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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I’m sick! Should my partner be doing more to help?

32 replies

Blueorchidsatnight · 27/08/2021 09:02

Hi there, first time poster! Just wondering whether you can help me understand whether I am overreacting or not?
To cut a long story short my DD from a previous relationship came back from her dad’s early because she had been sick. At this point I had no reason to believe that it was a sickness bug as my ex said that no one else in the house had been sick. However, when she got back my ex’s house he proceeded to tell me she’d been sick more than once. She wasn’t sick once she got home but was quite poorly and run down for a few days. I made sure I sanitised all her stuff and put all of her clothes on a hot wash to minimise chances of germs being spread but this didn’t work as my DS (1) was violently sick throughout the night and morning a few days later, however he perked up pretty quickly and wasn’t dehydrated or anything. A few days pass and I thought that DP and I had managed to avoid getting sick. Had a nice morning with my two DC after the rest of the week being a write off with them both being poorly. However, yesterday afternoon I started to feel a bit rubbish, I put DS down for a late nap so I could lay on the sofa while my DD was playing nicely on her own. I then started to be violently sick every five minutes or more. It got to the point it was bad that when my DS woke up I had to quickly change him and stick him in the cot with some books to busy him while I kept being violently sick. This really upset both children to see me being ill and I couldn’t really parent properly with my head down the loo so I messaged my partner at work to tell him but he told me he couldn’t come home. I rang my father to vent and have a cry and he could see the state I was in so offered to come round (masked and gloved up) to help look after the DC. I was so lucky he did come over because I was glued to the toilet right up to the point when my partner came home. As soon as he got back he told me he’d be sleeping downstairs (which I was fine with) however he said to keep DS in my room in his cot who was now asleep. I kept getting up throughout the night to be sick, I was being as quiet as I could but DS is a bad sleeper anyway so kept waking up crying while I was in the toilet. Which woke up DP who came up to console DS while shouting at me saying I’m keeping him up (he only came up twice in the night so did get some sleep downstairs).
Both the children had me up early this morning, I tried to occupy them upstairs so DP could have somewhat of a lay in because he has to work later but had to bring them down about eight this morning because they were getting restless and hungry. I presumed when we came down DP would help with the DC, getting their breakfast sorted and playing with them because I was still feeling really rough with a bad belly, feeling sick and no sleep. When I did come down he announced that he had no sleep and I was feeling better now (which I wasn’t) so said he was going back to bed. I had to wake him up because I needed to be sick again so asked he could go downstairs to watch the children. He proceeded to shout at me and called me a selfish and all other names under the sun. He’s now gaslighting me saying that our one year old coped better with being sick than me. To put some context to the situation I am SAHM (currently looking for a part time job) I’m responsible for everything in the house and looking after both children (which I don’t mind) but would think with me being ill my DP would cut me some slack and help out a bit more?

Yabu - I should suck it up and get on with it
Yanbu - DP should help out

Thank you for listening to my rambling post, I hope it makes some sense. I blame the sleep deprivation and stomach bug if not!

OP posts:
Standrewsschool · 27/08/2021 09:05

Dp should definantly be helping more. You’re ill and sickness can make you feel weak and tired.

Dp shouldn’t be going back to bed but helping out.

marmitegirl01 · 27/08/2021 09:06

Yes he should be doing more. He should be packing his bag to leave. Permanently.

UserStillatLarge · 27/08/2021 09:08

The answer to your headline question is "it depends"

If DP was working at a job it would be hard to take time off from, then sometimes you have to suck it up and cope the best you can.

If you have other people who can more easily help (like it sounds like your father could) then this is also fine.

However, if DP just considers that looking after his own child (not "helping" out is too much to ask, then he is being entirely unreasonable. I assume he is like this normally as well? You shouldn't have to put up with him.

I'm not sure what you mean by saying he is "gaslighting you" by saying your 1 year old coped better with being ill though - that sounds like it actually was the case based on your own account?

HawksAreRed · 27/08/2021 09:08

Parenting, he should be parenting his children. He should also care that his wife is unwell and want her to rest and get better.

He shouldn't be shouting at you and making you feel guilty for being ill.

He's not a good partner.

OwlinaTree · 27/08/2021 09:08

To shout at you and call you selfish when you are being sick is awful op. You must be feeling really rough today. I hope you get over it quickly. Of course your DH should be stepping up to do more with three kids if you feel unwell.

What happens when he is ill? Does he soldier on?

Is he worried about not getting paid if he has to take time off work? Sounds like his is the only income.

Clocktopus · 27/08/2021 09:09

You're supposed to be a partnership, 50/50 load and when one of you is unable to carry their load the other needs to temporarily pick up the slack. He is not picking up the slack right now, he's being a dick. You should be the one going back to bed for a few hours while he sorts the DC.

saveforthat · 27/08/2021 09:09

I keep reading posts like this where the op's DP behaves in a way that no decent human would behave to a random stranger let alone the person you are supposed to love and cherish. Do you really need confirmation that this is not right? What did your Dad say?

Lweji · 27/08/2021 09:11

Not sure what you mean by help.
FGS, he should take over.
A lay in?!

Why are you with him?

Samanabanana · 27/08/2021 09:13

How can anyone watch their partner suffer like that and not only actively help them, but shout at them for being ill? There would be no way back from that for me. I'd LTB

idontlikealdi · 27/08/2021 09:15

So many things...

He doesn't help look after his own children, he should be parenting them.

Why are you being a martyr giving him a lie in?

It does sounds like you're being a little over dramatic about the sickness. Chucking worlds around like gaslighting isn't necessary.

DH wouldn't be able to leave work if I'm sick, he's a teacher, likewise Pre covid I wouldn't be able to rush home as my commute was 1hr4 minutes anyway.

Are you emetophobic?

ClemDanFango · 27/08/2021 09:16

There is NO acceptable reason to shout at you and call you names. That is abuse. Disregard the fact you’re sick and he’s a selfish prick. You need to focus on the fact that he has no right to emotionally abuse for ANY reason. He’s absolutely vile.

Shoxfordian · 27/08/2021 09:16

He doesn’t act like a friend never mind a partner

Why are you with him?

Brefugee · 27/08/2021 09:18

Look for a full time job and make an exit strategy if he keeps up like this.

CirqueDeMorgue · 27/08/2021 09:21

Ignore @idontlikealdi OP, your partner is a twat.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/08/2021 09:22

A stranger would have been more useful to you than the person who you share your life (and home, and bed!) with.

Absoloutley unforgivable behaviour.

LuaDipa · 27/08/2021 09:23

He’s awful. I completely understand that he may not have been able to leave work, but he sure as hell shouldn’t be going back to bed when you have been up all night vomiting. Saying your dc coped better than you is just nasty, particularly when he has done nothing to support either of you during this sickness.

Blueorchidsatnight · 27/08/2021 09:25

Thank you for all your replies so far. We’re now all sat in the front room and he keeps making comments about how I’m pretending to be ill and making it seem worse than it is even though he saw me be sick in the night.

I don’t know why I haven’t left yet to be honest. I have considered it. But logistically it would be difficult because there’s no where for myself and the children to go and I have no savings. I’ve been applying for jobs throughout the last few months but haven’t had any offers yet.
He covertly puts me down with sarcastic comments so friends and family don’t notice it really. He’s different with me when other people are around.

However, recently I am starting to realise that I may be in an emotionally abusive relationship. It’s just so frustrating because we get on really well and the kids adore him. But he does have this nasty streak that is starting to rear its head more often than not. I feel as if I’m constantly walking on eggshells with him.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 27/08/2021 09:27

He's an absolute piece of work isn't he!
Could your dad put you and the little ones up for a while?

Northernsoullover · 27/08/2021 09:31

As a lone parent I had to cope with sickness bugs alone. This was far easier than having a waste of space partner at home that could have helped but refused. Ditch him. He sounds awful. I appreciate its difficult at the moment but when you find a job its time to make plans.

LannieDuck · 27/08/2021 09:33

Would he take time off work if he was this ill? Yes? Then so should you; your work just happens to be childcare.

He's an equal parent, and when one parent can't look after the kids, the other has to suck it up and deal. I would have retired to bed as soon as DH got in last night and stayed there. He should have been dealing with the kids overnight and let you sleep. And he should be figuring out childcare today (whether that's taking time off, or asking for help from a relative if he can't).

It sounds as if this isn't the first problem you've got in your marriage,. It's worth considering whether it should be the last...

1AngelicFruitCake · 27/08/2021 09:36

That’s really awful behaviour. I also think your ex was pretty selfish sending your child back because she was ill!

Silvercatowner · 27/08/2021 09:40

he keeps making comments about how I’m pretending to be ill and making it seem worse than it is even though he saw me be sick in the night

This is vile.

CirqueDeMorgue · 27/08/2021 09:49

@1AngelicFruitCake

That’s really awful behaviour. I also think your ex was pretty selfish sending your child back because she was ill!
I thought that initially but she might have wanted to go back.

I've taken time off before when dc's dad was ill because as you say OP, you can't really parent with your head down the toilet. With any luck, your partner will catch it too.

TheSandgroper · 27/08/2021 09:52

“ … we get on really well …”.

Er, no you don’t. You work at keeping him happy and he … doesn’t.

FluffMagnet · 27/08/2021 09:52

Fuck me, he is an absolute bastard. I had a bad sickness bug when my DC was 1, but it didn't last as long as yours has (thank God). DH put me to bed, nursed me and looked after DC by himself. As any partner should do when the other is incapacitated. Find someone who loves you OP.