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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH playing footy on a Sunday

75 replies

Longclaw88 · 17/05/2021 15:51

We have three kids, aged 7, 4, and a newborn. DH plays footy twice a week in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed - he usually puts them down and then shoots off at 7.45pm. However at the start of the season he was persuaded to play 11-a-side on Sundays which means he's gone from 10am until 1.15pm. Then comes back hungry and needing a shower so it's often 2pm before we can do anything as a family. I find those Sunday mornings really tough on my own with 3 kids and would love us to have family time altogether; his excuse is that footy on a Sunday is only a few hours and that he needs that time for his physical/mental health. Tbf, he very rarely goes out drinking with his mates, does a lot around the house including food shops, most of the cooking, and puts our two older kids to bed each night so he's not bad in that regard. It's just that he's 37 now and he said he'd have retired by now to spend time with the family at the weekend but if anything he seems more into it than ever because he said "he'll be retiring after next season and he'd regret not playing because it's time you can't get back when you're older when he's unable to play anymore."

Not sure if IABU. He told me to carve out my own time with friends/gym/yoga etc and he'd never stand in my way or stop me doing anything I want to do, but personally I would never decide to spend 3-4 hours away from the family on one of the only two days we get to spend together.

OP posts:
MonsterJammin · 17/05/2021 17:31

I don't think the potential of being a captain is a big deal - DH is his club captain and other than maybe some WhatsApp messages with the manager it doesn't seem to add any extra time on to what he does.

We actually regularly say how we have no idea how we were so lazy before we had DC as we now manage to fit in time for everyone to do their thing. DH has 2 nights a week and a Saturday morning for football and 2 night coaching DS football (plus the gym during lunch hours so no impact on family time), DS1 has football twice a week, I go to the gym a few times a week and for a run on the weekend but early morning before the kids are up. That still leaves plenty of time for us to do things as a family.

I think it's so important to make sure you have time alone both for physical and mental health.

DelBocaVista · 17/05/2021 17:41

I'm another one who thinks this is fine.
It's good for his health- both mentally and physically.

KizzyMoo · 17/05/2021 18:53

OP YABVU. Sorry you are feeling rubbish atm, I think you are right and it's probably your hormones.

KizzyMoo · 17/05/2021 18:54

You need to find something you can do OP.

SkyeIsPink · 17/05/2021 19:04

Sorry, I also think you are being unreasonable. I wish my partner had a hobby like this instead of sitting around at home acting depressed and then complaining that he’s getting fat lol

I have my own hobbies that I will spend hours on. They don’t involve going out but doing things I love doing is so good for my mental well-being

HeckyPeck · 17/05/2021 19:25

@Longclaw88

We have three kids, aged 7, 4, and a newborn. DH plays footy twice a week in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed - he usually puts them down and then shoots off at 7.45pm. However at the start of the season he was persuaded to play 11-a-side on Sundays which means he's gone from 10am until 1.15pm. Then comes back hungry and needing a shower so it's often 2pm before we can do anything as a family. I find those Sunday mornings really tough on my own with 3 kids and would love us to have family time altogether; his excuse is that footy on a Sunday is only a few hours and that he needs that time for his physical/mental health. Tbf, he very rarely goes out drinking with his mates, does a lot around the house including food shops, most of the cooking, and puts our two older kids to bed each night so he's not bad in that regard. It's just that he's 37 now and he said he'd have retired by now to spend time with the family at the weekend but if anything he seems more into it than ever because he said "he'll be retiring after next season and he'd regret not playing because it's time you can't get back when you're older when he's unable to play anymore."

Not sure if IABU. He told me to carve out my own time with friends/gym/yoga etc and he'd never stand in my way or stop me doing anything I want to do, but personally I would never decide to spend 3-4 hours away from the family on one of the only two days we get to spend together.

I say YANBU, particularly as you have a newborn.

I dont think it's fair of him to have said he was going to finish this season, but now spring it on you that he's going to carry on

It should be a discussion not him just telling you you'll be the default parent every Sunday morning.

Does he cancel football if their are friends/family occasions or events you want to go to that are only on a Sunday? If so, I guess it wouldn't be so bad..

I also think if you did the same the week would look something like this:

Mon eve: DH footy
Tues eve: OP hobby
Wed: DH footy
Thur: OP hobby
Fri: no hobbies
Sat am: OP hobby
Sun am: DH footy.

It wouldn't leave much time for couple time or time with the kids. Plus your time will always have to work around his football. I would probably lay it out like that and see if that's the family he would be happy with, 1 evening to see each other in the week and no full day and the weekend. It sounds pretty shit to me.

It must be disappointing to realise your partner doesn't have the same views of spending time with you/your children as you do.

Bourbonic · 17/05/2021 21:01

I think its really OK for someone to have 3 hours out of the entire weekend to themselves. It isn't healthy for everyone to be with their partner for every waking minute of free time.

Sillawithans · 17/05/2021 21:06

Cricket, my boyfriend and I come and go as we please.

Sillawithans · 17/05/2021 21:06

Lol, crikey not cricket Grin

DelBocaVista · 17/05/2021 21:12

It must be disappointing to realise your partner doesn't have the same views of spending time with you/your children as you do.

Goodness! It's only a few hours!!

cupsofcoffee · 17/05/2021 21:22

It must be disappointing to realise your partner doesn't have the same views of spending time with you/your children as you do.

Becoming a parent doesn't mean the rest of your life stops Hmm

It's three hours out of a 48 hour weekend!

BlueVelvetStars · 17/05/2021 21:27

Leave him with the kids.. go shopping.. have a coffee.. just get him used to the time sharing, because its easy for him to say, take up Yoga whatever, as he bounces out the door, but lets see how accommodating he is when you actually do it. ☺️

ejhhhhh · 17/05/2021 21:29

I think you might feel a lot better if you did something too. Have Sunday afternoon to yourself, or half a day on Saturday. Me and the OH have done this for years, and I wouldn't have it any other way. We still have time to do stuff as a family, if you both do something on Sunday that's all of Saturday. If you don't have a hobby, I've even been known to take myself off to the posh indie cinema on my own on a weekend afternoon. It is just full of grownups, no kids, and you can take a glass of wine in. I assure you it is heaven. I'd recommend doing something, or you'll just get bitter, and I think YABU expecting your OH to dedicate the entire weekend to family.

MrsDThomas · 17/05/2021 21:30

Ive been there. My DH managed a team in Saturday and then went on to play on Sunday.

Let the bloke be and find something to fo on another day.

BlueVelvetStars · 17/05/2021 21:31

I don't think YABU though OP, he sounds self absorbed.

drpet49 · 17/05/2021 21:37

* Thing is, he’s not stopping you from having the same time ‘off’ is he? Just because you choose not to, that shouldn’t mean he can’t have his.*

^Completely agree with this.

An0n0n0n · 17/05/2021 21:38

Well you should carvebout that time and let him do a long parenting alone stint. It would be nice for him amd the kids to have that time with him and its only for part of the year.

If it was all weeekend every weekend thwn yanbu but if you average it out over a year then its only a few hours per week. And ot sounds like he would support you if you wanted to do the same. If your odea of downtime is going oit as a family and he still does that every Sat then why not?

HeckyPeck · 17/05/2021 21:41

@cupsofcoffee

It must be disappointing to realise your partner doesn't have the same views of spending time with you/your children as you do.

Becoming a parent doesn't mean the rest of your life stops Hmm

It's three hours out of a 48 hour weekend!

It's actually 4 hours and there isn't 48 hours available assuming the family are all humans and therefore require sleep.

If OP had 4 hours too it then that leaves only 1 day to spend as a family.

Some people think that's fine, others don't. Hence my comment of it being a shame that they aren't on the same page.

Depending on how dedicated her husband is to football that could also mean no weekends away and having to say no to any Sunday invites/events etc.

An0n0n0n · 17/05/2021 21:42

But OP if you are struggling with something like feeling overwhelmed with a clingy newborn, lack of sleep or something else then talk to him about that. Because it sounds like if that was the case then he would change something.

junebirthdaygirl · 17/05/2021 21:43

Your dc will love their Dad being a footballer as they get to understand. My ds ran around the house screaming..my Daddy won the cup!! Does he bring your dc out back to kick ball so his hobby can become part of the family fun. As said already there is something attractive about a fit energetic guy so it is something to encourage. I had absolutely no problem with it and was disappointed when dh had to retire ( in his 50s!!) due to persistent injury. He was playing vintage football at that stage with a great band of lads which is really good for mental and physical help. As our dc grew they were so impressed with him and it encouraged them to be fit and active.
It's tough going with a baby but overall adds to the whole family dynamic.

yogamatted · 17/05/2021 22:27

I agree with pp, don't be a martyr. It's important to look after yourself, and the whole weekend does not need to be family time.
Take Saturday morning to yourself, head out for coffee and a walk, meet a friend, go shopping, get your hair done.... Do something out of the house every week, even when you have nothing particularly planned, so it is clear to everyone that Saturday morning is your time.
It's a good habit for you and important that the rest of the family don't rely on you to always be there.

BlueVelvetStars · 17/05/2021 22:31

@junebirthdaygirl

Your dc will love their Dad being a footballer as they get to understand. My ds ran around the house screaming..my Daddy won the cup!! Does he bring your dc out back to kick ball so his hobby can become part of the family fun. As said already there is something attractive about a fit energetic guy so it is something to encourage. I had absolutely no problem with it and was disappointed when dh had to retire ( in his 50s!!) due to persistent injury. He was playing vintage football at that stage with a great band of lads which is really good for mental and physical help. As our dc grew they were so impressed with him and it encouraged them to be fit and active. It's tough going with a baby but overall adds to the whole family dynamic.

This helps OP how ?

newtolineofduty · 17/05/2021 22:49

I totally get where you're coming from-I'd be disappointed too-it basically takes up the entire day with it being right in the middle. If he was home and ready by 12 or something that would be better at least. Encouraging you to take your time out too is supportive but sounds like you don't want that as such-you want family time! I feel for you though it's really tricky. For me the fact that he gets to go out two evenings is enough to fulfill his hobby and fitness etc x

cupsofcoffee · 17/05/2021 22:50

If OP had 4 hours too it then that leaves only 1 day to spend as a family.

But that's beside the point - not all weekends need to be spent as a fixed family unit - in fact, I'd argue that doing so is pretty unhealthy long-term.

She could have her four hours one evening through the week, or split over two evenings - or in any other combination.

Being a parent shouldn't mean you're expected to give up your hobbies and free time outside of your family. I see so many posts on here from women (and it's always women) who devote years to their DC and their family then all of a sudden they're teenagers who are off being independent and the women are just lost.

It's so so important to maintain a life and an identity outside of parenthood and the family unit.

junebirthdaygirl · 18/05/2021 07:17

Bluevelvetstars
It helps, l believe as it can give her a picture of how being involved in sport can be a positive aspect of family life and not necessarily something to endure. It can also be a positive element of a relationship as a fit dh is better than an idle one. It is tough with a small baby but going forward needn't be a bad think.
And no need to be rude to me!

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