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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel about 2cms tall?

142 replies

Stuckinsilence · 29/08/2018 15:30

Last week was a special anniversary for DH and I. We had gone away for a few days and had a nice time. I had bought DH a special present (nothing expensive but special nonetheless and something he liked). He hadn't bought me anything, not even a card, but we had been away for a couple of nights so I was happy even so. On the way home, he appeared agitated and asked where I had bought his present from, and then said 'so I paid for it then'. I said no, I paid for it and would transfer the money later. I told him to stop being so spiteful and he apologised.

A few months ago for father's day i surprised him with a day out and took all his family out for dinner. It took so much effort to organise and keep it a surprise. All he could say on the way home was, when asked if he had enjoyed himself, 'yeah but I paid for it'. I told him no, I had worked a couple of days in my parents family business to pay for it. Again he apologised.

Last month i bought car insurance on our joint credit card. He was furious and said how dare I buy it without asking him. I told him i buy it every year and there's not a problem, how else did he think i was going to pay for it? He carried on and on until i said i was phoning my mum to loan me the money to give back to him. He all of sudden changed his tune and said to forget about it.

AIBU to feel about 2cm tall? I feel small and silly when he makes these comments. I feel like nothing and so embarrassed.

FWIW, I am a sahm to our three children (two with sn), do everything around the house and 99% of childcare. He would never make these comments in front of anyone else because he knows that they'd be appalled - it's only in private.

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 29/08/2018 18:36

Does your husband have any idea how much childcare would cost if you went back to work? I suspect it would be an eye-opener for him. If you did go back to work, would he expect you to shoulder the childcare costs or would he contribute his share? (I suspect I know the answer, but I know I shouldn’t make assumptions.)

Lillygolightly · 29/08/2018 18:42

OP if I were you the next time he spoke to me like that over money I’d say the following

I don’t know where you get the idea that it’s all your money it’s not, it’s our money, family money. I contribute to the family pot financially and by providing care to the D.C. and by looking after the domestic side of things cooking/cleaning etc. If you cannot see nor appreciate the value in the contribution I make to this family than we can divorce and split assets, where you can expect to give up a significant portion of your wage in child maintenance and learn how to look after all 3 children solo as I’ll be wanting my weekends free and the kids will need to spend time with their dad.

Might not seems so appealing lording the money over you if he realises his reality if you leave. He will end up with less money, solo parenting at weekends and have to cook, wash and clean for himself all on top of working. At the moment he has a free maid, cook, cleaner, nanny and his kids under the same roof. Not so much if continues to be a dick and you and the kids leave though....

CaptSkippy · 29/08/2018 19:51

The thing is, for the sake of your children and your own well being you really ought to walk away. I am absolutely horrified by your situation. This is very controlling behavior and it can only go downhill from here.

colditz · 29/08/2018 19:53

If you met me, you would be amazed (and horrified) and exactly how much shit I took from my ex before I left.

I also couldn’t work, ds1 has autism and need me too much then, I also had carers allowance, and I also was deeply ashamed for far too long for things I didn’t cause and couldn’t fix.

You can’t fix him and being with him won’t fix the fact that he doesn’t want to pay for his children to have nice things.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 29/08/2018 20:04

He's financially abusive. Time to make a long term plan on how to leave. If he doesn't change, and he probably won't, at least you will have an option.

Zoflorabore · 29/08/2018 20:07

O

Zoflorabore · 29/08/2018 20:10

Oops sorry sent without realising Blush

Op- you say you get carers allowance for your ds, this also gives you your NI "stamp" for your pension contributions.

Also, are you claiming everything your ds is entitled to? My ds has ASD ( high functioning ) and was diagnosed at 8u

Zoflorabore · 29/08/2018 20:18

Phone is playing up, I thought it was me!

Da diagnosed at 8.8 and is now 15.6, been claiming DLA since he was 10, it has made such a difference to our lives..

Just checking that you're claiming everything you're (ds) entitled to Flowers

5000KallaxHoles · 29/08/2018 20:22

OP - my own relationship financially with DH isn't amazing (like you I'm a SAHM with a child with special needs - not in that she has masses of care required but she does have so many appointments with different therapies and hospital clinics and the like that I need more flexibility than I'm ever likely to find in terms of a job to get her to them all don't ya love it when the NHS changes your appointment with 24 hours notice all the time )... but he's not unpleasant like your DH seems to be being. Mine gets a bit huffy about money at times but it's genuinely when the finances are getting tight, and he doesn't spend money on himself or begrudge the kids getting what they need... when he gets too huffy I just tell him he's being a twat and it calms back down generally. He also is fully aware of how much I've contributed in terms of what me being at home means in terms of childcare costs saved - and we're jiggling things about a bit from September so I can go do some spots of supply teaching and start to get my career back on track a bit.

Your DH seems to have a much more sinister way of doing things which would be ringing alarm bells for me (and I'm not a general MN "leave the bastard" person).

With the anniversary present thing - DH just got us a city break and concert tickets for my birthday recently (one of those big birthdays that end in a zero that I'm not admitting to the other number involved in it) and yeah, I thought it was a bit of a frivolous large chunk out of our tight family budget privately - but I really appreciated the thought that had gone into it of him squirrelling away the expenditure over a few months to pay for it all (the concert tickets were expensive as hell as they were VIP meet and greet ones).

brokenharbour · 29/08/2018 20:40

You can't live like this, nobody could. He sounds vile.

Graphista · 29/08/2018 20:52

I KNEW you were going to be a sahm.

Nothing against sahm myself (I was one for almost 2 years) but your dh clearly does have an issue with you being a sahm.

He may not say it clearly but he's he's saying it indirectly.

Worst kind of person for you to make yourself vulnerable financially to.

If I were you I'd be:

Getting a job ASAP if at all possible.
Sitting dh down for a 'chat' on his disrespectful treatment of you.
Stopping doing him any favours, making so much effort for him for special occasions - you're setting yourself up for a fall! He doesn't appreciate it so why bother?

In fact considering whether it's worth staying with him at all.

He's behaving appallingly disrespectful, completely dismissing your contribution to the family, being selfishly stingy (designer clobber for him while he QUESTIONS whether HIS DC need school shoes? No! He needs to grow the fuck up here!)

I'd record the bastard too - what would his parents think of this attitude?

Jamiefraserskilt · 29/08/2018 20:57

I assume that making the decision to be a sahm was joint? That you both decided that your kids needed the stability and consistency because of their sn and you would be the one to put your career in long term hold?
By you doing this, you have facilitated and supported his career, enabling him to go out and earn the money that is supposed to pay for this?
In which case he should create three accounts and pay into them. One for you, one for him and one for the bills including children's school uniforms, clothes, holidays, birthday and Christmas gifts for the kids/families and other essential living costs.
He should not question how you spend your portion which should be for you and any gifts you feel inclined to buy.
He can shape up or he can live with the consequences that your return to full time work delivers. Including the financial hit of childcare, the emotional hit to your children and the equal proportion of household management and chores to his downtime.
It is not just his bank balance that will suffer!
Don't get sad, get angry. You have a full time job that does not stop at 5pm and receive no thanks or respect for doing it and at less than minimum wage (carers allowance divided by hours on duty). I bet he would not swap for the world.
Fight for your position in this marriage!

Spudina · 29/08/2018 21:22

I'm angry for you just reading this. This is financial abuse. Your being a SAHP facilitates your husband's career and him saves thousands in childcare. I would lose all love and respect for a man who treated me this way. Also even a SAHP shouldn't be doing 99% of the parenting to 3 children. I've a feeling he doesn't help you at all....I hope I'm wrong. Xx

WomanWithAltitude · 29/08/2018 21:26

LTB

This is clear cut financial abuse. How much is the childcare you provide worth? Does he pay you for that? He's a fucking that, and you should be furious he devalues your contribution like that.

WomanWithAltitude · 29/08/2018 21:26

Twat, not that

youokhon · 29/08/2018 21:36

What an absolute cunt. Why are you putting up with this? Ask yourself if you would want this situation for your daughter. Then you have your answer as to whether you are being unreasonable or not.

CoraPirbright · 30/08/2018 15:07

So he can fritter cash on expensive designer sunglasses but you get the third degree when your kids need new shoes?? Good fucking grief.

Is this a new thing, this despicable attitude towards you?

Also, is he repeating a pattern from his parents?

No excuses - just wondering if you might get the backing of your in-laws if you broached this with them?

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