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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

When your Husband goes to the phone fo a quiet ones and comes back at 4.15am....

68 replies

Dickorydockwhatthe · 22/01/2017 10:42

am unreasonable to expect a text or reply to just let me he's ok and carrying on. He is an awful drinker can't handle it especially in the wrong company will often walk back alone. Before he went I asked him not to stay out all night as we have loads to do and he needs to drive. Last words were " I promise I won't" etc. I've not had any sleep because I worried and wound up when he came home unapologetic and steaming drunk.
I'm still building up trust with him over his drinking as he always always gets slaughtered and the final straw was when out with kids. He woke it in the night being sick on the bed, swearing and cursing turning the lights on and waking us all up last time. We have two sons what example does this set them!!! So obviously when he goes out now I worry.

OP posts:
MaryMargaret · 24/01/2017 10:30

When he's 'in drink' that takes precedence over his feelings for you. But he has been sober afterwards often enough to know that he does this (disregards you) when he gets going on the booze. So sober him has to choose between the booze or you/your feelings. If he is not yet drinking every single day it might be easier for him to fix this. But he has to want to.

You can't fix him, though you can tell him what you will and will not tolerate (though you have to be prepared to follow through of course)

dollydaydream114 · 24/01/2017 11:31

He just needs to learn to say no and stop being carried along by the lads

Why do people always think their DP is 'being carried along by the lads' and that his mates are a bad influence? You need to accept that it's perfectly possible he's one of the instigators. He lies to you about what time he intends to come home, he gets drunk, throws up in your bed and gropes you when you hate it. I don't think it's actually much of a leap to assume that he was just as likely as anyone else in his group to suggest going to a strip club, rather than 'just being carried along'.

I bet every wife/girlfriend of that group of men is sitting at home thinking exactly the same thing - 'oh, he's not a bad man, it's his friends that are arseholes, he's jus easily led.' Each time one of these all-nighters occurs and you think your DH is just under the bad influence of his friends, his friends' wives are thinking their partners are just under the bad influence of their DH.

Dickorydockwhatthe · 26/01/2017 22:06

Um no at the end of the day he has to take responsibility girl his own actions. I don't blame anyone but him.

OP posts:
MaryMargaret · 27/01/2017 20:02

How are you doing OP?

Dickorydockwhatthe · 29/01/2017 12:58

Well after a week of thinking he has said he thinks he has a binge drinking problem and has said he doesn't want to drink anymore. I'm not sure what to think can you have a drink binge problem?? He has the same for chocolate and coke if he has a little he has to eat or drink the lot he can't stop and he feels the same when he has a drink. I don't want him to give drink up completely but he says he can't see how he can do it else. As for the strip club and lies we are trying to work it out but I feel disappointed that he went to one and so so hurt that he lied to me about it. I've said if I'm being insecure or jealous and unreasonable then maybe I just reassurance lying and going behind my back just adds to my reasons for not trusting him.

OP posts:
MaryMargaret · 29/01/2017 14:19

Well that's great that he's recognised there is a problem; and I'm sure bingeing is a very usual pattern, and I believe many alcoholics find their problematic behaviour applies to more than just alcohol.

Fwiw I think he's going to find it a lot easier to abstain altogether and would probably find it helpful if you didn't drink around him. However a) it's his decision how he deals with it, though I'm sure he'd welcome your support if he's serious, and b) he may find it hard to do alone as in without either professional counselling/therapy type support to understand his bingeing better, or something like AA where again, the people there are experts.

I really hop he can get on top of this and put his word and his intentions before his drinking. If he can't you may ned to consider how long you are prepared to go on playing second fiddle.

MaryMargaret · 29/01/2017 14:22

And yes, you absolutely need to be able to trusthim. Life will be a misery of gnawing anxo if you can't. He needs to know the bar is inevitably set higher now, through past actions, he has no choice but to be super considerate from now on, or your nerves will be in shreds

MaryMargaret · 29/01/2017 14:23

Anxiety. Gah, my phone!

Dickorydockwhatthe · 29/01/2017 20:12

Thank you Mary I don't want to end my marriage but I won't put up with it any more as its not the first time he has lied or disrespected my feelings. He said that he always justified his actions by thinking he wasn't that bad he hasn't abused me or cheated on me etc so what he was doing was fine. Yes he hasn't done any of those things but there have been things he has done which have been hurtful or disrespectful towards me and we have never move on from that becaus eh has always repeated this behaviour just a different scenario iykwim. Anyway this is it now

OP posts:
ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 29/01/2017 23:53

Sorry this has happened. If you post on the Relationships board you'll find a lot of good and helpful advice.

auntyhiro · 30/01/2017 01:59

I am always amazed at how often the advice is to kick him out, is female sole ownership really that high in the UK?

MaryMargaret · 30/01/2017 06:55

Gosh, that's a bit of a low bar he's been setting himself! I very much second shotguns advice btw, you will get good advice on the relationships board.

I think you need to sort out if he can genuinely respect you as an equal partner - and not just 'someone he doesn't hit' Shock

ihatethecold · 30/01/2017 07:05

Op.
I grew up in a house with a drunk.
My father was always pissed in the evening.
I can honestly say it's scarred me for life.
I've been no contact with him for 10 years Because he preferred the bottle of whiskey to his family.
I will never forgive him for that.
You say you have children. Please protect them from this.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 30/01/2017 07:31

He said that he always justified his actions by thinking he wasn't that bad he hasn't abused me or cheated on me etc so what he was doing was fine

Jesus wept, that's setting the bar low.

If you're not ready to leave him yet, then I guess all you can do is see how long his 'not drinking' lasts. I don't think you'll have to wait very long.

You say it was the final straw when he was out with the kids...but clearly it wasn't. What is it going to take? How much more of this are you going to expose your kids to? They're small, not stupid. They'll grow up copying his or your behaviour - is that really what you want for them?

Coastalcommand · 30/01/2017 07:36

It sounds as though he right - he needs to stop drinking entirely if he can't drink in moderation. The sickness on your bed incident would have been a wake up call to most people. If it wasn't to him he needs to stop drinking entirely.

Frazzled2207 · 30/01/2017 07:38

I wouldn't put up with this but having read your latest update it's good he has realised there is an issue.
Will he accept professional help /go to AA etc? He'd need to be motivated to put a stop to this to continue he marriage.

Niskayuna · 30/01/2017 07:48

auntyhiro, no, we're just becoming a better-educated nation of women who have higher standards than binge-drinking strip-club goers.

Niskayuna · 30/01/2017 07:49

But, he's admitted it, so that's something...

Hope it goes well OP and he sticks to a plan of improvement.

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