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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be fed up childcare is always my responsibility

50 replies

oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 22:46

I am virtually a sahm but do run a small business on a very part time basis. It is quite child friendly so often I work whilst looking after dc D.h works long hours Monday to Friday. During the week he has little involvement with dc. Never does bedtime etc.
A few examples in recent times. Before having last child I contemplated working nights as a means of keeping childcare costs to a minimum. The reaction I got was well you will have to be back to enable me to go to work. I am the main earner etc etc.
I wanted to go on a work conference. I was told I could go if I sorted out childcare. He refused to take a day off work for it. So I had to go cap in hand to Mil to ask her. She said yes originally and than backed out at the last minute. She thought she needed to tske sil somewhere although she actually didn't do it in the end. So dh took day off. Maybe she did it to get him to step up.
The third is that I need to go to hospital on Monday. It is an awkward time so don't think I can get back for school run. Plus bring an active 20 month old to an appointment for a gynecological issue is not my idea of fun. Also stressed as condition is sometimes pre cancerous. So surely at this point a considerate dh would say o I will see if I can work from home. He does this quite regular when he has appointments etc etc. However, he claims he can't next week
But no, I had to ask mil who is surprise surprise busy with sil. Only option now is to get sister to do it which will involve paying for her to make a 30 mile train journey or a 120 mile round trip to pick up and drop off.
Aibu to feel let down. If he wants to go away for the weekend he can without worrying about childcare as he knows I am there. Yet if I need help I have to do all the running.

OP posts:
SquigglySquid · 03/07/2014 23:03

He only works Monday - Friday. Why can't you get away for a weekend with out worrying? Just leave and tell him the kids are his. It's not like swanning off for the weekend will interfere with his work.

But to the appointment, it probably costs less to pay for a train ticket for your sister than it does for DH to take the day off (unless your DH makes min wage, or train tickets are ridic expensive). If your sister wasn't able to come up you'd probably be paying more for nursery.

YANBU to be stressed out considering you're being screened for something that could be cancerous, but it's not really anyone's fault that their schedules didn't line up.

But more importantly:

I wanted to go on a work conference. I was told I could go if I sorted out childcare

This is worrying. Why do you feel you answer to him? Can you look into a nursery that does a pay by day agreement? That way if he falls through you have a back up.

deakymom · 03/07/2014 23:06

do you have a nursery nearby you could put your child in for a session?

have you asked about something similar before?

oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:12

Yes did previously post re conference when it happened. I can do things at the weekend when he is around but he has alot more weekend leisure time due to sporting hobbies. He also occasionally has to go away at weekends for work but just mentioned it is passing. I certainly didn't say yes you can to your team meeting/jolly if you sort out childcare.

OP posts:
oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:14

I think at the time I said I was planning to go. His response was. Well you will have to sort out childcare. O and he said I have to pay for it from business. Well I always do.

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ICanSeeTheSun · 03/07/2014 23:24

I would go out Friday night once he is home and not return until tea time Saturday, especially if he has a sporting event or going away for the weekend.

Carrie5608 · 03/07/2014 23:25

I think most SAHM's struggle with this but if I asked DH to take a day off everytime i needed to do something he would never have any annual leave left.

We use school breakfast club and afterschool when needed. Other parents will swap lifts etc friends help out as do DM and Mil.

However hospital appointments need to be prioritised. Have you discussed it?

It does get easier as they get a bit older but Gynae appts are still a hassle.

SquigglySquid · 03/07/2014 23:26

I have to pay for it from business. Well I always do.

Is the child not both of yours? If DC is not his, I can understand making your solely responsible for him. But if DH is the father, then he should help pay for child care too. You're making money to help out, aren't you? I assume you're helping with bills and not just keeping all the money to yourself.

He's basically punishing you for taking a day off (that you DO deserve btw). That's not right.

oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:32

The thing is though he is happy to take annual leave when it suits him. Lunch with mil for her birthday or to recover from weekend away is fine. I didn't even expect him to take day off. Just work from home.

Maybe I should have made a bigger deal out of it. Plus I never normally ask. I have done every single class assembly, sports day, doctor's appointment and blood tests alone.

Just hope he will step up when I have my colonoscopy.

OP posts:
oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:34

Sorry not clear. Paying was for conference. All 3dc are his.

OP posts:
oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:36

I rarely pay for childcare but when I do it comes from family joint funds.,

OP posts:
ICanSeeTheSun · 03/07/2014 23:37

Why are you in a relationship with him, what are you getting out of the relationship.

I know DH and I have had our problems, but no way would he ever make attending a medical appointment difficult.

I think it's time for a blow out

oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:38

I don't make a fortune. I use profits for child expenses like swimming etc and some personal money for me as I no longer get childbenefit.

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oxfordmumma1 · 03/07/2014 23:41

I think maybe I haven't articulated to him how importand and tricky it is going to be. My sister has never done school runs etc. I guess I am normally a coper so he doesn't realize that this time is different.

OP posts:
ICanSeeTheSun · 03/07/2014 23:43

You shouldn't have to prepare a long speech to DH, the DC father in order for him to step up and take responsibility

twizzleship · 03/07/2014 23:49

he obviously doesn't have any respect or consideration for u so why don't u just leave the selfish bastard? surely if you're having to act like a single parent you may as well do it properly without the useless fucker hanging around?

arethereanyleftatall · 04/07/2014 00:02

It's irritating, but from a financial perspective your dh is probably right, assuming he earns a reasonable salary, which if you've lost child benefit, he must do.
We are on a similar situation - dh woh full time, I'm a sahm mainly with a part time job. There is no way I would ask dh to take time off work to cover me for anything that came up, I would feel it was my job to organise child are, be it family, nursery or childminder. He earns more than they cost, so it just makes financial sense.

unlucky83 · 04/07/2014 00:58

OP so empathise with this...my DP is the same ...
I partly blame myself - I think it was because he used to have his own business (a restaurant), really couldn't take time off (without having to close the restaurant -cancel bookings etc) - so I took on all the responsibility for childcare -even though at the time I was working/studying full time. It was part of the reason I became a SAHM before having DD2 - I felt like I was constantly letting either DD or my employer down...but actually that just made me even more responsible...

He has now sold the restaurant but he still has the same attitude.. after 5 yrs ... I would love to say he is getting better but it is slow going - I find the language you use is important
I never asked him to look after DCs 'for me' or 'as a favour' anymore - I will say 'you will need to look after your children' etc.

He has done some absolutely mindblowing selfish things - even very recently. He doesn't appreciate that if I didn't look after the DCs he couldn't do the job he does...and when I worked I had to take time off if DD needed me.
This last week I have been diagnosed with a DVT - lots of hosp/docs appt etc..and it is the school hols. For one appt if he left worked on time (if it is busy he will stay later) he could be back to look after DCs -he asked if I could not take them with me (what was I supposed to do with a 7 yo while they were scanning my leg?) or get someone else to look after them! It was embarrassing to have to leave when everyone else was still busy! (He made it back just as I was loading DCs into the car)
The next day he would have had to leave 1 hr early - he point blank refused to ask - luckily a friend took them for me...
So still a long way to go...

Fideliney · 04/07/2014 07:17

Why do you only get personal money from your micro business? Why are you not getting child benefit? If he's going to be an arse, reclaim it and let him pay it back via tax return.

There are so many things wrong with his attitude, particularly the whole weekend childcare thing. Why don't you start a regular weekend leisure activity and make it clear you are expecting him to cover the childcare?

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 04/07/2014 07:23

Why does he not to bedtime? My DH does bath and bedtime as he hasn't seen DS all day.

Does he do any parenting at all?

He sees you as a convenient childcare service, as long as it doesn't interfere with him.

DraggingDownDownDown · 04/07/2014 08:32

I work two days a week. I drop the boys off to the minders in the morning on route to work and DH leaves work early to collect them again in the evening.

Childcare arrangements do fall to me as I am the one at home and so have more insight into what is needed. I am also the one who has the friends in the area to ask for help if required.

If DH has to go away with work and it falls on my work day, he will try and be back in time to collect them. On the rare occasion he can't then I have to sort my work out and ask for favours from friends.

He has dropped me in it once giving me about 3 days notice of going abroad with work and I did ask him what he was going to do with the children (I was feeling that I was always sorting everything out) and he pointed out that he wasn't dumping it on me to sort but I am the one with the contacts and friends in the area so could I sort it out.

He is fortunate however to have an understanding boss who does allow him to work from home if I have appointments that are not suitable for the kids - not all businesses allow that.

He doesn't come to school events as he gets the minimum of leave and as long as someone is there to watch them that is enough.

He also doesn't assume that I will do all the weekend childcare and although he goes away for two weekends a month he does insist that I have my weekends away too.

redskyatnight · 04/07/2014 08:43

If you are normally responsible for looking after the DC at a certain time and you can't do it for some reason, then I think it's reasonable that you are responsible for finding alternative childcare. Of course you can ask DH, but I think him refusing to take time of work is perfectly reasonable (especially as he obviously will take time off work if you have exhausted all other possibilities). I also don't think it's on to expect someone to work at home while looking after a 20 month old - sorry.

The other reason childcare falls to you is that you are the one with the contacts! It is literally impossible for a DH who works long hours to get to know other parents, whereas presumably there are people you see every day who might e.g. be able to pick your school age DC up.

oxfordmumma1 · 04/07/2014 08:48

He does pay a sum into my account to cover dds such as car insurance and phone. I also have a joint credit card. Tbh the child benefit think annoyed me. I had hoped to carryon claiming and than pay it back through tax return. After all why make it easy for govt. Howe2, on the day before the deadline he basi2 said K needed to stop claiming as he didn't want to do a tax return. I grudgingly did it but said that I wanted him to tr a similar amount into my account. This never happened.

OP posts:
oxfordmumma1 · 04/07/2014 08:48

Sorry for typos.

OP posts:
Fideliney · 04/07/2014 08:57

Reclaim it. Dig your heels in. You gave him a chance, he blew it.

He is being an arse in several respects. Hardly unreasonable for you to claim CHB in the absence if the promised recompense.

Fideliney · 04/07/2014 08:58

I think it is time you started emitting some distinctly un-dormatty signals, don't you?