Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
MinesAPintOfTea · 19/06/2021 08:39

If it is depression, that is only understandable if he trusts his wife and goes to the gp. Have you offered to make the appointment for him and sit with him for the call?

But I’ve just left my “depressed” husband. Whose self harm is being imitated by our primary school age son and he still won’t seek help. Yes, our son will technically be one of those children of divorced parents who has mental health difficulties. But I have to live with the knowledge that they were made worse, not better, by staying.

SallyCinnabon · 19/06/2021 08:47

I always judge people by how they speak to waiting staff/cleaners etc.

and I’m sorry but ‘his money?’ you’re a team, a partnership, it’s both your money.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 08:52

Always baffles me that so many mumsnetters appear to believe that formerly decent, affable human beings suddenly decide to turn around and act like complete and utter arseholes, for no apparent reason whatsoever.

Nope, couldn't possibly be a legitimate case of depression, not when that's exactly how depression often manifests itself in men. Nah, it's all just faked, for god alone knows what benefit

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 08:53

Sorry posted too soon

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 08:56

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

Always baffles me that so many mumsnetters appear to believe that formerly decent, affable human beings suddenly decide to turn around and act like complete and utter arseholes, for no apparent reason whatsoever.

Nope, couldn't possibly be a legitimate case of depression, not when that's exactly how depression often manifests itself in men. Nah, it's all just faked, for god alone knows what benefit

^^^
Yes exactly what I've been trying to say.
When suffered depression I was like that - female.
I hated myself for it.
It the old saying if - you only hurt the ones you love.
Been well for many years but I remember how awful it was

KeepingTrack · 19/06/2021 08:56

@MsTSwift

No apologies. If you sit there whilst your dh abuses another woman you are implicitly condoning that. Remember cycling back from a charity event and a man in an open topped car just shouted all the vilest most misogynistic insults at me imaginable utterly unprovoked whilst girlfriend just sat there. What the hell?!?
Does it apply too to random people you dint know about?

So you are at said restaurant, you are witness of what is happening nd the crap behaviour of this guy and … you would have interned and even better you wild have expected everyone else in the restaurant, customers and other staff to have intervened and to,d him off for his bike mysoginist behaviour ?

Or is it an advice only directed to the partners who are actually in a situation of domestic abuse to step up and protect others. Even if it’s at their own detriment/they can’t even imagined doing sometinglike this etc…

scubadive · 19/06/2021 09:14

I’m so sorry you are experiencing this, is sounds awful when you have a bf baby too.

It sounds like DH is feeling pressured/stressed about money but you can’t live like this.

It should have been a big treat your 4 years olds first meal out and a break to you from cooking etc and he behaved like a spoilt child and ruined it for you both.

You need to speak to him again about the meal and explain that unless he seeks some treatment for his depression then you won’t be staying together.

MsTSwift · 19/06/2021 09:17

Of course not 🙄. But if you are in the company of someone behaving appallingly to innocent bystanders it does reflect on you. I was in an abusive relationship myself in my twenties and this was the last straw for me.

spongedog · 19/06/2021 09:24

@Vaterinadf

"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...

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."

You know. You are right.

Sorry. My ex would behave like this - ruin an outing, cause a scene. Always state he was depressed. I kicked him out when DC started school (he was having an affair) - he has spent the last few years hounding me through family court. But I am so much better off without him and our DC will soon be free too.

Document this - every time he is rude, off, how he behaves with others, the kids. A pattern will emerge. You only need dates, names places, quick comment.

SarahBellam · 19/06/2021 09:38

It doesn’t matter whether he has depression or not. He’s treating his family and particularly his wife, badly. That’s not acceptable. What is also not acceptable is that he freely uses his depression as an excuse for poor behaviour. He’s fully aware he has it though he will not seek help for it, even though he knows it will improve his family life. I agree that there needs to be a hard conversation after the OP has worked out what she wants as an outcome.

Babdoc · 19/06/2021 09:39

I don’t know if this applies to your DH, OP, but I have seen this behaviour in men who resent being tied down by children and a wife, are immature, and hanker for the freedom of their youth.
When they move out to a bachelor flat to pursue a teenage lifestyle of screwing around with other women, leaving all the childcare problems to their ex wife, their “depression” miraculously disappears.

Blueskytoday06 · 19/06/2021 09:42

Does depression make you behave like a wanker ??

Twoforthree · 19/06/2021 09:48

Your ds deserves a few farm park/ zoo etc treats. It seems an intolerable situation.

You need to sit dh down and say things need to change. You can’t continue as you are. You’ll stay and try to support him, if he goes to the doctor and relaxes about giving the kids a few treats without moaning, but if not then you must consider leaving him.

Then he’ll really have to consider his finances…

baldafrique · 19/06/2021 09:51

There is no excuse for bullying a waitress and making his child walk on eggshells. None.

RealhousewifeofStoke · 19/06/2021 09:54

@Blueskytoday06

Does depression make you behave like a wanker ??
According to some people yes.
ElsieMc · 19/06/2021 10:05

Its a surprise you are not depressed op. What stood out for me was that you actively dread him coming home. To me, this says you are better off by yourself for the reason that your dread and anxiety will pass to the children. You cannot live like that day in day out.

The saddest thing you said was that your 4yo shut down at the restaurant and has picked up upon your dh's poor behaviour. He has learnt to keep quiet. This should have been a happy family experience for you and the children and it was the opposite, making it something you will not want to repeat again. How convenient.

You need to look at your life. All the childcare seems to fall to you and you are walking on egg shells with a man who begrudges you and your children any little luxuries or pleasures and you dread him coming home.

Couchbettato · 19/06/2021 10:13

In addition to my last post, he's emotionally and financially abusive. Just to point that out to the people who can't see the abuse in this thread.

Like I said last time op it is not your job or any one else's job to manage his happiness, nor should you be penalised by him (poor attitude, making a scene, setting you up for failure) for not delivering on his expectations.

He's abusive.

And the apologists who are saying you need to work through it and putting more responsibility on your shoulders because we know damn well he isn't going to change.

And in situations where you have to put forward an ultimatum before change is considered the change is not wanted by the person who needs to address the issue, so it causes resentment and the change period is usually short lived. A mask is put on and it starts slipping weeks, months or years later.

tentimesaday · 19/06/2021 10:14

I made a vow years ago to never go to a restaurant with OH. Mine sounds similar to yours: he hates parting with money to eat out or have a takeaway. He finds fault with the service, the food, the wait, the price, my choice of restaurant, everything. Even when he holds it together, it's still not relaxing. After a few horrendous experiences like you describe I just decided I would simply eat out with friends or with the children on nights/lunchtimes when he was out of the picture - at work, sport or away.

I know it's a cop out, but it was clear to me he would not change. Eating out with him is unpleasant, so I do it without him.

Try it.

SaltAndVinegarSandwiches · 19/06/2021 10:17

If you sit there whilst your dh abuses another woman you are implicitly condoning that. Remember cycling back from a charity event and a man in an open topped car just shouted all the vilest most misogynistic insults at me imaginable utterly unprovoked whilst girlfriend just sat there. What the hell?!

Her DH didn't abuse anyone, he was an obnoxious, rude arse but he wasn't threatening or abusive. If a random stranger hurled misogynistic insults at me in front of his girlfriend I'd be feeling far more sorry for the girlfriend than for myself.

EishetChayil · 19/06/2021 10:19

LTB x 1,000

nanbread · 19/06/2021 10:20

Reading your updates has just made me feel really sad.

Yes £150 isn't loads - but you don't need to spend loads. There's room for you to go on a day out with your DC (when he's at work) a couple of times a month, you can take a packed lunch etc to save money. Days out will only get more expensive as they get older, this is the best time to do it, and by leaving your H out of it that's saving quite a bit too.

You don't say which city you're in but where we live there are often cheaper days / discount days out mid week etc.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:21

@RealhousewifeofStoke

Blueskytoday06
Does depression make you behave like a wanker ??
According to some people yes.
^
I know it's not good but Happy people don't act like this.

Maybe op is depressed too.
The happier you are the stronger and more clear thinking you are.

I would not have forced a treat on dp that he didn't want to do.
That not fair on anyone.

Op needs to pick something that they both would enjoy.

nanbread · 19/06/2021 10:24

[quote Robin233]@RealhousewifeofStoke

Blueskytoday06
Does depression make you behave like a wanker ??
According to some people yes.
^
I know it's not good but Happy people don't act like this.

Maybe op is depressed too.
The happier you are the stronger and more clear thinking you are.

I would not have forced a treat on dp that he didn't want to do.
That not fair on anyone.

Op needs to pick something that they both would enjoy.
[/quote]
OP didn't force him, he agreed to one family meal out, the first in 4 YEARS...

Even if she DID force him have you never grinned and beared something you didn't really want to do for the people you loved? Isn't that part of being a family, compromise?

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 10:26

Depression can make you act like a wanker. I do know that men can be fucked in the head by the responsibility to be THE provider - 3k in savings and 150 a month spare is tight . I'm not excusing him at all but it may be a combination of depression , anger at himself and worry . You refer to the occasional "shall we get a takeaway ?" - you're not really in a position to do this are you - 20/25 Pounds ? Maybe there is a discussion that needs to take place here ? You will definitely be in a far worse position money wise if you divorce .

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:28

@Couchbettato

He's abusive.

And the apologists who are saying you need to work through it and putting more responsibility on your shoulders because we know damn well he isn't going to change.

^^^

I could agree with this 'if' the dp had always been like this.

But according to op before the stress and pressure of children he was lovely and they went out loads.

Life is different now and needs adjustment by Both dp and op.

There isn't the spare money available there once was.

Swipe left for the next trending thread