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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Told DH to fend for himself. AIBU?

389 replies

arghhythu · 21/05/2016 18:02

DH is sulking upstairs because I'm not cooking for him. He's 32.

He's very used to getting his own way and until recently I've probably enabled him. I've always cooked because I got in from work first. He likes home cooked food, preferably requiring a lot of effort.

Now 3 month old DD is here so meals have changed. Things that are easy to prepare but still always ready when he gets home. This apparently isn't good enough. He wants "proper" food. Not willing to cook it himself, though.

Things came to a head today when he walked in and moaned about the salmon in the freezer. I told him to cook his own food and he said he can't. So I'm not going to cook for him anymore. He can shop and cook himself, right?

He does very, very little with DD and won't do housework.

AIBU to let him starve and just feed myself?

OP posts:
LookJustCancelTheCheque · 23/05/2016 18:09

Late to this thread, but checking in to offer support. Sounds like you're on the right track with your daughter's paperwork etc. Good luck!

AHellOfABird · 23/05/2016 18:13

"There have been a few threads recently where the OP has been male and the DW has been sitting on her arse and not contributing. Laziness is not gender-specific."

Is what you said! As you said it on this thread, I assume you were relating it to this OP, who has a DH well beyond laziness and actually abusicve.

BonitaFangita · 23/05/2016 19:13

How are you feeling today Arghh I know this must be an inncredibly difficult time but stay strong.
Take support from this thread, what support do you have IRL?

DailyMailAreAFuckingJoke · 23/05/2016 19:15

I know what I said! My comment was in response to an earlier comment. It was not aimed specifically at the OP's situation.

HTH.

Ambroxide · 23/05/2016 19:25

Good luck, arghhythu. You really do deserve better than this, and so does your baby.

AHellOfABird · 23/05/2016 19:33

Yep, you responded to AF saying "it's honestly not a male thing it's an abusive thing"

Heigh ho, this ain't helping OP.

Hope you are ok, arghy, how was the solicitor?

DailyMailAreAFuckingJoke · 23/05/2016 19:42

No it's not helping the OP, so I am not sure why you continue to pick apart a post I made, when I have told you twice that it wasn't aimed at the OP's situation.

OP - I sincerely hope you leave this fuckwit.

FrizzyMcFrizzface · 23/05/2016 21:26

OP, I hope you and DD are ok. I absolutely agree with the posters who said stay put and gather evidence. Get everything you can, I really regret leaving in a hurry when I left my exH and it caused me to lose out financially.

When you've left, report him to the police for emotional abuse - it's a crime now.

Keep your chin up, you are so brave and strong, I have massive buckets of admiration for your strength in dealing with all this. Have some Cake and Brew.

upontheroof66 · 23/05/2016 22:19

Good luck

Heresme33 · 23/05/2016 22:53

Dear god he sounds like my daughters OH refuses to do anything because he works, she does it all and looks after 5 children and all because his mother done everything for him, my own son has been cleaning and cooking from he was 10 years old.

StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine · 23/05/2016 23:20

Hope you've had a useful day aarghh

Link to that threat I mentioned, last night. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1954495-If-you-leave-me-Ill-kill-myself
Might help you to keep your resolve.

Sneeze182 · 24/05/2016 07:20

Be careful op. Often the time you leave is when things escalate the most. Make sure you aren't alone and vulnerable at this point. Take advice from women's aid. Get your parents to help. Leave when he's at work/when you have your dad with you.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 24/05/2016 07:49

Oh dear, sounds like he's reverting to the child role. Very caveman-like, not to mention irritating. Mother probably spoiled him. Why is a troublesome recipe deemed to be more acceptable than something that is easy to prepare? He has to be grown-up enough to accept compromise. Things have changed now.

Hasn't he noticed that there's a baby in the house? He sounds almost like an older sibling of baby who's nose is now out-of-joint as he's not the centre of attention anymore.
Does he have any siblings and is this a repeat of his own childhood behaviour It must be very annoying and tiring for you with a new baby, husband doesn't need to behave like a child. Could you point this out to him, even tactfully or would he explode and go off in a huff?

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 24/05/2016 07:59

Now I've read through the entire thread why bother to be tactful? Men like him don't change and it sounds like you are better off without him. Maybe he'll go back to his mother and they'll be happy together.

You could leave a dinner in the oven for him on the day of your departure which you made especially with unspeakable ingredients.

florencebabyjo · 24/05/2016 08:42

Can you get some money together to make dome sort of safety net if you do leave. Personally, I'd ask him to go and pack his things. Could you drop them at his mum's?

MachineBee · 24/05/2016 09:51

Hope you're OK OP. I experienced the same with my ExH. I was totally besotted with him (first proper boyfriend) and I married at 19. He was a controlling bully who needed constant affirmation of how great he was. He didn't think he was getting enough from me, so sought it elsewhere - there was always some OW on the go. I had to spend a month in hospital shortly after we got married (for a long term health condition) and although he visited me daily, what I didn't know for a long time was that he didn't like being in our marital home alone, so moved in with an old girlfriend!

When I finally found the courage and strength to leave him, I planned it all carefully. I carried on behaving totally normally (ex's normal!) to keep the aggro on the low, but made sure I had copies of all essential paperwork, backed up every computer file I could and made very certain on what, when and why I was doing it. This was important - he was so manipulative and played all sorts of mind games - to keep strong and sane.

I enlisted the help of my DSis - she had my 2DD (who were teenagers by then) for the night when I told him I wanted a divorce and she kept my paperwork, work phone and laptop safe.

The worst thing for me, was the unexpected reaction of my parents. My DDad continued to play sport with him and my DM constantly told me what a shame it was. My DSis was brilliant though - she had also been through a divorce and I suspect the reason for my parents response was that they didn't want 2 divorced kids.

I have never had a moments regret - but there were tough times

Be prepared for unexpected outcomes/reactions and keep a support network of friends, family and professionals around you. Make sure you take legal advice. If you have limited funds, the costs may be paid for (if you don't qualify for Legal Aid) by your soon to be ExDH.

All the best. Flowers

glowfrog · 24/05/2016 11:24

Argh I hope you and your DD are ok and safe today. Just wanted to say that when my DH divorced his ex over 10 years ago, it was the party who initiated divorce proceedings who could get stuck with all the legal bills... Pls do check this is still the case - if so, you may want to think carefully about being the one to do so as he could make things expensive as revenge.

Good luck - stay strong and safe.

mrsmarblemouth1 · 24/05/2016 13:37

OP, Leave with DD quietly when he is at work.Just get organised get papers together and leave.

Do not announce it.

When you are safe, Document everything he's said and done and when.

This is not your fault, he will never change, you and your DD need and deserve better.

He will not get custody, there are a lot of benefits and support out there to help you financially.

You are being abused, speak to your GP, tell them everything. they will recommend other support networks.

Be calm and be safe. Do not enter into a negotiation with him

Wishing you all the best.

PS He sounds like is a right c*ck

Atenco · 24/05/2016 14:28

Oh I wish the OP would tell us she is safe and well.

Unicorntrainer · 24/05/2016 14:45

Agreed Atenco, hope OP is ok and safe. Hopefully too busy getting organised.

imwithspud · 24/05/2016 14:57

Hope you and your daughter are safe and well OP.

WestcoastMac · 24/05/2016 15:07

I'm going to offer a few bits that vary from the eff him approach. The thread is a bit blurry between what you've actually posted, and reactions. Apologies if I've missed some key points that up-ends this.

DH and I experienced tremendous stress following the arrival of DS2. Every argument or bit of criticism escalated/descended quickly. Things broke, including my breast pump that I "dropped" in his general direction. It wasn't just me being hormonal, but DH had post-natal, and he was intolerably horrid. Fortunately he was willing to see a counsellor (recommended by an NHS doc) and I had two very sensible friends to support and disagree with me as appropriate. We are through the worst of it.

After time and counselling he returned to his good natured self, mostly. It's still not equitable at home, but he does just enough to show he cares for me and the boys. I haven't threatened to call a solicitor since DS2 was 5 months.

Household duties are not even - now or before. Or equitable. I'm the high earner. I didn't realise before marriage it would be so, but it is what it is.

I am trying to take a child-rearing strategy to DH. Micro skills. Or just nudging him a bit at a time. One meal per week is my current campaign (he can cook with his credit card or even spag bol). He wouldn't fathom frozen salmon unless it was from the Cook frozen food shop (which I highly recommend).

DH is almost operating at his full capacity, and it isn't fair for me to expect what isn't within that capacity. I have to help him increase his capacity before I can raise my expectations. He's a slow domestic learner - am sure DS1 (3yo) will learn to deal with frozen salmon ahead of DH.

I would state that DH did not generally criticise my household management. He valued to keep his head attached to his body - and me away from solicitors. During his PND time he was critical, but I did my best to let it wash over, and give it a bit of time to rebalance. Those first months are very challenging and they are not "normal". Your emotions are ever so valid, but don't let hormones and your or his PND make your long term decisions. Your frustrations won't change, but the degree to which you feel them will.

Agreed, if your home is owned per the Land Registry in the names of DILs, it is not on the table for division of marital assets. It costs £1-£2 to check if it is his or belongs to his parents. Financially you need to think about (and discuss as appropriate) your long term position. Was it Joan Rivers who advised to get everything in your name? If your debts are gone and reasons for those debts past, he has no reason not to include your name on the title.

Also to consider at the appropriate time is to use the government-paid 15-30 hours of childcare to take courses or seek experience that can upgrade your skills, so you have more choices available to you and DD.

We all wish you positive energies to make the best decision for yourself and DD.

KittenOfWoe · 24/05/2016 15:34

Hope you and your DD are safe and well, OP. Please check back when you can. x

AskingForAPal · 24/05/2016 17:03

Was it today you were going to try to get to the solicitor? Hope it went well, if so. Lovely to see you gathering your strength and resources. You sound wonderful x

barbarossa · 24/05/2016 19:23

I'm a bloke and I say leave him to it.
I was a rep. for over 30yrs and never got home from work at the same time two days running. My wife made me lovely meals when I got home till she went back to work when the youngest sprog was 15. I then told her I'd get my own - not fair with her working for me to expect a home-cooked meal when she never knew what time I would be home.
So leave him to it.

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