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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:
onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 22:20

B33Fr33 No, but you gave me a chuckle, thank you.

Sinkgirl - that's pretty much exactly what I said to him.

MrsTP - Well, the toddler gets up when I get up (he comes through in the night) so it wouldn't be a very stealthy departure. But generally DH would probably assume I was extremely pissed off because it would be so out of character and would hold down the fort til I got home.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2021 22:23

Maybe it's time to get a little pissed off.

SinkGirl · 15/02/2021 22:27

@Marinaloves

Women who martyr themselves like this never win Your kids won’t appreciate it. And personally I got sick of my mothers martyrdom
I am so sick of this too - this misogynistic insult that’s constantly thrown at women on MN, when a woman is responsible and her partner is a twat.
onlythewildones · 15/02/2021 22:29

Mrs TP Grin

He's just popped in to make the peace so I'll leave it here and bear in mind that I do need to take some time off. Two of the kids are back to school next week anyway (Scotland). Thank you for the constructive comments.

OP posts:
toocold54 · 15/02/2021 22:34

YABU because it was a one off and he didn’t know you were ill. If he did it on a regular basis then you would definitely not BU.

OrigamiOwl · 15/02/2021 23:11

@Palavah

You 'just have to ask'? He didn't have to ask, did he?
This is what stood out for me. He can just go but you have to ask.
Cherrysoup · 15/02/2021 23:11

So he just went, but you have to ask if you want to go and have time for yourself? Fuck that, very unequal relationship.

spongedog · 15/02/2021 23:30

Sorry I think he sounds an entitled twat. I literally don't know of anyone who is working at the moment who has time during the working day to go for a hike with a colleague. Perhaps I am in the wrong profession or job, who knows? Anyway, that is free time that you cant just take at a moments notice. And that is the power play/inequality/difference. That is what needs to be dealt with, particularly if that time needs to be made up later during "family" time.

StarCourt · 15/02/2021 23:33

All you have to do Is ask him??
What? Like he asked you??
Not on OP

VinylDetective · 15/02/2021 23:36

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

This. Whether he was walking or working, either way he’d have been out of the house.

Beforethetakingoftoastandtea · 15/02/2021 23:41

if I want to go off and exercise with a friend, I just have to ask him

So, he can go off with a friend without letting you know. But you have to ask him?! Wtf?!!

onlythewildones · 16/02/2021 16:06

Just to update - we had a long chat about it last night, he actively encouraged me to take more time for myself. By 'ask' I simply mean that he would have to watch the kids - similarly if he went somewhere at the weekend then he would have to ask because I would have sole responsibility for the kids. Maybe a poor choice of phrase by me.

I literally don't know of anyone who is working at the moment who has time during the working day to go for a hike with a colleague They can pretty much work when they want if they don't have meetings/deliverables. On other days the two of them have been on teams working until post midnight, it ebbs and flows massively.

OP posts:
Summersun2020 · 16/02/2021 16:22

A great update OP. Sounds like you two communicate really well together and are (mostly!) considerate of each other. Hope you’ve got some well earned “me time” planned Grin

helpfulperson · 16/02/2021 16:58

I presume he didn't even really mean 'ask me to mind the children'. Just tell him that you have arranged to go for a walk and that he will be in charge of children.

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