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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:
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 18/05/2014 23:27

get an STD check anyway OP. you have a baby in there to protect aswell as yourself.

up to you whether you trust him or not- based on what you said he's painting it on the wall in big fuck off letters but only you can choose to see it or not.

either way he's treating you like shite and that wouldn't float with me.

foot down on his neck and give him the arse kicking he needs to catch himself on.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 18/05/2014 23:30

He knows I'd move back home and his dedication to his career would mean he'd never see the dc again.

based on his current treatment of his oldest child do you honestly think that threat bothers him? he doesn't even care that his child is expecting to see him after 3 months of nothing and is going to be let down because daddy wants to go on the piss with his new BFF. his kids are way down the pecking order as far as he is concerned.

Effic · 18/05/2014 23:36

Hi nin.
This might not seem relevant but bare with me.......
For very good reasons, I left my husband about six months ago. No regrets on my part and this is not about that BUT (this is where it becomes relevant - honest!) For the first few months, I suddenly was invited out by various lovely friends / colleagues including some of the slightly younger single girls from work. And for a short while, it was fab! It's wonderful to be able to let your hair down, drink, dance and get dress up to the nines..I enjoyed every minute BUT it does quickly pale. There are only so many bars, drinks, nights out before they all blur into one and I realised that actually it really wasn't that much fun! But it did make me feel young, desirable, fun and like I was something other than wife and mother so I wonder if your husband is caught up in this feeling too. Time to talk to him properly I think and explore with him what is so appealing about this 'new' life style and what is 'real' and what is just fluff and nonsense that had no substance to it. Then reach a compromise that you both can live with and that absolutely means he sees his child NO MATTER what. Pretty soon, he'll hopefully see it all for what it is - superficially nonsense that for a short time reminds you what it felt like to be young.

nincompoopascoop · 18/05/2014 23:37

Oh, but it's ok AF because he sends me loads of messages telling me how much he loves me when he's out and how he's glad I don't go apeshit like his exW would've...! Classic, hey.

OP posts:
RhondaJean · 18/05/2014 23:40

Ha he is playing you like a deck of cards - and you know it.

I'd be having a small bonfire about now.

AnyFucker · 18/05/2014 23:41

I am a bit confused, OP. You appear to have twigged he is treating you like shit. Are you going to do anything about it, or just have a little whinge here and carry on as before ? It's best you ascertain that for yourself, not for us.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 18/05/2014 23:42

He was cheated on by his ex-wife? Pull the other one.

Now is the time to put your foot down OP - either this 'friend' is a friend to your marriage, or he isn't a friend at all. Totally inappropriate for a father of 4, imminently 5, children to be behaving like this.

I feel so sorry for his eldest son, how horrible to feel so far down your father's list of priorities. I'm glad you're still going to go away with the DCs, how dare he be put out that you plan to carry on having a life while he gallivants around like a twat. Grr.

Spero · 18/05/2014 23:48

The fact that he would treat his eldest child like that means he will have absolutely no compunction about treating you and the other children in exactly the same manner when the time comes.

his priority is himself and it sounds like the time is coming.

Sorry. But I just don't believe anyone who could treat their own child like that is a decent human being. They may be able to put on a good show for a while but fundamentally they are hollow and worthless.

nincompoopascoop · 18/05/2014 23:50

He doesn't see the problem re: dss as he'll say working away wasn't optional. Not to mention the fact he'll also miss our three yr olds birthday and party.

AF I want this sorted now. Like I said earlier, we're supposed to be moving soon which isn't happening for me unless theres drastic changes. I just don't get how he can be so incapable of considering my feelings. I spend all day every day raising our children, and I do a bloody good job of it too. One dc has night terrors and another wakes at 10 p.m. and will only sleep with me right there. I can't do any hobbies because of his jobs. I can't even sit down and relax of an evening because of the dc. How he thinks he can swan about doing what the fuck he likes, when he likes, without me feeling resentful is beyond me.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 18/05/2014 23:52

How are you planning to sort it, love ?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 18/05/2014 23:53

I get that DC4 was an accident, but you were planning other baby with this fuckwit. Why??

Doesn't he love DSS? How can he bear to not see him for so long? :(

TucsonGirl · 18/05/2014 23:56

How old is he and how old is this "friend"?

squoosh · 18/05/2014 23:59

It sounds as though he's completely disengaging himself from family life.

Spero · 19/05/2014 00:00

Of course he doesn't seen the problem. Because it isn't a problem for him. I bet its a problem for his son however.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 19/05/2014 00:00

He doesn't see the problem re: dss as he'll say working away wasn't optional.

Confused but doesn't he hear himself when he is saying that? doesn't he realise as the words are coming out how much of a shithead he is being by lying about 'having' to work instead of seeing his son for the first time in months? did he really keep a straight face whilst coming out with that gem? did YOU?

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 19/05/2014 00:02

btw if he finds it such a non-issue to lie about that to avoid hassle over not seeing his son you can bet your ass he's lying to you to avoid the sharp end of your tongue.

MargotThreadbetter · 19/05/2014 00:03

For once in my life I'm almost speechless Shock

OP, you need to get this sorted now. How much interaction does he have with your children? Seems as if he's busy 'working extra hours', going out on the piss or hungover from what you've said.
And his poor son. He should be ashamed of himself. What a poor excuse of a man and father.

WilsonFrickett · 19/05/2014 00:03

Sweetheart, when someone tells you who they are, listen to them. He is telling you loud and clear where his children come on his priority list by the way he is behaving towards your DSS. I'm not saying ltb, but don't assume that not having contact with his DCs is a huge deal breaker or priority for him. Cos it kinda isn't, is it?

Inertia · 19/05/2014 00:07

To be brutally honest, it doesn't sound as though he'd care if you did move away and he never saw the children again. After all, he's clearly not bothered that he's not going to see his older son while out on the town with Twatmate.

nincompoopascoop · 19/05/2014 00:10

Ha Inertia I might start referring to him as Twatmate seeing as I'm apparently 'freelancing fanny' Shock

OP posts:
nincompoopascoop · 19/05/2014 00:11

Freeloading!

OP posts:
MistressDeeCee · 19/05/2014 00:12

He's having an affair with the colleague, or there's an OW, or he and colleague are out on the lash & the pull together. He's stayed out overnight, got a new haircut and clothes, is all over the place with this new mate, has even dropped his own son for him, his mate blatantly takes the piss out of you & he says nothing..and you seriously DON'T think someone else has replaced you in his affections?

You sound like a lovely, patient woman who doesn't deserve this. & you are pregnant,too. You need to be calm at this time. He is simply taking advantage of your good nature. You are pregnant, main carer for the DCs, and he is taking the piss out of you to such a massive extent it is truly shocking.

Yes, you are very calm. It would be armaeggeddon in my house by now if OH tried all that lark. I dont know what else to say...I hope all works out well in the end but in any event, you need to have a talk with your DH about the meaning of loyalty, honesty and responsibilites...even if that sounds boring to him in his new mutton badly dressed as lamb world. & tell him to leave the young stud out of the convo too.

ViviPru · 19/05/2014 00:12

How obstructive can you be regarding the house move? Guessing he is extremely keen if it means being nearer to the object of bromance so perhaps holding him to ransom over it might be the most effective way to make a stand over his behaviour.

Although you shouldn't need to. He sounds vile. What a ridiculous man.

nincompoopascoop · 19/05/2014 00:13

AF I haven't said he 'cant' go on Tuesday but I've asked what dss will think, what if it sets contact back by months etc to try and help him draw his own conclusion that he's being a cock. If he goes, there'll be a packed bag waiting for his return and he won't be reentering our home unless serious changes are made

OP posts:
nincompoopascoop · 19/05/2014 00:14

Oh and dh is 36, Twatmate is 24.

OP posts: