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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have thrown DH out for pushing DS? End of the line or am I overreacting?

311 replies

mumbanator · 16/06/2017 22:58

DH tries very hard, dedicated daddy to two lively challenging sons. I work late on a Friday and come in at 8pm. He knows I dislike it when they go out to the park/friends houses (with him) until 8/9pm a) as I haven't seen them all day and like them to be there when I come home and b) when they come in they are unbearably tired and ridiculous and I have recently asked him to ensure they're in from half 7 from now on and winding down. Tonight he returned with them at 21:45 - he knew I'd be cross and his mobile phone had died so I didn't even know where they were - they'd gone for a meal. I was upset and livid but tried to keep fairly calm (had been in for nearly 2 hours not knowing where they were, no note although I'd assumed they were safe) but a row quickly ensued. DH said it was their fault for not coming home when he asked. I said he was the grown up and he was entirely responsible. DS1 started putting in his twopence - DH was shouting and clipped his ear (but whether intentionally or not, barely made any contact, DS1 didn't seem to notice) and then pushed him back so he staggered back a couple of steps (completely unbothered and unharmed) and DH continued to shout. I told DH to leave immediately and not return tonight and bolted the doors. DSs are both fine. There is no history of any abuse of any type but I don't see how he can be fit to parent if this can possibly occur. Sorry if not enough info posted, I can't think clearly. So - AIBU to have thrown him out while I consider things and have I massively overreacted? Does this happen in normal family life? It never happened in mine - or is he BU and needs to sort himself out. Is this the end of our relationship? Is it child abuse? Would you relationship with your DH be over if he did this? Thank you to anyone with a similar experience or advice.

OP posts:
Piratesandpants · 17/06/2017 07:22

'I have read all the responses and this will shape our discussion tomorrow'
You really do call the shots don't you? You sound controlling favour everything. He really should LTB.

Naicehamshop · 17/06/2017 07:32

Some of the responses on here are ridiculous.

He pushed and struck (however gently) a small child. You are right to question his behaviour and your response to it.

Well done for trying to think about it and sort it out. I'm sorry you've had such deliberately goady comments from some on here.

youarenotkiddingme · 17/06/2017 07:36

You both need to sit down and talk.

I think you need to address the level of anxiety you have too. He doesn't sound like a terrible father taking his 2 children out. And if you get 6/7 nights of them he's entitled to the 1. But he has to calm them and get them robbed afterwards!

BitchQueen90 · 17/06/2017 07:39

I think you did massively overreact about them being out. He can do things with his kids if he wants.

HOWEVER. That is a completely separate issue from him pushing and clipping your DS round the ear and IMO there are no circumstances (barring self defence) in which that is ever acceptable. I couldn't be with someone who did that.

Naicehamshop · 17/06/2017 07:41

I wonder if you overreacted because you don't have much confidence in him to look after the dc? If so, you need to think carefully about why that is.

JJBum · 17/06/2017 07:42

YANBU

Keeping children up late when ether end up over-tire and ratty as well as hyped up and difficult to get to bed is not real parenting. It's even worse when it's done on a regular basis and then the parent responsible refuses to take any responsibility for it.

Some children can stay up late and be fine. They may sleep in the next day and adjust with no problems. Other kids need heir sleep more and don't sleep in. My children wake up at the crack of dawn, no matter what time they go to bed. One late night usually means a couple of days of over-tied hell. It's not worth it, unless it's a special occasion.

So while we have some flexibility with bedtime, I'd not be happy if my husband regularly kept the kids out past their bedtime on a Friday and I'd be fuming if he kept them out until 9:45. That's not because I'm controlling itsbecause I think about what's best for our kids.

You did not start a row with your husband, OP. He came in knowing he'd messed u and state a row with you. He was deflecting from the fact he'd messed up and you'd have every right to be cross about that.

The was shouting, so was angry. He then hit and pushed one of your children, while angry. That is never, ever acceptable.

The fact some people on here think it's okay to use violence on a child as long as it doesn't equate to gbh levels or cause any real physical pain or hurt is, quite frankly, utterly appalling. Such attitudes don't make you wrong.

If my husband ever laid a hand on me or my children, I'd react in a similar way to you, especially with the children. I'd go into mama bear/tigress mode and would be fiercely, fiercely protective. No one should ever lay a hand on a child in anger, ever.

It shouldn't matter what preceding the hit and the push, at all. That is utterly irrelevant. You could be the meanest, harshest wife ever. That doesn't ever excuse a man becoming physical with his child, ever. Physical violence against a child is never acceptable.

I hope you find a resolution this morning.

TheWhiteRoseOfYork · 17/06/2017 07:49

it is not emotionally abusive to have agreed with your partner that he would bring their young children back at a reasonable time, to avoid them being overtired and wound up.

It does not say anywhere that this was agreed. OP says she has asked him to as it is what she prefers, but maybe he doesn't? Is he not allowed to disagree? or should that be disobey! As for the bringing them home and then leaving her too it, well she has said she likes to spend time with them when she comes home from work. Perhaps he is assuming that she would want to do their bedtime routine, and he can have a few minutes rest! I don't think it is a bad thing to tag-team the childcare.

From what you describe, your DH got frustrated and handled things the wrong way. But we are all human and sometimes things are done on the heat of the moment. You need to talk it out, and listen to each other!

ItsTheRandomOne · 17/06/2017 07:51

Just wanted to add my 2 penneth...

I have OCD & Generalised Anxiety Disorder and that means that I automatically jump to 'worst case scenario' if I can't get in touch with my DH & DS.
I can tell myself the logical thing is that they're just late / phone died etc but it doesn't stop the intrusive thoughts and rising panic and thoughts of doom. This of course has made me OTT react when they do turn up safe and sound.
Fortunately my DH has seen me in the worst kind of state like this and really understands so will make sure he lets me know where they are, what they're doing etc.

If he was late home with DS then I would insist he put him to bed as it's his fault he's late so he can deal with the fallout.
Just go for a walk (good excuse for me to walk the dog) and let him deal with it OP.

It's not ok that he clipped / pushed your DS, he needs to apologise to DS for that!

Ktown · 17/06/2017 07:58

You sound unkind and pretty unpleasant, and your DH was probably overly physical too. Although it isn't clear without seeing what's happened.
Between the two of you this is a really toxic environment for children to grow up in.
You both need to work on this now.

WinchestersInATardis · 17/06/2017 08:11

Whatever you think about the argument about being out late is about, he got angry and shoved an eight year old
That's the ultimate issue here. I would have also asked him to leave.

ItsTheRandomOne · 17/06/2017 08:12

I'd also ignore the people saying your DH or you are abusive - one incident does not mean abuse, it means you both lost your rag (We're all only human, we ALL make mistakes sometimes) and you know to do things differently next time, as long as you both make the changes and it doesn't happen again then it's not a massive issue like some people are making out.

ElsieMc · 17/06/2017 08:14

Whilst your dh is free to parent in your absence as he sees fit because he is not a childminder, I can understand how difficult it is to get in after a long day to be faced by two overtired and ratty children. So long as he isn't expecting you to then see to them then he is not unreasonable. Memories of my mil returning my own kids basically in meltdown later than agreed and just driving off.

I think you are getting a hard time on here op over your "controlling" behaviour. It was wrong of your dh to keep them out until 21.45 without leaving you a note/text to say he might be late as he knows you are sensitive about this issue.

As for the argument, well he took his frustration out on the kids and it is not their fault at all. Sorry end to a nice evening for them.

mygorgeousmilo · 17/06/2017 08:14

I actually agree with the OP about them being out too late! My kids are a similar age and would be losing it by 21:45, so if this wasn't the first time it'd happened, and DH knew how it would effect them and I always had to deal with overtired kids on a Friday evening - yes I'd be pissed off. Clipping an 8yo round the ear and pushing him is dreadful behaviour, even if the OP is making her DH angry, that's no excuse to get physical with a child in that way.

Bobbins43 · 17/06/2017 08:17

I think PP are being harsh. You're not being unreasonable in not wanting your still quite small children out late every Friday night. Especially if they return all fractious and you're expected to deal with it.

And it was unreasonable to not have left a note or something.

Foxysoxy01 · 17/06/2017 09:00

I think you need some help with your controlling issues. Your OP and subsequent posts really do highlight how controlling you are.

Your DH should not have clipped your DS round the ear and certainly not have pushed him. I imagine he was frustrated and felt like he had no control by you basically taking away any opinion/control/want he had but that does not in anyway excuse his behaviour!

You should not have kicked him out.

He should get himself some therapy to help with his issues as you should with yours.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 17/06/2017 09:15

YWbothBU.

I don't think it's the end of the world for dc of that age (and I have two boys who are older than that, same age gap, so been there) to be out until 9.45 on a Fri night. Yes, they may be tired and ratty when they get home but these Friday evenings will likely be some of their best memories when they grow up - a bit of loosening of the strictures of the week, some fun with Dad, late bedtime. (That said, a discussion needs to be had about who copes with the ratty behaviour). It does come across as very controlling to say you 'like them to be home'.

Obviously your dh was BVVVVU to be physical with your ds1. If it is the first time, though - as you indicate - I don't think it warrants LTB. You've made a strong enough statement by throwing him out for the night. (I wouldn't have done that - I would have said, very sharply, 'that is absolutely unacceptable - we do not use violence in this family - leave the room to calm down and you owe ds1 an apology once you are calm', or similar, and left the room myself with the dc if he didn't comply).
Do check with your dc that this is actually the first time and that he doesn't do this when you are not with them.

Elisheva · 17/06/2017 09:24

What does 'clipped him around the ear' mean?

KungFuPandaWorksOut16 · 17/06/2017 09:26

I took the "push" or a "shove" as another poster called it sort of, bugger off a minute and go elsewhere. I do it with my nieces and nephews. Sort of place my hand on their back and guide them forwards.

AskBasil · 17/06/2017 09:32

Please don't listen to all these posters telling you that you are controlling, OP.

Every time a woman expects the man she lives with, to behave as a responsible adult and an equal partner, rather than a disney-dad, a pile of handmaidens pile in to tell her she's unreasonable, controlling, manipulative, abusive, undermining of a father's authority, highly-strung, etc. - all the shit you've been told on this thread.

People are blithely writing things like good parenting is accepting that sometimes routines get changed, without noticing that they are not expecting the parent who has unilaterally changed the routine - the father - to deal with the fallout from that - they're expecting the mother to deal with the overtired, stressed children and not question a father's right to disney-dad and then relax while Mummy sorts out the mess.

Do not allow this stepford shit to make you think there's something wrong with you expecting your husband to parent properly, not be the fun daddy winding the kids up and then using physical violence on them when they respond accordingly.

It's just bollocks.

BlowMeDownWithAFeatherMissis · 17/06/2017 09:36

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I'd be upset if I got home on a Friday wanting to see everyone and they'd all disappeared without letting me know where they'd gone.
Also think it is too late for bed time for most kids of that age on a Friday. The other thing though is you say that your dh basically said he took them for a meal because they wouldn't listen to him and come home? Is that right? I 100% think you were right to tell him he is the adult and has responsibility for the situation - not on to blame it on the kids. And who takes their kids out for dinner because they haven't been listening? I also think the pushing and 'clip round the ear' thing is really serious. I don't think it means your relationship is over necessarily but that really cannot ever happen again and he needs to understand that. Your dh sounds a bit immature - winding them up and then getting you to do all the bedtime stuff is not on either. So YNBU.

Naicehamshop · 17/06/2017 09:44

Do not allow this stepford shit to make you think there's something wrong with you expecting your husband to parent properly, not be the fun daddy winding the kids up and then using physical violence on them when they respond accordingly.

Exactly this. AskBasil has it.

nutbrownhare15 · 17/06/2017 09:45

What Jjbum said. Plus he clearly knew your wishes and preferences. You'd been at work.all day presumably and wanted to see your family on a fri night. He had no.consideration for you. Id have been pissed off too. He knew he was in the wrong so started shouting at you and lashed out at his son. Totally unacceptable. It is not 'controlling' toprefer your children to have a decent bedtime when the consequences of not doing so are unpleasant for them and for you (but not him, he gets to abdicate responsibility by the sound of it). A one off -fine. But this wasn't a one off. I'm totally on your side op.

Notreallyarsed · 17/06/2017 10:38

Every time a woman expects the man she lives with, to behave as a responsible adult and an equal partner, rather than a disney-dad, a pile of handmaidens pile in to tell her she's unreasonable, controlling, manipulative, abusive, undermining of a father's authority, highly-strung, etc. - all the shit you've been told on this thread

Bullshit. If a woman posted on here saying she'd taken her kids for a Friday night treat and got home to a quietly seething husband who wasn't talking to her because she hadn't done what he wanted he'd get flamed. Don't make this a feminist issue because it isn't.

He was bang out of order for pushing an 8 yo child, there's no excuse.
She was out of order for demanding they be home and being pissed off when they weren't. Both parents need to have a word with themselves because it all seems to be about what they want and fuck all about what is best for the kids.

OP you've not said how your son is feeling about all this. Have you asked him?

AskBasil · 17/06/2017 10:52

Yeah, you missed out the bit where she's wound them up to a frenzy and then dumps them on her seething husband expecting him to calm them down and put them to bed, the bit where she hadn't told him where they were or what they were doing (and in a family, it is actually normal to communicate, I don't know why anyone thinks that's unreasonable), the bit where she abdicated her responsibility as a parent and told him that the kids had been in charge because he's not responsible for imposing adult authority, the bit where she insists on having it out with him then and there rather than putting the kids to bed and then the bit where she tries to hit the kid but misses, so gives him a big shove instead.

Bullshit yourself.

Notreallyarsed · 17/06/2017 11:06

Yeah I wasn't defending the husband's actions? But this MN "all men bad, all women good" mantra is ridiculous. Both parents are behaving in ways which are damaging their kids. Both need to realise the impact their actions have. Not just him.