Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would your DH behave in this way? AIBU (I don’t think so).

296 replies

alarmbell · 16/03/2019 15:14

I really don’t mind people being honest about this scenario as sometimes I feel like I’m going mad. So yesterday, the plan was we were flying out at 6.30 (short haul flight) just for the weekend to attend an event held by one of DH’s friends. This meant picking up all 4 DC from their various schools at 3.40 / 4pm and just going straight to the airport. So we needed to be packed by 3pm.

In the morning, DH seemed to be working from home so he shut himself away in his office. I was packing, etc. He Whatsapped me to ask for coffee and something to eat at about 9.30 and and when I went in I asked him what did he want packing. He said he was too busy to think, so I asked him to put his stuff out in the bed because I had no idea whether to pack more formal stuff or if we needed outward bound gear etc. He was basically on the phone so I just left him to it because I could see he wasn’t going to answer. Then I had to go out for a blood test and pick up a few things.

I was feeling stressed while out because we had a pet sitter coming and I was aware I needed to get her bed ready and clean the house because the cleaner has been ill this last week. Also I was feeling a bit dizzy after the blood test and am generally shattered these days as it is. I hoped DH might have a least done something towards getting ready by the time so got back at 12.

What he was doing was ruining the garden. I have no idea why he felt the need to go out there when there was obviously stuff to do to get ready for a trip he had organised. He was hacking down trees with a chainsaw and then sawing all the wood into smaller pieces to fit them in the bins and then wheeling the bins through the house with all associated mud and mess. For what reason I don’t know.

At these times I feel like I can’t say anything to him because tbh, worlds fail me. Also he will say I’m being argumentative. So I got everyone packed, cleaned the house inc extra mud traipsed everywhere. Then he got in a mood because I told him not to come in the house with shoes on. So eventually we left to get the kids from various schools and he didn’t even ask what I’d packed for him. En route it was high stress again because of some business deal and he was talking on speaker phone most of the way so nobody else could talk, as well as driving very aggressively.

So here we are and I feel shattered today, although he in a great mood and the life and soul of proceedings. AIBU to think most DH’s wouid see what obviously needs to be done when you’re going away, even for just a weekend, and naturally get involved without being asked - rather than creating unnecessary mess and chaos instead?

OP posts:
alarmbell · 17/03/2019 19:59

53rd - yes he does make these choices. He wouldn’t want me to drive, he never does. I can’t even be bothered asking and he’s a nightmare passenger anyway. I can’t drive with him in full flow. The therapist says I have to be wary about my belief (because of what he had always told me) that everything he does is for the family. It’s is partly, or even mainly this, but it’s also the case that he would no doubt have done exactly the same if he was single. If he sees an opportunity or wants to embark on a new venture, he does it, simple as that.

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 17/03/2019 20:00

Don't be his maid. He can get his own breakfast & snacks: and pack. But with a scheduled blood test & pet sitter to sort, I'd have got the packing for you/kids done the night before. That's too much 'stuff' for one day with that many kids. You need to stagger the huge amount of organising for situations like this or it's a fraught, all at once overload on your strength & sanity.

AnyFucker · 17/03/2019 20:06

I don't understand what your definitions of "nasty" or "cruel" are

He sounds like both of these things to me, and more besides

alarmbell · 17/03/2019 20:08

The reason the house still needed a once over was because we’d had some if his team over the night before and with 4 kids there’s always something anyway. Also, he had got the weekend we were going away mixed up so I only really knew we were going on Wed. I’d had it in my head it was next week, but that’s something else.

OP posts:
53rdWay · 17/03/2019 20:09

I think your therapist has a point there. If he’s doing everything for the family, why isn’t he asking you all first what you actually would like?

alarmbell · 17/03/2019 20:11

Any F - I get that but I don’t think he means to be nasty. Thoughtless yes. Entitled yes, and selfish at times. But I’m his mind, I should want to do all this for him and he thinks it’s perfectly normal.

OP posts:
Butterymuffin · 17/03/2019 20:12

What would he have done if you had said he couldn't have his team over the night before as you would be too busy with packing to go away to be able to host them?

Floralhousecoat · 17/03/2019 20:16

He got your holiday dates mixed up making you feel stressed about last minute packing for 6 people.

He has people over the night before you are all due to go away, making you feel stressed about last minute packing and cleaning before you all go away.

Can you not see how he shortages your every move? Is he doing ANYTHING at all to make your life any easier? He enjoys watching you pushed to breaking point but still too scared to say anything for fear of his reaction.

AnyFucker · 17/03/2019 20:16

He would have invited them anyway, of course. Op knows that, so she didn't demur.

Floralhousecoat · 17/03/2019 20:17

*sabotages not shortages

alarmbell · 17/03/2019 20:18

In the early days, it was always, “Well I have to do x,y,z. because there’s the school fees”. So obviously I can’t argue with that. I just tried to make his life as easy as possible. Then it was because if the house we took on and again, how can I argue with that. Then it was, “I’m selling the company but it needs to be at x turnover over x years to get x.” Then they sold this company and I actually thought he’s retire, more or less,as did everyone else. But no. He re- invested in other things and if anything he’s got more stressed. This was an eye-opener for me and when I realised it’s about him, not money.

OP posts:
TatianaLarina · 17/03/2019 20:20

So if you compare him to friends’ husbands who aren’t verbally abusive or sleazy cheats - how does he fare then?

But I’m his mind, I should want to do all this for him and he thinks it’s perfectly normal.

Because he so narcissistic that he doesn’t understand or care whether not you want to do it for him or not. He’s never thought about life from your POV, or anyone else’s.

He’s not doing any of this for his family, he is doing this for himself and you are doing everything for him. That’s the reality.

Iflyaway · 17/03/2019 20:20

Why not think, “Oh, I’ll make sure I’ve got socks,” or “Oh, I wonder if the guest bathroom needs a once over?”

Cos he's A VIP in his own eyes and has delegated all that to you.

Whasapping you to bring him coffee? WTF! Like you are the domestic maid in the house.

Who the fuck starts heavy-duty gardening within hours of having to pick up 4 kids and get to the airport?!

There's a message in there for you OP but only you can figure it out...

LynetteScavo · 17/03/2019 20:21

This sounds exactly like my DH!

Except 20 years ago I made it very clear (much to his bemusement) that I would never pack for him. So he would have jacked his own bag, but everything else sounds very familiar.

Floralhousecoat · 17/03/2019 20:23

Oh op. Please please leave him. I hope you leave him for the sake of your physical and mental health, and rediscover the person you were before you became this shell of a woman.

LynetteScavo · 17/03/2019 20:23

Although my DH never drives aggressively.

alarmbell · 17/03/2019 20:31

How I think I got into packing for him was because he used to need to fly at very short notice, or something like that. So he would ting me and ask me to get him a bag ready for say 5pm and he’d swing by in the way to Heathrow. Also, if I’m packing for the DC he would see it as me being mean and uncaring if I didn’t include him in that. This is his mentality. He would ask why I would treat him like that because he would never begrudge me anything. It is true if I asked him to go and get me something in the middle of the night he would go (not that I di this often obviously). Or if there was something I wanted to do, he’d book it. Things like that he’s great. But he makes me feel guilty if I prioritise him differently to the DC.

OP posts:
DointItForTheKids · 17/03/2019 20:33

It doesn't MATTER if he 'intends' to be nasty or not! He's treating you like shit - it's ALL about him! You have choice if you want to live like this but your children don't; you are their advocate. Just singly on the risk alone of his arrogance killing you all whilst driving like a nutter, you should get the hell away from him - before this happens.

Boiling frog for you is one thing OP, but for your children? They have no choice, only the consequences of yours.

UniversalAunt · 17/03/2019 20:34

As background activity, it would wise for you to collate copies of a wide variety of his business documentation - purely for your own edification.

You never know why & when you may need it.

Japonicaflower2 · 17/03/2019 20:36

Can't you see that he treats you worse than a servant because no servant would tolerate his abusive behaviour OP?
This thread is just so sad; it's no life for you and your DCs and an appalling example of married life for them. He behaves like he does because he gets away with it, year after year after year.
I would have lost it with him long ago. How dare he behave like a dictator.

TatianaLarina · 17/03/2019 20:38

Also, if I’m packing for the DC he would see it as me being mean and uncaring if I didn’t include him in that. This is his mentality. He would ask why I would treat him like that because he would never begrudge me anything.

Selfish, narcissistic, immature and manipulative. He begrudges you not doing his packing!

burritofan · 17/03/2019 20:39

Also, if I’m packing for the DC he would see it as me being mean and uncaring if I didn’t include him in that. This is his mentality. But he makes me feel guilty if I prioritise him differently to the DC.
But how do you feel about that? Aside from the guilt, I mean. Do you think it's strange that your capable, adult husband wants the same parenting from you that you give your children? When he does things for the children, do you feel he's treating you meanly if he doesn't do the same for you? Was he like this when they were newborns too? For every feed and nappy change, did you need to do something for him too?

TatianaLarina · 17/03/2019 20:42

What does ‘he doesn’t mean to be nasty’ mean?

Nasty people don’t acknowledge they’re nasty because they are nasty naturally.

What you mean is he doesn’t define what he is doing as nasty because it suits him.

rookiemere · 17/03/2019 20:45

Are you still making his 6am smoothies and fielding daily visits from your MIL?

And no I didn't check on you - it's just a thread that's ingrained in my head forever. Sounds like the cognitive dissonance is slowly worming it's way through, slowly mind.

jay55 · 17/03/2019 20:49

He messaged you to ask for coffee like you are Deliveroo or something?

Swipe left for the next trending thread