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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I an controlling wife

133 replies

Mummy3788 · 03/03/2022 19:53

So basically my hubby has been asked to play some golf at the weekend or maybe a drink! I feel like I don’t want him too go! That sounds awful but whenever my hubby use to go out he’d be a complete twat after too much to drink! The last time was probably 2018 Xmas bash so a very long time ago! I actually stayed at my mums and I’m glad I did as when I got home the next morning he’d some how smashed the tv! Because he’s got form I worry! Before that he was drunk before children at a wedding and got very aggressive!
Totally changes!!
Am I being a total selfish controlling moo? Or would u guys feel alittle worried too! If I knew it was just some golf and that’s it then I wouldn’t care but I just worry about him then drinking too much and then acting like that again! I don’t want to tell him how I’m feeling as I don’t want to be that controlling wife I’m sounding like!
Argh any advice or what you would is welcome but please be kind people!! I had 2 young children too

OP posts:
Thatsplentyjack · 03/03/2022 21:26

@Rosebuud

If someone smashed the TV out of aggression, I would say they smashed the TV. Smashing is the deliberate and violent act itself, no need to say it was because of aggression. If it was from falling and tripping, I would say they tripped and fell into the TV and broke

Have you name change failed op? I don’t think a random poster would think their phrasing is relevant, so I’m assuming name change.

Can you clarify, you indicated you don’t know how he broke the tv, but some people are assuming it means he’s a violent alcoholic who did it on purpose, is this what you’re saying?

Did you just feel like asking someone that 🤣 that does not read like the OP wrote it!
speakout · 03/03/2022 21:29

Trust your instinct OP.

You are afraid- and I don't blame you.

He has been agressive while drinking and smahed up a TV.
I would be asking him to stay at a hotel or a friend's house.

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/03/2022 21:29

Laptopsandmouses

Our kids are 19 and 27. Love gin, my husband is a pretty rare master of wine and we enjoy it, regularly. I love good food too but don’t eat so much that it makes me sick,

Nope, never been so drunk that I fell into something and smashed it.

If you do, you have a problem.

whynotwhatknot · 03/03/2022 21:29

My df smashed the tv e fell into it was completely sober

the op dh could have amashed it intentionally or he fell but she wasnt even there

ToastedCrumpetWithCheese · 03/03/2022 21:35

You need to chat to him and see what he thinks as well as him knowing your expectations around his behaviour either coming home that night or returning home in the morning.

Only by having clear expectations from both sides, can you determine if he's respecting those.

I'd have a very frank discussion and then let him take the lead on what he thinks is best and see how it plays out. He's older, maybe different friends, different drinking environment?? It's either a great opportunity for him to show how he's changed, or it will give you very good insight into how he still behaves and what you might want to do about it in the future.

BeHappy91818 · 03/03/2022 21:36

Yes you’re being controlling. Get a grip, the last time he went out was nearly 4 years ago!

Laptopsandmouses · 03/03/2022 21:37

@MrsSkylerWhite

Laptopsandmouses

Our kids are 19 and 27. Love gin, my husband is a pretty rare master of wine and we enjoy it, regularly. I love good food too but don’t eat so much that it makes me sick,

Nope, never been so drunk that I fell into something and smashed it.

If you do, you have a problem.

No, I’ve never done it drunk, but I’ve done it totally sober, whilst cleaning and standing up too quickly and knocking it.

Is that ok then or shall I call someone for help?

CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/03/2022 21:38

I used to be on pins every time my DH went out. He could be really nasty with what he said, would end up falling asleep on the bus or tube and going backwards and forwrads all night dribbling (could have been robbed any time etc) , coming in with kebab sauce down his front, falling everywhere. It was a real turn off, and every time he came in like that it turned me off a bit more.

The final straw for me, though, was when he broke a glass downstairs in the living room on one of those occasions and I only knew he hadn't bothered to clear up the broken shards when todder DS walked into the room next morning and very nearly walked all over it in his bare feet.

I read him the absolute riot act, and said if he ever got in that state again and put our children at risk, then it would be divorce and that I would be thinking twice about letting him have unsupervised access.

He has never got in that state again. He does still get drunk but I don't worry about him getting home safely anymore. Yes, he staggers around a bit when he comes in and slurs his word but is mostly coherent. Never verbally aggressive anymore.

I think you should say that he needs to look up the definition of controlling, that you're happy for him to go out with friends. You're even happy for him to come back a bit pissed. But that you're just not happy to put up with shit drunken behaviour in the extreme and if he can't figure out his safe limit to avoid him turning into a total arsehole when he drinks then maybe he should just not drink? That most people have this figured out by his age etc etc.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 03/03/2022 21:39

@MintyGreenDream

Yabu for all the exclamation marks
Grin
CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/03/2022 21:42

BTW, he may not think his behaviour is that bad if he's grown up surrounded by friends and family who behave the same way. DH's brothers have an appalling record with alcohol. Fights and threats, police being called out to places, falling downstairs and ending up in A&E. etc. No wonder DH thought he wasn't so bad.

TravellingFrom · 03/03/2022 21:45

I’d let him being a disgrace if he is away for the weekend and you don’t have to deal with his shenanigans. (So he is drunk Saturday evening and comes back Sunday afternoon)

The fact he misbehave when he is drunk is his issue not yours.

If you think he will be back drunk, then I’d do the same than the previous time and go to your mum. If he is still ‘a bad drunk’ and can’t control himself, then you need a chat because if the impact it has on you/family.

Notcreativeatall · 03/03/2022 21:50

Its probably a bit circular- eg he doesn't go out that much so when he does he goes big.

TheBigDilemma · 03/03/2022 22:07

I don’t care if it happens every 4 years, if he becomes aggressive in front of the kids and smash expensive stuff in the house I would also be concerned about him going out for a drink.

Having said that, if the OP is scared about such behaviour I guess she has very little say on what he does anyway otherwise she shouldn’t be asking on here, because that’s a trait of controlling people, they don’t doubt themselves, they have no doubts they are right so they don’t doubt and go and ask strangers in Internet if they are right.

Op, do you have other everyday concerns about his behaviour? Is he really only that bad when he gets drunk?

Oh, and by the way, being drunk is a choice not an excuse.

Phobiaphobic · 03/03/2022 22:07

@MintyGreenDream

Yabu for all the exclamation marks
Yeah, I'm sorry, but the exclamation marks at the end of every sentence have done my head in so much I couldn't take in anything you said.
Lopril · 03/03/2022 22:10
Hmm

A woman is a 'moo'. How very Alf Garnett.

spotcheck · 03/03/2022 22:13

@betwixtlives

Yes you are being unreasonable! And controlling! He hasn’t been out for 4 years! That’s a long time! It’s not up to you to ‘let’ him go! I assume he is an adult! I couldn’t be married to you! Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree!!! It was four years ago!!! But share your feelings with him about his aggression, as that's not acceptable, it's abuse!!!
Dibbydoos · 03/03/2022 22:16

Stay at your mums again. How your hubby's body reacts to alcohol is not good. If he wants to drink, leave him to deal with it. Plan something nice for you and kids with your mum x

WonderfulYou · 03/03/2022 22:19

YANBU to feel anxious and be worried about him going out but YABU if you’re going to ask him not to go.

At the end of the day he’s an adult who needs to make his own mistakes.

If you feel more comfortable you could ask him to book a hotel room or stay at a mates instead so you don’t have to deal with it.

oakleaffy · 03/03/2022 22:20

@Mummy3788
You have to allow him freedom, even a dog has to be left off lead to be trusted to behave, and to come back after a good run about..
Ok, I jest with the dog analogy, yes, allow him to go out with your blessings, but the drinking and aggression are other, more serious issues.

Point this out to him.
Personally I can't bear drunks, so know how you feel in this regard.

carmenitapink · 03/03/2022 22:21

Tell him he has to book a hotel or stay at a mates that night. Will make him behave hopefully or at least you won't have to deal with the mess!

Huckleberries73 · 03/03/2022 22:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Jewel52 · 03/03/2022 22:29

@betwixtlives

Yes you are being unreasonable! And controlling! He hasn’t been out for 4 years! That’s a long time! It’s not up to you to ‘let’ him go! I assume he is an adult! I couldn’t be married to you! Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re missing the point. He wrecked the house and broke the tv when he got drunk. She’s seen him change and become physically aggressive when drunk on other occasions. She has 2 young children in the house and is frightened of something similar happening again. I used to work in the hotel industry and was amazed by the way some senior professionals, perfectly rational and charming could become physically and verbally abusive to (particularly female) staff once pissed. It was threatening and genuinely frightening
Goawayangryman · 03/03/2022 22:31

I don't think this is about the going out. It's about him getting leathered, breaking things and throwing his weight around in an aggressive manner. That's not ok and it is absolutely not controlling to make clear that if he does that, you won't tolerate it.

Does he also like a bit of coke? Sometimes that's the culprit for angry outbursts mixed with alcohol. Either way I would not put up with his behaviour, and I love my wine.

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 03/03/2022 22:34

Complaining about exclamation marks is not as witty as some posters seem to think.

StScholastica · 03/03/2022 22:35

What happened at the wedding OP?