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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being unreasonable for telling my husband not to come back next time?

77 replies

CalorieCreditEqualsCake · 30/01/2017 22:38

We had an argument on Saturday morning so he got up and left, I assumed work. No plans for it previously, we were very angry with one another so I suppose a few hours away wasn't a bad thing.

I text him in the day and asked if he wanted some of the thai I was cooking and he said yes, I made him some early evening and we spoke before I went out. DC asked if he would come waking with the dog we were looking after, DH said yes. He totally denies saying yes but can't 'remember what he did say'.

On Sunday morning he puts on his work trousers and leaves.

He didn't tell me, he didn't tell the kids. He just ups and leaves.

He wasn't back again until bed time.
I'm beyond livid. He's done this before and it makes a mockery out of a marriage that should be secure. Just upping and leaving not telling anyone? Like he's a single man?

And since he's done it before, no doubt he'll do it again.

I've just told him if he does it again to never come back.

He doesn't see the problem with 'going to work'. Going to work isn't the issue whatsoever. It's getting up and leaving when having not previously planned and no regard for us. I asked him why he didn't take the opportunity to tell me on Saturday night that he planned to work. He said 'he hadn't made the decision then'.

He really doesn't see what's wrong with it.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/01/2017 09:00

Yanbu, but I'm not sure he is either. If my other half was saying for goodness sake and rolling their eyes at me like I was one of the kids, I'd feel like getting out of the house too.

RhiWrites · 31/01/2017 09:02

God forbid that a woman ever raise a voice to her husband. Much better to gently plead and beg for him to consider her an equal partner when making decisions.

Maybe OP should whip up a delicious meal once she's done with her childcare and laundry duties to persuade her husband to talk to her about his plans.

Strongmummy · 31/01/2017 09:05

I remember very vividly my dad upping and leaving the house after a row with my mum when I was about 4. It terrified me. I was standing at the door crying my eyes out. He did come back after a few hours and I felt so hurt and sad that he would do that. It's awful to put your kids through that and so I am with you and would be absolutely fuming. Tell him exactly how it made your kids feel and if he does it again, tell him to stay away.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/01/2017 09:05

God forbid that a woman ever raise a voice to her husband Confused. Is this really 2017? I would never 'raise a voice' to my husband nor he to me. How very 1950's.

Reading this thread makes me very relieved I'm in the relationship I'm in.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 31/01/2017 09:06

God forbid that a woman ever raise a voice to her husband. Much better to gently plead and beg for him to consider her an equal partner when making decisions.

So it's ok for a man to raise his voice to his wife then. After all, alls fair.

Raising voices isn't a good look by anyone imo.

RhiWrites · 31/01/2017 09:16

Did the sarcasm not come through?! I was boggling at those saying call him up and be nice to him. I wasn't serious! Confused

I thought I'd established myself here as super feminist!

NavyandWhite · 31/01/2017 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shovetheholly · 31/01/2017 09:33

He's withdrawing his company from you (and abnegating all of his parental responsibilities) as a way of punishing you. This is controlling and abusive behaviour.

If I were in your shoes, I'd start to plan my life without reference to his movements. I definitely would be withdrawing all my labour from him, and letting him cook his own dinner and wash his own clothes.

JassyRadlett · 31/01/2017 09:33

I would be so angry at that sort of behaviour, too.

What would he do if you just went out with no word? Have you asked him how he'd respond to that? He sounds like an arse, frankly, who sees family life as (a) not his problem and (b) not that important.

splendide · 31/01/2017 09:37

Yeah I'm with you, this would make me furious.

I find some of the responses confusing. I suspect people do just think it's fundamentally your responsability to care for the children.

FetchezLaVache · 31/01/2017 09:38

Don't worry Rhi, I felt that your sarcasm came through loud and clear!

ohfourfoxache · 31/01/2017 09:43

Head=>desk

Yanbu op. Yanbu at all.

thetemptationofchocolate · 31/01/2017 09:52

I think he was being unreasonable to let his children down like that.

What happens between a man and wife is one thing but to let it affect the children is wrong, and he did that.

OhhBetty · 31/01/2017 09:59

Hmm I don't know. He was definitely unreasonable for leaving the children on the weekend as he has a responsibility towards them. I would definitely expect him to apologise to him.
However, even on here you sound incredibly aggressive so if I were him I think I would have gone out somewhere but taken the children with me to allow you to calm down.
You are acting like he "upped and left" for good. Maybe he's doing it on purpose so he doesn't have to be the one to end the marriage? As it sounds like neither of you are happy and I would be concerned about the effect it's having on the children.

Mummyoflittledragon · 31/01/2017 10:07

I think you both could do with taking a big step back. It sounds as though there's a vicious circle going on and an unhealthy dynamic. You sound very frazzled op. Communicating with each other effectively is key. When I've been unable to communicate to my husband without it descending into a shouting match every time we tried to communicate, I started emailing him and texting him. It did diffuse the situation. And he could see things from my perspective. It's really wrong of him to just up and leave without saying anything. If he needs to cool his head, going for a short drive or walk is one thing. Going out all day because of it or going out because he just feels like it is unacceptable. Instead of telling him what is wrong, how about telling him how you'd like things to be? To make family plans. To organise a day out. To sit down as a family for a meal. Accusing him as others have said will only make him shut down. Right now, I fear you're so angry, you can't communicate in any other way. So I'd start by writing it down and see where you can get to.

DixieNormas · 31/01/2017 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MusicToMyEars800 · 31/01/2017 10:17

FallenSky exactly what you said!!
OP, I don't think yabu I would be extremely annoyed if my OH just left the house without telling me and didn't contact me or come home until bedtime.

CalorieCreditEqualsCake · 31/01/2017 12:36

Thanks to those who read my words and saw the situation for how it actually was

The arguement was Saturday morning. He left, I made no bones about it.

He upped and left on SUNDAY morning. No argument, no I wasn't 'arsey' no I wasn't causing arguments, I was in the living room with the boys having just woken up.

So to those who read it correctly, thanks for your replies.

OP posts:
peggyundercrackers · 31/01/2017 12:54

OP you come across as being very abrupt, if you were like this sat or sunday then I can see why he left without saying anything. I guess hes had enough of you and just wants peace and quiet.

NavyandWhite · 31/01/2017 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Treaclex · 31/01/2017 14:30

Well if you made no bones about it Saturday then he probably thought it wouldn't be an issue on the Sunday.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 31/01/2017 15:25

Why are so many people so keen to attempt to find the op responsible?

Would you all be so keen to do so if it was the op who had just walked out assuming that the other parent was the default child carer

StealthPolarBear · 31/01/2017 16:10

Peggy who looks after the children while he's having his peace and quiet?

Bunnyfuller · 31/01/2017 16:12

Questions to ask yourself:

Do you love him
Do you want to fix this
Can you accept maybe your manner contributes to him shutting off/abandoning responsibility
Can you try communicating differently
Abandon 'should' and focus on 'how can we'
If you genuinely think he's completely at fault and this is worth 'telling him not to come home next time' expect just that.

Sometimes you have to give a little when it ISNT your fault. It's not being subservient, it's sometimes throwing a paddy won't get you a useful result.

Up to you, you asked if you were BU telling him to not bother coming home next time. Yes, I think that's ridiculously cutting off nose to spite face U. Unless you mean it, in which case I hope there's a lot more going on to prompt you to split a family up.

littlemissangrypants · 31/01/2017 16:31

Do you want to live like this for the next 20 years? You argue as a couple, he walks off to get away from you. You then get angry and sad about the situation and the cycle continues.
Is that what you want from live? Is that what you want for your kids?
I left my ex for many reasons including violence and drug abuse but the biggest thing was that his mother found out she had a terminal illness. Her husband was abusive till her last breath and she never got free. I did not want to die like that. I got out and have built a good life for myself. I can do what I want and I spend my weekends how I want. I am not controlled by anyones temper anymore.
Life is bloody short. We get 80 years if we are lucky. How many years have you spent being unhappy at your husband for not doing his bit? How many more of your years do you want to spend angry and sad?

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