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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I'm being childish and silly (long)

39 replies

Jux · 02/12/2011 16:44

Bit of background. I have ms and find walking quite difficult and painful, standing for any length of time is very hard, my lower back muscles weaken and then scream at me - I am intimately acquainted with many shop floors! The last couple of weeks, my back has been really painful, stiff and generally horrid. I've had a couple of days in bed, but it's been quite a busy week this week and dh has had to go to London (150 miles) on Monday, returning on Tuesday and then on Wednesday to the Gower (prob another 150 miles) and back yesterday.

Today we did a big Tesco shop. It takes a while and I am always in pain and exhausted by the end of it. We also needed to do a few other things on the way back, so DH drove to the garage and the vet (needed to pay them), and that just left us a few things in the High Street.

2 things were at one end of the High Street and 1 half way up - it's quite long btw - DH parked the car half way up. Just as we got to the shop he had parked closest to, he remembered another thing that needed doing down the other end, so told me to wait while he ran back to the car to get the document needed. By the time he got back to me I was bent almost double. He was calling "are you all right?" so I said my back was giving up on me and there was a limit to how much further I could walk. He thrust the document at me and said "see you back at the car" and like an idiot I staggered off down the High Street, into one shop and then into the bank with the document and then round the corner into another shop as the first shop didn't have whatever it was. I tried to phone dh to ask him to come and pick me up but there was no reply so I knrew he didn't have his phone on him.

So I stagger back to the car, where he is sitting, and once I've struggled to get the door open and get myself in and the door shut again, I say "do you think you could sometimes park near where I have to go instead of just outside the shop you're going to?" and he starts making excuses like there was no parking space (there was, I saw it). By which time we are home, so I just struggled out the car, went indoors and ignored him.

The trouble is, this happens every time. I'm usually quite jocular about it and ask him if he could park nearer where I need to be as I take longer to walk and it hurts me to do so, but there's always a reason why it doesn't happen. He can't even just drop me off.

Anyway, once he'd brought all the shopping in (I know, I should have helped him) he came in to the sitting room and asked me what was wrong. I'm afraid I couldn't bear to speak to him so just blurted out "you know very well" (I've never used that cliche before), to which he replied he hadn't the faintest idea so I suggested he thought about it. Pause for nearly 2 seconds and then "nope, I've no idea" and I was childish enough to riposte "think a bit harder then".

I know I should apologise for being so childish but I'm just so fed up with him doing this and I can't bring myself to. Also, I think I had a point.

Gosh sorry it's so long. I feel better now, though. (but not apologetic Grin)

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 02/12/2011 16:49

Awww you should not have helped him get the shopping in, and he shouldn't have let you anyway!

YWBU to resort to cliches Grin but YANBU to feel he should know by now.

Not childish but frustrated.

nickelbabe · 02/12/2011 16:54

no, not childish at all.
He knows you get pain, and he knows you struggle with walking, so he should be offering to do the long tasks for you, or meet you outside the shop you're going to.

and he should definitely be apologising and not acting like a twat again

Backtobedlam · 02/12/2011 17:01

Not childish at all-I think that's the least he deserved really. If it was the other way round would you stand by and watch him struggling when there was something small, like parking nearer, that could help him? I don't think so. YANBU

dollymixtures · 02/12/2011 17:03

You really aren't being childish and silly he's being a thoughtless idiot. What should you apologise for, having MS?

Of course YANBU, although I'm not sure that you actually asked if you were...

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 02/12/2011 17:40

My DH does this too - there will be six spaces closer to the door of the shop we're going to, but he will glide past and park in the furthest away one there is, and roll his eyes and cat's bum his mouth if I say anything. Then he jumps out of the car and is halfway there before he realises I'm still struggling to get both feet on the ground.

tasmaniandevilchaser · 02/12/2011 17:43

no not childish, why is he so thoughtless? YANBU, but vvu not to do an on line shop, is there a reason you don't do your big shopping on line?

AgentZigzag · 02/12/2011 17:47

I wondered why he was being so thoughtless as well tasmanian, from the way the OP has been written it's like he's doing it on purpose.

Making excuses about parking, not taking his phone, even the OP feeling she should have helped him with the shopping - does he make her feel she should struggle on regardless because that's what he'd do?

MrsMuddyPuddles · 02/12/2011 17:49

What's his excuse for not just dropping you off?

Jux · 02/12/2011 18:35

I had a whole answer typed up and then the whole thing went up in a puff of smoke! Outrageous Grin

PomBear, does he realise what he's doing?

I probably can't answer your questions fully but hey, here goes.

We don't online shop because

a) we like to see what's there as we don't go to Tesco that often

b) we generally shop down the High Street so we can use the independent shops, some of which are supporting 2 or 3 families, perhaps 3 generations. Anyway, shopping is usually the only time I get out or get to talk to anyone except dh or dd all week.

I don't know why he is so thoughtless. I only really noticed it when I first became ill, about 12 years ago, and he was appalling then, better now but this thing today has upset me more than I thought at first.

Excuse for not dropping off? No idea, he doesn't really make one. I gave up asking/getting annoyed a long time ago as I simply couldn't be bothered listening to the wittering and defensiveness.

As for struggling on regardless, well, GrinGrinGrin Not dh I can assure you!

Ah well, we have a truce now. After shopping he disappeared upstairs and lay down. He is tired after all that driving I know, but we'd have got home much quicker if he'd done the walk and I'd done the nearer shop.

He came down about an hour ago and studiously ignored me. DD and I were reading LOLcats and she kept reading things out to dh. One time, I caught his eye and gave him a big smile, so after another 10 mins he asked me about something in his emails and so now everything is as if nothing happened. Hmm

Until next time of course. I might feel more justified in making a fuss thanks to you all.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for telling me I'm only a bit childish, but not unreasonable, anyway, (and of course, I do apologise for the cliche, AgentZigZag!).

OP posts:
MrsMuddyPuddles · 02/12/2011 18:39

glad it's blowing over. Next time, if you're feeling childish, refuse to get out of the car if it's not near your shop? not entirely serious

omaoma · 02/12/2011 18:42

next time before you shop, before you leave the house say:
"- i love our shopping trips.

  • i need to limit how much walking i do today because it's giving me severe pain.
please can we
  • agree the order we will do things and who does what before we leave the car so i know i can manage the chores i need to do
  • can you do most of the walking if we can't find a space directly outside the car
  • i really appreciate you bringing the shopping in for us, thank you. it does reduce the amount of physical pain i feel.
  • i really love going shopping as a family and i appreciate you doing all of this so i can keep doing it.
  • if you have any concerns with any of this can we discuss them before we go?"

you can't carry on pretending you are not in agony and there isn't an easy way to avoid it!

LydiaWickham · 02/12/2011 18:50

What Omaoma said.

chrimblycompo · 02/12/2011 18:51

He sounds cruel though , not just thoughtless

OddBaubles · 02/12/2011 19:06

You are not being unreasonable at all. Does your dh resent your condition in some way? I have seen friends in that situation before where they get resentment from a loved one as the loved one feels the burden of always having to be the dependable one.

As an aside, I have mobility problems too and also find my legs give up before I'm ready to but I have got myself a rollator for longer walks and something like this for shorter ones and it has really helped my independence.

nickelbabe · 02/12/2011 20:12

yes, definitely what omaoma said.
very sensible - that way, he can't say he didn't know, and you can't say that you haven't warned him.

ShellyBoobs · 02/12/2011 20:30

YABU

Greige · 03/12/2011 00:59

Jux, you are not being childish or silly at all.

I have seen ms quite close up (a cousin and a very good friend both suffer), after 12 years your DH really should have a bit of cop on better idea of what you are going through.

I suggest taking omaoma's idea but modify it slightly -
"- i love our shopping trips.

  • i need to limit how much walking i do today because it's giving me severe pain.
please can you
  • do x job and I will do y
  • can you do most all of the walking if we can't find a space directly outside the car
  • you should bring the shopping in for us, thank you. it reduces the amount of physical pain i feel.
  • i really love going shopping as a family and i appreciate you doing all of this so i can keep doing it.
  • if you have any concerns with any of this can we discuss them with my gp/specialist.

MS is a horrible illness and it seems that overdoing it/stress can cause relapses. The OP's DH should be doing everything he can to minimise her suffering, it really shouldn't need to be spelled out to him.

OP, I think that by trying to be brave and jocular you may have given your DH the appearance that things are not as bad as they really are. Perhaps you need to be more demanding that your needs are taken into account. I know this can be hard, especially if it means persuading yourself that you need the help.

Your DH really needs to understand that there may come a time when you are confined to a wheelchair and you will need him to do everything.

Sorry this post is so long, OP, and best of luck for the future.

Crabapple99 · 03/12/2011 08:07

O agree with crimblycompo, this sounds like deliberate cruelty

iscream · 03/12/2011 08:32

I think he is thoughtless and cruel. Shame on him!
Have you considered using a walker, or wheelchair when you are having bad pain days? You can get light weight walkers with a seat, that fold up to put in the back of the car. With a basket to put your shopping in.
I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

cwtch4967 · 03/12/2011 08:36

Sounds to me as though he is in denial over your MS. Has he taken it on board at all or is he hoping it will go away if he ignores it? Seriously you need to sort this out. Why the hell did you push yourself and walk - you could have said NO............Don't assume he can work out how you are feeling, some men are really crap at empathy and you have to spell it out in terms they understand.
Do you have a Blue Badge so that you can park nearer to places you need to visit? What about using a wheelchair when your back is really bad, A friend of mine used to do this and realised she had more energy at home if she didn't push herself by trying to fight the MS all the time.
Do you get any help from a support group?

springydaffs · 03/12/2011 11:10

this might be a clue: The trouble is, this happens every time. I'm usually quite jocular about it re you don't take it seirously so neither does he. If you are being brave and poo-pooing your symptoms (?) he's not psychic some blokes don't get the subtleties If you have bad symptoms but cover them up to present a stoic front (?) he is probably believing what you are presenting.

btw, you weren't seirous were you when you said you should have helped him in with the shopping? If so, WTF??!

Jux · 03/12/2011 11:15

Thank you all.

This has made me realise some things which I am going to have to mull over for a while.

I can't really use walking aids because my arms are in a worse state thAn my legs and anything which requires a pushing/leaning action is excruciating, so even a stick is out. A tall staff would work better and I've been keeping an eye out for one for ages but haven't found one yet.

If I get in a chair it's unlikely I'd get out of one. GP and neuros advice is not to for as long as I can avoid it.

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 03/12/2011 12:17

OP, were you being sarcastic when you said this:

"After shopping he disappeared upstairs and lay down. He is tired after all that driving I know"?

Driving isn't tiring unless you're driving a very long distance and/or the driving conditions are very bad.

He was driving to Tesco, not Lands End! It was clear to him you were in pain, yet he went to lie down. That is incredibly selfish.

As for Tesco, why not do the main shop online but go for smaller bits and pieces occasionally?

springydaffs · 03/12/2011 15:41

I missed that bit re After shopping he disappeared upstairs and lay down. He is tired after all that driving I know

Then He came down about an hour ago and studiously ignored me. ... One time, I caught his eye and gave him a big smile

Lovey, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? The men is a selfish pig, you were in agony whilst out shopping, he ignores you like a spoilt kid and you 'give him a big smile' (WTAF???!!). You do know, don't you, that if you pander to his every whim (tired after driving, MY FOOT).of course he's going to be treating you like that.

I'm sorry for all the shouting but, really OP, you may be expecting him to be as decent as you (though tbh you're doing more than enough for the both of you - no, the whole street) and, yes, he certainly should be getting his act together a bit more but, really, what do you expect if he doesn't have to face the consequences of his horrible behaviour and you 'give him a big smile' when he's been a shit.

LaurieFairyCake · 03/12/2011 15:57

I don't think you're childish and silly.

I think you are failing to get what you need by not demanding it and taking it.

I have a curved spine, really dodgy pelvis so I also have a limit to what I can do - if I have to be out somewhere I check in with my own body often and say when I'm done and I mean it.

I don't fuck about and make jokes and I don't push my body further than I should. If we've not finished something I say "I'm done and I'm off to that coffee shop over there for a sit down". I don't argue or assume some submissive position - it's my body and I decide - it's not open to discussion or argument.

Dh is young and fit so he carries the shopping/wood/coal/brings the washing down. I pull my weight in other ways. And I'm sure you do too Smile

Stop apologising and accept your condition. Check in with your body instead of pushing it. Take the time to rest. And don't leave it open to discussion.

I was married to someone else when I was diagnosed - he was selfish and I had no help or sympathy whatsoever, he is now my ex-husband Xmas Wink

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