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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think DP ows me one for this

82 replies

hearthattack · 13/07/2015 09:32

Background: DP works hard in a physical job and is knackered during the week. We moved to this part of the country from a long way away about 3 months ago when I was three months pregnant and I've not been able to find any work, though I am looking. I don't know that many people here. Money is tight. My week days involve driving DP to and from work (he's learning to drive), sorting our new house out, cooking dinner, trying to pursue hobbies that don't cost anything and doing a fair amount of sitting about on my own being a bit bored.

At the weekend DP and I went to a small music festival run by some family friends on their land. It's always a lairy affair after dark, some people with kids just go for the afternoon, most people camp overnight and get wasted.
At 6 months pregnant I had reservations about going. Standing up in a field for hours, having to walk miles up very steep hills to reach the site, no proper loo facilities, everyone else drinking hard. DP really wanted to go and, although there were other people going we know, hadn't arranged to be part of their group so wanted the company. I agreed to go but asked that we leave together before it got too late, 9 or 10 ish. I didn't fancy another weekend night in the house on my own. I feel like it's becoming a bit of a habit.

He's been out on the lash three out of the last four weekends (since we moved into our new house after staying with his parents for a bit). Lack of transport late at night means he's slept over at a friends house on these occasions. The weekend he didn't go out we had five of his family members to stay, so it wasn't exactly a weekend to ourselves and took quite a lot of work.

At 7pm, DP announced he wanted to stay at the festival after all, in a friends tent. I got a bit upset at being ditched again, but he'd paid for a ticket, it's a once a year event, he works hard etc, so we said goodbye and I left him to it. He was going to get a lift home in the morning.

At 9am Sunday I got a call asking me to collect him. I drove the half hour to pick him up and found him by the side of the road, looking terrible. We had to stop three times on the way home and he still managed to vomit out of the moving car with inevitable gross consequences. When we got home he went to bed. I bought his usual hang over cures at the shops, woke him after lunch in time to go to a family visit we'd arranged (his family), cooked an early dinner and we went to bed at 9pm.

I know he's not pregnant, that he works hard, that it's not his fault I don't have much of a social life here etc. I'm just a bit fed up with all of his weekends getting taken up by drinking and subsequent hang overs when I spend all week on my own as it is. He says he appreciates what I do but I don't see him to do anything to show this. I wouldn't mind a weekend together doing stuff he knows I'll enjoy, or the odd treat for both of us like dinner out or the cinema that costs no more than a night on the tiles with his mates.

Am I being an unreasonable, naggy, boring wifey, curtailing his freedom because I have no life? Or is it reasonable of me to expect a little solidarity while I'm carrying his child, and a few weekends of us enjoying time together before we become a family and have no time for such things anyway? If the latter, how do I make him see this? I've tried telling him how I feel, suggesting things we could do together, and nothing ever comes of it.

Sorry for the essay!

OP posts:
starkers1 · 13/07/2015 13:23

I never would have picked him up, pregnant or not, for starters. That's already pandering to his very immature, selfish tendencies. If you'd not answered , or simply said "no", he would have had a nightmare getting home and in the cold, sober light of day really seen how stupid his behaviour is.
Start pushing back on his requests and definitely do not offer to do anything more for him. Say no to any more of his family coming to stay during the rest of your pregnancy. Don't "talk" but tell him: he's had his fun and you've been more than patient and kind with him, now he needs to buck up and man up. He's acting like a child while you have to focus on the actual child you are about to have, rather than looking after him 24/7. He can make it up to you by stopping all previous behaviour and now help you prepare practically for the baby as well as preparing himself emotionally for being a dad. He needs to show some serious gestures and effort now. I'd be livid.

hearthattack · 13/07/2015 14:32

Hmm, seems I'm being a doormat. I feel quite guilty that I'm at home all day while he's out at work (I've always worked full time and been pretty independent) so I try to be as helpful as I can with the housework and drive him to work as a favour (there is a wait for driving test dates and we agreed it made more sense to do it here than in London).

Maybe I should scale back my efforts.

I'm a bit sick of telling him what my feelings / concerns are. He's otherwise great, but after a bit of honest reflection, not shown the least bit of preparedness for impending fatherhood and the responsibilities it brings.

He's not in any hurry to do things like buy a pram, baby clothes or sort the house (I've done all of this myself). Despite my asking him to he's not bothered to find anything out about childbirth, though he wants to be my birth partner.

He seems to think we can buy a few baby grows and nappies a couple of weeks before the due date, I'll give birth without any input from him, and he can take each day as it comes and concentrate on being a Dad when it actually happens in three months time. He says we've got plenty of time to arrange things and I shouldn't be stressing so much.

Am I the only woman to have found herself in this position? I've tried to be patient and sympathetic to his point of view because I was under the impression it was a fairly common state of affairs.

Now I feel like an idiot.

OP posts:
wrapsuperstar · 13/07/2015 14:41

I don't want to be too forthright because it sounds as though you are feeling low enough already but he sounds pretty immature and horrid.

You say he's your partner so not married? You are dependent on him financially but without the legal protection of marriage you will be up shit creek in terms of shared assets if you decide you've had enough. It seems like you took an enormous leap of faith getting pregnant, packing in your job and moving far away with him without any formal arrangements to make you an equal in this relationship not even a bloomin' joint account. Sad

Look into what you can change about that as a matter of urgency. Is the house owned by you both?

hearthattack · 13/07/2015 14:45

We rent.

OP posts:
BrowersBlues · 13/07/2015 15:36

Heart let me tell you a story of 3 sisters who got married and had children. In each of the marriages the men kept up their normal socialising routines before the baby was born and then kept up their normal socialising routines after the baby was born.

Two of the sisters tore seven shades of shit off their husbands when they very quickly realised what was going on after the babies were born. They told them to get the fuck out of the house and go back to their mothers. They screamed like banshees and spelled out exactly how things would be run in their house.

The 3rd sister was afraid to do what her sisters did and pandered to her husband and took on all the work herself.

Of these 3 sisters whose marriages would you say are still together now after 20 odd years with two deeply committed fathers?

This weekend you and your husband are spending Saturday wandering around baby shops ticking items off your list. If you don't I will set my two sisters after you.

DoreenLethal · 13/07/2015 15:46

Get used to it love, this IS him. You think he will magically become Mr responsible once you have a baby? I mean, of course you want to think that, but he isnt showing any signs yet, is he?

Icimoi · 13/07/2015 15:53

Have you started doing any parenthood classes or similar? It could be sensible to start that and drag him along so that he can (a) begin to concentrate a bit on what's involved and maybe (b) meet other partners who have either been there already and can tell him the reality, or at least demonstrate that real men provide proper support to their partners.

starkers1 · 13/07/2015 16:17

heart dont feel like an idiot!! And no, you are not the only 1 by a long stretch in this position...promise. A lot of men do this mainly out fear but he now needs to wake up and be shaken up by you to realise things have to change.

grapejuicerocks · 13/07/2015 16:37

It is common for the dad to be, to not be interested too much of the actual realities of preparing for fatherhood. My dp only knew what I told him - but he did come shopping with me, listened in one ear and out the other when I told him some of the things I read, and he certainly didn't spend our resources on getting drunk each weekend, and definitely not to the extent where our marriage was suffering.

Please force him to take responsibility now. Nip it in the bud, before it becomes entrenched behaviour. I really hope he takes you seriously when he realises his marriage is on the line. You need to spell this out, as he hasn't taken any notice so far. Please have the self respect to not let yourself be treated badly.

hearthattack · 13/07/2015 16:38

Gee, thanks for your sincere and helpful responseDoreen, what insight.

BrowsersBlues, you're a ledge. Ta for that. Duly noted Grin

OP posts:
honeyroar · 13/07/2015 16:45

Was this in the countryside above Manchester? I think we went too! To be fair, it's not a great place to be 6 months pregnant. I can also understand why he didn't want to leave at 9pm, it was just livening up.

However I think you're much too nice running him around and picking him up the next day. It's a 2 mile walk to the bus stop. That would have cleared his head!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 13/07/2015 17:00

He's going to be driving before the baby is here

So he's going to take the car every morning and swan off to work leaving you stranded in the middle of no-where with a newborn. Time to get on his bike methinks and get in practice.

My DH did a fair bit of this. I could have written your post at Mon 13-Jul-15 14:32:46 although I was working FT. Rotten luck about the redundancy. Total denial for the most part [probably petrified] and went out and got utterly rat faced at least one night a week. It all came to a head one evening and there was a conversation in a similar fashion to BrowsersBlues sisters the morning afterwards. He came very close to sinking our relationship entirely though.

My second pregnancy was a very different affair entirely and he is a fantastic Dad and husband. Irritating as hell sometimes but I'm pretty lucky.

You could try writing a birth plan? DH got a bit of a wake up call when I started telling him what I wanted to do if there was an emergency with the baby/me and paid a damn sight more attention during the NCT classes to the side effects of the various drugs [I was having a drug free water birth naturally]

Make a list of stuff that's needed with a budget. That should focus his mind fairly sharply on whether there is money to spare on getting legless every weekend.

Duckdeamon · 13/07/2015 17:07

Agree with PPs that you have been doing far too much for him. trips to the shop to buy him hangover cures! It doesn't seem as though he has anywhere as near as much regard to caring for and doing things for you as you do him.

In your shoes I wouldn't want to be financially dependent on him, especially since you're not married. I would be wanting proper joint account/family money and transport arrangements (so you can do stuff when the baby arrives) asap

Icimoi · 13/07/2015 17:11

Have you tried asking him what he imagines might have happened if, God forbid, you had gone into labour last Saturday night? As I'm sure you're very well aware, it's by no means impossible.

AnulTheMagnificent · 13/07/2015 17:17

Re: setting up a joint account, do this if he is paying in but not if you are, keep our own money out of his reach.

I have my reasons for saying this, please be careful. If he is drinking heavily now I don't like the look of the future, sorry. Wouldn't want you to end up like me.

BrowersBlues · 13/07/2015 17:22

You are very welcome. You sound lovely and I don't want anyone to treat you less than your deserve.

DoreenLethal · 13/07/2015 17:26

Gee, thanks for your sincere and helpful response Doreen, what insight

Well, I respond to your words. If you honestly believe he is going to suddenly become dad of the year then good luck to you. I take it you haven't ever read any of the threads on here? Running around getting hangover cures for the poor baby. I mean come on!

Alibabsandthe40Musketeers · 13/07/2015 17:41

When you say 'in the process of setting up a joint account' what do you mean? When DH and I first moved in together, we set one up straight away, all we had to do was go into the bank and it was organised there and then.

You are in an incredibly vulnerable position. Pregnant, unemployed, renting and unmarried. I would get a ring on your finger sharpish.

Is he really going to leave you at home with a new baby and no car in the middle of nowhere rather than cycle when he's perfectly capable? How will you get to GP/baby groups/friends houses?

Time for some very very serious talking - followed by action from him.

Atenco · 13/07/2015 18:43

I'm certainly no expert on making relationship work, OP, but I am a bit shocked at a man who invites a woman to give up her job, move to a part of the country where she has no social network and leaves her alone all day, every day, while he goes out socialising.

And I wouldn't get married to such an arse, personally

cleanmyhouse · 13/07/2015 18:47

To be honest, i think a lot of men are THIS selfish before the baby arrives. Nothing changes for them until the baby is actually there. Some of these men change when the baby arrives, some don't.

I think you have to start telling him what you expect now, or he'll end up being one of the men who doesn't.

Rebecca2014 · 13/07/2015 18:58

Like the other posters have said, you need to nip this in the bud now.

One of my fondest memories of being pregnant is walking around the shops with my ex, looking at baby clothes and talking about our baby. I hope after you have your talk, that he changes.

justmyview · 13/07/2015 19:04

I think you need to trust your instincts. You know your DP better than we do

lavenderhoney · 13/07/2015 19:21

Slightly amazed you are prepared for him to take the car all day and leave you with no transport in the middle of winter with a baby. Or do you plan to get up, get the baby in the car, take him to work and pick him up? I have to say, and I don't want to be pessimistic, but this is very ambitious if you do.

And he is taking the piss- if he invites his family he should be doing all the work - will they all descend on you when the baby comes? Is he prepared to do all the cooking and cleaning whilst you sit down and rest?

A joint account is very quick to set up, is he spending all the money on himself? You need a network of friends tbh, is there a local nct group?

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 13/07/2015 19:36

I would seriously consider a quick wedding. If you want a big fuss, do a quiet legal one now and have a big celebration when you have more time/money. You are very vulnerable as you are.

I can understand you wanting to be nice to him, I carefully selected breakfast yesterday for hungover DH. We have a baby, but we are still allowed out, you don't have to be a complete martyr. The trouble in your case is that it all seems to be very one sided. You've given up loads, and keep on giving. Him not sorting out the money is pretty shit.

hearthattack · 13/07/2015 19:42

I do need a friendship group, you're right. I feel pretty isolated and maybe I'm putting up with more than I ordinarily would because of that. I really wanted to move here though, he didn't twist my arm. I didn't think the balance of power would be so askew, or that he would fail to see how vulnerable I am and act accordingly.

There is nct, we are going to some classes in a month or so. There's a weekly meet up I keep meaning to go to.

Joint account just involved getting some ID to a branch. We live in the depths of North Wales and are with the Co-op so it's not a quick jaunt to the hight street (they have no branches in the north, only south). I've just not got on the case.

Although we are in the countryside we're a five minute drive from a large village, and there's a bus stop right outside our house (it doesn't go to the tiny village where DP works though). Not sure how we'll work car/bus/cycling but he's generally happy to cycle most of the time, I'm just also happy to drive him.

I don't know. I was a bit miffed about the going out when I posted and now I feel like our relationship is doomed!

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