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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we are both right and wrong

91 replies

melclaire1111 · 15/11/2017 13:03

I'll try and keep this brief...

Hubby and I had a massive argument last night (one of many over recent months) and accused me of failing as a wife.

The back story is we have been together 11 years, married for 4 and up until our child was born relatively happy. There was one minor indiscretion on his part where I caught him sexting another woman a couple of months before we got married but we worked through this.

Since our child was born we seem to have done nothing but argue. Hubby works shifts, a mix of days and nights, while I went back to work full time when our child was 6 months old, they now go to nursery full time. During my maternity we argued a lot, as if I hadn't done something around the house I would be accused of being lazy and not doing anything. This could be after having a bad day with the baby or having been out at baby groups etc, but he still would barely lift a finger round the house.

Going back to work has been a struggle. DC still doesn't sleep through the night at 16 months old, and can be up 2 -3 times a night. I do all the night settling as due to hubby's shifts he is often not there anyway, and he is a really bad sleeper when he is there so it's just easier for me to do them. I'm up at 6am, at work after drop and a 45 minute commute for 8am, not home much before 6pm.

DC has had really bad separation anxiety with me. Although they are fine when dropped at nursery (usually get a kiss and a wave goodbye, the odd grumble on a Monday!) if I leave the room when at home they will cry until I come back, even if hubby is in the room. I try and work round this, and let them come with me in the kitchen or try and get them to settle and watch a bit of TV, but hubby's way of dealing with this is shut the gate and let them scream until I'm done with what needs to be done. This just breaks my heart and I think there must be a better way of dealing with it but we can't seem to find a compromise. I know he is upset that they are a mummy's child but I have tried to say it's a phase that will pass (hopefully!)

We also argue over the housework. I generally do most of it, wash bottles up, do the washing up, the washing, take the bins & recycling out, put clothes away, where as he occasionally cuts the grass and that's about it. Whoever is home first will generally cook dinner, but when it is hubby all he does is moan about how I haven't cooked for him in so long and how he does everything.

So last night we had another argument as I didn't hear something he had said, and then DC caught their head on a table (not hard) so I went to go and check they were ok and comfort them but hubby told me to leave them and if they were hurt they would come to us! We then had a massive row as I didn't hear something else he said, and was called a selfish, horrible person, who is harming out child in the way I act and that he doesn't know why we are together and that I'm a bad wife!

We don't get a lot of time together. I try and make time for him after DC has gone to bed, even if it's just watching a TV show, but apparently I should be jumping on him on every night as that's what all parents do when their children have gone to bed! We have had a few days out together recently and a couple of afternoons to go for a meal and we usually get on fine then, but as soon as it's the 3 of us it feels like it's a war zone.

So not brief at all haha, just wondering if anyone has any advice as I'm really at breaking point!!

OP posts:
NoFucksImAQueen · 17/11/2017 17:35

Just seen your update. Please leave op, he sounds like he despises you even. You deserve so much more

fc301 · 17/11/2017 18:44

I realise that all these PPs are hard to take on board but they are right.
He is jealous of his own child. He needs to step up and change this or you need to decide who you pick.
My parents have been married 50 years. My F has always made my M put him first. Actually recently he literally made her pick him or me. When I called him on it he said “of course she picked me she’s my WIFE”. I cannot begin to tell you how very damaging this dynamic is. To finally realise that you don’t actually matter enough to either or your parents.
Whatever action you decide on I would ask you please to never let anyone make you pick them above your child. 💐

iamafraidofvirginiawolves3cats · 17/11/2017 19:14

Oh dear- poor you, poor baby. On his phone when kiddie is crying and shouting for you? Tell him to get off the phone and be a dad. He isn't a good husband or dad. Ask him what a good husband is since he knows what a good wife is. You are doing nothing wrong- you are not a bad man.
This man doesn't love you... communicating with the woman who nearly ended the relationship before the wedding... on a rare day out.i could not forgive this lack of respect. Didn't he even care if you found out?
Don't forgive that, or his cruelty to your little one, or his vile sexism or all of the other things you haven't listed.
You will be fine on your own with your child. Let's be honest you've had years of experience of looking after a needy child!
Best of luck for a better life ....for you and your child

iamafraidofvirginiawolves3cats · 17/11/2017 19:15

Wife not man!

KarmaStar · 17/11/2017 19:29

He is relying on you to act like his mother AND he gets to run you down?
You're working your socks off with little or no support..how long can you go on before your physical and mental health is exhausted?
Get some legal and financial advise behind you so you know where you would stand if you separate then sit him down on his day off and tell him what is wrong.
If he accepts he is wrong AND changes fair enough.
If he refuses to take responsibility for his (lack of responsibility) actions and won't change,then you will have to consider a trial/seperation.
For your own peace of mind and self worth.and that of your D.C. who will be picking up on his dad's attitude.
Wishing you the best of luck for your future...you sound an intelligent,hard working loving person and mum,don't let him tell you any different!!🌻🌻

applesareredandgreen · 17/11/2017 19:32

Hmm I would say that my DH really struggled to accept the changes in our lives when we had DS and things were quite difficult until DS was about 3. No question he loved me and DS and wanted to provide and look after us , and he wasn't mean to DS or anything but he did find the change difficult, I think he is just one of those people who generally struggles with change. I can also understand the point regarding the shift work as my DH was also very messed up by the changes from days/ nights.

And like you I have always done the greater share of household chores and child care. However a big difference for me was that I worked part time so I got days off in the week whilst DH was working long hours, so our labour split has always been quite fair, I would never be able to cope with all the child care and housework on top of working full time - certainly not whilst my DH was playing on his phone.

Can you see your life with your DH improving at all? Considering he isn't interested in any counselling and you are obviously both unhappy- above the tiredness of being working parents with a young child, it sounds as if you and your DC would be better off without him.

Pannacott · 17/11/2017 20:48

Another one saying LTB.

And reiterating what a PP said about Stockholm Syndrome. Children often look like they ‘really love’ an abusive or neglectful parent. What is actually happening is that they working really hard to gain positive attention, and avoid negative attention, so they learn how to display behaviour that is highly rewarding to the abusive parent. They are affectionate, warm, ‘good’ for the abusive parent. Internally they are highly stressed and anxious, and masking these feelings as they know the parent will not help them with those feelings, but will punish them for it. They are scared of the parent. Yes, even from a very young age, this is a matter of survival.

This sounds like an awful situation for you both, please consider getting out now before too much of your life is wasted, and your child’s is damaged.

The general wisdom in these situations is that you need to actually leave and be prepared for it to be final, even if you want to give it a try, because it won’t be until he knows what he is losing that he might try and change. And then you need Zero tolerance for backsliding.

Shift work is dreadful for mental and physical health though, if he wants to change I’d suggest a strong multivitamin incl Vit D, and Omega 3.

melclaire1111 · 19/11/2017 08:48

So thought I'd give an update as I appreciate everyone's responses...

Hubby and I had a day off together on Friday. We went for lunch then the cinema and it was a really nice day. Then we picked DC up from nursery and it started again...the constant picking on everything...i didn't park properly, didn't park close enough to the door. Dc came running up to me not daddy so that was my fault. I didn't put their coat on correctly egg. It went on all night!

Yesterday he went on a football away day to Wales with his friends, parents had DC for 2 hours so I could get some housework done, cleaned the house from top to bottom, scrubbed the bathroom, changed the beds. Had a lovely day just me and DC then hubby got home and thanked for me making an effort and doing some work, but moaned one of the mirrors wasn't clean enough!

After reading all the comments am slowly beginning to realise I do way too much and let him get away with too much. His mum even said the other day he still has a single life and that they have tried talking to him but he doesn't care as long as he gets what he wants!

OP posts:
Justbookedasummmerholiday · 19/11/2017 08:56

So what are YOU going to do about it since he clearly isn't going to do anything differently?

bastardkitty · 19/11/2017 08:59

He is a terrible husband and hopeless father. Awful. He adds nothing good to your life and he is sucking the joy out of you. Please get some counselling for yourself t start to understand why you hae settled for this shitbag and make plans to leave. And don't tell him, because that will just be another stick for him to beat you with. He is a cruel and selfish bastard. I agree with others, you will regret how long you stayed.

TitaniasCloset · 20/11/2017 12:07

Even his mum can see he is a selfish fucker.

arethereanyleftatall · 20/11/2017 12:11

I think the one person I be anyone's life who will stick up for them regardless is their mum.
If even she is saying this, you must listen. He is awful and you deserve better.

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2017 12:11

Cut. Him. Loose.

NoSquirrels · 20/11/2017 12:15

Because he is not interested in changing.

His mum thinks he's selfish & has told him but he's not bothered "as long as he gets what he wants".

You've asked for counselling but he's not "interested" ... FFS, he's NOT INTERESTED IN HOW YOU FEEL OR HOW TO MAKE ANYTHING BETTER.

Don't waste your one life.

Motoko · 20/11/2017 13:02

Just tell him to fuck off. Seriously.

Even his mum dislikes the way he is behaving.

You and your child will be so much happier without him in your life.

(Oh, and sexting someone is not a "minor indiscretion". You should have ended it then.)

IHATEPeppaPig · 20/11/2017 13:13

Oh OP, seriously I don’t say this a lot but please LTB he sounds horrid.

Having a baby is so tough on relationships, believe me I know but the way he is treating you is unbelievable.

You are doing everything anyway so being a single parent isn’t going to be hard, except you’ll have one less baby to worry about.

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