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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is my DH kind of a bad husband and dad?

200 replies

samanthajonespr · 11/02/2021 10:31

I'm a SAHM to 5 and 2 year old. Been on antidepressants for about 4 years and I'm currently having a down period which makes me tired. I pointed this out to DH last night because I was feeling frazzled after finishing my college class on Teams at 7.30 pm. He does this thing where he competes with who has the most on. He's doing his IT job at home, is left alone to get on with it while we're downstairs. So he was asking why I was tired. He just shrugs off any mention of my mental health as I'm just depressed all the time and no-one else is allowed to feel anxious, according to him. Not true, I really take care to make sure we all talk about how we're feeling. I think it's really important to provide a judgement free safe space for everyone.

Atm I'm homeschooling eldest whilst youngest is very clingy with me. I have to try and balance that whilst keeping them both entertained. Most days I don't get a shower until 6pm. On top of that I'm doing a volunteer job at the moment and I'm also studying part time for a course that will get me my dream job at the end. It's intense and I'm usually late for my Teams session (as schools and colleges aren't in atm) because he won't finish on time and give me the desk upstairs. I'm doing really well at it even though DH huffs and puffs about being left on his own with the children. He goes on and on about their occasional bad behaviour and shouts at them and smacks their bottoms if they do something bad. He acts like he's the first person who ever had children even though I take on all the emotional work with them because I know how to calm them down and we talk things through rather than me just smacking them.

An example of DH's normal behaviour is him getting up today with eldest at 8 while I had half an hour reading and cuddling with littlest in bed. He made himself some breakfast and a brew but didn't make anything for 5 y/o. I then had to do this when I got up (fine, I don't mind). He can't even do an online shop or cook a meal without asking me questions about it. I feel like I don't get a break. I'm expected to do my college work when the little one has a nap and at that point in the afternoon, I just need a bit of a rest while eldest does some colouring or has some iPad time. He complains about my volunteering taking up too much time but it's something I really love. I love to help people and it involves supporting women who have had traumatic births.

I'm also trying to emotionally support my parents and siblings through lockdown, we try and talk on FaceTime a couple of times a week. I'm cooking and trying to keep everything tidy. DH takes the bins out etc and just complains and grumbles all the time. He can be so lovely and I'll get a few days of him being nice and then it's back to "oh woe is me". I'm not sure if I'm even in the right here, all I know is I'm frazzled and don't feel like I can carry on like this.

OP posts:
MondayYogurt · 11/02/2021 13:41

@romiandromi

I feel really sad at the thought of a wee toddler getting a smack.

He's not a bad father and husband, he's a fucking awful one and shouldn't be raising children at all.

I'm picturing my one's face if his dad ever did that to him and it's breaking my heart. Poor poor baby.
LordOfTheOnionRings · 11/02/2021 13:45

@samanthajonespr you're making so many excuses for him.

You have two monsters living in your house, one is the hand that strikes and another is the one who doesn't do anything about it.

And before I am told I am being too harsh, we are talking about a two year old who will not understand anything apart from pain in that situation. Your child is in pain. Do something you idiot.

samanthajonespr · 11/02/2021 13:45

@Puffalicious I've had depression since I was 12. 4 years ago marked a descent into PND which meant going back on meds and having therapy. I'm a very capable parent of both of my kids, despite my mental illness. It's been a part of me for a very long time. My second child was a miracle, born after miscarriages. His birth healed the trauma I went through having my first child.

OP posts:
MacDuffsMuff · 11/02/2021 13:46

I have never been happier than I am with my precious boys, maybe he resents that?

Maybe he does, but that is a problem for him to deal with and not take out on your little boys. He's supposed to be your partner but it all sounds very one-sided when it comes to emotional and mental support. You sound like a really nice person OP.

endlesssnow · 11/02/2021 13:47

he has left hand marks

This is a child protection issue in England.
It would guarantee involvement from a child protection social worker.
An emergency pediatric physical assessment would be needed at hospital.

You both need to understand how serious that is.

MacDuffsMuff · 11/02/2021 13:48

I feel really sad at the thought of a wee toddler getting a smack.

He's not a bad father and husband, he's a fucking awful one and shouldn't be raising children at all.

I agree with this completely.

ParadiseinMoscow · 11/02/2021 13:48

How could you ever feel relaxed leaving him in charge of your children when he resorts to violence as a method of control? This is the root of your problem. He’ll sabotage your dreams forever.

endlesssnow · 11/02/2021 13:49

Not to mention police involvement.

This would also have a potential impact on being able to be a counselor in the future.

Tiredmum100 · 11/02/2021 13:49

I don't tolerate my children being physically harmed (well harmed in anyway). My dh wouldn't dare smack our children. You need to speak to him 1) no hitting dc- ever, 2) he gets off the computer 15 mins before you're due to start so you have time to set yourself up. He sounds like a bit an idiot to be honest.

Puffalicious · 11/02/2021 13:50

[quote samanthajonespr]@Puffalicious I've had depression since I was 12. 4 years ago marked a descent into PND which meant going back on meds and having therapy. I'm a very capable parent of both of my kids, despite my mental illness. It's been a part of me for a very long time. My second child was a miracle, born after miscarriages. His birth healed the trauma I went through having my first child.[/quote]
I'm glad you've worked through and your children are a source of such joy. Do you think your husband's lack of coping with your first child had an impact on you developing PND?

SleepingStandingUp · 11/02/2021 13:50

He says he feels incapable and its the only way he can get them to behave does he feel incapable of communicating with you so hits you? What about people at work? Does he hit them when they won't do what he asks? No? Just the small people then.

What kind of things does he hit them for?

endlesssnow · 11/02/2021 13:51

I think you both think that because smacking is legal in England it has no boundaries around it's legality but it actually has tight ones.
Once you have a deliberately bruised a child a serious of swift and significant child protection procedures come into place.

Serendipity79 · 11/02/2021 13:53

Your response about the smacking indicates you're regularly putting yourself in between your small children and a grown man who's going to "try" to stop whacking his children.

Please get some help. This, alongside the other issues just must make your life intolerable :(

MondayYogurt · 11/02/2021 13:55

he has left hand marks before though

OP I can see you are taking the advice here to heart. I just really want to reiterate that he is actively choosing to hurt your children.

He is choosing to do it because it forces you to step in and take over and he can blame them and you. And because to some extent it feels good. It feels good to him to have that power over you all.

You say you've never lived alone before. You won't be alone, you'll have your parents and your children and they will be safe from his violence.

GoodbyePorpoiseSpit · 11/02/2021 13:55

What kind of man snacks a little one? He sounds like a selfish, nasty, short tempered and abusive (I don’t use that term lightly) pig.

Parenting classes for him - you can access through the health visitors. But unless he’s willing to change and reflect on his behaviour you might need to accept you need to leave.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/02/2021 13:56

This should be in Relationships; not AIBU.

What did you learn about relationships when you were growing up?. Did you witness similar at home?.

The only acceptable level of abuse in a relationship is none.

You and in turn your children are in an abusive relationship with this man who wants to be Number 1/The Big Man in his house. You are not and cannot even begin to protect your children from him whilst you are all living under the same roof.

How can you be helped into getting rid of your abuser?. Would you be willing to talk to an organisation like Womens Aid?.

GoodbyePorpoiseSpit · 11/02/2021 13:56

Sorry - read your latest post. You need to leave.

NeverRTFT · 11/02/2021 13:58

My first thought was that your DH sounds like he feels his needs aren't being met. That may or may not BU of him, but it is how he feels. Not your fault. Just how he feels. Even though you prioritise talking about feelings and mental health, he's not getting what he needs here. Nor are you. There's a relationship issue.

My second thought was that you say he is playing a who-works-harder competition, but I have to point out that you are kind of doing the same.

My third thought was HE SMACKS YOUR FECKIN KIDS WTFFFFFF?????

tatutata · 11/02/2021 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ferntwist · 11/02/2021 14:01

No way should he be smacking such little ones so frequently. He needs help with his parenting. I’d ask him to change or leave

samanthajonespr · 11/02/2021 14:01

I never knew he had anger issues, if I did, I don't think I'd have chosen to have children with him.

He'll smack if the eldest hits the youngest, or if eldest deliberately trips youngest up etc (all normal sibling stuff, I'm sure).

I don't just shrug it off and let him get on with it. I've tried different strategies and I've been removing the children from the situation if it starts looking like it might happen. I send DH out for a walk. He has been warned about what will happen if there is ever a next time. I've asked him to go about getting some therapy

OP posts:
PercyPiginaWig · 11/02/2021 14:02

I love him, but he's just never really grasped the nettle when it comes to being a parent.

Well then you grasp the nettle OP because somebody bloody needs to. Seriously!
Because the alternative is young children growing up unprotected from their abusive father. You have a duty to them so please rise to it.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/02/2021 14:05

What you've tried to date has not worked and will not work because he is abusive to both you and they. He does this because he can and it works for him to have this level of power and control over you.

Abuse is NOT about communication or a perceived lack of, its about power and control. This man wants absolute here over you all.

Such men do not change and can be extremely resistant to therapy; besides which he will need years of it because this is hardwired in him.
You have a choice re this man, they do not. You need to remove both yourself and your children from him and asap before he does them and you any more harm. He's done them and you enough harm already and he will continue to drag both you and they down with him.

PercyPiginaWig · 11/02/2021 14:05

@ferntwist

No way should he be smacking such little ones so frequently. He needs help with his parenting. I’d ask him to change or leave
Surely you mean 'ever'? Not 'so frequently'.

OP do you mean to say anger issues were not apparent before your second pregnancy?

Atalune · 11/02/2021 14:06

DH has never beaten the children or smacked them anywhere but on the bottom, he has left hand marks before though

Just go ahead an read what you wrote again. I find it chilling. The willingness to minimise is astounding.

If you continue to allow this behaviour you will fuck your kids up. Irreparable damage.

You will not be allowed to be a counsellor if you cannot protect your children.

Get away from him.

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