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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:
MajesticWhine · 19/05/2014 16:54

"But surely he should be capable of making decisions that consider everyone by now and I shouldn't have to tell him what to do? Thereby placing myself in position of nagging wife."

This is rather optimistic and it really isn't working in it, this hoping that he will make good decisions. He is obviously not seeing that his behaviour is unreasonable, so really it's time to change strategy. To raise it with him is not nagging. It really isn't. It's about having a grown up relationship where you insist on mutual respect and decent care for your children. If that respect isn't happening, it's not going to work just staying quiet and hoping he will see sense.

fedupbutfine · 19/05/2014 17:46

It won't help but I'll say it anyway...my ex tells anyone who will listen that I had an affair for 7 years of our 10 year marriage. Actually, it was him who had the affair (affairs? no idea how long it went on for but the one he left me for he'd been with for 2 years) and it was him who behaved very, very badly (and who continues to do so). As we moved a considerable distance post-divorce 'cos of house prices, he can get away with this as there are no mutual friends who would correct him.

I am afraid I read your posts as a man who is having an affair and who is manipulating you in the way I was manipulated, clearly for many years. It happens. I couldn't believe he'd been near another woman when he walked out but he had...very much so!

You need to work hard to take off the rose-tinted specs, ask some good questions and listen very carefully to the answers. Good luck xxx

WhereYouLeftIt · 19/05/2014 18:51

"But surely he should be capable of making decisions that consider everyone by now and I shouldn't have to tell him what to do? Thereby placing myself in position of nagging wife."
Well, he hasn't so far, has he? What would make it suddenly occur to him? And why does you telling him his behaviour is making you unhappy turn you into a nagging wife? Has he manipulated you, with all his praise of you not going apeshit, into believing that any sign of dissent = nagging? (Because it really, really isn't.)

I am a big believe in the old adage 'if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got'. What you have done to date has got you his current response (lack of respect, treating you like a Domestic Appliance, prioritising his career over his home lifeto the point where he "can't (won't/hasn't) put the two youngest to bed" ). So if you want him to change OP, you need to make the first move. You need to make it clear you will no longer accept his behaviour, nor cover for him with his 8-year old. (Because if he lies as he planned to do, that puts you in the position of either colluding or contradicting.)

KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn · 19/05/2014 19:53

whereyouleft nailed it, OP.

I think you need to try a different method, he is obviously not changing by himself (which is rather worrying in itself if you ask me)

I do have to commend you on your patience. I would have honestly LTB by now. But thats me, everyone's different and every marriage is different. I do hope things wrk out for you OP. You seem like such a lovely person.

GarlicMayonnaise · 19/05/2014 19:54

Well ...
He DOES put his job before his children; all of them.
He puts his [emotional] affair with Twatmate before you and his children.
He lies easily.
He manipulates his XW, and uses her to manipulate you.
He doesn't care that you're pregnant.
He's spending lots of family money on his personal life.
You haven't got a personal life.

... And this relationship is worth it because ...?

GarlicMayonnaise · 19/05/2014 19:58

I wanted to put this in a separate post, as I think the main point is that you're not really in a marriage. You need to get this clear in your head.

My other point is the same as PPs - I've seen this happen many times before. If there isn't an OW yet, there will be, and he is shagging around. I concur, too, that his behaviour tallies with cocaine use.

He's really pulled the wool over your eyes with the goody two-shoes act. It's an act. He's been taking the piss since you started a family with him, by your very own account.

I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But it's time to stop piddling around!

thebodylovesspring · 19/05/2014 20:20

Op the point about him not kept dissing his job through an affair? Really? John major was shagging Edwina curry while espousing Victorian values

People having affairs never think they will be found out.

I am so sorry for you as he sounds such a daft useless vain twat but I think the behaviour if his friend screams he's either out in the pull with him or he's pulling him

I have lads in their 20s who wouldn't dream if shopping all day for outfits and getting their hair done.

Actually my teen dds wouldn't do that either.

He's taking the piss out of your extremely nice personality.

MargotThreadbetter · 19/05/2014 20:27

So what will you do OP? How will things change if you don't want to discuss his behaviour/nights out/neglect of you and your children/DSS?
He's just going to carry on unless you pull him up hard on this. It doesn't even sound like he respects you at all. If he did, he wouldn't leave you to do everything while he goes out acting like a single man.
He's got you thinking that (unlike his ex - he's been very careful to tell you this) you're a cool wife, you don't 'nag' and therefore he's got carte blanche to carry on with this lifestyle.
Well I congratulate you on your patience. I'd have torn him a new one by now.

CrispyFern · 19/05/2014 20:40

I fear that in time, when you discover his infidelity or infidelities, you will look back at this - your complete trust - and kick yourself.

MiniatureRailway · 19/05/2014 20:53

I think bromance and probably one night stands. Possibly drugs. It sounds unbelievable to you because you don't have that kind of life anymore and don't understand how frequently and easily these things happen. I have been on both sides of this before.

fuckinglondonballs · 19/05/2014 20:53

I'd go off the rails if I'd only had seven nights out in three YEARS.

Jesus. How totally miserable.

MexicanSpringtime · 19/05/2014 20:54

GarlicMayonnaise sums the known facts up very well.

Whatever you do, OP, I think you have got to break out of your isolation. If he has so much money for socialising, you should be able to spend some on building up a friendship base again or renewing your old friendships.

I don't see what you are getting out of this relationship, but that is your business, but you are much too isolated in a new place, away from RL support.

Jux · 19/05/2014 21:13

Please, as he isn't going away and will be around on Friday, go to the cinema yourself. I know it doesn't sound like fun on your own, but you can choose whatever film you want to see, and just go. Have a drink first wherever you like, coffee, a bite to eat. Take a book and take some time out.

Tell him that as he'll be around after all, he will have to do bedtime and suppertime and so on. You'll be back at 11ish.

If he so much as raises an eyebrow, says anything less than "gosh yes darling, you haven't had a night off for years, here's lots and lots of money to enjoy yourself with and make sure you get a taxi" then put his bags out.

BarbieCan · 19/05/2014 21:13

You don't deserve to be treated this way.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 19/05/2014 21:30

His new best friend calls you a fanny freeloader and he thinks that ok? Really op, your problems with him run very deep.

Icimoi · 19/05/2014 22:10

I hope you're going to get a friend to pop into the pub where he's going on Friday to see what happens? Hell, if you know which one it is and where, maybe one of us could go!

nincompoopascoop · 19/05/2014 22:15

He thinks it's just 'banter' John

He was (legitimately - saw a different colleagues wife earlier) late home tonight and I'd been expecting him at 9 p.m. or so but he actually returned much earlier and I found myself disappointed. The dc and I are just fine - better even - without him. But then I think of raising them to think their father didn't love them, because unless I made all the effort I doubt he'd see them, and my heart breaks for them.

He can be a good father but is ultimately very selfish. Or perhaps I am too selfless and he's normal but my selflessness exacerbates his selfish tendencies. For example, if poorly toddler were asleep on me and I needed the toilet I'd wait. He'd put them down and leave them to cry while he went. If he's playing with one of the dc and his phone goes off he'll disrupt whatever they're doing to check it. I barely look at my phone besides napand bbedtime because I put the kids first.

I know saying I'm unhappy doesn't make me a nag but it astounds me that he cannot see my point of view, even after all these years together. He's openly said he'd hate it if I went on girls nights out yet doesn't comprehend that he's a hypocrite with his lads night's out? And I don't think he does realise but ignores it - he could easily have lied about his night's out but hasn't.

OP posts:
thebodylovesspring · 19/05/2014 22:24

He's not normal love and he's neither a good husband or father.

Personally I would pour cold water over the twat friends head if he calked me that vile name. Cheeky bastard.

You deserve better op. Much better.

AnyFucker · 19/05/2014 22:27

He doesn't need to lie.... he has done a massive number on you. I seriously hope you wake up and kick him the fuck out. This asshat deserves to be out in the metaphorical cold.

EduardoBarcelona · 19/05/2014 22:28

Is he from a traditionally sexist culture / family ? How csn you not go out?!

ViviPru · 19/05/2014 22:34

The dc and I are just fine - better even - without him

You said it.

CinderellaRockefeller · 19/05/2014 22:40

Can I flag something I don't think anyone else has mentioned? You saw the texts calling you "freeloading fanny" and you think that's something your husband's mate has made up?

Who do you think made up that name? Bet you money it wasn't the mate. People don't make stuff like up from nowhere and he's either started it after your husband has been complaining about you as a freeloader or that's what your husband calls you and you just don't know it.

AnyFucker · 19/05/2014 22:40

Good point, Cinders Sad

Jengnr · 19/05/2014 22:41

Why doesn 't he want you to go on a night out? In my experience it's always the serial philanderers who don't like their wives or girlfriends going out because they judge everyone by their own standards.

I think the flatshare is a great idea. Permanently.

PlantsAndFlowers · 19/05/2014 23:04

unless I made all the effort I doubt he'd see them

That sounds like a horrible reason for staying with someone.