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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being a bitch?

24 replies

educatingmummy · 02/02/2022 00:28

Hello,

Just here for some opinions - firstly I don't know if voting is on or off, on my mobile and new to this site so bare with me! Have you got a cup of tea ready? It's going to be a long one.

Me and DH have been together in and off for about 16 years. We have 2 children. We got together young and have been each other's only proper relationship. He made a lot of mistakes when we were younger and I probably was a bit of a bitch out of spite. We were kids at the time, experiencing life and what not. We had a few separations along the way also. Most of his cheating occurred when he was out drinking. He would drink to the point he couldn't string a sentence together and it was awful. The males in his family have a history of alcohol issues.

Fast forward to the past few years, we got back together after a while apart and moved in together . we have both changed a lot as people and grown up. Lifestyle has changed and values are different for us both. About a year later covid happened. Then we went into lock down and our relationship really improved. We fell pregnant and had baby #2. He's so supportive, caring. We communicated better, we set goals together and spoke openly about our difficulties. He has shown a lot of dedication and doesn't hide his phone from me, isn't secretive etc (I don't look at his phone, I don't have the need too but he will happily show me a video and leave me with it etc and i do the same). My only issue is the drinking.

It got to the point he was drinking like 1.5 litres of spirits over a weekend and a a few little lite drinks in the week after work (very high up in a stressful role and said it relaxed him) it really put me off him and has actually put me off alcohol altogether so I don't drink). He was never nasty or anything, I just didn't like it as it worried me due to his family history. I hated having sex when he was drunk too so I always said no which he respected but it took a toll on us as he felt I didn't find him attractive. He drank alot over Xmas and I told him I had had enough and what he's doing isn't healthy and it's pushing me away. He decided to do dry January and has not had a single drink all of jan which honestly shocked me. It made me feel alot happier, he felt alot healthier and it brought us closer. Hes now going to drink on the odd occasion and has a night out planned.
I trust that he won't drink all the time but I'm confident he will get silly drunk when he's with his guy friends and they live in another city so he wants to stay over night as there isn't a late train home. I feel uncomfortable about him getting really drunk as that was always when he cheated many years ago.

Now here's my AIBU - I decided all that time ago to get back with him. We have worked through alot of our issues but not everything is resolved straight away although we have made alot of progress. Last time he went out with them he decided to stay over and not tell me until it was happening - not an issue but would have just liked to have known so I didn't stay up waiting for him. I asked him to compromise and get the last train home this time- think it's about 10pm, he's going to be with them all day but he said no and I'm being unfair. He wants to have the guys night out after the day out. He said he would either stay with his best friend or at a hotel. I can totally understand as he doesn't see them a lot but I can't help how I feel.

I know I need to learn to trust him fully but I also feel he should keep his word and we need to compromise until I know he can be responsible with A) alcohol and B) his actions when he's drunk.

So aibu for asking him to get the last train home and prove he can be responsible?
Wwyd?

(I'm not looking for shitty comments about him being a dickhead, my life choices or why am I with him etc, I'm asking if I am unfair) thank you if you have bothered to read this absolute essay!

OP posts:
Mynameisnew · 02/02/2022 00:49

10pm ro be getting on the last train sounds early. How much distance are we talking about - could he get a taxi?

Aprilx · 02/02/2022 00:56

As you request, no comment on your life choices. So in that case, my comment is that no, you can’t put a 10pm curfew on another adult. If he can’t get a taxi home then a hotel seems like a good idea. (Usual caveats that you are allowed to do same etc etc).

educatingmummy · 02/02/2022 00:58

@Mynameisnew

10pm ro be getting on the last train sounds early. How much distance are we talking about - could he get a taxi?
It's too far for a taxi, it's over an hours drive :)
OP posts:
educatingmummy · 02/02/2022 01:00

@Aprilx

As you request, no comment on your life choices. So in that case, my comment is that no, you can’t put a 10pm curfew on another adult. If he can’t get a taxi home then a hotel seems like a good idea. (Usual caveats that you are allowed to do same etc etc).
Yea that's fair enough- I don't ever actually go away for the night as all my friends are local and I prefer to be in my own bed but I think if I ever wanted to he wouldn't have an issue x
OP posts:
Bellyups · 02/02/2022 01:10

I can understand where you are coming from. He has previously cheated in these circumstances, you’ve recently got back together and are still working through things.

If I was trying to install trust in my partner after I’d broken it, I would compromise. He isn’t.

However, long term, coming home at a certain requested time isn’t the answer. If he’s going to drink too much, or cheat, he will.

I’m not sure what the answer is, but I do know that worrying about these circumstances is awful.

Tosement · 02/02/2022 02:15

If he’s going to drink too much, or cheat, he will.

This. You can’t impose a curfew on another adult. All you can do is leave if it results in him breaking your trust again.

overnightangel · 02/02/2022 02:21

1.5 litres of spirits over a weekend is absolutely insane

ADisgruntledPelican · 02/02/2022 02:31

Giving him a curfew is just proving the relationship hasn't improved. Adults in healthy relationships don't give each other curfews.
I don't think you've dealt with his cheating or his drinking. It might be time to have couple's counselling. You both need to address the trust issues. Otherwise you're just saving up heartache.

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 02/02/2022 02:35

No I don't think it would be fair to put a 10pm curfew on him.

I think that if he stays at a friend's place he is probably much less likely to be unfaithful than if he has a hotel room all to himself.

I don't know how he could have sex with anyone else if he gets that drunk, because
a) who would find him atrractive enough to have sex with him in that state? and
b) can he even manage an erection when he is that drunk, never mind keep it long enough to reach a climax?

Tlollj · 02/02/2022 03:19

I’d rather he stayed out tbh. I wouldn’t want him home in that state.

AffIt · 02/02/2022 03:27

Here's a point, with no judgement on your life choices - adults in healthy, trusting relationships don't impose curfews on other adults.

Think about that, and what you want from your life and your relationships.

AffIt · 02/02/2022 03:31

Also, you've been together for about 16 years, so you must be late 20s/early 30s?

Could it be that you've outgrown one another? The sunk cost fallacy doesn't need to be a thing. There is another life out there that isn't dependent on a frustrated you sniping at a bored man child.

giveyou2reasons · 02/02/2022 03:39

He can do what he wants, but so can you. If I felt he cared too little about my happiness and security in our relationship, especially given his behaviour and poor self-control in the past, I'd make it clear that there would be consequences.

You can't control him, but if he doesn't take your feelings and concerns into consideration, he's not worth having, imo.

BlippiPoops · 02/02/2022 03:59

You're with an alcoholic who cheats..
You can't tell him what to do but you can request and make decisions based on his actions.
Maybe one of those would be to run for the hills?

wantanewlife · 02/02/2022 04:21

I think you are being unfair. I understand why but 10pm doesn’t solve the issue. He drinks to excess and can’t control it. To show he’s changed then really he needs to be in a programme or it’s just going to slide back

wantanewlife · 02/02/2022 04:23

If he’s doing dry January then why doesn’t he have an alcohol free day out with friends? The thing he needs to do is disentangle his life from booze. I can go out and not drink. I can go to a pub and happily drink Diet Coke or a cup of tea. That’s what he needs to get to and then that proves change

About10thusername · 02/02/2022 04:53

Tricky. Of course you shouldn't put a curfew on your partner but you should also trust him and feel happy about him seeing his friends.
Since you're not - you've got to ask yourself what you're getting out of this relationship.
You can't control other people...but I can understand why you want to limit his alcohol intake. But ultimately it will be exhausting for both of you.
Honestly? I think you need to take a step back. Let him do what he wants as he's an adult. If he fucks up (cheats or is a drunken mess all the time) then you know what you need to do.

About10thusername · 02/02/2022 04:55

@wantanewlife

If he’s doing dry January then why doesn’t he have an alcohol free day out with friends? The thing he needs to do is disentangle his life from booze. I can go out and not drink. I can go to a pub and happily drink Diet Coke or a cup of tea. That’s what he needs to get to and then that proves change
Yes but not everyone is like that. I like to drink and I would hate being in a relationship where my partner tried to control when I did or didn't drink, especially on a night out with friends. It's none of his business and I'm an adult.
Pippa12 · 02/02/2022 05:06

I honestly think if he’s going to cheat, he’ll do it in the garden shed never mind a hotel. If he’s going to drink to excess, again probably better he stays out then you don’t have to be witness to it and fall out.

Nights out/away are going to crop up from time to time if your in it for the long haul, and you can’t set a curfew forever.

Totalwasteofpaper · 02/02/2022 05:28

Hmmm Tricky given the parameters you have set for responses...

He has 2 small children so, in theory, no he shouldn't be off gallivanting. my own DH would not do this kind of thing or think it was okay. I have never needed to ask him and he has never stayed out all night... but that is based on the standards of acceptable behaviour within our marriage.

You clearly have a higher tolerance for certain behaviours. Given the choice I'd rather he didn't come home and my children weren't exposed to him in that state but that's just me.

In terms of a curfew? It is controlling and ineffective - he is a grown adult. You can't stop him shirking his parental responsibilities, cheating or drinking to excess.

Fwiw 1.5 litres is shocking (and I am "a drinker")

Marvellousmadness · 02/02/2022 05:32

You want him home
As you dont trust him

Let him go
Ask him not to get blind drunk
Check in on him to see if he keeps word
If he breaks his word you know what you have to do

Curfews are not going to fix the alcohol and trust issues . Honesty and keeping your (his) word,is.

Magicandspiders · 02/02/2022 05:40

I think YANBU. You have two small children together and if he gets that drunk then it takes out the whole weekend. I'm guessing he will need the next day to recover?

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/02/2022 06:01

You can’t impose curfews on another adult. If he’s out with his mates 10pm is very early to come home.

You can’t change another adult either. So think about if this is really want you want from life.

Wowwe · 02/02/2022 07:33

If he’s gonna cheat then he’s gonna cheat! 10pm curfew or not. Stop torturing yourself. And act cool. And if it happens deal with it then!

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