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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Night out from hell!!! - To be upset with dp

132 replies

Jestle · 31/10/2021 22:22

Me and dp are young newly first time parents. For the second time in over two years we went out out. It was to a party. The party itself was abit of a let down but that's not the main issue. Around 10 I started crashing big time. I've been doing all the night wakes recently and dc gets me up at 5. Dp had managed to drink a crap load and kept coming up to me saying he was so drunk and needed to slow down only for me to find another drink in his hand minutes later.

He then got himself ridiculously drunk which was okay I guess until he decided he wanted to join everyone for some weed. Now, not to drip feed, my dp is an ex drug addict and we have been through hell and back with his drug taking. The last thing he cut out was weed. But I was very stressed during my pregnancy as I was constantly battling him that I didn't want him eating edibles or doing anything anymore when dc got here. Weed and drink would usually end up leading to more for him. Anyways he came clean and he has been fine until that night. I was shocked. Last time we was out he happily declined the offer but this time he accepted and not only that did it right infront of my face. He shared a spliff with eight other people (acting like covid isnt a thing) then eventually I managed to pull him away from the party (very reluctantly) as it was getting on and we had a baby at home. He then spent the whole night throwing up, tossing and turning and burping in my face.

I just felt so upset and disrespected by it all. He turned the night so sour for me. I found his behaviour highly childish and irresponsible. I get that we are young still and it's okay to let your hair down of course. But he had drunk about 10 beers or more, two shots and a cocktail. He was the most drunk person there. I just think he didnt know to get to that point to have fun. I kept reminding him that we have a baby to look after the next day so he had to make sure he could actually get up. Him smoking weed has me worried as well as it has been so long since he has clean but that night has shown me, although it was only a couple of puffs, that he clearly has that tendency there if given enough drinks. So how can I ever trust that if he goes out on a big night out he wont restart everything again?

This just isn't what I need right now. I have so much going on mentally and physically to be then overloaded with this. How did such seemingly such a good night on paper go so wrong.

OP posts:
kirinm · 01/11/2021 12:00

[quote FatBettyintheCoop]@kirinm

I couldn't stand my partner telling me what I could and couldn't do constantly. You're annoyed with him getting drunk, annoyed with him smoking weed and annoyed with him smoking.

Well, that’s a given. Are you a drug addict/alcoholic in recovery?
Did you miss all the posts from the OP explaining that her DP has admitted to being a drug addict and taking cocaine in the past?

I think you’ll find that this changes the dynamics in a relationship pretty considerably and the OP is hoping that by showing her disproval, it will make her DP mend his ways because she needs him to be a good partner and involved father to their child.

Unfortunately, the more experienced posters know that whatever she says or does won’t work long term and that her DP needs to seek external help to deal with his addictions.[/quote]
I was married to an alcoholic. Who when giving up alcohol turned to weed. But you cannot change someone unless they want to change themselves. and if she tries to control him - to the degree where he can't even smoke a cigarette without it being disapproved of, the relationship isn't going to work.

RachelHasThoseInBurgundy · 01/11/2021 12:01

OP both you and he are in denial about his addiction. He has relapsed. He needs professional addiction support and in your shoes, having dealt with addiction in the family, I would end the relationship and his unsupervised contact with the baby until he has undergone an addiction programme. But again, that requires both of you to recognise and accept what this is.

Jestle · 01/11/2021 12:04

@RachelHasThoseInBurgundy its hard though as none of his family know about any of this. If I was suddenly to walk away with dc there is no way they would let me nor believe me. Dp hardly ever sees what is wrong with his attitude towards drinking. I know when I bring it up tonight he wont understand and will just think it was harmless fun

OP posts:
Ghoulette · 01/11/2021 12:06

@Jestle

If I leave how can I be sure he is fit around my baby? I'd rather be present and know there is a responsible adult around. If he loses me and dc I think it may derail him. I dont want to worry even more but not be able to protect dc
If you leave now you take him to court and make sure they know about his addictions and reckless drug taking whenever he suddenly fancies it, regardless of the consequences, and he doesn't GET to parent his child unless he is clean by law.

Of course, before you do this it might be worth saying to him you stay clean or leave. Give him the opportunity to correct his mistake and if he tries to justify it revert to the above.

You talk about looking after his wellbeing and being oh so worried about him being off the rails, but HE can't be bothered to think of your child's wellbeing? Your child growing up with a father like that WILL be negatively affected. So it's on YOU to think of your child and their wellbeing by doing either of the above. No dad at all is better than a drug/alcohol addict for a parent (and I mean that from experience).

I would also advise you join some groups/clubs where you can meet other young mums. There are plenty of people out there who are your age and at the same stage in life as you and who will have the same interests and hobbies too! Get new friends who don't peer pressure you and your DP. The ones you have at the moment will NOT get it until they are parents OP. Even then they might not change.

Ghoulette · 01/11/2021 12:09

[quote Jestle]@RachelHasThoseInBurgundy its hard though as none of his family know about any of this. If I was suddenly to walk away with dc there is no way they would let me nor believe me. Dp hardly ever sees what is wrong with his attitude towards drinking. I know when I bring it up tonight he wont understand and will just think it was harmless fun[/quote]
Also, your DP's family don't get to 'let' you do anything. If you walk away they have no fucking input into that. What are they going to do. Take you, the sober parent, to court? They have no leg to stand on, morally or legally. They can believe you, or not, but a drug test will tell them otherwise anyway.

STOP making excuses to cover for this POS. You have a child to think about!

Creepypastard · 01/11/2021 12:18

There’s no such thing as an ex-Addict.
He can be an addict in recovery but he willALWAYSbe anADDICTand at risk of relapsing, for theREST OF HIS LIFE.

Oh finally, the 'ex addict' comments were driving me nuts!

RachelHasThoseInBurgundy · 01/11/2021 12:20

If I was suddenly to walk away with dc there is no way they would let me nor believe me.

They wouldn’t let you? You wouldn’t be allowed to end your relationship? Then your being controlled by your partners family and that is abusive- you absolutely need to leave and remove your child from this situation.

Jestle · 01/11/2021 12:21

I will talk to dp later when we get a free moment this evening. As I said any pointers on how to direct the conversation so it doesnt become a "you shouldnt do this shouldnt do that" more than welcome

This conversation can either go one of two ways

OP posts:
Jestle · 01/11/2021 12:21

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.

OP posts:
RachelHasThoseInBurgundy · 01/11/2021 12:24

@Jestle

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.
Then you are being abused by them! You take your child and you leave. You don’t tell them and your certainly don’t ask them.
youvegottenminuteslynn · 01/11/2021 12:25

@Jestle

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.
They literally couldn't stop you OP. They couldn't stop you getting at minimum shared custody 50:50.

There is no legal precedent for them to 'let' you have your own place where you live with OP a minimum of 50% of the time.

Please don't let them make you think otherwise.

Idony · 01/11/2021 12:26

Don't have babies with drug addicts. Or, one could say, the second best time to leave a drug addict is now.

RampantIvy · 01/11/2021 12:28

Why on earth is anyone saying that the OP is controlling? Her not so D P is out of control.

mumsnet seems to be very anti drugs

And why do you think that is? Hmm

its hard though as none of his family know about any of this

It’s about time they did then. Protecting him won’t deal with this issue.

They wouldn’t just let me take dc from them all

They can’t stop you. You are the baby’s mother. It sounds like you need some legal advice.

hamsterchump · 01/11/2021 12:51

It doesn't really matter if to some of us it sounds like an overreaction, it's your relationship so it's up to you what you'll put up with. You sound incompatible and like you don't trust your OH so splitting up is probably inevitable. Although, do you have anywhere to go if you're living with OH and his parents? Do you have any way of supporting yourself? You should think about the practical implications as well as everything else, especially as splitting up won't mean you don't have to see or deal with your ex it will just change the shape of that relationship, you'll always be linked by your child. If anything, you'll just lose control over how your child is raised when they're with your ex. It sounds like you had your child a bit young really and the relationship doesn't seem to have a solid enough foundation to survive the added pressure of parenthood.

Creepypastard · 01/11/2021 12:52

OP make the conversation about you, how you feel about his behaviour, your wants and needs for your DC, how what he's doing is impacting you and express what you will not tolerate.

Keep it short, statement like and walk away if he gets defensive. You cannot change him, you can set the boundaries though.

BoredZelda · 01/11/2021 12:58

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.

How could they stop you?

You said he's in his early 20's - so 2 years clean and a 6/7 year habit means he started using at 13yo?

Which, if true, is the best reason to get out of the family home which led to that.

BoredZelda · 01/11/2021 12:59

its hard though as none of his family know about any of this

They didn’t know their young teenage son was an addict?

Ghoulette · 01/11/2021 13:00

@Jestle

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.
They don't have a choice whether you live with them or not! You literally pack a bag and walk out and call the police if they start ANY kind of shit.

This is about YOUR CHILD! Stop making excuses. I know it's really hard, but there is NOTHING stopping you going.

AveryGoodlay · 01/11/2021 13:16

Ex addict here. I've learned I can't drink as the temptation to move onto drugs is too strong. I'm 6 years free from drugs and alcohol and life is so much brighter.

I'd really suggest he goes completely sober to be honest and if you can do it in solidarity even better.

5128gap · 01/11/2021 13:28

OP, he is someone without the off switch that other people have that tells them its time to stop. He reaches a point with drinking when nothing else matters, not you, your baby or his responsibilities. This is the time he will do drugs, stay out all night, break his promises, let you down. Some of the time it won't matter. You'll be around other big drinkers so it'll seem OK or you'll have planned for it. Other times it will just happen and the 4 drinks become more. This is why you dread him drinking, as you have no way of knowing which it will be, and when it happens he doesn't care about you, so you have no influence. Because he maybe isn't a daily drinker, or at least a daily drunk, there will be enough good times for you to still love him. You will think that as long as you can head off the drinking, life will be good. Over the years you will try many things to do this, restricting your own life and sacrificing your peace of mind in the process. You will police him and cover for him and enable him. Unless he stops drinking altogether (and even then, he will relapse many times before he gets there, if he ever does, so you will become suspicious and vigilant) this will be your future. If any of that resonates at all OP, ask him to stop drinking altogether. Decide on how many chances he's got, and when he reaches the last of them, leave him.

Jestle · 01/11/2021 13:34

@BoredZelda he told me he started taking them at 14. I was shocked too. Apparently his friend ship group in secondary school started experimenting with them and then his boss in his first job got him on the heavy stuff and got him hooked

OP posts:
Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 01/11/2021 13:56

Your conversation with DP needs to go like this:

I’m taking DC and going away for a period of time because you’re an addict, you haven’t changed and I don’t want a drug addict around my child. Alcohol is also a drug and you have been drinking for a long time and the weed last night was the final straw.

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 01/11/2021 13:56

You need to think of options for where you can go. You can’t just put up with this because it’s easy and comfortable to live with his parents - you need to take your child and find somewhere else to go.

curiouscatgotkilled · 01/11/2021 14:09

While children are very young I found its better to go out separately with friends, then there is one sober not hungover parent in the house. Later when they are a bit older and can stay with family you can go out drinking together again.

As for the using drugs with a history of drug issues,,,,, that is a bigger issue that he is going to have to want to tackle himself.

TheGirlCat · 01/11/2021 14:14

@Jestle

Iive with dp and his parents. They wouldnt just let me take dc from them all.
Of course they will, how, logically, are they going to stop you? You can just pack an overnight bag when he's out, and, go out the front door.

How are they going to stop you?