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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so ashamed of my husband causing a scene?

588 replies

Vaterinadf · 18/06/2021 19:51

It was so horrendous. We have 2 DC, 4 and 5 months. Yesterday we couldn't be arsed cooking and our 4 year old has never been to a restaraunt so I suggested we go to the local Pizza Express for dinner. 'D'H whinged about money. He is always complaining about money. Yes things are tight but we are able to stretch to the occasional treat as we have around £150 spare each month, but DH always gets in a tiff about it. I'm not regulary hounding him for treats, but the occasional "Ah shall we just get a takeaway for tonight?" will subject me to a half an hour long rant about how hard he works and about how I waste all his money. I work part-time but am on maternity leave. He reluctantly agreed to go.

As soon as we get in and are sat down, the whinging starts. "It's way too expensive, I want to go somewhere else, come on" (I was BFing 5mo at this point and didn't fancy traipsing around town for somewhere else to eat). I firmly said no, and that the DC will need to be in bed as soon as we get home and I'm not spending time wandering around.

Then he's rude and demanding to the waitress who was literally only a teenager. She asks if we're ready to take our order and we say yes. There's a technical issue with the order taking system she's using and she says "One second, sorry." and DH does a loud, extremely obvious tut that he clearly intended for the waitress to hear. The technical issue was sorted in literally seconds and was an absolute non-issue, the tut was just obnoxious and unnessecary. We then noticed her and another waitress kept glancing over our table so we'd clearly been marked as 'problem' customers. I've worked in hospitality previously and I've found myself risk-assessing tables before, so I felt awful. I did not want to be 'that' table.

I take baby to the bathroom to be changed and come back and the food is being served. DH again continues to just be rude and blunt. The waitress doesn't do anything wrong so he doesn't make complaints but I heard him say "No." (without a thank you) when the waitress asked if he'd like anything else. I thought that was rude. He whinges the whole time while we are eating about the food, the service, the decor etc. I didn't get to have a word in edgeways. The idea of a casual chat over a meal seemed to be lost on him. It was tense and I hated it. Even our 4YO could barely say a word over the monologue.

The waitress ends up dropping a fork on the floor when collecting our empty plates and is extremely apologetic and clearly nervous. DH again tuts and says that he's found the service disgraceful and it's horrendous we weren't offered a high chair for baby (Baby is 5 months ffs, the high chair at home is still boxed up so he was just looking for anything to complain about! It was quite obvious that baby was too young for a highchair so of course we weren't asked.). We ask for the bill and I tell him I think he's been absolutely disgusting and I'm ashamed of him and tell him to go and get the car. He then leaves but starts whinging and being sarcastic, saying crap like "Sorry for breathing." He's gone by the time we get the bill, it's a different waitress to the one who served us. I go up to the one who served us, apologise profusely and give her a £10 tip.

We argue about it when we get home and then he started the pity party about how he is depressed. I'm not saying he makes up his depression, but he only talks about it when I'm upset with him for something. "It's my depression that makes me like this!" and yet he never seeks help. I would never, ever say he just uses depression as an excuse but surely it is now his responsibility to seek help? He's a completely unpleasant human being and I dread him coming home from work every day. He is not the man I married, who I loved. He was kind and loving. I mean it, so kind. Everybody told me I'd got a goodun with him. I miss that man so much. He changed after first DC but has been absolutely insufferable since our recent baby. I don't know what to do. I enjoy being at home during the day with my 2 little ones, and then once DH comes through the door suddenly there is an unbearable tension.

OP posts:
SilverGlitterBaubles · 18/06/2021 23:24

@PepeSilviaDoesNotExist It depends, if the £150 is all you have to spare each month after bills and food shopping then there's not much buffer there. Does that spare have to cover petrol, insurance and other incidentals? Pizza Express mains are more likely to average £12-£15, kids menu £7ish (drinks not included) so more likely £50 minimum. We usually go there with Tesco vouchers TBH otherwise it's overpriced for pizzas.

Wills · 18/06/2021 23:24

Hi, your DH sounds a little like mine so I thought I'd write, especially as we've been together over 30 years now so there is some hope. We have 4 kids, but I suspect my DH felt we'd gone 1 too far after our first was born. Our second was planned because he knew I wouldn't settle for less. Our third was also planned but only after massive rows. Our 4th was a delightful (for me) accident, but yes he asked me to consider getting rid of it! (Long gaps cos I don't know how to put a new para in!) My dh adores me and sort of resents the time our kids have with me - equally they don't have a clue because he wants them to have the best childhood possible. If you're thinking wow those two ideals don't fit then yes I'd agree its what causes him so much heartache/his depression. It all culminated 9 years ago when his depression was sooo bad that if the weather had the audacity to be bad when he'd planned to work outside at the weekend then he wouldn't speak to anyone - even if we had visitors - he'd just stand and stare for hours on end at the garden - brooding! I'm not saying yours is the same as ours, just that solutions can be found. Like yours my DH doesn't 'talk' - total waste of time! But, I'd reached the point where I HAD to put the kids first (something my dh hasn't quite come to terms with). So I issued him with an ultimatum that I was fully prepared to go through with (that's important, and not just with kids). I basically said that we had to go to marriage guidance counselling or we'd split whilst I raised the kids and could talk about getting back together when they'd 'flown' the nest. I totally love my dh and this was v.v.v. scary and I don't suggest doing this unless you're in the kind of relationship corner that we were in where its the kids mental health compared to ours, but your trip to Pizza Express sounds far too like the sort of issues we had. I also massively believe that marriage guidance counselling is for when things are struggling, not for when it's gone too far. Also, your relationship is under serious threat. It's absolutely ok to examine his depression (claimed or true) as a joint couple. Think about it - the kids will see you as interchangeable i.e. you're sort of the conjoined figure represented by the word parents. If either of you are depressed/upset etc then as far as your children are concerned is both of your issues. I wont go into the details but can say that 10 years on we're still together. Our kids are happy, if you exclude the teenage moans similar to 'Kevin and Perry' and our fourth child, whilst adored, still drives us all nuts. Good luck and if you want further info then you'll need to pm me as I don't want to reveal any more. But..... your kids have only one childhood which is a damn site shorter than a potentially long lasting marriage. Much love to all!

comedycentral · 18/06/2021 23:25

What an unbearable situation. Can you leave? Is it an option for you?

ClawedButler · 18/06/2021 23:27

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Wills · 18/06/2021 23:28

Oh, my long spaces to try and make my text more readable haven't worked. Really sorry xxx.

Oh wow - have just found that if I double tap I can create a new para.

TriangularPrism · 18/06/2021 23:28

My god, you deserve better than that as does your child.

What does he have to say for himself when you point out that was his 4 year olds very first experience at a restaurant? What a horrid man.

BlowDryRat · 18/06/2021 23:29

He's abusing you and your child. Your children are growing up in an abusive household. Your older child has already learned to walk on eggshells. Having depression does not make someone abusive.

I'm sorry. I've been there. I never, ever want to be in that situation again. It's horrendous. I divorced the horrible man and life got a lot better.

Missreginafalange · 18/06/2021 23:34

@Vaterinadf

It’s not just eating out. I’d like to eat out more than once every 4 years but I could live without it if I was able to do other stuff with my kids.

I just want to be able to treat them, whether that be a meal at Pizza Express (I chose that because I thought it would be child friendly) or going on a day out to a zoo or farm park every couple of months.

But DH just cannot comprehend it. He is on edge all of the time, it’s unbearable. The vibe he caused in Pizza Express was unbearable. I am starting to think he did it on purpose to put me off wanting to do it again.

He reluctantly agreed to go but I think he did so knowing he was going to ruin it and complain. He was actively looking for problems, eg kicking off at the waitress for not offering an EBF 5 month old a high chair. I’m sad for my son, he will now associate eating out with daddy kicking off and mummy and daddy arguing.

If I were to take the DC somewhere and paid a £25 entry fee I’d be ranted at later on for going. If I convinced him to come with us on a weekend he’d ruin it.

Ask yourself is this how you want to spend the rest of your life?

Summerdayshaze · 18/06/2021 23:34

Your poor little boy.

Please leave this man.

PepeSilviaDoesNotExist · 18/06/2021 23:35

@SilverGlitterBaubles yes agreed and the reality of life is not spending the full £150 on fun every month but going for their first meal out with their child in four years should have been a nicer experience.

I alway get a classic margarita from pizza express (I know I’m boring) which costs £9. So if you want a treat you can get one without breaking the bank.

In this situation OP has said they have 3k emergency fund so I really struggle to see why her husband is being such an arsehole over pizza.

KurtWilde · 18/06/2021 23:35

@Serenissima123 I'm fully aware of what marriage is like, and i also say that no woman should have to put up with a joyless marriage where she's financially abused and embarrassed in public by a grumpy man child.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 18/06/2021 23:36

@ClawedButler I agree it's not an excuse for his poor behaviour but it may be a clue to understanding the situation and help the OP to talk to him or urge him to seek help. I was in a situation with DH being very stressed at one when DCs were young, it all boiled down to him feeling like he had this huge financial responsibility and felt expectations to provide and didn't want to let us down. When I understood this and when I explained that I didn't expect a picture perfect life just a happy one with us as a team things were a lot better. Going from 2 salaries to one is not easy. I got through that phase by being crafty at cheap days out and saved up supermarket vouchers for restaurants and treats.

honeyrider · 18/06/2021 23:37

@BlowDryRat

He's abusing you and your child. Your children are growing up in an abusive household. Your older child has already learned to walk on eggshells. Having depression does not make someone abusive.

I'm sorry. I've been there. I never, ever want to be in that situation again. It's horrendous. I divorced the horrible man and life got a lot better.

I agree with this, very sad to see the 4 year old has already learnt how to tip top around on eggshells, the poor mite has no choice but to trapped in this abusive relationship but the OP has that choice.
Notgoingonholiday · 18/06/2021 23:37

When I heard my parents arguing as a child, I would be filled with dread at the thought of them separating. Only in very rare cases is it any form if a solution.

When I heard my parents argue, every day of my life when I was a child, I would pray for them to separate. I used to beg my mum to leave my dad.

It's a very sweeping statement to say it's only a solution in rare cases...just because you felt differently.

The damage of an unhappy childhood literally goes on forever, in so many different ways that you don't even realise mostly. Therapy helps but not experiencing the fear and anxiety of arguing parents (amongst all the other stuff) would be far better.

Minfilia · 18/06/2021 23:37

He’s awful, OP.

But only when you get out and look back on this will you realise how awful he actually is.

Robin233 · 18/06/2021 23:38

Stone me there's a lot of apologists on this thread. So he didn't want to go? He's a grown man and he still went. Just proceeded to make an absolute arse of himself the entire time.
^^^^

Have you never done anything you didn't want to do for others?

Maybe he did it because op was giving him a hard time ?

Maybe because he thought it might be ok

Who knows.

He's obviously going through some stuff and needs help.

BluebellsGreenbells · 18/06/2021 23:43

I would be filled with dread at the thought of them separating

Best day of my life when my mother left my father. We were much happier at home, we could laugh and not tread on egg shells. Not easy being the only children in school without a father at home, thank god we had somewhere to go.

I wouldn’t change that.

whynotwhatknot · 18/06/2021 23:44

FFS money problems has got nothig to do with talking to people like shit!

stop going on about the fucking money she hasnt been out to eat with her child in four years

whynotwhatknot · 18/06/2021 23:45

@Robin233 he doesnt want any probably because its just him not an mh issue

KurtWilde · 18/06/2021 23:47

When I finally had enough to leave my exh, my DC were over the moon. No more grumpy moods to avoid, no more walking on eggshells, no more being quiet so as not to rile him, no more wondering if he'd kick off on a family outing. We laughed and we started living properly. My DC are 100% happier, thriving, and most definitely haven't dropped out of education!!

Robin233 · 18/06/2021 23:47

@IceLace100

"The responsibility of being the main bread winner for 2 small children and having 150 left at the end of the month for emergency???
Think I'd be depressed"

I agree. £150 isn't a lot to be left with at the end of the month and I wouldn't want to fritter it on fast food if I were in your position.

His behaviour was completely out of order, no arguments there, but I bet if you got to the bottom of this, anxiety over money would be the issue.
^^^
This is nut shell

Op if you're still reading.
If you still want to man you fell in-love with - read the above slowly - twice.

Wills · 18/06/2021 23:47

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Clymene · 18/06/2021 23:49

@Wills - I really hope you didn't stay with a man who got his kicks from bullying teenage waitresses and scared his 4 year old so much he didn't dare speak.

Because I can tell you that scars children. And those scars don't go away. And children don't see you as a unit - they see their dad intimidating and bullying their mum and wonder why they have to carry on living with such a horrible person.

gah2teenagers · 18/06/2021 23:49

Can you face another what, 40 years ? With this man. Build a better future for your poor children.

Clymene · 18/06/2021 23:52

And in years to come, if your husband did behave like that, your children will wonder why you put your marriage before their wellbeing.

Incidentally, paddy is considered an slur against the Irish. Please don't use it.