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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think husband is out of order?

65 replies

itsmonday · 12/09/2019 09:17

We've had a rough few years. I personally think he's had a hard time adjusting to fatherhood. He would disagree. He's a great dad but I think its a shock to him that he is expected to be considerate of his time now. Previously he done what he liked and didn't consider me in his plans so this is a big change for him. Anyway he has been bad tempered, moody, tried to gaslight me, always having wee digs and just generally been unsupportive since the baby was born 2 years ago. Iv tried to discuss it with him but I didn't actually realise what the problem was until a few months ago. I was oblivious to their being bigger issues and just thought we were having normal fights, he isn't very good at vocalising his issues and never wants to chat about anything. Things would be ok for a while then drastically take a turn. I arranged a few date days for us (we struggle for a babysitter so this was a big deal) he turned me down in favour of going out with a friend. He left me at Christmas and said he didn't want this anymore, leaving me at my mums where we spent Xmas and he went home on his own. I put him out the house last year for a week but he complained he had nowhere to go (doesn't speak to his family) and when he returned he had a go at me as he had no money. We have separate bank accounts. He has had issues with me bringing in a bigger wage as I worked so much overtime then didn't share it with him - the money was put aside as spending money for a holiday he booked and also paid for Xmas/birthdays. He never pays for presents for anyone or buys the toddler anything. He pays half the bills and puts petrol in the car. The rest is on me. He has accused me of prioritising work over family but encourages me to work OT as we need the money. He says I moan and nag all the time but admits he doesn't do very much cleaning or to a decent standard when he does. Iv asked him countless times to come and sit and talk when things have been really bad and he has refused. He once did talk by wouldn't sit down and stood instead with his arms folded and a scowl on his face. I feel like he's a teenager while I'm trying to have a nice marriage and the two don't go. Iv always been the one to initiate a conversation to get us back on track and when I can see he's making a slight effort I soften and let him brush things aside instead of talking about them. His favourite thing to do.

A few months ago I literally begged him to tell me why he was in a mood and the look in his eyes was of hate. I got on the first flight to my mums with the toddler and stayed there for over a week. He barely contacted me. He came over to visit the toddler and when I done the drop off he asked me to come out for the day as well, said no you spend the day but he didn't have a car so asked if I could drive them. He made small talk and it ended with us being 'back together' but he made no apology, no promises and whilst I wasn't looking for any dramatics, he didn't really have his tail between his leg or seem that bothered. Things just carries on as normal.

He accused me of needing counselling when the baby was months old, I was horrified and realise now this was him gaslighting me along with other things he has done. I have since agreed we both need marriage counselling and he admitted that he needs it more as he knows he has issues. I have tried to book it for us several times but he's cancelled and promised things will be great. Well they aren't.

A few weeks ago I could feel things changing again and his attitude, patience and demeanour were off. We had a silly argument about something which ended in him screaming at me that he was so fucking bored of me, you bore the fuck out of me stop talking I can't stand you. This is his go to line when he's ending the marriage altho he's never had the balls to say that. He thinks we should just live in the same house but Iv not to tell him what to do (tidy up his own mess is all I ever ask of him!) so I stopped talking to him. Childish yes but it feels like my only option. I'm refusing to cave and be the one who sorts this mess out again. If he wants to chat I am more than willing. Iv not cooked, shopped or washed his clothes for him. I'm carrying on as normal for the toddler but we're in separate rooms.

So AIBU to not speak? He's not spoken to me either for the record. If he asks to chat I'm fully up for it but I don't want to be the one sorting this mess again coz every time I do it never works and he acts like a stroppy teenager who has been given another chance but doesn't appreciate it. He's quite entitled in all aspects of his life and very stubborn although all these attributes he will try to pin on me, he constantly tries to bring me down and has told me my family think the same of me for years. I gathered the courage to discuss this with my family and they were horrified. My sister said this is mental/emotional abuse and I was so grateful for her confirmation that I'm not this monster he has made me think I am for years. He doesn't speak to his own family for pretty much the same reasons as he isn't speaking to me at the minute. Too much effort and he thinks he's right all the time.

So now he seems to be getting his back up more and more that I'm not communicating. But he is doing more cleaning and looking after the toddler than ever. This won't continue tho, he always does this when we fall out.

What happens from here. Do I keep ignoring him until he wants to have a proper chat? Do I let my marriage fizzle out because of this? Do I have any right to put him out the house? If I could move back with family I would but it's another country, I'd lose my job and want to secure work there first before making that move - which will be a whole new world of pain when he tries to fight me on it.

Sorry for how long this is. I suppose I just wanted it all down. Iv posted lots lately as I'm seriously lonely, confused, Fed up, pissed off, hurt... thanks for reading if you did.

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 13/09/2019 08:31

get legal advice regarding moving and getting the house sold

pinkyredrose · 13/09/2019 08:32

@TiggerOfThigh I'm horrified reading your post. Please leave asap and report him to the police before he kills you.

user1471449295 · 13/09/2019 08:40

You need to divorce him for both you and your sons sakes

lazylinguist · 13/09/2019 08:47

It's funny how the criteria for being a great dad seem to have such an astonishingly low bar. Would you consider yourself 'a great mum' if you behaved like him, OP? Even just bearing in mind the things you mentioned in your first post - never buying the toddler anything, refusing to contribute to the practical running of the household, treating your partner poorly and ditching your family to go off with your mates. How on earth is that a great dad?

WhoKnewBeefStew · 13/09/2019 08:59

Firstly if you get a job closer to your parents you can move, he can try, via the courts to stop you, however, he has to have a bloody good reason as to why he's stopping you. A friend of mine had similar, she stated that the move was good, as she's got employment in that area and she was moving back to be closer to her family and support structure. He lost and the courts didn't stop her.

Sounds like you really need to make the move if he's starting to interfere with parenting and it's affecting your dc.

HelenUrth · 13/09/2019 09:00

This man is impossible!

A good dad has boundaries for their child and doesn't let them run riot.
A good dad shows respect and kindness to the mother of his child, modelling behaviour that the child should aspire to in their future relationships.
A good dad considers the well being of his family, not just himself.

Please get legal advice as soon as you can, I think you should probably contact Womens Aid too. What he is doing is abuse.

itsmonday · 13/09/2019 09:20

I didn't think of his dad status as including how he treats me and you're right. That's not the criteria of a good dad. He loves his son and wants to spend time playing with him but I suppose that's the height of it. He admits I'm the one who disciplines but that makes me the bad one in my sons eyes at times and he favours his dad. That hurts.

OP posts:
Yabbers · 13/09/2019 09:33

turned me down in favour of going out with a friend.
just generally been unsupportive since the baby was born 2 years ago.
he acts like a stroppy teenager
its a shock to him that he is expected to be considerate of his time now
He never pays for presents for anyone or buys the toddler anything

But he’s a great dad, yeah? Why do women set this bar so bloody low?

If he won’t leave then you should. If you let him stay he thinks he is in control.

CuntyMcBollocks · 13/09/2019 10:04

Your marriage was over a long time ago. Things are not going to change or improve because the man you are married to just doesn't give a shit. You could have counselling for the rest of time, but if he isn't invested in your future together and won't admit to his issues, then it's a lost cause. I think you need to end things and concentrate on yourself and your child. You can do it Flowers

pinkyredrose · 13/09/2019 10:55

He's a 'great dad' because he plays wirh his kid? Hmm

Imagine if that's all you did, would you be a great mum?

Louloulovesyou · 13/09/2019 12:27

You deserve better. There is literally zero point in trying anymore, you will just continue on this soul destroying cycle. Do you want this to be your life and your kids life? Leave him, start again, build your self esteem. Eventually once you feel strong, you will meet someone amazing (you'll be better at spotting the bad ones) who will never make you question yourself, who will be a supportive partner and will have your best interests at heart. And you will look back at your old life and wonder why you stayed with your ex for so long. I speak from experience. Go out there, seize the day because you only have one life and it can be wonderful X

itsmonday · 13/09/2019 19:30

No I don't want this to be mine or my kids life but I just see failure in my future at the minute and that's hard, no one sees this from us and our mutual friends think I 'wear the trousers' and he happily plays that up

OP posts:
Justtryingtobehelpful · 13/09/2019 21:21

Seemingly that's a common thing to do, make our line he's a great guy to the outside eyes. Means others are less likely to believe you when you describe what he's really like.
Helps him keep asks against you and make them think he's the hard done by one.
The issue is not with you. It's with him. If he's not willing to give you your space to heal while he goes on the long hard road of facing up to his abusive behaviour: you have the hard choice of continuing this life or making a stand and starting to work to create the sort of life you want to live!
Read the book. You're not alone or crazy. He's manipulating the situation so you do everything for him and the family, you organise all the finances and you spend all your time and energy trying to fix or mend him.
He's not broken. He's manipulative, selfish and entitled.

redastherose · 18/09/2019 19:41

Sorry OP I thought with you saying you lived in a different country that you meant a foreign one. You can usually move within the uk without any issues. Can you look for a new job near your mum and then move with him, sell your current home and then split up once there. It means playing the long game and seems a bit underhand but would mean you could do what you need to do so that you end up where you want to be and he will be nearby to see DC. Be aware though that he may claim that he is your DC's main carer and want him to live with him at least 50% of the time and would be looking for maintenance from you. Would be worth you getting proper legal advice.

itsmonday · 18/09/2019 21:49

Thank you for the info. He wouldn't be able to claim maintenance, I am seen as the main cadet. That doesn't concern me, even if he did ask for money. I'm sick of living like this now. I want him out the house but he's refusing to go

OP posts:
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