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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:
Flappingandflying · 13/07/2013 18:17

Get rid. At least then you won't have him to bother mucking out. This is not normal. My husband took Flyingboy away on his own to visit relies at three months, for a weekend.

pictish · 13/07/2013 18:17

So your night out is scrapped and he's off out instead...is that right?
What an utter fucker.

Snazzyenjoyingsummer · 13/07/2013 18:18

You would be better off on your own, yes. Can you get your mum or grandparents round to salvage tonight?

BlackMini · 13/07/2013 18:20

I was prepared to say LTB at the beginning when you said he refused to lool after DD1 as she's "not his".

This man is a waste of space. Get rid.

RobotBananas · 13/07/2013 18:20

Kick the useless wanker out.

DP works a minimum of 60 hours a week. Usually its more than 80. When DS was tiny he did ALL bathtimes he could when he wasn't at work because he wanted to! In the very early days he would do almost all the night feeds so I could recover from the birth. He did nappies as often as he could. This is what a normal Father does!

Now DS is older I do more as I'm home a lot anyway, seems reasonable. With a tiny baby its all hands on deck.

He's a sexist wanker and it sounds like you get absolutely nothing from this relationship.

gamerchick · 13/07/2013 18:20

When I hooked up with my husband, it was very important that he got along with my kids and they took to them or it would have been a none starter.

Seriously, what on earth did/do you see in this guy?

Ring your friends and tell them everything and ask them to come over to you as you're locking him out tonight or something and could do with a catch up and distraction.

myBOYSareBONKERS · 13/07/2013 18:21

Yet another thread about a complete looser.

Please OP get rid of him. The warning signs were there when he wouldn't look after your first Dd.

If he didn't go out so much, he would have more money to pay his arrears and then wouldn't have to work so much

RobotBananas · 13/07/2013 18:21

I agree with fuzzy. He's going out anyway, get your friends over!

chubbychipmonk · 13/07/2013 18:24

What an absolute wanker!

If he's away out now & your friends are in the area can you not invite them round & have a real heart to heart with them about what's been going on? No wonder they don't like him! Might help you get some perspective on how bad your situation is & help you find strength to ditch him!

What does your mum think of him?

pictish · 13/07/2013 18:25

Yep - get the girls round!!

LindyHemming · 13/07/2013 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NapaCab · 13/07/2013 18:27

He missed the birth because he was out drinking and he still goes out 4 times a week?

Why are you with him exactly? You should have ditched him as soon as he failed to show for the birth. And to be honest getting a night out with your friends is the least of your worries. This guy is not a fit father in any way and you should be concerned about that, not the fact that you haven't had a night out in 10 months.

MadameJosephine · 13/07/2013 18:29

What a charmer!
What exactly do you get from being with this man?
Not only is it normal for him to do his share, he should want to spend time with his family, not out on the piss. For goodness' sake the baby is 3 weeks old and he can't even be bothered to come home after work to see her.
My DP works long hours too but does his share. He wakes up an hour early and looks after our 8 month old DD for an hour while I catch up on some sleep (she's bf do I do td nightshift) then when he gets home he takes her upstairs and baths her and gets her ready for bed so I can chill out with a cup of tea. One day a week he has her all day and when I go back to work he'll have her 2 days a week. I dont have to ask him to do these things, they are the actions of a loving partner and father. I'm sorry but your partner sound like neither of these things

NotYoMomma · 13/07/2013 18:30

who the fuck is this chump?

seriously dont have anymore kids with this loser!

don't be a doormat and leave him. I wouldnt have put up with that for a week let alone 2 dc!!!

ihearsounds · 13/07/2013 18:32

So he won't help care for his own child?
What a complete tosser.
Invite your mates over. Fuck what he says.

Tomorrow you sit down and you have a word with this child.

You tell him as an adult and a father it is his responsibility to take care of his child. If he doesn't know how, he asks for help, but not knowing how is not an acceptable answer. he cuts down on his drinking. 4 times a week is excess, even more so when you have a family to support and a large debt.If he spends less in the pub, then he has more money to spend, so can reduce his hours. Not exactly rocket science if he thought about it. There is no such thing as mums and dads jobs, they are called parenting jobs, the shit both of you do. You count the hours you spend doing parenting things - everything for the dc's, shopping, cooking, cleaning, reading, homework, school drops and the rest of it. You even itemise it all for the fool, so when he says he works more than you, you tell him how much you work, which he will scoff and then you have your figures to hand.
Tell him he has a month to pull his head out of his arse and start being a proper partner and father, otherwise he can pack his shit and go and loose you all... Things remain the same he is gone. If he pulls his head out and slips back after the month, he is gone. But from tomorrow the household will consist of either one adult or two that are both pulling their weight.

Dackyduddles · 13/07/2013 18:36

Op, how are you? Are you ok?

Can your friends visit tonight? I'm sorry we are all in agreement. Can't be a nice read....

Meringue33 · 13/07/2013 18:36

Is he a workaholic, an alcoholic, or just a selfish so-and-so??!

CSIJanner · 13/07/2013 18:38

Sorry to say, but I just see him viewing your home as a next to nothing stop off until he clears his mortgage. My second ever LTB. If he really cared about the family and clearing the mortgage, he wouldn't be in the pub. Hell, my DH refused a spritzer in the run up to giving birth just incase (he's a zero drink driver IYKWIM). As for the "I'm not the dad" remark about your daughter, pffft. He's been in your DD's life since she was 6mths old. To say that about a child who possibly only knows him as dad is cruel and shit.

Invite your friends around as he won't be in until the early morning. They can even help you bag his crap up as it sounds like he deliberately manevoured you into cancelling so he can go out again. Sling the slack dad.

pianodoodle · 13/07/2013 18:43

Can you explain all of this to your friends? Aside from everything else, the fact they don't like him is telling as well.

He doesn't care about his child and has no time for your child. It's disgraceful and not normal at all (I hope).

I would be telling him where to go.

hectorslarry · 13/07/2013 18:43

Thanks everyone I feel a bit better now that I know I'm not a twat.

I would have thought he would want to be here not in the pub. I don't understand why he doesn't want to look after his baby.

He is not young btw he is 37.

I'm 24.

He is so selfish and irresponsible I'm actually not too sure what I get out the relationship. I don't get sex or financial contributions. All housing benefit and tax credits stopped when he started working but he gives me nothing so i have to borrow money every month to pay my rent and live.

It's shit.

I have tried to kick him out before and he wouldn't go. He just laughs at me and refuses to leave.

I'll try again tonight the doors are being locked and his stuff getting put in his car

OP posts:
EverythingIsTicketyBoo · 13/07/2013 18:46

Bless you Hector it's a good decision. Call your friends and tell them exactly what is going on!

gintastic · 13/07/2013 18:50

Call your friends and get them round to support you.

I have 3 DC's and OH is most certainly capable of doing his share. Apart from feeding the EBF baby of course..

He sounds like an arse and if you were my friend I'd be round sharpish and there would be no rift to heal after hearing that lot...

Good luck...

YouTheCat · 13/07/2013 18:50

So he's living rent free in your house and living the life of a single man? He missed the birth of his child. He does nothing but work.

Are you me 18 years ago? I wish I had got rid of my feckless arse of a husband sooner but took me a long time. Leave his stuff outside. Get your keys back and tell him you'll be taking what is yours through the CSA.

RobotBananas · 13/07/2013 18:52

Definitely get your friends round to support you.
Is he likely to get angry and abusive if you kick him out tonight?
Is his name on the lease?

Rummikub · 13/07/2013 18:54

Oh my god! He's not contributing financially either?? He sounds awful. Make sure someone is with you in case he refuses. Good luck, be brave, stand firm. He absolutely doesn't deserve you. He isn't a grown up. He is selfish. And I am one for trying to fix things but this guy is offering you nothing. No support, not being a father, a partner, nor even a friend. Contact your friends and tell them what you're planning.