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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just so annoyed, and skint

73 replies

Nc4567 · 23/08/2012 00:06

The gas bill just went up, various other expenses mean we need about an extra £100 a month. I work as much as I possibly can. Dh got himself sacked.

Just...argh. For various, possibly identifying, reasons, I only earn a couple of hundred a month and can't possibly earn more. He did something so stupid and pointless and doesn't even seem othered - it's all about how he is goin to get an amazin new job.

Meanwhile, the rent is due, tax credits have randomly stopped paying, the kids are doing my head in and I feel like yelln at him, but that will just get his temper up.

Argh.

OP posts:
Xroads · 24/08/2012 08:52

Ask him to come for the day and take them out while you do phone calls and sort out stuff?

Nc4567 · 24/08/2012 09:04

It would cost in the region of £70 for the train, which is too much for one day I think.

Would it be daft for me to say that I am coming back with the kids for a week or so, then he can see the kids and we can talk, but always with the plan of going back to my mums. Then give him, say, a month to show some real change.

It just seems like the wrong way to make decisions about dds education as well.

OP posts:
PurplePidjin · 24/08/2012 09:09

His access arrangements are his problem - stop mummying him!

wellwisher · 24/08/2012 09:12

Have you looked into the school situation there in your hometown? What if you could get the DDs into a good school there? Sounds like that's the only thing pulling you back to where your DH is.

Nc4567 · 24/08/2012 09:25

I can HE no problem, but HE or changing school is a big decision. I don't want to make it without her dad and/or on a whim. No matter what goes on between us, he is still their dad and they deserve him to be part of their lives in a Real way.

But the lease on the house is u for renewal. I need to decide if I want to renew it.

OP posts:
Nc4567 · 24/08/2012 09:26

We have joint finances at the moment. Him spending £70 is £70 less to spend on other things, and we barely have enough as it s.

OP posts:
thatisall · 24/08/2012 10:18

My goodness op you sound like me! Worrying yo mh h about the negative effect my positie decisions will have

How about this... Go back and tell him he's a real twat. Tell him you ate seriously considering leaving him and taking the dc, explain that you have already made plans, hupothetically and actually. Point out the effect that this will have on for example fil And on the dc and point out it is his doing. Maybe give it one term. If he doesn't change then go. Go to where you feel at home because while the dc might e the only thing that is keeping his parents going, being around him is making you more I'll and believe me is effecting the well being of the dc given the behaviour that you've described. He sounds a bit scary when drunk and their safety, is more precious than his rights to regular access or even theirs

thatisall · 24/08/2012 10:19

Also you won't have joint finances if you seperate

fuzzpig · 24/08/2012 10:54

You could deregister DD and homeschool for a bit while you get yourself sorted and apply for local schools.

Nc4567 · 28/08/2012 09:44

Ok, update.

Today is our 2nd wedding anniversary.

He has spent the time apart tidying the house (tbf, am a bit of a hoarder. Well, a lot of a hoarder) and has started clearing space for some Ikea (previously he hasn't allowed me any Ikea, so this is weirdly significant).

I have also told him that he needs to demonstrate some real change - just telling me he has changed and being good for a month doesn't cut it. Neither does huge gestures - pouring wine down the sink does to mean he has quit drinking (he has done this so many times) and neither does attending AA once or twice. (again, another quick fix he uses) He needs to either actually quit or not, but I have made it clear that is his choice - I am bothered by the behaviour, and if he thinks it is drink related it is down to him to sort that out and to remove himself from me and the kids if he is unable to control himself while that gets sorted. If he is just using drink as an excuse, he doesn't need to quit, but that is up to him. I'm just concerned that he stops acting like a twat, drunk or not. Same goes for fags. We each get a certain amount of 'pocket money' so we don't go into household budget for our treats. Mine pays for my iPad and things like dresses and coffee. If he wants to spend his on fags and booze, fine, as long as he doesn't use them as an excuse for being a twat.

Other conditions:
No more excuses. Plenty of people have ex wives, dead relatives, old relatives, money troubles and so on, and manage to not act like twats. I will support him if he is upset, but that does not include putting up with being treated like shit.

He keeps up with paying the bills I give to him as his responsibility. He also learns things like the kids birthdays etc. This man is acknowledged as one of the top quizzes in the country, he should be able to remember stuff about his own family.

He acknowledges that, if I find it scary, he needs to stop it. It doesn't matter if he considers it scary or not. It is fine to discuss differences calmly, even to get annoyed and express that annoyance in a non aggressive way .

He gives serious consideration to moving back to my home town. My uncle has a house he could possibly rent to us that hold great emotional significance to me, in walking distance of my mum and my old school. Even if that house wasn't right, there are several houses for rent in the street where my best friend lives, which is also in the area where almost all of our old friends live and in walking distance of the small city. My mum has asked for more help caring for my nana, who actually needs help to function, and who I am very close to- my parents had to work long hours and nana used to look after us. His parents are a lot better off than mine (apart from said uncle with a spare house, obviously) so they can move or afford to stay in a travel lodge and visit loads if they are that bothered. My mum is visibly ill from her very stressful job, money worries and looking after my nana - I am genuinely worried she will have a heart attack or nervous breakdown. My dad is 7 years younger than fil, but has had a much harder life, is a low level alcoholic and recently had pneumonia. I would rather not get into a parents nearest to death competition, but dh certainly doesn't have a clear victory.

Anything else?

OP posts:
Nc4567 · 28/08/2012 10:36

Should I maybe write these as bullet points, send them to him and tell him to think about it and I'll ring him tonight? Was considering going home tonight, but could leave it till tomorrow.

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Nc4567 · 28/08/2012 20:42

Shameless bump for advice.

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fuzzpig · 28/08/2012 22:08

Hey again.

I think your list sounds really sensible and I'm glad you are willing to confront this instead of letting him get away with his awful behaviour.

Have you spoken to him about this list tonight?

Unfortunately none of this is really 'concrete' IYSWIM - there's nothing that can really be objectively measured. So it is up to you to stay strong and decide how you will know if he's meeting your expectations. You also need to think about a time frame here - how long does he need to do this before you can believe it's permanent? And how will you be sure you can call him on it of things start to slip after this? You might need to let some RL friends in on this, so they can help you by being an unbiased(ish) view.

Moving back to your hometown sounds really good (if you do end up moving without him, do you think your uncle would still rent you that house despite lower income?) - are you going to stay for now or go back to DH for a bit?

Any luck on his jobhunting BTW?

Nc4567 · 28/08/2012 22:32

Well, he has a job. It is full time and within five minutes walk of our house, which is great. Just not having travelling costs takes £80 a month off our spending.

Sounds like he is refusing to even give moving any consideration. He says the only reason I don't know anyone over there is because I don't make the effort, which I suppose is true. I do go to things sometimes, but I'm really shy and never progress past 'polite'. Saying that, this week I have become good friends with another young feminist mum, because she is friends with my friend, so that means I am capable of making friends. Maybe it is because I only meet people dhs age, but people my age are hard to find. They shouldn't be though... I'm 27, which is a pretty normal age to be able to talk about serious things as well as bums/gin and not be bothered by nightclubs etc and have responsibilities, isn't it?

I'm going to go back. I can't really see anything else to do. He says I have already made My mind up.

OP posts:
fuzzpig · 29/08/2012 07:33

I don't understand your last sentence Nc. Do you mean he's telling you that you are coming home?

PurplePidjin · 29/08/2012 08:18

Stop believing his controlling bull shit! A supportive partner would never blame you for not trying to make friends Angry You are perfectly capable of making friends - you've been at your mum's, what, a week? And already made one!

Give at the same level he does. You wrote a fantastic list of all the things he needed to do to regain your trust so why are you giving in now he's snapped his fingers at you? He has learned nothing (yet) about respecting you, would you give in to your toddler this easily?

boredandrestless · 29/08/2012 09:41

In your shoes I wouldn't bother with the list. I would stay where my family where, where I had friends and possibly new ones, space at my mums or a relative with a house to rent out and start afresh. If he doesn't want to be so far from his kids he can move too, to his own place.

You mention he is older than you, not uncommon with controlling partners. Does he have an ex wife who according to him is the biggest bitch ever? Hmm

And what's all this about you not being allowed ikea stuff but now you are?!? This little move has made you feel bad for having clutter, you are supposed to be grateful he is letting you have some ikea stuff, and if either of you do go buy ikea stuff, it trivialises your money problems doesn't it. He sure knows how to play mind games doesn't he.

Have you looked on sites like Megabus for cheap coach fares? I'm sure it wouldn't have to be a £70 journey!

What new job has taken him on full time just like that with no reference from his last job??

Nc4567 · 29/08/2012 09:53

He is ten years older than me. When we met I was 21, he was separated. Apparently his ex had a horrible posh family, but then he is snobby about my family. He seemed so glamourous. My ex was worse - wouldn't let me have any body hair, go to nightclubs alone, etc. dh told me he was a feminist, read me poetry, took me to parties and gigs, but I got pregnant by accident really quickly.

I love the kids more than anything, they saved my life, but I do thin that me and dh would have had a wild time then split up after a year of parties etc.

New job is selling double glazing on the phone.

OP posts:
Nc4567 · 29/08/2012 09:56

I'm going back tonight. I can't make these decisions without giving him a chance. If it was just me I would, but with him working away, e kids going on holiday, then me and the kids coming over here, they haven't seen their dad for 5 weeks, which is a long time, especially as dd1 willbe stuck in school soon unless I HE. Which dh is against. But then I was against religious school and she goes to the local catholic primary. Mostly because there were no places anywhere else, but he won't entertain the idea of her changing. Not that there are any places anywhere anyway.

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Nc4567 · 29/08/2012 10:09

I think I'll need Mumsnet strength though, to make fair and wise decisions. I don't want to throw away a relationship that has lasted 6 years, seen me get seriously I'll and better again (will be on medication for life - not a reaction to circumstances, and very very dangerous to stop meds) seen him go through bereavement (well, and me, but mine was a nice peaceful old man death, his was a horrible painful young person death) and produced 2 amazing children.

Eek, what if he says I can't take the kids? He could have a case. To anyone that knows us , I am clearly the best place for them to be, but he is so persuasive (debating champion) and I am so shy.

OP posts:
Nc4567 · 29/08/2012 10:28

I think dd2 has chickenpox... My dad is meant to be driving us home setting off at 6pm, so home by 9pm ish... Does chickenpox in a 2yo mean this can't happen?

OP posts:
Nc4567 · 29/08/2012 10:56

I need to come back to nana sit for a weekend in mid September anyway.

Bloody school is in the way though.

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wellwisher · 29/08/2012 11:50

Don't really have any practical advice but didn't want to read and run... hang in there. I don't think it's the end of the world for DD2 to have a 3-hour car ride with chickenpox but maybe someone with direct experience will be better able to answer.

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