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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be angry with DH?

39 replies

onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 21:32

Today DH let slip that he and his colleague went hiking on Friday for a few hours during the work day (they are both in the office at the moment). I reacted quite angrily, largely because I was feeling really unwell on Friday and looking after 3 young kids by myself at home - I had tried to call him a couple of times to see if he could come home early but his phone was dead.
He has apologised for his phone and said (which I fully believe) that he would have come home at once if he'd known how rubbish I was feeling, but after reflecting on it I'm more hurt that he would go off for a jolly with a friend without first checking in to see if I needed a bit of support. Even if I hadn't been ill, I've been the primary carer and 'teacher' to the kids all through lockdown, and he knew that last week was a tough one in terms of everyone being tired and fed up of the situation.
He says I'm being absurd and that if I want to go off and exercise with a friend, I just have to ask him, but I really don't think that's the point. I honestly can't remember the last time I did anything frivolous for myself - normally his work is incredibly busy so I always prioritise making time for him to work, and in the spare time I do have, I'm studying. (On which note I have an essay due in this week, which he knows, so really could've used that extra time to work on it.)

So YABU - it's his time and he can do what he wants with it without checking in with me first
or
YANBU - he should've thought, on a Friday after a long week and a long school half term, that his wife might like a little support

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 15/02/2021 21:35

He’s an arse and should have to be asked to think of you

TatianaBis · 15/02/2021 21:36

In lockdown every bit of exercise and free time counts.

Summersun2020 · 15/02/2021 21:37

Sorry OP but I do think YABU a bit. He did something a little bit thoughtless and selfish, but was apologetic when he considered it from your perspective and would be happy for you to do the same. And I think that IS the point- you may not have done anything frivolous but you could have.
Lock down has been hard on us all Flowers and I’m sorry you’re feeling rubbish. When you’re a bit better, and now the weathers picking up a bit, arrange some exercise/fresh air/walk with a friend while DH takes over at home for a bit. You both deserve time off to yourselves.

katy1213 · 15/02/2021 21:38

You're being a martyr. Stop prioritising him and take some time for yourself.

Ijustreallywantacat · 15/02/2021 21:39

Gently, YABU. Make sure you do arrange your time to yourself x

Readeatcake · 15/02/2021 21:39

Why do you have to ask him to go for a walk with a friend but he just thinks he can go and do that without checking in first?

Palavah · 15/02/2021 21:39

You 'just have to ask'? He didn't have to ask, did he?

Muskox · 15/02/2021 21:42

YANBU and I think it's mean to call you a martyr. Make sure you take him up on that offer!

Ijustreallywantacat · 15/02/2021 21:42

Why do you have to ask him to go for a walk with a friend but he just thinks he can go and do that without checking in first?

I'm assuming he meant 'ask him to watch the kids' rather than ask for permission.

onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 21:44

Readeatcake and Palavah, you've hit the nail on the head for me. I'm totally willing to recognise that I'm being U and a martyr, and at the same time it bothers me that just because I'm a SAH and 'default' parent I don't get afforded the same 'freedoms', for want of a better word, that he does.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 15/02/2021 21:44

But it still works out as her having to ask and make arrangements as him deciding he didn’t need to do the same. I would be annoyed too.

onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 21:45

And yes it would definitely be ask him to watch the kids - he's certainly not the kind of man who would think I needed his permission!

OP posts:
Gliblet · 15/02/2021 21:49

Might be worth having the conversation with him from that point of view - if he'd had to ask you first, would he still have gone? Can he see that you having to make arrangements before doing anything you enjoy might be having an impact on you?

You're not in a position to be spontaneous at the moment, so its completely reasonable to feel the rage when it seems like someone else is dangling their own ability to decide when and where they do things in front of you.

What would help?

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 15/02/2021 21:49

I'm sorry but I think you're being a bit unreasonable. He went for a walk in works time so even if he hadn't been hiking he'd have been at work and not at home.
When he is at home you just need to say 'I'm off out for a bit, you're watching the kids' and go out. The you only need to ask comment I would take as him just saying let me know so I know to be here to look after the kids.
I get everyone's tired and stressed, he is too so he went and got some exercise, you can do the same. You don't have to be a martyr and prioritise him and the kids all of the time.

maybemu · 15/02/2021 21:50

The answer here is take time for yourself. If I hear another woman complain about time but then never do anything about it I'll scream. Go find your husband and explain that on the weekend you are going to finish your essay and then your off for a nice walk and take out coffee with any friend. So he needs to come up with a plan for him and the kids for the day

Livelovebehappy · 15/02/2021 21:51

He offered you to do the same, so tbh I think YABU.

onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 21:58

What would help?

Good question! Like many have said taking time for myself would be a good thing. The main reasons I don't are a) feeling guilty that I'm not studying when I have free time; b) I love the time we spend as a family all together; c) the only friends I desperately want to see all live too far away under current restrictions.

OP posts:
onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 21:59

He went for a walk in works time so even if he hadn't been hiking he'd have been at work and not at home. True, though it's not really work's time as he doesn't have set hours - if he doesn't do the work during the day then he has to catch it up at the evening or weekend.

OP posts:
harknesswitch · 15/02/2021 21:59

I think yabu op. I'm not sure he should have asked as it was during the day. I'd not think twice about walking the dogs during work time if I had the opportunity.

But I do think you need to prioritise some 'you' time. You need to sit down and work some time for yourself into both your diaries. Sounds like he gets the opportunity during work, so you need to do the same during weekends or evenings

B33Fr33 · 15/02/2021 22:02

If you have to ask and he doesn't think to then he is on a power trip. Is he often a wanker?

Summersun2020 · 15/02/2021 22:03

@B33Fr33 wow that’s a leap Hmm

SinkGirl · 15/02/2021 22:10

I don’t know any woman who’d stay out longer than necessary while their partner is at home with three kids, stressed and exhausted, at least without checking in first. Plenty of men seem to do it, but that’s because parenting seems to be opt-in for them. If I finished work early and knew DH was home with our twins and likely having a tough time, let alone also ill, I wouldn’t be going for a nice walk with a friend - i would be going home to share the load.

Elsia · 15/02/2021 22:12

if you have to ask and he doesn't think to then he is on a power trip. Is he often a wanker?

Oh for goodness sake 🙄

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2021 22:14

@SinkGirl

I don’t know any woman who’d stay out longer than necessary while their partner is at home with three kids, stressed and exhausted, at least without checking in first. Plenty of men seem to do it, but that’s because parenting seems to be opt-in for them. If I finished work early and knew DH was home with our twins and likely having a tough time, let alone also ill, I wouldn’t be going for a nice walk with a friend - i would be going home to share the load.
This.

Fish don't see the water and he can't see the sexism.

First thing to do is stop behaving like the default parent. What would happen if you just got up early one weekend morning and went out without saying anything?

Marinaloves · 15/02/2021 22:18

Women who martyr themselves like this never win
Your kids won’t appreciate it. And personally I got sick of my mothers martyrdom

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