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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for giving partner a 'bedtime'

171 replies

Braneycat · 01/11/2020 01:05

Okay, context

My partner is not the best drunk. In the past there has been alot of trauma due to his drinking, from fights (with me and others) vile arguments, even got arrested once. He has grown out of all that but he still has a stupid habit of not knowing when the party ends, and goes too hard.

Now, on normal days this is fine. If I don't have work, I don't care what time he comes home (I mean I do, but it would be unreasonable of me to give him a time). But there have been occasions in the past where he's come home so late or so drunk I've had to call his mum early hours to pick my children up so I can go to work.

Now this is an argument that we've had for years, that he thinks it's unreasonable for me to ask him to come home at a certain time (2am). He does NOT like being told what to do. Normally he's fairly chill (like I said he has grown out of alot of his past bad behaviour) but frankly I don't trust him and the last thing I want before an NHS 12 hour Sunday shift is to be up worrying that he's going to be coming home in a fit state.

So, we compromised that he wouldn't drink much. He took a 4 pack of beers with him tonight, which won't get him tipsy. But to me it still feels dicey. He still won't commit to a certain time to be home by.

Tonight I've decided to trust him and 'let' him go. He doesn't go out drinking often anymore, even before the pandemic, and figured if we're going into another lockdown he won't know when he'll get to see his friends again (all properly done, rule of 6/outside area/social distanced btw, they're all fairly sensible. My anxiety would not let him go at all if I didn't think he was being safe) but its 1am and I can't sleep for fear he's not going to behave.

Is asking him to come home at 2am when I have work in the morning, even sober, really that unreasonable?

OP posts:
cherryblossomgin · 01/11/2020 03:23

Why are you putting up with this? Does he work too? He knows you have a 12 hour shift and you have children in the house. Is he the father? Going out drinking isn't a priority. He sounds like a teenager who can't behave.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/11/2020 03:26

There is nothing considerate about having you on tenterhooks. Can’t he go out when you’re not working the next day? Is he home yet?

lovelemoncurd · 01/11/2020 03:26

Why are you living with this loser? Give yourself a shake op then get yourself and your children the fuck away from him.

Anordinarymum · 01/11/2020 03:31

You deserve a better life than this OP And your children do.

user764329056 · 01/11/2020 04:15

Sounds like way too much hard work, I truly couldn’t waste energy on someone like that

MerchantOfVenom · 01/11/2020 04:24

and figured if we're going into another lockdown he won't know when he'll get to see his friends again (all properly done, rule of 6/outside area/social distanced btw, they're all fairly sensible.

How funny. He’s sensible. They all are.

You trust him to socially distance, but you don’t trust him to call it quits and be home at a reasonable time to support you, your job and your children.

Can’t you see how ridiculous that is?

CodenameVillanelle · 01/11/2020 04:27

This is no way to live, you know that right?

Catsup · 01/11/2020 04:31

Took a 4 pack of beers where? Is he driving? Why are you ringing his mum if he stops out when you live together? 😳

Catsup · 01/11/2020 04:33

Ah! Apology! See you have to ring his mum to babysit if he's still hammered.

noodlezoodle · 01/11/2020 04:42

OP this sounds exhausting.

These kinds of rules, negotations and compromises are only necessary if your partner is a problem drinker. Until and unless he stops drinking altogether, you will always be negotiating with him like this.

I hope you find a path forward that brings you some peace.

HoppingPavlova · 01/11/2020 05:17

Sounds like a complete tosser. I’d bin him quick smart.

Chantelli · 01/11/2020 05:21

That's no way to live.

Sounds like he's an alcoholic and you're enabling him. Sorry

rorosemary · 01/11/2020 05:45

Adult child of a man with adrinking problem here.

Please just leave. It's not fair on your children. They will grow up tiptoeing around him when he's drunk ir hung over. You won't be able to protect them from that.

DeKraai · 01/11/2020 05:55

The problem isn't only that he's unable to look after the kids the next day, it's that he's a volatile, dangerous drunk.

Like other posters I wonder what it is about this relationship that makes you feel good, what you're getting from it. Obviously it's not because "the children need to be with their dad" because they'd be seeing him if you were together or not. So what is it about him that is SO amazing as to make what sounds like a nightmare worth it?

SnuggyBuggy · 01/11/2020 05:57

Sounds like having an extra child to manage. People say LTB very readily here but this time I'm agreeing.

LunaLula83 · 01/11/2020 06:43

You just said he doesn't like being told what to do. Lead balloon

CatteStreet · 01/11/2020 06:45

OP, I wouldn't be standing for this immature, out-of-control, risky behaviour from my 15yo (not that I'd be standing for him drinking like that in the first place). And this man is a father?

It's very striking that this paragraph: 'Tonight I've decided to trust him and 'let' him go. He doesn't go out drinking often anymore, even before the pandemic, and figured if we're going into another lockdown he won't know when he'll get to see his friends again (all properly done, rule of 6/outside area/social distanced btw, they're all fairly sensible. My anxiety would not let him go at all if I didn't think he was being safe) but its 1am and I can't sleep for fear he's not going to behave. '
could just as easily have been written by a mother about a teenager.

You shouldn't be having to police the behaviour of another adult.

RedMarauder · 01/11/2020 06:52

@LEELULUMPKIN

I've voted YABU purely for the fact that you have been UR by putting up with this wankery for so long in the first place.

It's so sad how little you see the value of your own worth and that of your DC's by allowing this turd to treat you all like that.

Both you and your MIL are enabling it.

Time to put a stop to OP, if not for your sake then your DC's.

^This

He is an adult and has his own agency. He won't stop his drinking so he needs to leave.

Rotundandhappy · 01/11/2020 06:53

What time did he come in OP?

PumpkinJuicebox · 01/11/2020 06:56

The real problem here is that he doesn't seem responsible enough or even mature enough thus warranting you to give him a 'bedtime' in the first place.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 01/11/2020 07:01

Yanbu..sobriety or not, if he rocked up home at 5am having not slept all night, he would be absolutely shattered.i dont think he would be in fit state to look after the children that exhausted.

Notverybright · 01/11/2020 07:05

@Yeahnahmum

Stop telling him when to come home. And also stop calling his mum to take care of the kids when he came home drunk. Let HIM take care of his kids, severely hungover or not. That will teach him a valuable lesson. Now you are just enabling his behaviour

tell him to grow the F up or just dont bother anymore.

I think she’s calling his mum for the kid’s safety, as he will still be drunk, rather than the OH’s comfort.

4 cans won’t get him tipsy? He finds it difficult to stop when he starts, his drinking affects you and the kids. He has a problem. Which you know all ready.

How did it go last night/this morning?

pinkstripeycat · 01/11/2020 07:07

It’s about being a responsible parent and caring for your wife. He’s not a family man and is only thinking of himself. Oh dear poor sole not seeing his friends for a while. His focus should be in his family. You are acting like his mother

FrowningFlamingo · 01/11/2020 07:11

Tell him that if he is going out it’s his responsibility to arrange childcare to arrive the next day before you need to work that he can then cancel if he’s in a suitable and safe state to look after the children.

GalaxyCookieCrumble · 01/11/2020 07:15

You sound very controlling