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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Pissed off over trivial argument, does anyone else's DP/DH react like this and WIBU?

84 replies

Noonegivesashit · 25/05/2015 18:42

I nipped out to the shops earlier and left DSD (5) and DD (22 month) with DP. THis doesn't happen very often.
On the way out, I could smell that DD's nappy needed changing. I offered to change it before I went but DP said "just leave it, you won't be long at the shops, you can do it when you come back". I asked if DP could do it while I was out and reluctantly he agreed to change DD's nappy. This doesn't happen very often either. Anyway, I came back from the shops to find DP lounged out on the sofa, DD's piss wet through tights just left on the floor with her new shoes in them!

I pulled them out and then questioned DP as to why he didn't take her shoes out of the tights (or just take them off to start with) and he said "don't have a go at me, I was trying to stop shit from going on the floor and I had one child kicking her legs about and another clinging on to my arm."

I responded "well tell me about it, I bath them, dress them, do their washing, clean up after the , cook for them and look after DSD most of the time she's here so I'm used to it." He responded "don't have a go at me, I've done my best" so I replied "you could write a book of excuses you could," half in jest, half being serious. He said he's taken considerable offence and will be pissed off with me for a considerable length of time!! Currently sat on the sofa sulking and throwing a dirty, disapproving look my way every now and again.

We've got DSD all week and I will be looking after her (as per) which has interfered with some one my plans and work arrangements. I just feel like saying sort your own fucking childcare out. I am never consulted when he agrees to have her for any length of time, I am just expected to do it and then he carries on like a spoiled brat because I questioned him about him slobby, lazy ways. He thinks he's so badly done to but he does sweet FA!!!

OP posts:
HazleNutt · 25/05/2015 19:13

He actually would have left his DD sitting in a soiled nappy the whole time you were out??

Noonegivesashit · 25/05/2015 19:29

Yes, he would think nothing of leaving her in a dirty nappy. He's done it before quite a few times. I've never kicked up a fuss about because I just wanted an easy life but if I'm honest, it's like having three kids to look after.

We went out today and had our dinners in a pub, DSD was an angel but DD was getting ratty and irritable because we had a long wait for food and to be fair he did step up to the plate and keep DD occupied which would usually have fallen on me, I feel like he's slowly getting better but then I have a stupid set back like this.

He's very old fashioned and is lovely and hardworking but lazy around the house and with the kids. He says things in the heat of the moment as we all do but I'm sick of backing down.

OP posts:
Sansarya · 25/05/2015 19:33

Sorry OP but you sound like you're in denial. Men who are "lovely" don't act like this.

ConferencePear · 25/05/2015 19:37

If you're sick of backing down OP - stop doing it.

Rjae · 25/05/2015 19:48

you should always wonder about why the first wife/partner left him!

Don't be a doormat and start tackling the issue of his laziness. Some people are just lazy because another person allows it.

He does sound a bit of an arse to be honest.

Fluffcake · 25/05/2015 21:21

He obviously needs more practice at looking after dcs. I suggest you take yourself out more often and leave him at home to babysit look after his own children.

Icimoi · 25/05/2015 21:33

He sounds incredibly childish. The best reaction may well be to laugh every time he shoots you a dirty look, the way you might do with a 4 year old trying to punish you that way.

Noonegivesashit · 25/05/2015 22:07

Or tell him to go fuck himself, he's climbed into bed with DSD just now instead of sharing a bed with me!!!

OP posts:
Fatmomma99 · 26/05/2015 00:05

In my dayjob, I NEVER dish out advice (unless I'm asked a specific question about signposting someone somewhere).

On MN I DELIGHT in giving my opinions HERE and here and there.

In this case, I don't want to give my opinion, but I REALLY want you to listen to your 'inner voice' and go with it.

Good luck!

ThereIsIron · 26/05/2015 00:45

He's a lazy, inconsiderate fucker. If my DH ever tried to pull this shit (he never has) I would go through him for a short cut. It never ceases to amaze me (from reading MN) how fucking utterly useless many men are. I'm just glad I have a good 'un. Hard working counts for fuck all if you're doing all the child-rearing yourself. My DH is hard-working, but still managed to do night feeds for 3 DCs and go to work in the morning, and does his fair share around the house and with the kids. Maybe I'm lucky but I do despair sometimes. Good luck OP.

Noonegivesashit · 26/05/2015 10:31

Yet again I am stuck on my own with both DC'S whilst DP is at work. I was never asked if this was ok, it was just PRESUMED. oh well you're looking after your own DD so you might as well look after another one, not really the point!

OP posts:
however · 26/05/2015 10:35

"I feel guilty that he won't get to see her because of me."

No. No. He won't get to see his daughter because of him.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 26/05/2015 10:36

But what are you actually going to do about it? Cos to be frank, you can't blame someone for continuing to walk all over you when you're lying on the floor disguised as a rug!

AlternativeTentacles · 26/05/2015 10:40

You can't blame someone for continuing to walk all over you when you're lying on the floor disguised as a rug!

Here here.

MaxPepsi · 26/05/2015 10:47

He sounds like a selfish twat, but I think you've realised that yourself so not much point reiterating it!

How are funds? Can you go out for the day with both kids, spoil yourselves and make sure you have tea out and arrive home after him?

Arrive home with a friend, leave the girls and head straight back out with said friend for a nice glass of wine.

Let him fend for himself and put the girls to bed.

Noonegivesashit · 26/05/2015 11:01

I don't think I can ever think of a time when he has bathed or put the kids to bed together, infact if it was left to him he wouldn't even bath them! I've told him that he will have to have some sort of arrangement on Thursday and Friday because I'm going into work. I really don't see why I should pick up his and his exes slack for not pulling their weight with their own DD.

I think I might take them out today, I've got a friend coming round at some point so we could all go out, fuck him, if he thinks I just sit and enjoy myself all day then I'm going to start doing so!!

OP posts:
mytitiferssungtheirsong · 26/05/2015 11:01

Having done a rough calculation I'm guessing you got together when dsd was around 0-1yrs? Not judging but more wondering why a relationship with such a small child broke down? Remember the old adage a leopard doesn't change his spot.
I'm a single mum but if a partner of mine refused to change dd nappy when i popped to the shops he'd be out on his ears.

CalleighDoodle · 26/05/2015 11:04

He is not a nice man, he is not a good husband and is definitely not a good father.

In a calm moment show him exactly what is required when changing a nappy, and ensure the amount done are divided more fairly.

WhereYouLeftIt · 26/05/2015 11:32

Let me start by saying that I really am not having a go at you, OP, because I know it might come across that way on the screen. But I need to draw your attention to some of the things that you have said, and ask you to think about them.

"I've never kicked up a fuss about because I just wanted an easy life but if I'm honest, it's like having three kids to look after."
People who won't kick up a fuss at shitty behaviour NEVER have an easy life. NEVER. If there are no consequences to shitty behaviour, there is no reason to change, so by not kicking up a fuss you are effectively inviting more shitty behaviour. If you truly want a quiet life, maybe consider treating him like that third child. With a child, bad behaviour has consequences.

"I've always felt bad for putting my foot down and telling him that I canthave DSD because im busy. I feel guilty that he won't get to see her because of me."
Total bollocks, and again inviting more shitty behaviour. You are "never consulted when he agrees to have her" - this has to stop. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot be involved in family decisions. An easy life involves planning ahead, DSD's stays should be planned and agreed between all three adults. If only two are involved (him and ex) then only those two should be doing the work created from the decision. Put your foot down, that's what it's for. If he (initially doesn't see her), that is down to his poor planning and not involving you at the right (early) stage.

"He's very old fashioned and is lovely and hardworking but lazy around the house and with the kids. He says things in the heat of the moment as we all do but I'm sick of backing down."
He is not 'lovely', and 'old-fashioned' is a self-deluding euphemism for 'entitled mysogynist'. Lovely people do not treat their partner as a cross between staff and a domestic appliance. He is lazy because he can be, because you pick up the slack. You are ENABLING him, and you need to stop. He says things not because it is the heat of the moment, but because he knows you will not call him on it and he knows it is effective in manipulating you.

Look at yourself from the outside. He's got you putting up with shit and guilty about his access to DSD whilst he lives the life of Riley. 'Hardworking'? We are ALL hardworking, it's sort of the default way to live. That's like praising him for putting one foot in front of the other Angry.

If you truly want an easy life, you need to toughen up, because how you are handling this situation right now, it is just going to get worse. Your acceptance of his shit just invites him to ramp it up. He doesn't even have to be a bad person to respond that way; he's 'rewarded' for it by your compliance, of course he'll keep doing it. Basic human psychology/nature.

So, you don't like something? You say so, and you don't accept it.

  • He tells you DSD's coming tomorrow for a week and that interferes with your plans? You respond that that doesn't work for you and he'll have to rearrange it.
  • He leaves pissy tights in DD's shoes? You tell him to pick them up and clean her shoes and ask if he'd leave pissy socks inside his own shoes.
  • He squeals complains he's tired and been working hard? You respond that so are you and you've been working harder caring for his children, so STFU and go bath his daughter.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got.

And if you won't do it for yourself, consider the welfare of your daughter. Do you want her to grow up in a household where the woman is clearly subordinate? Is that what you want her to learn is her fate, and all she deserves anyway? Think hard, OP. What do you want, both for yourself and for her? And remember - putting up with shit will get you the absolute opposide of an easy life.

AnyFucker · 26/05/2015 11:43

What she said with bells on

Jetgir1 · 26/05/2015 11:54

I would be pissed at this childish reaction from him. If this is the norm I would be seriously rethinking my domestic arrangements. Changing the odd nappy is the VERY BARE MINIMUM he should be doing.

CrystalCove · 26/05/2015 12:01

Im concerned that you think this is "trivial" really...hes done a right number on you by the looks of it. What was your relationship like before you had your DD, I would be very surprised if you didnt know what he was like.

Noonegivesashit · 26/05/2015 13:14

I always thought he would be a great, hands on dad. He was (still is) completely devoted to DSD and told me about how much he enjoyed "every step of the way" with her as a new baby. He said he bathed her for the first 6 months because his ex was scared to do so. Neighbours have told me how he used to take her for a walk when his ex was tired and struggling to cope.

I didn't have any of this, he barely looked at her and seemed to go out of his way to show me that he prioritised DSD and his exDPs feelings above anything I was struggling with. I may as well have been a single parent to both of his kids. I'm still very resentful to this day. I breast fed for 4 months and really struggled. He didn't do anything around the house, he dumped DSD on me as and when him/ex fancied.

I was struggling to get the time to make any dinner for myself and my mum rang DP up asking him to put a tin of soup on the hob for me just to help ,e out. He came bursting inside the house saying that if I couldn't manage to make myself some soup then there was no hope and harped on about him not having the time to come in and make sure I'm feeding myself.

Luckily I had some very good friends who helped out but absolutely no thanks to him.

OP posts:
magoria · 26/05/2015 13:21

Can you point me to the lovely I your last post? I can't see it.

All I can see is selfish wanker.

It looks like the scales are falling from your eyes and he is well on the way to being a NRP to two DC.

Want to place bets on how long before another mug is looking after your DSD and DC for him if you split? Assuming he bothers to have yours that would be.

sebsmummy1 · 26/05/2015 13:24

Errrr no, couldn't live like that. DP changes nappies as frequently as I do, if not more, on weekends and takes over in the evening after he gets back from work.