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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:
converseandjeans · 19/06/2021 21:55

vaterinadf

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.

He sounds quite unpleasant. However it's probably the stress of being the main breadwinner. Not excusing him here btw.

When do you plan to go back to work? You don't have much spare money & you're renting.

I never had to ask DH for money for outings - we had v little cash when ours were tiny but I worked from when DD was 4 months & DS was 6 months. I used to buy zoo pass as bday gift for children or go to free things like city farm.

I think if you want to do those things you need more money coming in.

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 21:55

I should have added Robin 233 lucky you. I wish I could say the same

converseandjeans · 19/06/2021 21:56

YANBU for wanting a nice meal at Pizza Express btw. - it's a normal nice thing to do.

They always have offers online btw. So cuts cost.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 22:16

@wewereliars
My experience has put in in the perfect position to understand abuse.
You have no idea what has happened in my life.
I'm finding you quite abusive telling me how wrong I am.

RealhousewifeofStoke · 19/06/2021 22:23

@converseandjeans

vaterinadf

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.

He sounds quite unpleasant. However it's probably the stress of being the main breadwinner. Not excusing him here btw.

When do you plan to go back to work? You don't have much spare money & you're renting.

I never had to ask DH for money for outings - we had v little cash when ours were tiny but I worked from when DD was 4 months & DS was 6 months. I used to buy zoo pass as bday gift for children or go to free things like city farm.

I think if you want to do those things you need more money coming in.

Where is the facepalm emoji when you need it..,,,
wewereliars · 19/06/2021 22:27

robin233 I am finding you abusive you are repeatedly commenting on an issue which is very triggering and that you do not understand

HarrietPierce · 19/06/2021 22:33

Robin233 "My experience has put in in the perfect position to understand abuse."

But it doesn't sound like it by your responses to the post.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 22:54

@HarrietPierce
Your lack of understanding is not is your issue.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 22:58

@wewereliars
I respectfully suggest you stop reading.
I'm sorry for your experience but I'm feel I must stand up for myself.
In the past and the abuse I suffered I did not stand up for myself.
Sadly

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 23:01

Robin233 this thread has been started by someone who has asked for advice/ help. Why not start your own thread, this one is not about you.

converseandjeans · 19/06/2021 23:06

realhoysewifeofstoke

Where is the facepalm emoji when you need it..,,,

Sorry I probably haven't expressed what I meant properly. I don't think OP can rely on her DH. She needs to get her independence back so she can decide what she does with her money.

Unfortunately not everyone can afford to be a SAHM (I couldn't) & the amount spare they have probably isn't really enough to have meals out.

Her husband's behaviour is totally out of order. He was rude and nasty.

I think OP should consider if she wants to be with him.

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 23:07

The OP is not a SAHM, she is on maternity leave

mathanxiety · 19/06/2021 23:10

So no type of educational qualifications in psychology?
Just life experience - same as everyone else ?

@Robin233
It is not the done thing here to:
(1) Badger another poster about qualifications
or
(2) To claim professional expertise or specialised education even if one has that, and even if badgered.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 23:11

@wewereliars
I have given advise to op.
Start your own thread.
This is not about you

HarrietPierce · 19/06/2021 23:14

@HarrietPierce
"Your lack of understanding is not is your issue." Patronising.

I understand what it's like being in an abusive relationship first hand, but I don't understand you telling the OP to "adjust" to her emotionally abusive husband, when you say you regret standing up for yourself in the past.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 23:14

@mathanxiety
So because I offered a different view to you.
Told I'm wrong am I not Allow to express a opinion?
I only wanted to help op.
I did not mean to offend anyone.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 23:16

@HarrietPierce
I never told op to 'adjust ' to her dh
Please feel free to show me that post.

MrsNewms85 · 19/06/2021 23:17

Tell him to get help or you'll get your own in the shape of the divorce specialist.

Bringing up depression that doesn't sound like it's been diagnosed, at a time you have the right to express that you're unhappy with him is sneaky and devious.

Hope you're ok.

HarrietPierce · 19/06/2021 23:22

Robin 233 in a reply to couchbettato

"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."

mathanxiety · 19/06/2021 23:24

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.

...Clearly no knowledge of creeping nature of abusive behaviour or what causes it.

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

...Urging the OP to adjust when it is clear that her H rants and is capable of sustained verbal abuse in public.

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

...Believes this is about spending, H feeling pressure due to budget constraints, responsibility of supporting the family.
Ignores the free beach trips ruined by his attempts to assert control and to intimidate the OP into stopping her attempts to bring the family on outings.
Ignores the fact that the OP is on mat leave from what is presumably a paying job and that the H has been pissing on all outings and suggestions of outings since the 4 year old was born.

@Robin233, none of your comments here reflect any insight into abusive relationships or how to go about dealing with them.

Robin233 · 19/06/2021 23:28

Oh I see.
Sorry my bad.
I can see why you're confused
I meant to say that going from a child free couple with more disposable income , to a family with 2 small children, and a very tight budget need an adjustment by both dh and op.
Being parents is a complete game changer. It's not easy.
I do hope that's cleared that up for you.
I wish you all the best op.

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 23:28

BTW I do not need you to feel "sorry for my experience" Robin233, I am in a great place thanks so much.

The reason I reply as I do to posters like this lady is that I was helped when I needed it. I never posted myself, but learned a lot from others in similar situations. So I know that what is written matters.

Lovenahla · 19/06/2021 23:28

My god reading this made me cringe. You are so much better than this. He is like a man child

wewereliars · 19/06/2021 23:29

Your updated post just proves your complete lack of understanding of the issue.

mathanxiety · 19/06/2021 23:35

I meant to say that going from a child free couple with more disposable income , to a family with 2 small children, and a very tight budget need an adjustment by both dh and op.

You did say that. You told the OP she needed to make adjustments, and that her H did too.
Nobody is confused about what you said.
Those who have commented on it are bemused that you present yourself as someone who understands domestic abuse, because if you did, you would not have posted that.

What about the trips to the beach ruined by his attempts to control, @Robin233?

What about the H's ranting, something mentioned by the OP?
[He will] subject me to a half an hour long rant about how hard he works and about how I waste all his money
No concept of family money there. Just verbal abuse and the worrying phrase 'all my money'.

What about his demonstrated ability to carry out a sustained verbal attack on a waitress?