Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Don’t know what to do, am I overreacting?

23 replies

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 02:14

Hello,

First time poster here, a bit of a long one so I’ll try to keep it short!

Backstory - Me and my bf have been together 5 years. When we met, I lived in a mortgaged property and he moved in officially after a year (although he spent a lot of time at mine in that first year so was basically living with me). We were both working, I had a pretty decent job and he earned significantly more than me (and still lived at home with parents). I paid the mortgage and bills at mine as it was my home and we were just bf and gf. He did pay for groceries though and if something needed to be repaired he would always help out eg got a new washing machine when mine broke down. We have our ups and downs like normal couples but nothing out of the ordinary and I believe we 100% trust each other. We were ttc and had detailed discussions about what would happen prior to getting pregnant. We talked about marriage but no proposal yet. The plan was for him to buy a house for all of us to live there and to rent out my property so the rental income will pay my mortgage as I will not be working after giving birth (I am a contractor so no job to go back to). He agreed to support us financially when we got pregnant . We also planned to get married after house and kids as we both felt the money would be better going towards another property first. Fast forward, our LO was born earlier this year and we also moved into our new home around the same time. The rental income I get pays my mortgage at the old place plus more for spending (BF does not provide financially for anything extra eg spending money although to be fair I’ve never asked or needed it as I have always had my own money to spend). He pays the mortgage and bills at our new home (which is in his name only - I have no problems with this btw as I have a property in my own name and we planned on being married one day so it made no difference to me). He also pays for majority of groceries as I am not working and currently sahm. I pay for groceries sometimes, usually if I’m shopping alone and I also pay for LO clothes and toys. I also pay for the odd takeaway as a treat on those days we are too lazy to cook or think about what to eat. We have never calculated who spends more.

Anyway, since having LO I find we have been bickering a lot over the most petty things, nothing worth breaking up over but it’s so tiring when it’s added up and I feel like I’m going insane. He does help a lot with our dc when he’s not working but I do majority of childcare as I am a sahm. I think we have a pretty good set up and have no complaints in that department but I can’t get over how silly the arguments get and it’s becoming so exhausting. Sometimes I feel like he doesn’t even like me anymore but never wants to talk about it and seems fine after an hour or once he’s cooled off. I just can’t shrug it off as easily as him and a lot crosses my mind such as breaking up etc. We haven’t been intimate since LO was born - I think breastfeeding may be causing my lack of sex drive but BF is not pressuring me which kinda makes me feel bad. I just don’t know what to do as everything else is great, it’s just the petty arguments which he refuses to talk about. I hate feeling this way, it’s really getting me down. Every conversation nearly always ends in an argument and he always gets on the defensive as soon as I say anything. It’s getting to the point of not even wanting to speak to him about anything. I feel the spark has gone. Am I overreacting in wanting to leave? Can our relationship improve once LO is weaned off the breast? I don’t have any family around to support me so even if I decided to leave, I don’t really know what my options are... I really need a hug right now, feeling really stressed. sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.

OP posts:
TreesSandSea · 28/10/2019 02:18

The first few years after having babies are notoriously hard on relationships. Do hi and he get any time alone?

TreesSandSea · 28/10/2019 02:18

Sorry, you and he

Thehop · 28/10/2019 02:22

I went completely off being intimate in the early days of feeding. Breastfeeding produces oxytocin so we have no need to seek it out having sex, so you’re not on your own there. I’m still feeding my 3 year old but things naturally improved when she got to eating food aswell and was breastfeeding less.

I also think having a baby to look after does make your Oh become an irritation sometimes! It’s so hard, being knackered feeding a Looking after this baby that you’re consumed by.......and they still expect you to be you.....but some days you can’t remember who that is!

Do you think it’s tied up in having a new baby or do you think you really just don’t feel like you love him anymore?

Rocktheboot · 28/10/2019 02:23

yep, I agree with treesandseas, it's HARD having young kids. but, you don't really say what you are arguing about? are you arguing or is he having a go at you?

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 02:25

Not really, as I am breastfeeding I find it easier to have LO in bed with us as I have to feed every 2 hours. He wants another baby but I can’t seem to shrugs these feelings off..

OP posts:
AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 02:37

I feel like he is always trying to start a fight with me. He gets into a mood over nothing and most of the time I let it go because its just not worth it but sometimes I have had enough and we end up arguing but then an hour later it’s like we never had the argument. It’s always over something ridiculous, so petty that I can’t even recall most of it. Sometimes when I talk to him he ignores me and he knows I hate that, it’s like I’m talking to myself. friends often ask if everything is okay as he seems annoyed with me but that’s just typical him these days. Maybe I am just being overly sensitive?

OP posts:
Harmonyrays · 28/10/2019 02:46

Have talked to him about how you feel? I think the blanking you is a sign of disrespect

BeerMyHold · 28/10/2019 02:52

He's jealous you're not as focused on him and is sulking about it, trying to get attention by picking fights.

this may be me projecting as it was exactly what my DH did when I had a newborn

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 02:53

Yes I always try to talk to him and ask if something is bothering him but am always told that nothing is wrong yet the way he goes about is telling me something is off and not really getting any reassurance. He always goes dead quiet and I can feel the tension but he says it’s all in my head. It’s happening far too often though..

OP posts:
Harmonyrays · 28/10/2019 03:40

It sounds like mind games. Ive been there, currently have a post up after 12 years marriage, 2 kids, debt asking if i should leave when signs, like yours, were there from the start. Think carefully if you are willing to sacrife.your time and effort into something if it does not feel right this early on. I believe its intuition.

OldAndWornOut · 28/10/2019 03:47

Some men do find it hard to adjust to parenthood.
I know two really nice guys and doting dads who have admitted they were really jealous when their babies were born.

coralisland · 28/10/2019 03:57

How old is your DC? You say you've got no family around but is there someone else you trust to look after them so you and your partner can have some alone time?
It's so easy to slip into just 'mum' and 'dad' and forget to be partners together outside of those roles. Maybe a bit of 1-on-1 time will help to reset your relationship, if that's what you want?

Lightsabre · 28/10/2019 04:22

Having a baby is a huge adjustment in a relationship. As others have said, try to make time via a babysitter (or his parents?) for both of you to spend time together and try to reconnect.

If you split, although you would have your house, will you be able to pay the mortgage and bills and child care alone? What is the position re; marriage currently? It might offer you more protection.

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 08:24

I would like to work things out but I don’t know if he wants to if he can’t admit that something is wrong and I know there is something because he won’t speak to me and when I get annoyed and start ignoring him, he does everything to get me talking again as if nothing is wrong. I go along most of the time but in my head I’m fuming, I know it sounds a bit silly but that’s why I am so angry, because it’s gotten like this and our relationship is falling apart over pettiness. He works quite long hours so on his days off he wants to spend it with DC (who is 8months btw) but I’ll see if he’s interested in spending alone time but tbh it’s been on my mind awhile now so I’m not feeling positive. We do have friends (a couple) nearby and they have always offered to babysit. If it doesn’t work out, I wondered if I could get any help if I moved back to my own place. I believe there was a benefit for mortgage interest repayments for those who had lost their jobs so wondered if there was something similar for single parents with a mortgage?

OP posts:
AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 08:27

Btw I think he still wants marriage although we haven’t spoken it (he still brings up having a second baby) and he acts normal after these episodes.

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 28/10/2019 11:46

I don't think the mortgage interest relief payments exist any longer. You would need to claim Universal Credit now I think. Perhaps start looking for a job to build up your own savings so you have a buffer in case the situation can't be resolved.

HulksPurplePanties · 28/10/2019 12:00

Honestly, you sound like a normal couple who just had their first baby and hasn't had sex in 8 months. Bound to make things a little tense round the house.

Needbettername · 28/10/2019 13:38

A baby is a huge adjustment for him too. You say you are sure there is something and sound like you are asking him a lot. He is probably getting fed up with the what's wrong questioning and may not be able to explain what if anything is actually wrong.

Try and get some alone time for you both together. But then try and do something chilled and fun not have a serious talk. And maybe try for some alone time yourself and allow him to bond on own with baby.

ExpectingatChristmas · 28/10/2019 13:47

Honestly, this is perfectly normal. You will gradually get better as a couple in time when you have more time and energy for each other.

Stick it out. It may take a long time but you will be pleased you did in the end. No relationship is perfect and as much as it is making you feel rubbish right now it could be so much worse.

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 14:00

I really hope it’s nothing and just me being over sensitive. And yes I do feel like I’m constantly asking but only because I’m getting ignored/silent treatment for no apparent reason and when I ask what’s the matter I get shut down. We spend a lot of time together and it gets very awkward when neither of us speak to each other. He can go an hour of not talking to me in a car journey home for example even with no music playing. He also becomes heavy handed eg closing doors harder than usual or breaking more harshly in the car when I start to ignore his mood so I do wonder, if he wasn’t angry or annoyed to begin with why is he getting increasingly annoyed when I ignore him? Hope that makes sense.

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 28/10/2019 14:01

I think it’s normal, tired and adjusting.

I think you don’t need to talk about the petty arguments. Let them go. If possible have a bit of time just the two of you, a date night even if it’s just an hour eating at home whilst the little one naps.

You can even have some prepared questions like you would on a first date like if you could go anywhere on in the world tomorrow where would you go etc. Say your favourite things about each other etc.

I think there’s a chance you’re also more reactive and argumentative too and it’s not just him, because you’re both knackered and have a whole different life.

It will get better. Just acknowledge it’s tough right now, you love each other, you’re in it together x

AdvicePleaseee · 28/10/2019 16:58

Thank you all for the replies. I think you’re right @MiddleClassProblem it’s just so tough with a new baby. I love being a mum but I miss the way we use to be, never occurred to me that having a baby will change everything, as silly as it sounds lol

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 28/10/2019 17:26

I don’t think anyone can prepare you for it. Even if you saw people writing it out for you their experiences, it’s a whole other thing. Even just what your body will feel and behave like after is hard to understand.

Maybe just note to even give him a compliment each day and hopefully it will catch on as a vice versa.

And pick your battles with him now. It’s a great skill to learn because when your bub becomes a toddler it will be invaluable! 😂 You and your OH will be fine by then 😁

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread