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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to LTB

36 replies

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 12:29

DH and I have been together for eight years, married for four, with one DS. He's smart, funny, interesting, handsome, successful etc. However, he completely ignores me and I feel like it's ruining my life.
He's on his phone a lot when I'm speaking to him and doesn't listen to me. If I ask him something he'll respond even though he's not listening, like "please could you pass the salt?" he'll say "sure" and not move to pass the salt. I'll ask again and he'll say "sure" and not move. Then I'll raise my voice and he'll look all surprised at why I'm exasperated and he'll pass the salt and sometimes say "you don't need to raise your voice" or "you could just ask nicely". Or, he'll be going to the kitchen and I'll ask him to bring something back. He'll say he will and then never, ever return with the thing I asked for - ever.
Our son doesn't like being put in his highchair and left - I guess he gets bored. Then he gets fussy and when we try to feed him when he's already fussy then he's more difficult to feed and the whole thing escalates. So, I've said to my husband dozens of times that if he's feeding DS, not to put DS into the highchair until the food is ready. Despite this, he puts DS into the highchair before starting to make food every single time. Then I have to take over feeding when DS is fussy and difficult and won't eat properly. When I challenge him on this, he just says he "forgot" AGAIN.
Our dog has a bit of a stealing problem, she's a puppy so it's not unusual. She often gets a bit anxious with the things she's stolen and isn't very easy to get things back from when she thinks she's in trouble. I've asked DH hundreds of times not to leave things in her reach. And yet, he ALWAYS does. This morning I've had to recover a t-shirt left on the bottom step of our staircase, the selotape that was left on the desk, a packet left on the edge of the kitchen sides and a pen left on a side table. Because our dog is more intimidated by my husband (I think purely because he's male and larger than me rather than anything he's done), I have to get things off her to stop her getting distressed. (We're seeing a behaviourist for this problem and she's not aggressive or anything so not looking for dog advice here).
These are just some examples but I feel like DH ignores everything that I have to say. If it's just a conversation then he'll bury himself in his phone, if it's a request then he'll "forget". I don't know what to do anymore. I'm sick of raising my voice but he doesn't even look up otherwise, and my life is being made so difficult by him not following basic instructions. I can't just let him deal with the consequences of not listening but it will be detrimental to DS/the dog and it's not fair on them.
I've brought it up multiple times, calmly and afterwards and tried to get to the bottom of it. He always apologises and says he'll try to change etc but nothing happens.
AIBU to LTB? What are my other options?

OP posts:
Leimarel · 30/09/2020 12:33

Tell him to turn his phone off and confront him, with no distractions. This is hugely annoying behaviour and I can understand how frustrated you feel. Alternatively you could write it all down - or send him an email if he's more likely to pay attention to that - and make sure he is aware of just how unhappy his behaviour is making you.

user15412486546 · 30/09/2020 12:35

How many opportunities has he had to change?

And how many do you think are reasonable?

Would you be able to cope with spending the rest of your life like this?

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 12:37

@Leimarel

Tell him to turn his phone off and confront him, with no distractions. This is hugely annoying behaviour and I can understand how frustrated you feel. Alternatively you could write it all down - or send him an email if he's more likely to pay attention to that - and make sure he is aware of just how unhappy his behaviour is making you.
I do. I tell him to put his phone down and he does but the second I turn my back or stop talking or it makes a noise, he picks it straight back up. If his phone isn't on him then he'll get distracted by his finger nails, or his socks or anything else around him. I've told him exactly how I feel and he appears genuinely really apologetic and understanding of how frustrating it is - but he doesn't carry that forward to his behaviour.
OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 30/09/2020 12:37

I'd be telling him one final time that he either invests in your relationship because your marriage is important to him, because you are important to him, or you will be going to a solicitor to end the marriage.

The change needs to be immediate and permanent. Refuse to live your life as though you are invisible. Fuck that.

Also, be aware that your husband's indifference is going to have a massive impact on your child. Not only will your son feel unimportant, it may very well shape how he behaves in the future. You may end up with a child who ignores you, too.

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 12:39

@user15412486546

How many opportunities has he had to change?

And how many do you think are reasonable?

Would you be able to cope with spending the rest of your life like this?

I've said it hundreds of times and it's definitely getting worse. I couldn't cope like this forever but I also don't want to throw away a marriage and partner with no other flaws when this seems like something that should be so easy to fix.
OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 30/09/2020 12:43

I also don't want to throw away a marriage and partner with no other flaws when this seems like something that should be so easy to fix.

You're married due to a piece of paper, but there's no real partnership is there? As for flaws, him not valuing you and not wanting to be engaged with you are two pretty massive flaws. Loads of problems are very easy to fix, if one wants to. He doesn't want to. Believe his actions, not his empty promises.

user15412486546 · 30/09/2020 12:48

this seems like something that should be so easy to fix

Yet by his actions he has told you hundreds of times that he doesn't care and has no intention of doing things differently.

You can't "fix" another person's behaviour.

Personally, I'd rather throw away a soul-destroying marriage than the next 3, 4, 5, 6 decades of my future.

I also agree that, as flaws go, not giving a shit about you is pretty major.

Notimeforaname · 30/09/2020 12:56

Has he always been like this op, or is it a new thing?

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 12:58

There are so many great things about our relationship. We have so much in common, he's an incredible parent (and we mirror each other because he's good at all the things I'm bad at and vice versa), we have a great sex life, he's really intelligent and says interesting things, we're financially stable and are secure, we have a solid friendship group and everyone likes him (literally everyone), we have genuine fun together. This issue is the only thing I would change, and I don't like giving up.

OP posts:
Swampshade · 30/09/2020 12:58

@Notimeforaname

Has he always been like this op, or is it a new thing?
He wasn't like this at the start. It's probably been happening over the last three years or so, and getting worse.
OP posts:
sst1234 · 30/09/2020 13:06

So you want to leave him because he has short attention span or had memory? I’m sure the LTB brigade will be along in a second to tell you he’s abusive.

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 13:07

@sst1234

So you want to leave him because he has short attention span or had memory? I’m sure the LTB brigade will be along in a second to tell you he’s abusive.
Not quite. He doesn't have a short attention span or bad memory with anyone else, just me. He's doesn't listen to anything I say. You're being slightly absurd to try and portray this as some kind of disability that he should be sympathised with.
OP posts:
WeveGottaGetTherouxThis · 30/09/2020 13:08

My husband could be a lot like this, and still can be, but he has improved; I used to feel like I was talking to a brick wall. I just kept telling him that I wasn’t prepared to be in a relationship with someone who blanked me or the children when we spoke to him and that I would have a much less frustrating time if I lived alone. I’m not sure if it’s the same with your husband, but mine is quite aloof a lot of the time. His father is the same. It just seems to be part of their personalities.

With regards to the mobile phone, can you request he puts it away for certain times?

Even this morning, we were trying to teach our 5 year old to tie his school tie, and I asked my husband to show him how (as I do everything else for them, and have never worn a tie!). He called our son to come to him and my son shouted back “Where are you, daddy?”....my husband blanked him. DS repeated his question....radio silence. So in the end, I had to respond...DH was just staring blankly ahead. So frustrating.

Nanny0gg · 30/09/2020 13:08

@Swampshade

There are so many great things about our relationship. We have so much in common, he's an incredible parent (and we mirror each other because he's good at all the things I'm bad at and vice versa), we have a great sex life, he's really intelligent and says interesting things, we're financially stable and are secure, we have a solid friendship group and everyone likes him (literally everyone), we have genuine fun together. This issue is the only thing I would change, and I don't like giving up.
He is NOT an incredible parent.

And at least he puts the phone down when sex is on the horizon.

Funny that.

MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 30/09/2020 13:10

LTB. Im the most forgetful person in the world & this isnt it. This is hes not interested. You bore him. Domestic life bores him.

You want his attention? Stop talking (for the love of god ignore the 'sit him down & talk to him' brigade) & start making his life less easy & comfortable. Start leaving him at home with the dog & baby. Stop being this person at home all day making his life run smoootly.

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 13:13

@WeveGottaGetTherouxThis

My husband could be a lot like this, and still can be, but he has improved; I used to feel like I was talking to a brick wall. I just kept telling him that I wasn’t prepared to be in a relationship with someone who blanked me or the children when we spoke to him and that I would have a much less frustrating time if I lived alone. I’m not sure if it’s the same with your husband, but mine is quite aloof a lot of the time. His father is the same. It just seems to be part of their personalities.

With regards to the mobile phone, can you request he puts it away for certain times?

Even this morning, we were trying to teach our 5 year old to tie his school tie, and I asked my husband to show him how (as I do everything else for them, and have never worn a tie!). He called our son to come to him and my son shouted back “Where are you, daddy?”....my husband blanked him. DS repeated his question....radio silence. So in the end, I had to respond...DH was just staring blankly ahead. So frustrating.

I completely resonate with this - how did it improve? If I suggest not being on his phone at certain times etc then he gets a bit defensive, we had a slight breakthrough during lockdown where he was listening to a podcast on the detrimental impact of social media and he removed any scrolling type apps from his phone - but it didn't last. Even without his phone, he finds another distraction. I don't think he is particularly aloof by nature, he's very grounded and aware with everyone else. What's strange is that he appears to be listening so much of the time that I only notice when he doesn't respond properly (like by not passing the salt). I feel your frustration. Luckily, at this stage, he only ignores me. If my son toddles over to him then he's all ears.
OP posts:
Plussizejumpsuit · 30/09/2020 13:14

How's he an incredible parent if he can't even feed your son properly?

GabriellaMontez · 30/09/2020 13:15

Phones can be very demanding of attention.

Tell him to turn it to silent and leave it another room after working hours.

If not ask him to suggest a solution. Or a trial separation.

It sounds very lonely being ignored constantly. I wouldn't fancy a lifetime of it.

toomanyspiderplants · 30/09/2020 13:16

I think you need to sit together and work out a plan about how this is going to change. no phones after 6? screen free Sundays. no phones at the dinner table etc. unless goals are set nothing will change. because you sound like, other than this, you have a good life

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 13:17

@MarriedtoDaveGrohl

LTB. Im the most forgetful person in the world & this isnt it. This is hes not interested. You bore him. Domestic life bores him.

You want his attention? Stop talking (for the love of god ignore the 'sit him down & talk to him' brigade) & start making his life less easy & comfortable. Start leaving him at home with the dog & baby. Stop being this person at home all day making his life run smoootly.

Thank you for this but it's not quite like that. I work full time (from home at the moment) and he works part-time (three days each week) and looks after our son the other days. He does a great deal of the housework, childcare and dog care. I'm certainly not spending my days cooking or cleaning or organising his life. He's definitely not lazy or viewing me as the dull housewife or anything of that nature.
OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/09/2020 13:18

No phones at table.
If he agrees to get something and doesn’t then ask him to go back for it.
Feeding? Leave him to it. Don’t swoop in and save the day. He’ll soon realise why you ask things to be done in a certain way.

Plussizejumpsuit · 30/09/2020 13:18

He's either stupid with a very short attention span or wilfully ignoring you . His insistance he'll change is utter crap as he's had load of opportunity to but hasn't. So he has shown you his priority and its not you. I don't want to be harsh I just think you deserve better and are accepting really poor behaviour from him. I do find it puzzling you say the rest of the relationship is amazing. I certainly couldn't have a wonderful sex life with a man who ignored me all of the time! You're letting him get away with this.

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 13:18

@toomanyspiderplants

I think you need to sit together and work out a plan about how this is going to change. no phones after 6? screen free Sundays. no phones at the dinner table etc. unless goals are set nothing will change. because you sound like, other than this, you have a good life
We've tried this kind of thing but he just focuses on other things. He'll read the back of packets or stare out the window. Sometimes he'll look straight at me and zone out.
OP posts:
Adoptthisdogornot · 30/09/2020 13:20

Have you tried calling his phone each and every time he ignores you coz he's on it? I'm not joking, it could trigger some realisation in him maybe

Swampshade · 30/09/2020 13:21

@Adoptthisdogornot

Have you tried calling his phone each and every time he ignores you coz he's on it? I'm not joking, it could trigger some realisation in him maybe
This would be funny but I actually never have my phone on me enough to do that - I haven't seen it in days.
OP posts:
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