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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

About DHs hobby?

265 replies

flamingwok · 03/08/2019 18:43

I need opinions, please and thanks.

DH has played football for as long as I've known him (in fact since he was a small boy). We've been together 15 years and married for eight. We have a three, nearly four year old and a baby. I'm a sahm, he works Mon- Fri and is out of the house 7-7 each day.

He trains two evenings a week and is gone playing from lunchtime on a Saturday until 5/6pm. We take turns at a weekend to have a lie in one day each (as we're up at 5am each day with the children) and he has his on a Saturday so he's rested for his game so basically he's around for about 2/3 hours on a Saturday morning when the children are awake. He's club captain, the most experienced player at 36 years old. He always said when they children were a bit bigger he'd reassess how much he plays.

Our DD is getting to an age now where she's really starting to get really quite upset missing her Dad on a Saturday, especially bearing in mind she only sees him for a quick breakfast in the week each day she's in bed when he gets home. Also, we're looking to get her into some kids club type things at a weekend most of which run on an afternoon and most I can't take her to with a baby too.

I've spoken to DH and asked if he can maybe look at cutting down the Saturdays. The only family time we really have is on a Sunday, and I barely have any time to do anything actually myself if I want to. I've no problem with the weeknight evenings training, or him going running whenever he wants in the evenings as the children are in bed anyway so no hassle to me or them.

He has basically just said no. That I can just bring the children along if they miss him and that that's not how team sports work, he can't just do every second week for example (which I'd be happy with). That lots of his team mates (who are mostly in their mid to late twenties) have young families and that they just go to watch.

I was a child whose brother played football and I got dragged along to watch every Saturday. I was bored as hell. I also used to have to watch my Dad play rugby constantly as a young child - again, did not enjoy at all. His sister was also made to do this while they were growing up and always says how much she hated it. Plus I've taken my eldest before the baby came and it's really not that child friendly - lots of smoking on the edge of the pitch. Adults yelling and swearing while the kids hang around at knees or are stuck in buggies. His team mates might be happy with that for their children but I'm not. I also don't want to go myself I can't imagine anything more boring!

So I've asked if his club won't allow a fortnightly commitment could he look at a veterans team, which he's well old enough to join and who play less regularly and with less commitment. Again, it's a no for now. He's still apparently young and fit enough to play at this level so that's what he wants to do.

Also worth mentioning that he has another non sports related interest that he does probably once every two/three months that takes him away overnight or for a weekend. I have no problem with this.

I think he's being a selfish, uncompromising sod. He disagrees.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Indicative · 04/08/2019 18:33

As he gets older and the kids get older he will switch to being a parent coach and your weekends being dominated by your kids sports.

blueluce85 · 04/08/2019 18:37

Are people who say YABU ignoring the fact that his absence is upsetting their daughter? He is being a sucky parent to be so absent in her life when he has the option to rectify it

timeisnotaline · 04/08/2019 19:57

It’s great for parents of children to have their own thing, but not at the families expense.

OP, what happens with footy when he goes away for a night/ weekend every 2-3 months for his other thing? Is it work first priority, 2nd interest next priority, football next priority, and then family? Because if he cancels football for the other interest I’d be furious and something would have to give before I lifted a finger for him again.

My dh played at a level similar it sounds like. I made it pretty clear we weren’t going anywhere if we could never ever go away for a weekend during the football season.

flamingwok · 05/08/2019 11:12

@timeisnotaline When he has something come up with his other interest (probably once every two or three months or so) he takes the day off football. Which makes me furious. No issue with the other interest or him going, even if for the odd weekend or overnight but it makes me angry that he can choose to take a week off occasionally to do that but not to spend with us.

OP posts:
flamingwok · 05/08/2019 11:12

@timeisnotaline When he has something come up with his other interest (probably once every two or three months or so) he takes the day off football. Which makes me furious. No issue with the other interest or him going, even if for the odd weekend or overnight but it makes me angry that he can choose to take a week off occasionally to do that but not to spend with us.

OP posts:
flamingwok · 05/08/2019 11:12

@timeisnotaline When he has something come up with his other interest (probably once every two or three months or so) he takes the day off football. Which makes me furious. No issue with the other interest or him going, even if for the odd weekend or overnight but it makes me angry that he can choose to take a week off occasionally to do that but not to spend with us.

OP posts:
flamingwok · 05/08/2019 11:13

Oh crumbs, no need to say it three times! Sorry not sure what happened thereHmm

OP posts:
flamingwok · 05/08/2019 11:15

He won't @Indicative. I'm not tolerating that. Plus my eldest has (at the moment) not even the slightest interest in football. Obviously I don't know what the baby will like.

If my children end up doing sports at the weekend that's fine whatever it ends up being. But then we should both be there to do the ferrying/supporting, not just me!

OP posts:
flamingwok · 05/08/2019 21:25

Well, good news.

We've had a long heart to heart about this, and DH has agreed with the football manager that he will have one weekend off of matches in every 4, and hand over the captaincy so that he's there for a bit less time on the other Saturdays. We're switching lie in days those weeks that he's playing unless it's a really big match that he wants to be really on form for. Sundays remain family time and the additional Saturdays that he is here I will be having the afternoon off. We're going to be making more effort to actually get out and about doing fun things on a Sunday instead of loafing about at home wasting the day.

It's a compromise and a start and I'm happy with that.

OP posts:
Whosorrynow · 05/08/2019 21:35

That's great news OP, well done to you both, I hope you continue to find a way forward that works in everyone's best interests 😊

timeisnotaline · 06/08/2019 07:49

Great news op. I have to admit when I heard he cancels football when there’s something else important to him ie family’s not I didn’t think this would end well, so glad he seen the light.

flamingwok · 06/08/2019 08:42

TBH I think he's had a bit of a time to think about it and realise that I'm not trying to take his beloved hobby away or just bust his balls for no good reason.

Also, DD told him straight out that she doesn't want him to go to football when she wants to play with him! Out of the mouths of babes and all that...

OP posts:
flamingwok · 06/08/2019 08:42

TBH I think he's had a bit of a time to think about it and realise that I'm not trying to take his beloved hobby away or just bust his balls for no good reason.

Also, DD told him straight out that she doesn't want him to go to football when she wants to play with him! Out of the mouths of babes and all that...

OP posts:
beaneyes · 06/08/2019 10:40

Positive result!

Phineyj · 06/08/2019 17:55

It's good to hear that. Now, this may sound nerdy but get the plan all down in writing (email or text) in case he wiggles out. Works for us.

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