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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:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/06/2021 12:30

My ex used to be like this, and totally ruin meals out. Horrendous. A normally person would think “we’re hear now, let’s make the best of it”. A narcissistic, abusive shit thinks “I’ll make this a living nightmare so that she doesn’t try it again”

Note ex.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/06/2021 12:31

Here, not hear of course

Summerhaven · 19/06/2021 12:42

I haven’t read all the replies, but i have read all your replies OP and I’m sorry but my sympathy has been gradually waning. I’ll get roasted for this but I’m past caring because threads like this are so common now.

Yes, your husband is an arse and I’d absolutely be saying get help or I’m gone. YANBU about your husband at all and I feel for you and the kids.

But for the love of god if you’re renting, with not a lot of money (£150 a month is nothing really I’m afraid, if you’re saving separately each month aside from that money then it makes things a bit better but if that’s all you have after everything is paid for every month and no additional money saved each month then it’s really not a lot) your first child was almost at school age therefore you could’ve returned to work full time and improved your family’s financial situation....did you go and have another bloody baby?!

Honestly, I’m just sick of everyone NEEDING a brother or sister for darling little Edward, therefore no matter what financial strife the family is in, no matter how shite and strained the parent’s relationship is after the first, reproducing again MUST be done- at all costs.

I’m sorry for the situation you’re in, I know this ‘rant’ isn’t constructive for your situation but you just see it time and time again on here and it’s just getting beyond a joke.

You need to leave your husband, he’s an arse, but I’m not surprised he and you are fed up, you’ve deliberately set out to make yourselves broke and as a consequence of that, lead restrictive lives.

ch33sy · 19/06/2021 12:43

You get child benefit for the kids right? Can you ring fence that money to spend on taking them out etc while he is at work. Sell it as it's the kids money and that the 4yo needs the experiences to prepare for school. It won't go far, but he would struggle to argue if you make a good case.

Like everyone else has said the problems go way deeper but it might be a way to change things quickly for your son before he starts school

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 12:45

Summerhave the Op's life is restricted by being shared with an abusive arse. Patronising much

RealhousewifeofStoke · 19/06/2021 12:48

‘I haven’t read all the replies’

And yet here you are dishing out patronising, irrelevant advice like a pro.

Summerhaven · 19/06/2021 12:51

@wewereliars, of course her husband is the main problem, he’s an absolute arse but the OP has hardly helped herself has she? CHOOSING to have another baby with the self cantered idiot. A father should be loving, kind and generous and this berk doesn’t sound like he has any of those traits anymore and hasn’t done since the first.

The solution to the op’s problem is simple, either leave or give him an ultimatum to get help or she’ll leave. The replies are unanimous, she is not being unreasonable. But if even one person who’s in a similar situation sees this thread and is thinking about adding a second child into an already fractured relationship and bad financial situation, don’t!!

Egeegogxmv · 19/06/2021 12:52

'Summerhaven' such a kind sounding username....

Summerhaven · 19/06/2021 12:52

@RealhousewifeofStoke, patronising it might be because it’s common sense. But common sense hasn’t prevailed has it!

Summerhaven · 19/06/2021 12:54

What would be a ‘kind’ reply then? ‘YANBU hun, he’s a dick.’ I’ve already said that.

Panaesthesia · 19/06/2021 12:54

Summerhaven's not wrong, though. They don't have a lot of spare cash, so if she wanted more days out for the child - stop inviting the husband, by the way, he obviously isn't interested - then she could have gotten a job. Instead, now she has an angry, bitter, tight husband and no job.

Another baby wasn't going to give her the life she wanted, with some extra cash and days out. Jobs do that.

I like days out. I got a job. And then I arrange the days and the H sometimes comes, sometimes doesn't, often moans, but none of it's his business really. Bliss. Jobs. Dead good, really.

RoseHarper · 19/06/2021 12:54

He will not change so you need to decide if this is the life you want for you and your DC. He may be depressed, he may be worried about money but neither excuses his horrible behaviour. Its controlling and abusive. The normal response re the money worry would be to say, "it's a bit spendy, why dont we take kids to park and get takeaway pizzas" or find a cheaper alternative. Ultimatums will not work, discussing things with him will not work. So its accept as he is or leave.

SaltAndVinegarSandwiches · 19/06/2021 12:55

Wow I'm sure the suggestion that OP goes back in time and doesn't have a second baby is incredibly helpful to her. I'm sure it's also meant in the spirit of constructive and supportive advice.

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 12:55

Summerhaven "advice" blaming the OP for being a silly girl and getting herself pregnant is less than helpful and should sod off back to 1954 where it belongs.

People in the OPs position need building up and supporting, not belittling and criticism.She has her husband for that.

Egeegogxmv · 19/06/2021 12:56

Summer, abusers are strategic they spend a certain amount of time keeping you sweet and training you to trust them until they've got you under control and then they ramp-up the abuse. It's difficult to know what's going on when these techniques are used on you because you weren't expecting this from the person who you love and trust.
It's a bit like being deprogrammed from a cult or understanding that what you thought was a duck is really a rabbit.

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 12:59

@iklboo

They are one pay check away from debt .

They have £3k savings.

as i said ....
Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 13:00

Oh my word.

The op HAS a Job. She has a job she is on mat leave.

Also, even is @summerhaven had a point, She didn't have this baby alone. He has been like this for 4 years. He could have wrapped his cock up. If having a kid was so hard for him that he has to bully women and ruin his kids well being. Why did HE have unprotected sex and produce a baby?

Summerhaven even admits her rant wasn't constructive. The baby is here. The op works, they have savings and she simply wanted to do something nice.

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 13:03

@MrsMaizel 3k in savings isn't one pay check for most people.

And the op works. If he lost job, that doesn't mean they will be homeless in the next month.

And one meal in 4 years, isn't going to be the difference between keeping or losing their home. How expensive do you think pizza express is?

KurtWilde · 19/06/2021 13:03

@wewereliars

Summerhaven "advice" blaming the OP for being a silly girl and getting herself pregnant is less than helpful and should sod off back to 1954 where it belongs.

People in the OPs position need building up and supporting, not belittling and criticism.She has her husband for that.

Well said @wewereliars

It's people like my exh and OPs DH that only strengthen my resolve to never live with a man again.

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 13:05

[quote SaltAndVinegarSandwiches]@MrsMaizel You're being completely ridiculous. They have eaten out once in 4 years. They have savings. They're not recklessly living beyond their means. You have to have a balance between being cautious with money and enjoying life while the kids are little too.[/quote]
We will have to agree to differ on that point e.g a takeaway - what does that cost ? 20/25 Pounds ? You can get a Indian /whatever meal in supermarket for 9 pounds . Savings of 3k can be wiped out in one go - lose a job ? Pay rent and food ...children can get plenty of experiences out doing other things that cost less. Some people are obviously happy to do that but others wouldn't be .

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 13:07

[quote Trevsadick]@MrsMaizel 3k in savings isn't one pay check for most people.

And the op works. If he lost job, that doesn't mean they will be homeless in the next month.

And one meal in 4 years, isn't going to be the difference between keeping or losing their home. How expensive do you think pizza express is?[/quote]
Oh I know what it costs....what is rent ? Maybe 600 - 1000 a month depending on your area ? There's not much leeway there .

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 13:08

Amazing that people think the prices at pizza express are so high, that one meal there in 4 years, justify a man bullying a teenage girl, his wife and his child.

Who knew one meal out was defense for being an abusing bully.

Trevsadick · 19/06/2021 13:11

Oh I know what it costs....what is rent ? Maybe 600 - 1000 a month depending on your area ? There's not much leeway there

Or less, in some areas. I don't live in the cheapest area, but it would give me at least 2 months. With no other income. I have lived in this house with less than £1500 per month.

But there would be some income because the OP works.

And again, let's say they would be homeless in one month, do you really think that one meal at pizza express would change that situation hugely?

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 13:12

Why do peole keep fixating on money? This is NOT about money, it is about the exercise of power and control. No doubt the OP's husband is or will be controlling about many other issues too. The longer she stays the harder it will be to leave.

When I began to realise my ex's behaviour was not normal, posts from Mumsnet slowly over time made me see that he was abusive and I could and should leave. I was with him for over 25 years so people saying stick it out can really fuck right off.

People teling the OP to reason with the abusive husband are dishing out irresponsible and potentially dangerous advice. She has not been out for a meal since her 4 year old son was born but they both work. It is not a money issue.

MrsMaizel · 19/06/2021 13:16

@Trevsadick

Oh I know what it costs....what is rent ? Maybe 600 - 1000 a month depending on your area ? There's not much leeway there

Or less, in some areas. I don't live in the cheapest area, but it would give me at least 2 months. With no other income. I have lived in this house with less than £1500 per month.

But there would be some income because the OP works.

And again, let's say they would be homeless in one month, do you really think that one meal at pizza express would change that situation hugely?

It's all about your values and aims in life ,isn't it ?