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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have zero empathy for DHs 'mid-life crisis'

455 replies

nincompoopascoop · 18/05/2014 22:42

I'm currently five months pregnant with dc4, who was a surprise, though we always planned on having dc4 at some point. Our other children are aged 6, 3 and 2 and DH also has a son from his previous marriage who is 8. Recently DHs behaviour has changed and I think it's a because he's made friends with a young (male) colleague who has expensive cars, clothes, holidays, night's out etc.

As examples - in the past three months DH has had seven nights out. More than he's had in the past three years. Now, while I have no problem with him going out per se, I think he's massively taking advantage of my good nature. He's arranged them and told me after the fact, expected lifts to get there, spent the day before shopping for a new outfit/getting his hair cut, stayed the night at his friends house 'so he wouldn't wake us' and not surfaced until the following evening because he's so hungover. Obviously its irrelevant now because I'm pregnant, but I haven't had a night out in four years and DH would be livid if it took days to have one.

He's volunteered for extra work which has meant working away with his friend, again - telling me after the fact. He and his friend have then been sitting in the hotel bar drinking the extra they've earned, while the kids and I are left home without a second thought.

His friend has made some - what I consider - really disrespectful comments about me. We're moving soon to closer to this friend and he joked to DH that he should leave us where we are and houseshare with him 'because he's fun and not just a freeloader' and then in the same conversation 'i guess I see why you'd pick her though, she does have a cracking arse.' DH hasn't pulled him up on this, which is out of character.

The final straw for me has been with regard to my dss. We've spent a great deal of money and time in court to achieve a court order as his mum was obstructing contact. As a result, we haven't seen dss for three months now. Finally last week we received good news and the first scheduled contact weekend is this weekend coming. However, DH came home from work on Friday saying he'd volunteered to go away (several hundred miles away) for a few days with work as of Tuesday, but it could end up oveerunning. I asked what that meant for dss and he said he'd tell exW/court he had no choice. His only concern was whether he'd get in trouble with court, not that it meant he might not see dss for several more months! You won't be surprised to hear that the friend has also volunteered to go...

Aibu to tell him to get a grip and realise he needs to face up to his responsibilities at home rather than making decisions like he's a single man?

OP posts:
natwebb79 · 18/05/2014 22:45

YANBU. I'd have gone nuclear by now, bless you! Angry

Fairylea · 18/05/2014 22:46

I'm sorry to say this but it reeks of other woman to me. Are you sure there's not another female colleague hanging about with them?

thebodylovesspring · 18/05/2014 22:48

I would be worried op.

MajesticWhine · 18/05/2014 22:51

Yep, you need to go nuclear. It's not fair on his DS, let alone you. He needs to wake up and adjust his priorities. No harm in working away for a few days, but not the overrunning. That sounds like a shite excuse in the making. There isn't another woman involved is there?

AnyFucker · 18/05/2014 22:51

You sound far too calm and rational, OP and I think it is to your detriment.

Tinkleybison · 18/05/2014 22:53

OP you are being far to reasonable - the man is being an arse.

I'd start doing some digging, I think there is more to this than a mid-life crisis.

WilsonFrickett · 18/05/2014 22:56

He's being a dick, none of this is good and not seeing DSS on his first contact is absolutely terrible. I don't have any advice but I don't think you are being U.

WitchWay · 18/05/2014 22:58

Have you met the friend? Are they a real person? Sounds very dodgy to me, esp the haircut / new outfit stuff.

CoffeeTea103 · 18/05/2014 22:59

Yanbu Shock horrible man. Yes I agree with pp. there's more to it.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 18/05/2014 23:00

so you're married to an asshole.

something needs to change and I think it's going to have to be you that initiates it.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 18/05/2014 23:00

He needs to grow the fuck up. You need to have serious words, put lovely calm you away and go medieval on his arse.
And sadly, I agree with the others up thread, men don't usually dress up for other men if they are just mates. (He sounds like an enormous knob, if dh won't pull him up, you do it, how fucking dare he)

bumbleymummy · 18/05/2014 23:03

Sorry, but my first thought was OW too :( I hope that's not the case but he's being an ass anyway and you should definitely call him on it.

gamerchick · 18/05/2014 23:05

I have to admit my first thought not so far down your thread was another woman. The enabling friend just sort of made it stand out.

Time for a come to jesus meeting I think.. you've been far to patient and accommodating up to now.

Bluestocking · 18/05/2014 23:05

Shopping for a new outfit and getting his hair cut? Either he's seeing an OW or this new friend of his is a bit more than that.

notmyproblem · 18/05/2014 23:05

Midlife crisis discovering he's actually gay? Or another woman? Sorry OP. Sad

Either way you need to get this sorted. Nail him to the wall and don't let up til you have the truth.

squoosh · 18/05/2014 23:11

It sounds worrying and he sounds like an arse.

nincompoopascoop · 18/05/2014 23:12

I knew everyone would think OW! It's definitely not the case. Yes I've met the friend and seen the pay slips regarding the extra hours, it's all legit. Was speaking to my friend about it today and she suggested I be sympathetic as he's obviously feeling the weight of his responsibilities with dc4 on the way Hmm How responsible is fucking off out at every available opportunity?!

We were going to take dss and the other dc away at the weekend and he looked put out when I said we'd be going without him.

OP posts:
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 18/05/2014 23:13

it's not another woman. they're going on the pull together, that's why he's staying at his mates bachelor pad, that's why the outfits and the haircuts for every single night out. this is what young single men do when they're going out on the pull. and this pathetic excuse for a man is trying to convince himself he's young and single too. yuck.

whatever5 · 18/05/2014 23:14

I also think that there is more to this. I would suspect that he's having an affair either with the male colleague or another woman.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 18/05/2014 23:15

OP stop having sex with him and get an STD check.

MrsSeanBean1 · 18/05/2014 23:17

It will end in tears. If there isn't an OW yet there soon will be. He will be sucked into the life of a single man and all the temptation it holds.

nincompoopascoop · 18/05/2014 23:19

I'm honestly not being naive when I say I 100% don't think he's cheating or would cheat. He knows I'd move back home and his dedication to his career would mean he'd never see the dc again. He was cheated in by his exW and wouldn't do that to our dc. Though I'm sure he secretly likes any attention he gets.

OP posts:
ICanSeeTheSun · 18/05/2014 23:20

I don't think he is having an affair, it seems like he is trying to prove something to his new friend.

AnyFucker · 18/05/2014 23:22

OW or not, crush on his new friend or not...this man is treating you like a Domestic Appliance

if that is ok by you, crack on

UncleT · 18/05/2014 23:26

Hate to say it, but I agree that this stinks of affair. If this 'friend' exists then he's an arsehole, and your DH needs to grow up and start behaving like someone with responsibilities.

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