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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 14:40

Sending you strength OP. You can do this.

LakieLady · 11/02/2021 14:41

@samanthajonespr

I'm going to pack a bag
Good. I'm really relieved. No doubt someone will be along in a minute to tell you exactly what to take.

Make an appointment with a solicitor, too and when you ring one, explain that it's urgent because you've had to leave with the children for child protection reasons.

How anyone can smack a toddler is beyond me. I'm not a parent (and not keen on small kids, tbh) but even I find that incomprehensible.

Merryoldgoat · 11/02/2021 14:41

@samanthajonespr

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

So where do you think your children are learning to hit? If it worked you wouldn’t have to keep Bloody doing it.

And I’m 42. I wasn’t hit and neither was my husband.

PercyPiginaWig · 11/02/2021 14:42

[quote Jasminexx]@Haffiana apology? What for exactly? For asking could she clarify if he whacks them or if its a small smack on the back of the hand if they have gone too far? Am confused as to what you want me to apologise for[/quote]
Maybe for being a child abuse apologist.
That is precisely the harm that being smacked as a child 'done' you.

Merryoldgoat · 11/02/2021 14:42

Well done for leaving OP - you’ll be happier without him. Watch your depression and anxiety improve.

notalwaysalondoner · 11/02/2021 14:44

It sounds like you're both thoroughly fed up and feeling sorry for yourselves. It sounds like you are doing a lot, but equally if I had a SAHP as a partner that is what they've signed up for, to do everything to do with the children within working hours and realistically most couples with a SAHP expect them to also do more of the housework and childcare outside working hours too (although I know that's not popular on MN). I'm sure he is tired and fed up from work and wants a grumble. Maybe he's depressed or got lockdown blues too, just because he doesn't have a history of depression doesn't mean he can't get down. I think you sound like you're tired and want a break, you should focus on practical things you can change as a couple rather than who has it worse e.g. him giving you 3 hours to do your college work on the weekend instead of you having to do it all in naptime etc.

anothernamereally · 11/02/2021 14:44

So sad that people still think it's ok to hit children and that they think a little tap is normal or needed.
As a pp poster noted respect is not the same thing as fear

PieandMash321 · 11/02/2021 14:45

Gosh I was smacked in the 1980s, it doesn’t mean I smack my own children (who are the same age as yours)! It really doesn’t achieve anything other than make your children fear you and also make it ok to hit...! It’d be very hard to teach a child not to lash out in a school or nursery environment when you have their parent hitting them, even if it isn’t hard it’s just all kinds of wrong!! You need to get him to stop it.

As for everything else I think I’d feel the same if I was stuck with the kids 24/7 and doing everything around the house, if I was you I’d look to be returning to work. I found maternity leave very difficult, I think the expectation when you aren’t going out to work is that you do most of the house stuff as the other person is bringing home the bacon, the thing is you end up working 24/7 and they end up with it easier even though they are working full-time. I remember my husband’s elderly gran telling me I should be doing all the household tasks as he was the bread winner 🤣 (I earn more than him when not on mat leave so it did make me laugh!). I found returning to work and the division of labour being more 50/50 far far easier than looking after children and the house.

speakout · 11/02/2021 14:46

Things will change in England.

I live in a part of the UK where assaulting another person is a criminal offence, no matter age, no matter whether it leaves a mark.

Jasminexx · 11/02/2021 14:48

@percypiginawig 😂😂😂 jesus strange people like you get funnier and funnier. You literally know nothing about me but a massive round of applause for figgering out that I was abused as a child apparently and that apparently I have issues and apparently am all for battering kids 😂 you are hilarious. Don't am laughing to hard. Number 1 my parents were amazing parents to me and if anything I got away with too much and no they never use to abuse me I think maybe twice on my childhood my mum might have smacked my hand and literally has not scared me lol. My kids are beautiful caring & loving and we have a Incredibly strong bond I would give my life for my children so don't imply I hit my kids. There's a difference in smacking thr back of a child's hand and abusing your parental role.

Whitecup4 · 11/02/2021 14:48

He smacks the children, are you god damn serious!? I’d fucking smack him the tosser, would love to know if he goes around smacking full grown men too or does he save the hitting for small defenceless children?

Wanker.

MacDuffsMuff · 11/02/2021 14:58

Sorry and I know I sound horrible here but it's quite hard to believe that the OP has just decided to leave because some of us have told her to. Maybe I'm just a cynic.

PADH · 11/02/2021 14:58

Wishing you luck OP Flowers

MacDuffsMuff · 11/02/2021 15:00

There's a difference in smacking thr back of a child's hand and abusing your parental role.

Smacking your child is abusing your parental role. I'm not sure why the back of the hand suddenly seems not to count.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 11/02/2021 15:04

@Tiredmum100

My dh wouldn't dare smack our children.

My DH wouldn’t want to smack our children.

samanthajonespr · 11/02/2021 15:05

@MacDuffsMuff it's not sudden. I just needed to know I wasn't blowing things out of proportion and being overprotective of my boys. My mental illness and medication get blamed for distorting things and making them seem worse than they are.

My parents are coming to get us and I can get some headspace.

For the record, I'm really grateful to everyone who has provided their perspective. I needed to feel heard.

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 11/02/2021 15:07

My mental illness and medication get blamed for distorting things and making them seem worse than they are.

Let me guess. Your abusive twat of a husband is the one blaming it on your mental health and medication?

OP, I’m really glad you’re putting your DC and yourself first.

Kittykat93 · 11/02/2021 15:08

Glad you actually seem to be taking some things on board op. The fact you've stood back and watched your husband leave hand prints on a fucking TWO year old is an absolute disgrace, two is a baby ffs. Smacking children is a complete deal breaker as far as I'm concerned and it wouldn't be happening under my roof.

Atalune · 11/02/2021 15:08

I think you have done the very best thing.

Now you can be the parent you want to be. Best of luck

Jasminexx · 11/02/2021 15:09

@MacDuffsMuff please stop talking to me am really not interested. If I have to really point out the difference between kicking, smacking hard, punching or being even verbally abusive to a child Compared to a small smack on the back of the hand when they have gone to far and not responding to all other avenues so you give them a small smack on the back of the hand than am surprised. If you got a smack on the back of the hand as a child and its massively emotionally Impacted on you then am sorry. I did as a child only a couple of times but can honestly say has not affected me in the slightest if anything it was at that point I realised I was being a brat and pushed my mum to far and thought am not doing that again.

samanthajonespr · 11/02/2021 15:19

@Kittykat93 that isn't what I did, I never sat and watched. I know my posts are quite waffly but I have explained the situation.

OP posts:
MondayYogurt · 11/02/2021 15:20

OP you're taking action now, no need to debate with anyone on here. You're taking back control from him.

MacDuffsMuff · 11/02/2021 15:20

[quote Jasminexx]@MacDuffsMuff please stop talking to me am really not interested. If I have to really point out the difference between kicking, smacking hard, punching or being even verbally abusive to a child Compared to a small smack on the back of the hand when they have gone to far and not responding to all other avenues so you give them a small smack on the back of the hand than am surprised. If you got a smack on the back of the hand as a child and its massively emotionally Impacted on you then am sorry. I did as a child only a couple of times but can honestly say has not affected me in the slightest if anything it was at that point I realised I was being a brat and pushed my mum to far and thought am not doing that again.[/quote]
Well clearly you are interested, or you would not have responded. Why are you so angry with me? I responded to your comment where I disagreed with you. That's OK to do that is it not? I certainly wasn't rude to you so your anger surprises me.

I don't believe you can hit a child one place and that be alright, I don't believe that it is ever right to hit a child, you are free to disagree with that of course. But then I was never hit as a child.

AndThenTheDayBecomesTheNight · 11/02/2021 15:27

'I've been removing the children from the situation if it starts looking like it might happen'

Do you not see that this is your attempt to avoid confronting this head on? As well as teaching your children to walk on eggshells around their father. That they are living with a dangerous man who needs to be avoided when things get difficult or he'll violently lash out.

He's left hand marks. I was hit (aka smacked, in a fairly standard 70s/80s way), sometimes quite hard, but my parents never left a hand mark. That's quite some force he's using. On a 5 and 2 year old!

Ponoka7 · 11/02/2021 15:28

@Jasminexx, the OP's husband is leaving handprints on children under 5. That is abuse as defined under the children's act. But the point is that smacking is poor parenting. If the other parent isn't interested in learning better parenting then it's a form of neglect. We aren't talking about a smack on the hand, though.

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