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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know IABU.

100 replies

Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:26

And this is totally petty and ridiculous.
BUT.
Every single fucking Sunday DP watches match of the day at 7.30am.
This means that the TV is taken for hours.
We have a 3 year old, who wakes up at 6am.
DS asks to watch his programme. Every Sunday DP refuses to watch MOTD on his laptop. DS can't do this because it's a laptop and an adult can sit in the dining room watching it but not a three year old!

It drives me crazy that we have the same thing every week. This morning DS and DP were in bed drinking milk/tea, I had set my alarm so I could do my exercise DVD, to be told he will need the Tv on half an hour and I can do it at any time.

I'm grumpy, I'm being Unreasonable I know. But I fucking hate the fucking football.
Our lives don't revolve around the TV - just that 7.30 in the morning is prime time for toddler distraction while I do housework/have a shower/whatever.

OP posts:
BusyBeez99 · 04/12/2016 07:28

I record it and watch it later when everyone has gone to bed. He is BU. He can watch it when toddler is in bed.

ChipIn · 04/12/2016 07:29

YANBU. That would shit me. I hope he at least helps with chores and/ or the children later on so you can get stuff done.

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:31

That's exactly my point! Or he could stay in bed and watch it on his laptop if he really needed to!

Gahhhhhhh

OP posts:
NoSunNoMoon · 04/12/2016 07:31

YANBU. He's a selfish prick.

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:32

chipin
He's really good and pulls his weight and more around the house. Which is lucky for him or id have to LTB.

OP posts:
Dozer · 04/12/2016 07:32

Why do you think YOU are being U?

Sounds like he can't be arsed to parent his DC on Sunday mornings, which if that's the case makes him U.

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:33

Sorry, dripfeed, it's not his DS. And he does step parent very well mostly.

OP posts:
BeingATinselTwatItsABingThing · 04/12/2016 07:33

Your DP deems his TV as more important than anyone else's. He's an arse! Even if I am watching something, if DD wants to watch something else, we change it. I can always watch my programme later. That concept is hard for a 2yo.

BeingATinselTwatItsABingThing · 04/12/2016 07:35

His being a step parent doesn't change anything. He agreed to parent that child when he agreed to be with you.

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:39

So relieved IANBU.

Luckily for him he's just brought me a cup of tea and DS is watching with him so he's redeemed himself for now.

OP posts:
Dozer · 04/12/2016 07:40
Hmm
Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:41

Why the eyebrow?

OP posts:
Spottytop1 · 04/12/2016 07:43

Can I ask if he watches sport/Tv at any other time or is it just Sunday morning? Is there a reason he does not watch it on Saturday?

Pluto30 · 04/12/2016 07:44
  1. Buy a second TV.
  1. Put the laptop on your bed/on the sofa/elsewhere because laptops don't exclusively sit on tables.
  1. Your partner does kinda have more of a right to watch his TV show, as an adult, than your son has to watch his. My kids know I watch X show at X time on X days, and that's that. They can either watch or they can find something else to do for that small bit of time.
Lewwat · 04/12/2016 07:46

Not sure why everyone is saying yanbu..... Why does the 3yo have more rights over the TV than an adult? Who's in charge here?! It's on for like 90minutes. I'm sure you can cope Hmm

Dozer · 04/12/2016 07:46

You say this happens weekly and it really pisses you off, but all's well as, this week, your DS has given in and your P has made you a cup of tea. The issue is hardly solved is it!

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:46

pluto that's completely his argument and I do get it.

spotty he watches football matches, seems to be whichever one is playing, not restricted to a particular team! But in fairness he will watch it on his laptop, I think he can only get it on there.

OP posts:
pictish · 04/12/2016 07:48

Why can't your son watch on the laptop?
Generally in here if an adult wants the telly for something specific, the kids play second fiddle on a laptop or tablet.

Dozer · 04/12/2016 07:48

Turn taking would be fine, but it's just unrealistic to expect a 3 year old to not require parenting for 90mins from 7.30am on sunday mornings. So either OP or her DP has to attend to him: the DP is basically saying he won't.

pictish · 04/12/2016 07:50

I agree with Pluto.

If dh or I want to watch something, the kids can either watch too or find something else to do or watch tv elsewhere...like on the laptop.

Original poster
Mooey89 · 04/12/2016 07:50

pictish the laptop is DPs and DS is liable to bash it/get toast crumbs on it/drop it etc etc etc

OP posts:
Lewwat · 04/12/2016 07:52

Why can't DS just play with toys

OnionKnight · 04/12/2016 07:53

Buy a second TV, I don't get why a child's wishes override an adults wishes when it comes to the TV.

Pluto30 · 04/12/2016 07:55

At 3, surely he's old enough to learn not to bash the laptop or to move it if told not to?

Set the laptop on the bed or sofa, and have him sit away from it so he's not eating over it. Tell him he's not to touch it or he won't be able to watch his show anymore. Simple.

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill. I'm with your husband on this one.

AnnekinShmanakin · 04/12/2016 07:55

I can see it's frustrating but also is only 90 mins on a Sunday morning, surely most 3 year olds won't sit down for a solid 90 minutes and watch TV anyway? They'd be running round playing and doing something else while the TV was in in the background. If you need maybe half an hour to get showered etc why not sit him in the same room as your partner with a tablet or a box of toys? It doesn't seem a big issue to be honest. He's hardly refusing to parent just because he watches MOTD for 90 minutes on a Sunday! What an over reaction!