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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask you how to withdraw my help?

219 replies

Labonya · 30/11/2018 07:48

I've posted a couple of times about doing too much and being under appreciated as a step mum. Doing long school runs with a tiny baby in the car too and having very little help with anything else. I'm not going to go in to it as I'm exhausted by it, but I need your help...

My DH has got used to this, and I don't know how I can stop doing these things. I know if I just stop, our relationship will suffer, and I don't want DSD to suffer because of it, but I am really struggling.

How do I explain to him that breastfeeding a baby that isn't sleeping at night and is cluster feeding is totally exhausting? I don't think he realises how hard it is.

How do I tell him I don't want to do ANY school runs anymore. Not for the foreseeable future anyway?

I don't know why I'm so worried about this. I'm anxious, I'm waiting for an appointment with the doctors for post natal anxiety which is spiralling a bit.

I just don't have the energy for an argument.

Not sure what I'm asking for but if anyone could offer any support or words of wisdom it would be greatly appreciated...

OP posts:
CodeOrange · 30/11/2018 14:09

Usually 50:50 care means that no maintenance is payable either way. If this is the case then the DH will likely be dead set against changing contact to weekends only, as this will trigger him having to pay child maintenance to his ex as the resident parent.

Thankyounext · 30/11/2018 14:28

So on a Friday you do 80 miles with a newborn baby in the car?

Allthewaves · 30/11/2018 14:32

Could dh arrange something with a taxi company on a routine basis? Loads of taxis around here have certified and checked drivers as they are dropping kids to and from school

WinklemansFringe · 30/11/2018 14:35

You got loads of advice last time, but to reiterate :

Stop doing what you are doing. Not only are you a danger to yourself, baby and DSD, you are a danger to other people on your commute. You are not in a fit state to be doing this drive.

Tell your DH you cannot do it. If that means DSD staying off school until it gets sorted, then so be it. No more. Not one more day.

The alternative is to wait until you have an accident ( which you will ), hope it's not too serious, and then he might listen.

MrsSpenserGregson · 30/11/2018 14:43

Tell your husband that you will no longer be doing the school run for DSD. Tell him this weekend, so he knows it won't be happening next week.

Then DON'T DO THE SCHOOL RUN.

Just stop.

You have given him plenty of warning.

Worst case scenario is that DSD doesn't get picked up from school on time on Thursday, so the school rings her mum who collects her a bit late. This will not scar DSD for life! I know it will be a bit unpleasant for her for an hour or so, but she will cope and she will be safe at school until she is collected.

it is your husband who has forced you into this scenario (I note that DSD's mum wanted contact reduced to weekends only when she moved away, but your twat of a husband insisted on maintaining midweek contact without changing any of his arrangements in order to facilitate this).

If you have an accident while driving the kids when you're so tired, your husband could end up a childless widower. Tell him that. Wanker

sossages · 30/11/2018 14:51

I've been told that driving on less than 5 hours' sleep is equivalent to driving drunk as your reflexes and concentration are so poor, and that's before you get into nodding off at the wheel. That's what he's asking you to do with both of his children in the car.

If you weren't around he'd have had to find some other solution to seeing his DD. You need to put your foot down and make him find that solution because it can't be you when you aren't getting any sleep.

IAmRubbishAtDIY · 30/11/2018 15:08

@TheWiseWomansFear

With the ?Selby? crash the police took his computer and saw he was online a lot, leaving only a certain number of hours for sleep. I think he was jailed.

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 15:28

My summary: Flame me- whatever! I’m just trying to help!

The getting DSD to sch is an issue for op, don't dispute that but I think looking at this as a whole it's a symptom and not the cause. The poster has posted many threads under various usernames over the last 5 weeks, all diff topics. That's fine,when help is needed ask and protect your identity if that works best for you. However, it has led to us all giving advice to specific topics and not knowing pic as a whole. In every single thread the OP has made it clear that while her DP may be a little stubborn, he is not abusive and is a good man and father. Each time the OP's thread descends into he's controlling and LTB etc,she leaves the thread. As appears to be the case here. We don't know,we are not there. Only OP knows and we, for now, have to trust her judgement & support her.

Earlier in this very thread, the op stated herself that she does not know the number for the HV. This is concerning as it means that all other advice given in prev threads imploring OP to get help has not happened.

Reading between the lines,the poster has a new baby, regrettably has no friends of family near her or any experienced female lead around her and just like the rest of us has found having a new baby a complete shock. OP has had to find her own way & her DP seems to be unaware at present. That doesn’t make him a
bad man, it just means that he has no idea! If OP has not communicated this to him , and posted on MN instead, how is he supposed to know? Has he given birth- no, is he breastfeeding- no, is he sore downstairs - no. Are his hormones all over the place- no. Is he bleeding- no. He has no idea! It’s not his fault he’s a man ( no offence men but you can’t birth and shiz).

My thoughts at this stage are that OP, like all of us when we have a new baby, is slightly shell shocked for want of a better phrase. I was and there is a big physical, emotional and mental change. It’s a shock and it takes time to adjust. Not always easy this adjustment. There is no shame in that. Perhaps her DP doesn’t quite understand the physical & emotional changes that have occurred. Perhaps his first wife sailed thru this stage so he thinks all mothers adapt on delivery. We don’t know! I personally was all over the place but my friends had babies & it was like shelling peas and they took to it like a duck to water, I didn’t! Every mother is different and deals with motherhood in their own way. Again, I personally found it a huge shock to the system at first. I had no idea, no experience, no guidance in the early weeks. Men don’t often get this as they ultimately don’t experience it. Doesn’t make them bad men, makes them genetically men and not have to go through this. Makes them ignorant to some things. Perhaps OP has wanted to show her DH that she has got this covered and the honest communication is not there.

My view is that in this case appts and honest conversations with GP and HV, together with DP would be hugely beneficial to OP at this point as a starting point to moving forward in her new beautiful family
dynamic. The OP has said herself that she feels blue at times and it's ok to feel that. It’s normal and she needs to reach out for help. If OP
and DP address this together they can hopefully work through it and their son and DP’s daughter can have a wonderful little unit there.

I understand my views may be u popular but it looks to me as though OP is going through a slight, normal period of adjustment and any help the GP and HV can provide will be both helpful and beneficial.

loubluee · 30/11/2018 15:33

I’m going to just say this, and I do apologise in advance to anyone that is offended, I honestly don’t mean too. But OP you need to set it out bluntly to your dh, ‘I am that tired, I fear I could end up causing a crash, and taking the lives of not only our children but others as well’. Because seriously that is what could happen. Soooo many accidents are caused by tiredness. If he still pressurises you, he’s a dick.

loubluee · 30/11/2018 15:37

Taking FannyFanackerpants71 ‘s very good summery into consideration, if OP’s DH does not know of the problems I retract my ‘dick’ comment!

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 15:42

@loubluee Let's get the OP to a comfortable
Place. This having kids lark is hard and no tells us what will really happen. Should be taught in schs so girls, when they are women are prepared No one tells us what happens to our bodies and our thoughts, out minds, our heats and our lives. But we get there and we got this shiz covered! x

Quartz2208 · 30/11/2018 15:51

FannyFanackerpants71 the problem I have with the good man bit is the fact that he is forcing this journey on his wife, his daughter and his son. His ex clearly does not want it, his wife does not want to do it and really what good is it for his DD to have to travel that far to see her Dad what 1, 2 hours a week

This situation suits no one at all - probably not even him yet his continues with it - why?

M4J4 · 30/11/2018 15:52

The poster has posted many threads under various usernames over the last 5 weeks, all diff topics.

But is this really the case or are you guessing? So many times people ask OP if they started other threads and it usually turns out it's not the same poster.

AskMeHow · 30/11/2018 15:58

You can do it OP.

Just say it. When he comes home, tell him.

"I can't do the school run for dsd any more, I'm too tired and it's not safe for me to drive."

Big girl pants, just get it out. Any objections: "it's not safe". Just keep repeating yourself if you have to.

Don't say sorry. You're not sorry, it's an imposition and you've put up with it for far too long.

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 16:05

@Quartz2208 we don't know that. That's why I have suggested caution .

Quartz2208 · 30/11/2018 16:18

fannyfanackerpants it says in this OP that the ex argued it wasnt necessary and the court said that moving was not barrier to it continuing. I have seen enough court cases to know that if that was the case the OP DH forced the point and wants it to continue.

I can see though that the why for that has not been mentioned though

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 16:21

@M4J4 poster replied earlier and didn't disagree or contradict me. In fact , she reached out. I wouldn't post If wasn't confident. You got your facts wrong earlier when you pulled me up on a post . I was gracious and replied to you, respectfully with the facts. This post it's about a woman asking for help who has a new baby and we are trying our best to support her in this journey. @M4J4 don't cause trouble where it's not needed. Don't poke the sleeping bear that is @fannyfanackerpants71!

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 16:25

@Quartz2208 have you read my posts? I don't think the DSD sch run is the ultimate problem here ! Read the full thread and come back when you know what you are talking about!

qazxc · 30/11/2018 16:32

You are going to have to be blunt.
When you agreed to do this it was a 10 min drive and didn't have a newborn and sleep deprivation on top.
Tell him it's too much for you and is unsafe due to the tiredness and that something else needs to be worked out.
i've only skimmed read the responses but nobody is saying that you are being unreasonable to want to stop, it's a perfectly rational request, I can't imagine there would be confrontation/ falling out with your husband over it.

Quartz2208 · 30/11/2018 16:36

I have read the full thread and your posts but I guess I do need you to enlighten me as to what you mean by I dont know what I am talking about.

I agree it is a symptom and not the cause. What my point is, is that the fact that by all accounts HE is the one who wants the school run is indicative of his personality (and from what she has said we do know that)

But please enlighten me then as to what I am missing, because if its somehow been a man means that they miss all of this that is crap. No one can possibly be so unaware of the impact of a young baby that they think her driving is ok.

Holidayshopping · 30/11/2018 16:37

What would your DH do with regards to seeing his daughter in the week if he hadn’t married you?

FannyFanackerpants71 · 30/11/2018 16:40

@Quartz2208 read all the other threads then come back!

OutPinked · 30/11/2018 16:41

If it was a case of collecting her from school once a week I’d just get on with it personally and I say this as someone who is also sleep deprived with a breastfed four week old. But you’re being expected to do it three different times and as you say, the majority of your Friday day time would be zapped by it.

I think it’s his responsibility. If he wants to have weekday contact, he needs to facilitate it and stop using you. You’re very obviously knackered to an extent it’s affecting your MH and he isn’t helping that. If he can’t keep up with weekday contact maybe it should end for the time being. Alternatively he may need to do what many other working parents do and hire a childminder until he’s finished work and can collect her himself.

OutPinked · 30/11/2018 16:42

What would your DH do with regards to seeing his daughter in the week if he hadn’t married you?

This is such a good point, he’d need the childcare in this case or he just wouldn’t have agreed to weekday contact.

Quartz2208 · 30/11/2018 16:43

I confess to not having the greatest search skills but given the fact the OP has namechanged the only one I get is this one. So there I do in fact need some enlightenment

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