point, I stopped loving him. I changed my life, went part time at work with long periods out and concentrated on myself and the DC instead of seeing a future with DH. Somehow we are still married as I thought a 2 parent family important for the DC. Luckily, DH works very long hours so I hardly see him but I cannot imagine being with him when he retires so as soon as the DC leave home, I am leaving him. I wish I had done that years ago but it is only recently, through reading MN, that I realise the harm he has done to the DC with his attitudes (which are to treat them too as lesser beings). Now I only have a year or two to go so might as well wait. You can change things earlier. Please consider this. You could find a man who treats you like a human being, or even be happy alone and most likely have every other weekend getting sleep (DH won't emigrate). Would you trust him with your DC?

Is this really the sort of thing Women's Aid deal with, though? (genuine question) It can seem from the outside like the perfect life - SAHM Mum, nice house, nice cars etc I know it is not like that really but one feels guilty for complaining let alone having the courage to call Women's Aid.

Spidookly you are spot on.

Good luck OP. Start tonight by asking your DH to at least cover until 2am.

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 14:21

hiding - that has been my plan since I had my 3rd dc that I would wait until they were 18 to leave. I know this isn't who I want to spend the rest of my life with but I don't know if I can do it for another 14 years. I have several stress related physical problems at the moment, which I know are down to the situation and tiredness. But I cant seem to take control and DO something. No point asking for help this evening, he will consider he has done his share for the next few months!

OP posts:
hidingbehindnewname · 22/05/2011 16:15

I feel for you and feel the same although I currently get my sleep and my DC are much older so basically I live a happy single life, albeit a little lonely, but looking back I do regret what it has done to the DC and wish I had known that in advance (they have real self esteem problems). Leaving during GCSE or A level years seems unfair but perhaps you have time now? Mind you, I understand that it is easier said than done eg where do you start?

Do you know whether your joint assets are sufficient for you to keep the house if you split up? That would make it a lot easier. I am working on making our house look fabulous enough to get a good price for it in a year or two when we sell.

Might your DH pay for a night respite carer say twice a week?

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 16:16

Babyhammock - so it is deliberate you think? That's even worse :(

OP posts:
cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 16:19

Have no idea what our joint assets are tbh. House in both our names but have no idea of anything financial. I have no money of my own, savings are all in his name.
Not to put too finer point on it ... I'm screwed :(

OP posts:
RedHotPokers · 22/05/2011 16:34

Totally agree with ChippingIn. YOu obviously have a problem with this man that is so much greater than just him helping out with night wakings.

Take some advice about leaving this horrible sipteful little man.

Gingefringe · 22/05/2011 16:36

I think a swift kick in the ribs by accident in your sleep is called for.

My DH was also like this. He thought he was entitled to a good night's sleep because he had to get up for work the following morning! He's still pretty useless with the kids 14 years on.

babyhammock · 22/05/2011 16:43

I suppose he just gives you enough for the housekeeping and anything else you have to actually ask him for it... so basically no chance of putting anything aside or being in any way independant financially...
He is in total control financially.

then just incase he thinks you might think there are ways round this, you have the added threat of him leaving and having no contact with DC's and no maintenance either..

Yes I really think he knows what he's doing. I spent years wondering why my ex was no cruel and i always thought that the 'nice' him was real and the rest.. well he didn't realise what he was doing..he did!

Please read that book by Lundy Bancroft. You can get it on amazon or borrow it from a library. Its brilliant.
Then call womans aid

By the threats above he's abusing you financially and he's also very emotionally abusive. And no you aren't entitled to any sleep either...x

cathkidstonbag · 22/05/2011 16:47

babyhammock - he doesn't give me any money, I have a credit card for shopping etc that he scrutinises the bill for. The only cash I have is child benefit that I use to buy Xmas/birthdaygifts, occasional coffee out. If the credit card bill is a lot tho I have to use it to put towards that.

OP posts:
SardineQueen · 22/05/2011 16:53
Shock

Where do all these awful men come from? Seriously, omg, he is just horrible. Get yourself together and start making plans. You say you have posted in relationships in the past, they can help and support you. You need to do something, seriously you do.

CarGirl · 22/05/2011 16:56

Tell him you need a night nanny if he's not prepared to help out.

He is being financially abusive towards you!!!! You need to find out your financial circumstances with hard evidence for when you split.

What are your childs sleep problems? One of mine had too much adrenalin and use to wake loads etc etc I finally found some treatment by accident and it made a massive difference, she went to sleep earlier and for longer and stopped waking 2-3 times per night.

I'm not sure you can last another 14 years tbh.

babyhammock · 22/05/2011 17:02

Yup that sounds about right... so you don't even get 'pocket money'... :-(

and the thing is with the amount of sleep you're not getting you probably can't think straight and everything will seem like a mountain to climb.

Please please please read that book!
Then you need a plan.
Cargirl is right, you can't do this for another 14 years. There's so much more out there x

gallicgirl · 22/05/2011 17:03

Start to get copies of financial documents, payslips, pension statements, mortgage documents, credit card statements etc.

If you do ever decide to leave then all that will be useful. I think that although assets may be in his name, you can be entitled to part of them as you've sacrificed earning your own assets in order to bring up his children. Please don't stay with an abusive partner just for financial reasons. Initially life might not be what you're used to, but you will cope and your children will thank you in the long run.

babyhammock · 22/05/2011 17:04

Oh and start a diary.. just scribble stuff down... of what he says and does