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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My husband won't forgive me unless I apologise

539 replies

MarriageSOS · 08/08/2020 11:00

To try and cut a long story short, my husband and I have not been getting on for some time and things are getting worse. I had a difficult and I ended up giving birth very early which then resulted in a long hospital stay for our little one. We argued during this time as I was going every day and was exhausted and he didn't think it was necessary and I was bringing it on myself so he had no sympathy. I felt completely alone and was hurting, helpless and scared.

Once home we really struggled. Our baby didn't sleep and screamed constantly. We much later found out it was due to intolerances. I would be screamed at all day and felt like a complete failure and completely alone. I kept asking him to help and take the baby when he got home so I could just have 10 minutes on my own. I would happily cook dinner, just to have time off but he always said no as he didn't like baby stuff and the baby needed me not him and he'd had a hard day and just wanted to relax for a bit when he got home. This again caused arguments. I did say things like I wish he would be more of a father and help out more but he said his contribution was to provide the money and a roof over our heads not to deal with the baby stuff. We had a lot of arguments and just couldn't seem to see eye to eye on anything.

We are a year or so on and things with the baby are much better, although he still rarely looks after our child, never does bath or bed time so I can never go out or do anything on an evening. But he is still harbouring resentment from that first 6 months when according to him I was a nightmare to live with and he thinks its clear I had PND as I was so horrible to him. He says he used to drive to work hating me and not want to come home as he knew all he would get is me crying or being angry with him and he got no appreciation for how hard he was working to provide for us.

He wants an apology for how horrible I was to him and how miserable I made him but I don't know how to apologise as I don't remember being that awful but I do remember it being an awful time and crying out for him to help me and him turning his back on me and saying it was my problem to deal with. So we appear to be at an impass.

I dont know if we can recover from this unless I apologise and take all the blame for everything. I have tried saying I'm sorry that I hurt him but that I was hurting too and felt alone, but he wants more than that. He wants me to apologise and mean it with no 'buts' and fully acknowledge that it was all my fault.

AIBU? Should I just apologise and take all the blame?

OP posts:
Wishihadanalgorithm · 08/08/2020 18:21

OP, please leave this piece of white and then live you can live happily ever after. This man sounds terrible and you deserve better.

JamRolyPolyAnyone · 08/08/2020 18:43

I tried talking to him but he said he didn't want to have this discussion with me when DC was asleep upstairs and tbh my whole attitude was atrocious and he cant be arsed with me and he walked out and has driven off. So I dont really know where to go from here

Throw his clothes into black bags, put them on the doorstep and lock the doors. Nobody should have to put up with an immature, control freak for the rest of their lives. As a father he has a duty to provide a roof over his dc’s head until the dc is 18.

You’d be better off living in solitary confinement than wasting years on this egotistical POS!

It seems he is looking for a way out OP. Let him go... You can do better than that 💐

eveningfalls · 08/08/2020 18:52

He does not love you

RitmoRatmo · 08/08/2020 18:54

YANBU. In the slightest. Ever. Full-stop.

OP- Your ‘D’H has treated you abysmally when you needed him most. He should’ve been there with you at your baby’s side, caring for you both, supporting you, worrying with you.

Instead he was a giant jealous baby, and is throwing his dummy out the pram because you deigned to visit your actual baby instead of babying him.

The fact he thinks you should apologise is worrying. He mistreats your around the premature birth of your baby then gaslights you into thinking you’re to blame for the subsequent issues this throws up?

I’m worried for you OP as it’s natural that you feel conflicted about what to do as this is your real existence and the father of your child, but to an outside eye it’s clear this revolting man-child has done a number on you & got you right where he wants you.

Tell him you apologise...for ever having thought he was marriage material, and tell him you’re therefore going to seek a divorce.

lowlandLucky · 08/08/2020 19:15

I put up with a Husband that didn't lift a finger to look after our children, biggest regret of my life was staying with him. Don't waste another day of your childs life, get rid of the abusive git before your child know how awful it is to live with a Father that doesn't care

Enderman · 08/08/2020 19:15

You know, you’re supposed to be a team. In no way is he part of the team.

GabsAlot · 08/08/2020 19:31

op like you said you tried he wonteven talk to you now
hes not autistic hes an arsehole-please dont use it as an excuse to stay

Alwaysinpain · 08/08/2020 19:37

@MarriageSOS Until I hear shouting

At your child?????

Cloudfrost · 08/08/2020 19:38

Both you and your baby deserve so much better! Do not let your DC grow up thinking that the behaviour your DH displays towards you and them is normal! Your DH is a selfish, twat a shit father and even shittier husband. Do not waste your life walking on eggshells around him, always trying to please him, always being blamed about everything.

Boshmama · 08/08/2020 19:38

Run

Seriously get you and your baby out of there. You do not need this level of arse hole in your life.

Thought you'd brought exhaustion on yourself by visiting your premature baby in hospital?!? And couldn't be bothered to see his sick child himself? Does nothing to help you have a break? Says he 'hated you' for crying and having pnd?

Honestly OP I dont know you, but I know noone deserves to put up with this.

LTB

Motoko · 08/08/2020 19:40

DO NOT HAVE COUPLES COUNSELLING WITH AN ABUSER!

Abuse often starts after the birth of a baby. He never really loved you, but if he'd treated you like this when you were first dating, you'd have dumped him like a ton of bricks. But once you have a baby, abusers feel you're now trapped and unlikely to leave, so that's when they change. It is well known, and part of the cycle of abuse. It's like they all follow a script.

All you need to know is that this is your life now, and that nothing you try will change him back to the man you thought he was when you fell in love with him, and that abuse only ever gets worse.

What you need to do now is make an appointment with a solicitor, find all the financial documents to show the solicitor, and start divorce proceedings. DO NOT TELL HIM YOU'RE PLANNING ON LEAVING!

Also, check out the Freedom Programme as previously suggested, and contact Women's Aid for support. Do some research on abuse. The Lundy Bancroft book, Why Does He Do That? that a pp mentioned is a very good insight into abuse, and can be found online for free. Google it.

Dennysheart · 08/08/2020 19:40

He’s a grade A arsehole. I’d be ending the marriage. Better alone than a selfish fuck like him.

FlapAttack23 · 08/08/2020 19:44

He’s an absolute cunt and there is no nicer way to say it

mumof2exhausted · 08/08/2020 19:44

Please leave him. This is not going to get better

FilmRec · 08/08/2020 19:45

Oh dear, you married an arsehole.

And what exactly is he going to do if you don't apologise? Confused

LouHotel · 08/08/2020 19:45

A husband jealous of their premature baby who was fighting for his life.

This man has ground you down to point of believing the above is acceptable.

This isn't someone to talk to this is someone you leave and not look back.

BrandyandBabycham · 08/08/2020 19:46

I haven’t RTWT OP but this screams abuse! How absolutely awful for you. Please leave & get your baby away from this poor excuse of a man. Good luck 💐💐

SpillTheTeaa · 08/08/2020 19:50

Awww bless him he was good at providing.
You know what you were good at? Being a mum and being there for your child even during the hospital stays.
He is a vile nasty piece of shit. How dare he say you need to apologise if he suspected PND why didn't he effing help you.
Take it he rarely visited your poorly baby either as he didn't see it was important.

Urgh, leave this vile piece of shit.

ladycarlotta · 08/08/2020 19:52

if he's good at providing for you and putting a roof over your head, he can do that while you and your child live elsewhere, for good.

Craftycorvid · 08/08/2020 19:54

OP, maybe he’s neuro-diverse, makes no odds - just makes him a neuro-diverse twat. Please leave!

JoeCalFuckingZaghe · 08/08/2020 20:00

I tried talking to him but he said he didn't want to have this discussion with me when DC was asleep upstairs and tbh my whole attitude was atrocious and he cant be arsed with me and he walked out and has driven off. So I dont really know where to go from here...
Pack your bags and out the door I would imagine. Don’t think so little of yourself that a nice house is the best thing he has done for you. He is a shitstain of a man and I’d be embarrassed to be with someone so pathetic.

QuestionMarkNow · 08/08/2020 20:03

I tried talking to him but he said he didn't want to have this discussion with me when DC was asleep upstairs and tbh my whole attitude was atrocious and he cant be arsed with me and he walked out and has driven off. So I dont really know where to go from here...

That’s not autistic behaviour. That’s being an arse

frumpety · 08/08/2020 20:04

Have now read the whole thread and just have this awful feeling that the reason he needs you to apologise is because he has done something he shouldn't have. If you admit you were horrible and awful to live with, then that will mean whatever he did wasn't his fault in his head, he was driven to it by your behaviour. I hope I am wrong.

I also hope you leave him. Flowers

MyOwnSummer · 08/08/2020 20:05

Total wanker. Try "Apology my arse, here's the divorce paperwork you absolute cunt."

That just about covers it.

Marriedtoapenguin · 08/08/2020 20:06

Not often I join in the group pile on but in this case pass me my extra heavy shit kicking boots. What a wanker.