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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DP working hours and arrangement!!!

31 replies

Lj8893 · 13/04/2013 22:27

This is quite a long post I apologise!

I am 12 weeks pregnant, me and dp live in a town (we moved here for work purposes) where asides from my work colleagues I have no contacts here.

DP was unhappy in his job (2 mins down the road) and his mum offered for him to come and work for her, the plan was for him to be working in a location ( location A) where he was able to get a train there and back, he works long hours but would be able to make the last train at 10.30pm.

We both agreed this was a sensible idea, espessially since we were hoping to move back to this location A ( (my home town) when I start maternity leave.

Circumstances changed and he ended up working for her in a different location (B) which is closer but not with easy public transport. He gets a bus there every day and his mum gives him a lift home. He's rarely home before 10pm but I can cope with that.

However, soon after starting they came to an arrangement that as there is no bus on Sundays he would stay over Saturday nights. I wasent particully happy about this but what could I do, he needs to work!

Several other evenings, he has rang me to say that they are really busy and he was going to have to stay over. Or he has agreed to an early shift so staying over the night before.

Pretty much every week since he has started with her he has probably stayed here in our home, 4 nights a week at most. (Not consecutive)

I'm already very hormonal and emotional and this is just making me so lonely and down and upset. When he's not here I am crying myself to sleep.

I finally told him all this last night on the phone, after yet another time he has rang to say he has to stay. And although supportive and in agreement with me, there was no suggestions or offers of compromise.

It's his birthday tomorrow so after work tonight I am assuming they are having a bit of a night out, him, his mum and sisters but he hasent actually told me this as such. I know its his birthday and unfair of me to be selfish, but I do feel like "ah great, so I'm here sat at home alone crying again and he's out drinking and having fun"

He will also be having a massive night out next weekend for his sisters birthday, so yet another night of me feeling like this.

Am I being a complete selfish hormonal bitch or not?

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 14/04/2013 00:18

Ideally yes, would love to get a car but financially right now its now possible, well would take us several months to save for one (and would be a cheap banger!) and by that point we shall (hopefully) have moved and I will have my mum and other friends an family on the doorstep!

I spent Easter weekend at my mums as I had a rare weekend off work and it was bliss, so nice to actually have company! I have a week booked off work soon and I'm contemplating going to stay with my mum but am worried that dp will see this as me trying to get away from him.

OP posts:
HorryIsUpduffed · 14/04/2013 00:22

AgentZigzag I agree that he is taking the piss at the moment and that it isn't like forces partners being away for months on end or even my DH being away for a few weeks - I only mentioned him to show that I do sympathise about feeling alone.

But I think that saying to him "you are never here" will meet a brick wall, because it seems that sometimes genuinely he has to be away; whereas focusing on "I know that you have to be away x nights a week so I'd really appreciate it if you didn't stay out when you can come home" is more likely to yield results.

Loulybelle · 14/04/2013 10:00

You need to have long talk with him about this.

My BIL had 2 choices, redundancy or working away 5 days a week.

He choose redundancy because he has a wife and children at home that need him and he hated being away from them, it was hard on my sister too.

Your DP doesnt have to stay away, but he chooses too.

LilyAmaryllis · 14/04/2013 10:50

Can your DP ask if he can move back to working in location A? How tricky or otherwise is it for him to negotiate with his mother as his boss?

coppertop · 14/04/2013 11:09

"I have a week booked off work soon and I'm contemplating going to stay with my mum but am worried that dp will see this as me trying to get away from him."

If he gets the feeling that you're trying to get away from him because you're away for 7 nights as a one-off, you could point out that in a typical month he chooses to be away for 12+ nights.

I would go and visit your mum. It sounds as though you could really do with a break and some company.

Lj8893 · 14/04/2013 11:19

Thanks all.
He sent me a rather soppy text late last night (obviously after a few bevvies!) saying how sorry he was, and he understands why I want and need him at home and he feels pathetic he's not providing that support at the moment.
That's certainly a good start, at least he understands now.
This morning he has said that once they have got a replacement for him in location B he can go back to location A. Phew.
My issue now is how long is that going to take, and is something being actively done looking for his replacement!

I do feel a lot calmer today though. Looking forward to having a nice long chat about it all with him later. And yes I think I will go and stay with my mum, even if just for half the week.

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