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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:
Braneycat · 01/11/2020 19:08

Guys... seriously this is my medicine/alcohol cupboard. Do you see the dust? Would alcoholics really have this much untouched dusty alcohol in the house? This is silly, I'm really sorry for asking! I wanted to know if it was unreasonable for me to give my partner a curfew based on his past behaviour which he does NOT do anymore. To have both of our integrity questioned, been accused of being alcoholics, 4 times in a year is too much?! I mean.. what on earth? I very rarely use mumsnet and I wanted this anonymous for a reason but to have this entire thread picked apart is just too much.

AIBU for giving partner a 'bedtime'
OP posts:
Braneycat · 01/11/2020 19:12

Ah before it gets picked up on, yes some of the bottles are half full. Because they're left overs from Christmas and parties.

OP posts:
MerchantOfVenom · 01/11/2020 19:14

Well then, clearly you KNOW you are being unreasonable if your partner behaves just fine when he goes out to get drunk. Confused

SentientAndCognisant · 01/11/2020 19:15

issue isn’t alcohol it’s your husband behaviour and how his past impacts upon your present

Angelina82 · 01/11/2020 19:31

He came home at 2.30, sober btw.

Really? What did he do until that time if not drink, or has he got an exceptionally high tolerance to alcohol? Either way it sounds like due to his past actions you are living on your nerves. He needs to accept responsibility for that and knock the drinking on the head if he can’t come back at a decent hour.

OhTheRoses · 01/11/2020 19:32

TBF op my DH has a drink every day, as do I. However I have never seen him drunk, aggressive or rolling home in the early hours and he certainly has never been arrested! You have alluded to some pretty shocking things so I'm not sure why You are now taking offence.

Graphista · 01/11/2020 20:10

@OhTheRoses denial - in the genuine sense

Lack of frequent drinking =/= not alcoholic

Lack of drinking at home (and that photo proves nothing to me) =/= not alcoholic

If op were only making the choice to stay with him for herself that would be one thing, but there are kids involved here and that's what concerns me more

OhTheRoses · 01/11/2020 20:13

I am minded to agree @graphista but it gives me no pleasure.

Take care op, please.

Graphista · 01/11/2020 20:19

No pleasure here either, concern and hope that op considers all that's been said and gets real life support for herself and family

OhTheRoses · 01/11/2020 20:25

Oh @Graphista we so often agree. Hope you are doing ok lovely.

Graphista · 01/11/2020 22:19

@OhTheRoses thanks for the kind words I'm muddling along as usual hope you're keeping well too

Didkdt · 02/11/2020 00:28

I think on some level the OP recognizes there's a big white elephant in the room.
At first I thought there was some irony that her alcohol was stored with the headache tablets but the reality is the OP wants to control behaviour to curtail a potentially worrying outcome. It won't work. If it would AA Relate etc would all be advocating it and she wouldn't be on MN grasping around for people to say it's a reasonable and considered protective approach.
My husband and I juggle childcare pinch points in our often unpredictable work patterns but we don't control each others down time actions to ensure a functioning family life

WotWouldCJDo · 02/11/2020 06:16

I think on some level the OP recognizes there's a big white elephant in the room.

“An elephant in the room”?

etinox · 02/11/2020 18:07

@Braneycat

Guys... seriously this is my medicine/alcohol cupboard. Do you see the dust? Would alcoholics really have this much untouched dusty alcohol in the house? This is silly, I'm really sorry for asking! I wanted to know if it was unreasonable for me to give my partner a curfew based on his past behaviour which he does NOT do anymore. To have both of our integrity questioned, been accused of being alcoholics, 4 times in a year is too much?! I mean.. what on earth? I very rarely use mumsnet and I wanted this anonymous for a reason but to have this entire thread picked apart is just too much.
As an alcoholic I can assure that that is not the cupboard of an alcoholic Smile
HalzTangz · 11/04/2021 00:52

@Braneycat

So if he doesn't arrange childcare he can't go out either? I feel like id be accused of being controlling there too.
Could the children not spend the night at there grandmas on the night he goes out? That way you can get a decent sleep before work, he can stay out til whenever, kids are sorted and he could go pick them up when he's woken up
HalzTangz · 11/04/2021 00:54

I don't drink, never have, my partner drinks very rarely, we don't buy or keep alcohol in the house. Neither of us have an alcohol problem. Not having alcohol in the house doesn't steam alcoholism. Having alcohol and finding hidden alcohol screams alcoholism

Kinneddar · 11/04/2021 01:04

Could the children not spend the night at there grandmas on the night he goes out? That way you can get a decent sleep before work, he can stay out til whenever, kids are sorted and he could go pick them up when he's woken up

Chances are since the OP posted about this SIX MONTHS AGO the matter has been resolved 🙄

How did you even find this thread to resurrect it

1forAll74 · 11/04/2021 01:51

If he has to go out,specifically to get drunk, then he is a dumbo. Drunk,and coming in late,is disrespectful to you, especially if you never know what mood he will be in.

I have never had to deal with this behaviour myself, but know other women who have, and they take their own actions how they deal with things if the man is very very unreasonable, and takes no notice at all of what their wives/partners say., but having big arguements all the time is stressful, and a waste of time.

ThePants999 · 11/04/2021 04:16

@HalzTangz why the fuck did you resurrect a thread from half a year ago to post that?

DaphneDuBois · 11/04/2021 17:04

Replace ‘bedtime’ with ‘request not to be a selfish irresponsible dickhead.’

I mean, it’s not a ‘ bedtime’ is it? You’re not saying ‘be tucked up at 10 for lights out or I’ll shout at you.’ You’re saying, ‘can you not come home after 2am on a weeknight when I have a 12 hour NHS shift and we have children?’

If he needs the reason for that spelling out to him, there’s not much hope. He’s too selfish to put you first!

DaphneDuBois · 11/04/2021 17:04

Oh god, it’s a zombie thread. Stop resurrecting these fgs. Wasting everyone’s time.

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