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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think that DP should be able to do everything I do re childcare

225 replies

hectorslarry · 13/07/2013 17:58

Hi

I have a 4yo DD from a previous relationship and a 3 week old DD from this relationship. DP and i have been together for 3 and a half years. It's not been easy.

He goes out 4 nights a week (drinking) and works 7 days a week 6.30am-6.30pm. He occasionally gets a weekend off but it's been 6 weeks since his last day off. He takes all the overtime he can get to clear his mortgage out of arrears. We share my rented house atm because his own (mortgaged) house is 70 miles away from work family etc.

I have not had a night out with friends in 10 months. I was working nightshift before I went on maternity leave and DD1 stayed at my grandparents house on the nights i was working because dp wouldn't do it (even though he wasn't working then, he only started this job in march) because it's not his kid. His words.

When I went on maternity leave i had 1 night at the cinema and that was because my mum watched DD1 while I went.

DD2 arrived 3 weeks ago and he missed the birth because he was out and wouldn't answer his phone. He has been out most nights since she was born, has not fed her, bathed her, changed her or anything and does nothing housework wise to help me. He just keeps going on about how hard he's got it working all day and how easy I've got it 'lying in my bed all day'. Yes of course I do. The kids look after themselves and the housework fairies appear to clean and make dinner.

I was supposed to be going out with my friends tonight. It's been planned for months because we live so far apart and they were making the effort to travel here and booked a hotel to stay in. I was so looking forward to it. I've spent the day worried sick about leaving the kids with him. He has no idea how to change an nappy, make a bottle or get babies wind up. I asked him when he got in an hour ago (earlier than usual tonight) to give DD2 a bottle whilst I got ready and he refused. Said he didn't know how to and wouldn't do it. I asked him what he was going to do when I was out and he said he was just going to wait until I came home until she was fed, bathed, changed etc.

I'm really upset. Obviously I can't go out now so I've phoned my friends to tell them and they are fuming. They spent a fortune on travel hotels etc to come and see me and it's been a waste of time. I can't even invite them round here because they don't get on with DP even though he's now away out for the 5th night in a row. It's going to take a while to repair my friendship and they were the only friends I've got.

AIBU to have expected a night out only 3 weeks after DD2 was born?

AIBU to expect DP to do child related stuff even though he works all day?

When your DCs were born did your partner help and do stuff? Or is this normal? I honestly don't know because with DD1 i done everything because she was my child.

I think he should be able to do everything I do and we should take it in turns to do feeds and nappy changes etc. He doesn't understand why he has to and why he shouldn't be going out 4 nights a week. I think that's too much and maybe once a month is acceptable when you have a baby. He says that's acceptable for mums but not dad's. Why should dad's have to stay in the house too? How do I answer that question?

I'm pretty much a single parent. I sometimes think it would be easier for me to kick him out and do it myself.

OP posts:
Splashsplosh · 13/07/2013 18:01

It's not normal. He should be helping. Kicking him out sounds like a great idea tbh.

Overreactionoftheweek · 13/07/2013 18:03

This is horrendous and no it's not normal. He sounds absolutely awful.

Are you getting any positives from being with him? Doesn't sound like he's much of a dad, would your dds even notice if you kicked him out? Get rid and good luck

WestieMamma · 13/07/2013 18:03

Of course you are not being unreasonable. What exactly do you get out of this relationship?

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby.

DoraExplorer1993 · 13/07/2013 18:03

He works 84 hours a week and almost never has a day off. Expecting him to come home and do half the work is unreasonable. However he should know how to look after his own children, and be prepared to babysit once in a while so you can go out.

Considering how much he works I'm surprised he has the energy to go out 4 times a week though.

EverythingIsTicketyBoo · 13/07/2013 18:04

^ what Splash said! He absolutely should be helping, he absolutely should be feeding, changing and bathing DD, and as he has been in DD1's life for most of it if should have some sort of bond with her too and be willing to help. He sounds like a real charmer he does!! I wouldn't normally recommend it but I would seriously consider getting rid!

5madthings · 13/07/2013 18:04

Sooo not ok.

Wtf are you actually getting out of this relationship?!

Seriously i would just call.it quits now and get out.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 13/07/2013 18:05

My husband has always been just as capable as I am of caring for our children and has always done his fair share. Is not doing it normal? Well, yes. It's as normal as the man doing his fair share.

Is it RIGHT is the question! And the answer is no.

Is there any reason why having a penis makes it difficult for you to look after children? (or use a washing machine, or cook, or hoover, or dust...) no.

I am sorry, but he sounds like an arse.

Yes, he works hard, but so do you. Do you get 4 nights out a week? No. Do you get one? I bet not.

If you calculate the number of hours he works and the number of hours you spend working (actively looking after the children, doing housework, etc) I bet you have a longer working week than he does.

If you choose to stay with him, do so knowing that all things domestic will always fall to you and he will go out as he pleases and not give a shit how you feel about it.

5madthings · 13/07/2013 18:06

Can you go and take baby with you? Not great but little babies will sleep.in carseat/pram etc. Dont miss your night out.

Where were you going?

hectorslarry · 13/07/2013 18:07

As soon as he finishes work he gets dropped off at the pub and comes home about 11pm and straight to bed. We hardly see him. Friday nights are different he stays out till closing and suffers all day at work on the Saturday.

Yeah i thought I was being unreasonable asking him to do stuff when he is here. Hes working loads so i shouldn't expect much but a night out once a month and some company would be great. I

OP posts:
Turniptwirl · 13/07/2013 18:07

He sounds like a wanker you'd be better off without coz then at least your friends could come round. I don't think he needs to do as much child are as you as he works and you're at home but he should be willing and able to do all the tasks in looking after his child. Your dd from prev relationship I can understand his lack of interest in (although I strongly disagree with it!) but he should be able to take care if his own baby for an evening

justalilmummy · 13/07/2013 18:07

He sounds like all he does it create extra work, if it was me I would run and never look back

EverythingIsTicketyBoo · 13/07/2013 18:08

Can your mum help out tonight so you can go out?

AKissIsNotAContract · 13/07/2013 18:08

If your DP has gone out, invite your friends over.

Then kick him out tomorrow.

noblegiraffe · 13/07/2013 18:09

He missed the birth? Shock

Get rid, he doesn't give a shit about you or your baby.

squeakytoy · 13/07/2013 18:09

I would have kicked him out before having a child with him, but as its too late for that, just kick him out.. or leave and go back to your family and friends.

Dackyduddles · 13/07/2013 18:11

I'm afraid it's not normal. He is isolating you. He is emotionally black mailing you. He is manipulating you.

I'm afraid sweet that you are in a very real situation. You need to leave. I'm so sorry but it won't change.

WestieMamma · 13/07/2013 18:11

OP to give you a bit of perspective:

My son is 12 weeks old. My husband leaves for work at 5.30am and gets in between 7.30 and 8.30pm. Since the baby arrived he gets up at 4.30 so he can feed and change the baby before he leaves for work so I can get some sleep. He then spends his evenings doing as much of the household chores which I haven't done as he can. He hasn't been out since baby was born and only went out twice while I was pregnant.

Rummikub · 13/07/2013 18:12

No it's not normal. My dc dad used to do all the baths. I had majority of the care but he helped. He cooked and puréed food too! Oh and nappy changes we shared. He wasn't perfect by any means and we had the usual competitive tiredness thing.

It's a shared responsibility bringing up a baby. Has he tried to bond with your new born? Congratulations by the way Flowers

LunaticFringe · 13/07/2013 18:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Eddie107 · 13/07/2013 18:13

This is so unfair on you hectorslarry & you definitely should be getting more support than this. Your DP doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for your feelings & it's not acceptable for him to have missed his DC's birth because he was out & his phone was turned off. It sounds like you're pretty much on your own already so maybe you should tell him to move back to his own house & see if that wakes him up to his responsibilities.

MortifiedAdams · 13/07/2013 18:13

Get this man out of your house.

LastTangoInDevonshire · 13/07/2013 18:15

Someone times we choose wrong 'uns - and he is definitely one of those. You'd probably be better off on your own tbh. He sounds quite young?

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 13/07/2013 18:15

You shouldn't expect much?

You should expect him to give a shit about the birth of his bloody child!

He ignored his phone when he knew you were about to give birth and that could have been why you were calling.

Cos beer and the pub is so much more important than anything, including you.

That is a very sad life for you. And for the child. Where's daddy? In the pub again.

Not good.

pictish · 13/07/2013 18:16

Is this for real?
This guy doesn't give a fuck does he?

What redeeming features does he have? I cannot for the life of me see one thing going on here, that would keep me in this 'relationship'!

fuzzywuzzy · 13/07/2013 18:16

He's doing this to clear his mortgaged house, meantime you live in your rented house.

Does he contribute financially to your home?

He wouldn't babysit your older child 'because its not is kid'

He only started working in March, what did he do before he worked?

Don't expect him to change, he's nasty towards your eldest child.

Change the locks & invite your friends over.