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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect my DH to communicate when he is golfing...Another weekend ruined!

91 replies

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 08:17

A few years ago my husband suddenly took up golf.He had had a heart attack and this was relaxation.I must admit I found it odd and took me a while to get used to.
A few months ago he lost his job and has not looked.for work with the exception of 2 jobs I found and sent him for.He got severance pay which was a pittance and didn't use this time to compile a cv.He is late 50s.
So this week I booked off.I work 55 hours a week and was looking forward to chilling and going out.The weather spoilt virtually all our plans which can't be helped.
Friday and today we're looking the best.Then I see the golf trolley battery charging.Dh is golfing all day.WTF......I'm so angry he didn't tell me or write it on the kitchen calendar.He knows I work all weekends and booked last Sun and this saturday.All week he could be told me.I would be gone out Friday somewhere had I known.
He did this the last long weekend I had.There was a family do.He claimed he told me he didn't then he went. He has been like this for years and can't see when you live together communication is key.
Admittedly it isn't his fault I don't currently drive but his lack of respect and unwillingness to look for work( I would ve been onto it the day I found out).I thought he had changed but he put his golf before my birthday and was going to go the weekend my Df died until I pointed out it would be wise not to.
I feel a bit like I am being unreasonable as he needs something to do when I'm working but on this occasion I think he is!!

OP posts:
Amara123 · 15/06/2019 09:22

It's a pretty well known phenomenon that there is a strong chance that people who have heart attacks are unlikely to work full time again. There's been some research on it. Heart attacks and the associated medication he is now on are likely to make him feel low energy and sometimes depressed.

Sicario · 15/06/2019 09:24

Have you thought about taking up driving lessons and getting your own license? Then perhaps get a little runaround and you'll never be reliant on him for your plans again.

bluejelly · 15/06/2019 09:25

Sometimes people forget things. Sometimes people lack confidence.
Things that seem simple to you (getting a job) aren't simple for everyone.
Yes he needs to communicate better. But I think you could work on your compassionate side.

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 09:25

The kitchen is his idea.must be 34 years old.Meant to say the heart attack was six years ago and he hasn't tried to lose weight either.Doesn't give a shit.I don't understand.I try quite hard to stay healthy.

OP posts:
givemesteel · 15/06/2019 09:28

I think in his mindset he's already retired and wants to eek out the not finding a job until he can just retire.

Agree, this is not about him playing golf today it's how you now spend this phase of your lives.

He sounds very inconsiderate if he wants to play golf whilst you work a 55 hour week to support you both, then won't even prioritise spending time with you when you have a day off.

You need to read him the riot act and say you're no longer putting up with bring the sole earner. He needs to find work, any work and contribute.

In the same way, I really think it's not ideal that you don't drive. When you retire do you really want to be dependent on him to do anything with your free time? Sounds like a recipe for resentment and bitterness.

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 09:30

I drove for over 32 years.Panic attacks stopped me.I still own a nice car.Perhaps I need to chill.The golf isn't a test.I only get a Saturday off as holiday.It is rare as rocking horse poo to get one.He knows that.

OP posts:
Idontwanttotalk · 15/06/2019 09:32

Communication is a two way street. From what you have said it appears you assumed he would be available this weekend despite you normally working weekends and knowing that is when he plays golf.

You don't say that you discussed your plan to go to London on Saturday with him if the weather was okay so I assume you didn't. If that is the case, why would you expect him to discuss his plans?

Your DH playing a game of golf does not constitute a lack of support for you while your DM awaits BRAC results. Waiting for results can be worrying but the best thing to do is carry on with your lives. Him not playing golf won't make the results come quicker and neither will it change them.

He has spent all week with you, something he isn't used to doing and sometimes being thrown together 24/7 brings out the worst in people. He is just probably one of those people who needs a bit of regular time out to relax. If you are going on at him about his lack of work that will probably make it more likely that there will be a communication breakdown n between you.

I must admit that I don't know why he thinks he can't work while he has severance pay. What's that all about? I wonder if he has genuine worries that, at 59, he won't work again and his anxiety about it is such that it has paralysed him into a lack of action? I know someone lacking in confidence who is like that.

I think you both need to learn to communicate and maybe a gentle talk with him about how he is feeling following redundancy may help.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 15/06/2019 09:37

Yes we had all week together.It has been pouring with rain here.I had hoped we were going to London for the day.

You're not answering whether you'd mentioned this to him or if you just had a nice idea and presumed he'd be free as he didn't say otherwise. If the former, it's rude of him now to change his mind and say he's got other plans. If the latter, he saw a free day and decided to play golf on it.

Our week has been rainy and horrendous too, and I do sympathise that it feels like a wasted day off, especially if Saturdays are hard to get - but if you hadn't planned anything, I don't think you can be too mad about this one.

MuttsNutts · 15/06/2019 09:38

Forgive me if I’m wrong but from this thread alone you don’t sound compatible at all - you sound like you can’t stand him to be honest. Do you enjoy each other’s company when you do spend time together?

You said in your OP that you found him taking up golf “odd” which I don’t understand at all. Surely for someone post-heart attack it’s ideal?

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 09:39

I am the type of person that needs space too.Monday I sent him to visit an ill relative he had been meaning too.He enjoyed it.Yes I agree he seems to have retired and just awaits how long it will take me to notice!!
He said he was pleased to be made redundant.So far I haven't paid all the bills.We have a joint account and DS chips in with a little rent.
I can understand wanting time out of you worked so your life I might when I'm his age but he could do part time of anything jobs are a plenty around here.

OP posts:
MuttsNutts · 15/06/2019 09:40

And he sounds depressed.

itsagoodlife · 15/06/2019 09:40

Of course he needs to cancel the golf, it is out of the question for him to still to go given he does not work and can go at any time.

You can not continue working 55 hours a week supporting his early retirement. He needs to get a job give him 12 weeks to find one.
You have had to conquer your anxiety to work, he needs to do the same.

The arrangement you describe is not something I would accept, he is taking advantage of you and behaving like a cock lodger. You are YANBU to expect him to work! I am amazed you have put up with this for as long as you have!!!

MuttsNutts · 15/06/2019 09:41

Are you much younger than him?

BarbarianMum · 15/06/2019 09:42

You dont seem to like or respect him at all a whole lot. Maybe time to end it?

pointythings · 15/06/2019 09:42

It isn't the case that he couldn't work part time. He could do 20 hours a week in retail, bring in a bit of money, interact with people and get his confidence up. His heart attack was 6 years ago - it isn't an excuse any more.

And you need to start driving again, OP. Get your independence back. I would book some lessons, preferably with a driving school specialising in nervous drivers. You'll get your confidence back too.

And then you both need to start talking honestly to each other about what you want your life together to be.

callmeadoctor · 15/06/2019 09:53

But OP, you had all week off with him, why does it make a difference that it is now the weekend? It could still rain all weekend and you would have done nothing. Why is he in trouble for playing golf for one day this week? Did you tell him that you had plans if the weather was good? Why don't you both sit down and talk about finances? What about his work, what did he do before retirement? Can he do something part time?

TemporaryPermanent · 15/06/2019 09:54

What about working at the golf club - bar work etc?

I agree that getting back to driving, may be by starting with some CBT, sounds much more of a priority than a new kitchen.

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 09:56

I agree.
I suggested all the local retailers...driving for asda.Waitrose is at the end of our road.We have an abundance of decent garden centres he is more than capable of doing something.He just tells me what he can't do or won't do

.I have pointed out living alone in a flat won't be fun if we lose our house.I think the penny dropped.
TBH I do need to learn compassion all my colleagues tell me I am too kind and forgiving.I work in a male dominated environment so
sometimes I can be quite blunt.I just feel he should be self motivated.
I am 7 years younger than him.

OP posts:
Poloshot · 15/06/2019 10:06

He's bone idle. The golf is a communication issue rather than something to get worked up about, concentrate on him pulling his weight financially.

CherryPavlova · 15/06/2019 10:12

I think there’s a lot of different issues being rolled into one here and several smaller problems making for a huge cavernous gap in communication.

If you are awaiting test results around breast cancer, that’s a worrying time and your mind probably isn’t in a good place because of the potential implications. No solution to this; you just have to wait.

He is 59. Many men have retired at that age. Particularly those at the golf club. He is doing what many retired men do. He has found a hobby that gives increased fitness, social contact and a sense of well-being. Better that than sitting around moping. Maybe he might consider a job that was shorter hours - a couple of days a week or a few mornings doing something completely different to previously. A pension forecast might be useful to help understand what pension he gets at what age. That would help with planning ahead. Assumedly he wasn’t looking to work forever and something as life changing as a heart attack will impact on his mindset and his desire to enjoy life for fear it might be limited.

If he is likely to get a lump sum, maybe that could be set aside, in part, for a new kitchen? It would set you up for retirement with the house in good order. Otherwise could you do a cheaper option of changing the doors, tiles and sink?

Then communication. You need to have talk time. Not nag time, not cross time but a nice talk time. We call it diary time and do it, generally monthly with a catch up fortnightly to check for changes. Each month we go for a drink with our diaries and the dog calendar. We sit and go through the month ahead looking at when either of us is working away, dog care arrangements, family commitments,social engagements, bigger tasks that need doing etc.
If we want to do something specific, we plan it in. We don’t assume the other understands our wishes. I’m planning a weekend away for his birthday so we talk about his work on Friday and whether to go Friday evening or Saturday morning; whether to take the children to hotel; lunch or supper or afternoon tea with his extended family etc. I want to swim at a particularly lovely river spot, so mentioned that and agreed to do it on way rather than dropping it on him at short notice. That planning and sharing becomes a really nice evening in its own right.

Driving is also key to your feelings. Book a few lessons and regain your confidence. Do it because if you get an unhappy BRCA result then you’ll need to be able to get to appointments and a car is a good place for a few tears in private. Do it because you can’t tell the future and you don’t want to leave it too late to be independent. Do it to feel good.

whatisforteamum · 15/06/2019 10:14

Polo sho I wouldn't go that far.He has worked long hours himself.I write a to do list and he does it while I'm working and sometimes helps my dm.It just seems unfair that he gets so much free time and freedom.I'm up at six home 1030 exhausted.which I don't mind if we're working for our future.If not it seems unfair.

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 15/06/2019 10:14

You don't sound like his wife, you sound like his mother.

He does nothing except golf unless you tell him to do it. Doesn't get a job, doesn't visit family, doesn't do activities round the house. Hasn't been motivated by a heart attack to improve his health.

Be honest - if you could drive, would you still be with him?

How much does he really lack confidence and how much does he just let other people you enable his life for him?

PeoniesarePink · 15/06/2019 10:21

Who is paying for the golf? You. So cut the money off. Pay the necessary bills, but let him find the money for a hobby.

People only behave in ways they are enabled to.

wombat1a · 15/06/2019 10:27

I think at 59 and a heart attack then his working life is pretty much over tbh.

MuttsNutts · 15/06/2019 10:29

How long do you plan to continue working those long hours? How long has your mortgage left to run? If you’re early fifties don’t you want to aim towards working a bit less and having more free time? Would you consider downsizing and buying somewhere smaller/with lower outgoings because even if he did get something part-time if anything happened to your ability to work those long hours your income would be severely impacted.

There are a lot of issues that you need to sit down together and discuss. Golf is not the problem here.