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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:
Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 10:33

Op needs to pick something that they both would enjoy.

He doesn't want to do anything. At all.

Op can't even take her son to the zoo.

And are you suggesting they should never go out for a meal as a family, just because he isn't keen? That he couldn't put a bit of effort in to do something nice, for his wife and child on occasion? Something that his wife and child might enjoy? Everything has to be based around his enjoyment.

I don't really like the seaside. My partner loves it, so we do have days out at the coast together. I love dog shows, he comes there with me and my kids. Because that's what you do.

And bullying a waitress is not acceptable, ever. Op clearly states, he is only ever like this with women. So what's his excuse the other times.

PussInBin20 · 19/06/2021 10:33

It sounds to me like he is struggling with the burden of being financially responsible for the family and that the depression he talks about is a cover for this (although I don’t doubt that stressing about finances probably does make you depressed).

I think it’s time for a serious chat because you can’t go on like this. You are right, it’s not “living” at all. Yes, you don’t need to spend lots but everyone needs things to look forward to sometimes otherwise what’s the point?

Life is too short to be miserable and of course it’s about making memories for your kids. He needs to see this - I’m sure he doesn’t want the kids to say when they are adults that they don’t remember doing anything fun and they always felt on edge.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:33

@nanbread
Op DID force him to go:
They are skint and could not be bothered to cook so he 'reluctantly agreed to go'

See last line of the op:

\\||||

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.

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 10:36

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

Or, he waited until they had kids to really show his abusive side.

Which is very very common.

If it was stress and worry about money and responsibility, he would want to get help wheb he sees how kuchen he is hurting his wife and kids.

But he can't be arsed with all that. So he is quite happy making everyone miserable. Including his child.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:36

And a 4 year old is NOT missing out by not going to a restaurant.

Debt is not a laughing matter.
So I'm sure feeding the ducks would be more fun anyway and his parents could stay in the black.

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 10:38

And a 4 year old is NOT missing out by not going to a restaurant.

A child is not missing out, if we don't do lots of things with them. But sometimes it's nice to nice things with them.

They didn't get in debt to go.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:38

@Trevsadick
The only answer to money worries is to get more money
Anti depressants or therapy won't change that

MorriseysGladioli · 19/06/2021 10:39

They aren't in debt.
They have savings, and £150 a month spare.

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 10:39

@Trevsadick

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

Or, he waited until they had kids to really show his abusive side.

Which is very very common.

If it was stress and worry about money and responsibility, he would want to get help wheb he sees how kuchen he is hurting his wife and kids.

But he can't be arsed with all that. So he is quite happy making everyone miserable. Including his child.

*If it was stress and worry about money and responsibility, he would want to get help wheb he sees how kuchen he is hurting his wife and kids.

But he can't be arsed with all that. So he is quite happy making everyone miserable. Including his child*

You obviously don't know much about how depressed people can act ? One of the first things is denial .

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 10:40

@MorriseysGladioli

They aren't in debt. They have savings, and £150 a month spare.
They are one pay check away from debt .
MorriseysGladioli · 19/06/2021 10:42

As are many of us.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:42

@Trevsadick
Of course it nice to do nice things but you've got ti live within your means.

Some people are happy ti live in their overdraught - I did for years.

But for others it's a constant form of stress

Maybe op and dp are not on the same page with money. And that is the real problem.

MorriseysGladioli · 19/06/2021 10:44

Or, you could go mad, and once in 4 years extravagantly go out for a meal, but make sure to totally ruin it.
Because that really helps.

bridgetreilly · 19/06/2021 10:46

If he is depressed, and it does sound as though he may be, he needs to see the GP and get some medication.

yummytummy · 19/06/2021 10:47

oh op am sorry to hear your husband is being so unpleasant. it sounds like he is one of those men who gets their nose put out of joint when young kids come along and your attention is focused on them and not on him. and his response is to take that anger out on you by having a huge tantrum like that in public. it is not ok for him to act like this with you. i hope you can have a really frank talk with him and consider leaving if things do not change. it is not a nice environment for small kids to be in

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 10:47

@MorriseysGladioli

As are many of us.
and do you eat out and have takeaways ?
Macncheeseballs · 19/06/2021 10:47

Robin233, ah so its the fact they have different outlooks that's the problem, not the fact that he is a massive self absorbed joyless twat

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 10:48

You obviously don't know much about how depressed people can act ? One of the first things is denial

No I actually do. He isn't in denial.

He is only this way with women. Never men, never his boss or colleagues.

He only ever claims depression when his wife pulls him about his behaviour. He bullied a teenage girl, just trying to do her job. He made his wife and child miserable.

He is happy to say 'oh its my depression' when his poor behaviour its pointed out. Let's say it IS depression. He knows he is awful, because of his depression. He knows he is making his wife and child miserable. He knows the consequences and the cause. But refuses to get help.

Depression is not an excuse to abuse people or make them miserable, if you can recognise your poor behaviour and abuse but refuse to actually do anything, you are just abusive.

They didn't get into debt for a meal they have a savings fund. And all families, do things that they personally wouldn't choose to do, because others in the family enjoy it. The whole family, can not only partake in activities, he agrees with.

baldafrique · 19/06/2021 10:49

Depression doesn't make people bully teenage waitresses ffs. That's just a weak man looking for an easy target.

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 10:49

Of course it nice to do nice things but you've got ti live within your means.

This was with their means.

toothpicklover · 19/06/2021 10:50

Just leave him, he’s an abusive prick to you, the kids and anyone he comes in contact with.

MorriseysGladioli · 19/06/2021 10:51

Yes I do, occasionally (and manage to be pleasant, too! Imagine!)
It's all worked out so far; I'm not in a workhouse yet.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 10:51

@MorriseysGladioli

Or, you could go mad, and once in 4 years extravagantly go out for a meal, but make sure to totally ruin it.
Because that really helps.

^^
If you reread the op he reluctantly agreed to go because they couldn't be arsed to cook.
Pizza express is not really a life changing experience for a 4 year old.
I so wanted to take my daughter to Disney land Paris when she was 2.
But I didn't because I couldn't afford it.
She got haven and throughly enjoy it.
You really have to live within your means.

ivfgottwins · 19/06/2021 10:51

His behaviour was ignorant and rude and no excuse but don't underestimate the immense pressure it is for one person to carry the entire family financially as the main earner - there is clearly some resentment on his part also going in here

BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush · 19/06/2021 10:54

He may or may not be depressed. But if he’s using it as an excuse for being an arse he needs to go to the gp and get help.

I suspect he wasn’t all that lovely before, just there were fewer stresses in life so you didn’t notice.

No one needs to live in a relationship like this.