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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really angry with dh for being so lax about children's health?

43 replies

Lolaalola · 18/02/2017 20:46

This is about quite a few things, I'll try not to drip feed but I might forget something.

One thing was, mil was complaining about having cold sores, this was on the Thursday, one the Sunday she was at our house showering our baby with kisses. I should have said something there and then but I expected dh to as it's his mum.

After she'd gone I asked him to gently mention something to her as she might not have realised how contagious they are, or how dangerous they can be for babies.

His attitude was that his mum used to kiss him with cold sores and he's ok. He ended up telling m to fuck off. I showed him an article about a toddler that had been seriously ill for nearly two years after catching herpes from a relative with a cold sore, he promised he'd mention it but never has. I feel it should come from him because mil already think I'm fussy so will just be dismissive.

Another one was when mil came with another relative who was very ill with a stinking cold, bad throat, aches and pains, the lot. The baby was only a few weeks old and I was exhausted so last thing we needed was to catch a cold.

There had been a conversation beforehand where mil was going to persuade this ill relative to come and see us. I'd asked dh to put them off if he was ill but dh denied they were coming even though I knew what I'd heard.

Dh is imo really grubby with food hygiene, he's sloppy with raw meat letting it drip onto other food and recently gave our older child ham that had been in the fridge open for over a week. It should have been consumed within 2 days, I'd have stretched to 4 but it should have been chucked imo. I'm not bothered about best before dates but don't think meat is worth the risk.

I've no proof we've ever got ill from poor food hygiene but the kids have definitely caught viruses from his ill relatives spreading the love.

Aibu and if not how can I get him to listen.

I try to talk calmly or show him nhs site about hand washing, spread of illness but he just says he 'doesn't believe in all that'.

OP posts:
goingmadinthecountry · 18/02/2017 21:45

I'm still angry that dh's utter twonk of a brother kissed dd1, giving her cold sores. Said his lips were sore. No issue on dh's side of kissing small children on lips. Dd1 was 1 at the time . She's 23 now and I'm still fucking furious. He's still a stupid arse of the highest order. In fact, all of his family lack in ability and social graces.

lottiegarbanzo · 18/02/2017 21:45

Your child's health is more important than what a bunch of mingers think of you. (Sorry to be so blunt, presumably they are nice people in other ways).

To put it another way, by placing so much emphasis on how you feel about confronting them, and how they perceive you, you are being quite vain. You are putting your image as a nice person (in the eyes of people who are not behaving nicely towards you or your DC) ahead of your DCs' health. Which is actually more important - To you? To your DCs?

Who cares if they 'think you're silly'? Frankly, who cares if they think you're an obstructive bitch, if it keeps your DCs safe? I suspect they'd respect you more if you were more forceful. Do you think that might be true?

You need to learn to be more assertive, without being confrontational. So, for example, keep it factual, tell them that your baby won't be going near anyone with cold sores, or stinking colds. End of the matter. There's no need to criticise anyone, or to make it personal.

They may then chose to twist things to make them personal, so that they can enjoy feeling offended. That would be their hobby, their choice, nothing to do with you.

Lolaalola · 18/02/2017 21:50

You're right, I hadn't thought of it like that.

I just expected dh to deal with things related to his family to keep the peace. I wouldn't expect him to confront my family about anything.

But ye, if he won't do it then I have to.

OP posts:
Graphista · 18/02/2017 21:53

I wouldn't even have DATED him self cleaning bath indeed!!!

As for the herpes! I have no words, it can be fatal in very young babies, certainly make them very ill. My mum had a cold sore when my dd was 3 months, she wouldn't even hold her let alone kiss her! (She'd seen a cousin very sick and almost die as a baby due to herpes infection)

The ham/meat drips - breeding ground for food poisoning in worst case scenario tapeworm.

I agree with getting hv or gp on board to read your 'd'h the hygiene riot act!

Hand washing is basic! I no longer visit a local cafe as I once witnessed one of the CHEFS leave cubicle (clearly after a poo) NOT wash hands and return to kitchen Envy boak and I did report that.

GabsAlot · 18/02/2017 21:54

you want him to drive safer

preferably he should do that on his own then till he stops being a twat

forget their health for a minute hes risking their lives eveytime they get in the car

Cherrysoup · 18/02/2017 21:54

I would have stopped mil going anywhere near the baby. Sorry, OP, your DH does not sound nice, driving aggressively, telling you to fuck off. If mine did that, it would be over.

Cherrysoup · 18/02/2017 21:55

Not to mention the lying about knowing the sick relative was coming over. Not nice at all.

StickyMouse · 18/02/2017 22:05

My DD was hospitalised for 5 days and had to be tube fed after coming into contact with cold sores.?

IllMetByMoonlight · 18/02/2017 22:05

Spot on, Lottie!
A close friend absent-mindedly tried kissing DC1 with a weeping, crusty cold sore, and I had to morph from conflict-averse peace-keeper to she-wolverine in a flash. Enlightening.

Graphista · 18/02/2017 22:12

Becoming a mother helped me stop worrying too much about what others thought. My dd comes first with me.

Ex still worries too much I once lost it with him because he prioritised not Embarrassing himself Hmm over letting me take dd out during speeches at a wedding to feed her (hungry and teething pain) Angry nobody else at the (MY family) wedding gave a fig! My mum told him off too!

Twopeapods · 18/02/2017 22:19

I think if your MIL has a cold sore in future you will have to ask her not to kiss the baby. My friends DS was very ill in hospital with the herpes virus as it spread across his body and he almost died.
I would have said it then and there.

As for the food I think you will just need to keep the fridge food regulated if he doesn't do it as that could harm your DC.

He should do it,but if he won't I'm afraid you will have to.

MeNeedSleep · 19/02/2017 07:17

He sounds disgusting!

But unfortunately it's his mum who hasn't brought him up properly. So you're going to need to educate him so he can educate her.

MeNeedSleep · 19/02/2017 07:22

lottie has it spot on.

Screwinthetuna · 19/02/2017 07:42

Yuk, I don't blame you for being angry. I get coldsores and would never kiss my kids with one, even while wearing a patch. If you get coldsores, the good news is that baby should be immune for a little while. I know the vast majority of people carry the virus but can't imagine why anyone would go intentionally kissing a baby with one...

Your husband and I would so not get on, haha. I'm OTT with raw meat, including having a designated raw chicken knife that has to be washed separately to the rest Confused

Chinnygirl · 19/02/2017 07:57

I've met a homeless druggie with more manners than that Confused. He is absolutely disgusting and tells you to fuck off...

FrancisCrawford · 19/02/2017 08:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MeNeedSleep · 19/02/2017 10:07

You're right francis it's fucking disgusting and should be natural to want to clean piss off a toilet

MeNeedSleep · 19/02/2017 10:08

I really don't get these people who know these manchild traits of their oh and still have children with them, then complain about them!

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