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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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10 replies

JamieJ1234 · 31/03/2022 22:18

Sorry for an essay but I need to write down my situation for my own mental wellbeing.

I have been with my boyfriend for 5 years and we have a 1 year old together.

I do 99% of childcare, running the home and planning any outings / occasions.

His top priority in his life is work, working all night (1am-2am). When not on his laptop, he is glued to either his work emails on his phone, answering calls or Sky Sports, including when he is having "daddy day" with our son. I've lost my temper with him on a few occasions for taking calls and being on his phone whilst our son is IN THE BATH because he is distracted. I've been in tears over the situation multiple times yet he seems to think it's fine and I won't go.

His second priority is keeping everybody else happy and trying to keep up appearances, namely with MIL.

A few examples include:

  • Complete lack of affection unless he wants sex.
  • Not being able to actually tell me the reasons he loves me.
  • Not caring or noticing that we spend no evenings together, and barely any time together.
  • Not planning any days or evenings with me or us as a family. Yet he is so organised at work.
  • Agreeing to hosting guests over special weekends, without any consideration for what I want - sons first birthday and Mother's Day!

We have discussed repeatedly, with promises of change and improvement. It is like he does not acknowledge anything until the last possible moment. As my family have pointed out, he is consistent with his poor planning and has no sense of urgency with anything unless he deems it important. When he suddenly realises I might leave, the promises of proposals and marriage are brought up (with no indication of this ever actually happening). He does not take anything seriously.

I am at complete breaking point because of this. He makes no time for me whatsoever, despite frequently communicating to him that for me, our romantic relationship is strained / ending. He puts my unhappiness down to 'being hormonal' or 'difficult'.

This issue has been exacerbated by MIL staying over Mother's Day weekend. I compromised on having guests to stay despite the state of our relationship and that I had hoped we would have spent Mother's Day the three of us. The Saturday had gone well, until the evening when he was asked a simple question of "what are you thankful for?" And he said nothing. Huge tumbleweed silence. Then he was asked again, and made a joke that he was full from dinner. I was pretty annoyed even though it sounds petty, but it sums up his feelings towards me, and this is just one example of how he can't say or show any love or emotion towards me whatsoever.

The morning of Mother's Day was then just a normal day for him, and I was deprioritised again because they wanted to do a family call to his family abroad. They then went to lunch whilst I went to see my Mum with DC.

The final straw was I came home to find he was UPSET WITH ME because his Mum had chosen to go to stay in a hotel for the last night. Am I really the arsehole? I compromise, compromise, compromise and get nothing back.

I even suggested things we could do after his lunch, such as going for a drink just the two of us, a walk, anything! But no!

I've actually said to him the plan for me to leave, I've said what needs to change and set a clear timeline. Yet he still expects me to go visit friends with him this weekend? He seems happy to be in this bizarre friendship relationship for the rest of time!

I am emotionally drained and really dont see a way forward, yet he seems to think everything will be fine! He is bloody deluded!

OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 31/03/2022 22:23

Well you know who he is and where his priorities lie.

I would leave.

Start discussing how things will happen and what he plans to do.

BrightonBunny · 31/03/2022 22:38

YANBU.

Stop talking to him about it - you are wasting your breath. Just make your plans and go.

JamieJ1234 · 31/03/2022 23:28

It's hard to finally accept it. I will never change the decision about having my son, he is the best thing that's happened to me, but the signs have been there since before I was even pregnant.
We've worked by me going along with the friendship element and how we get on, but it is all based on me accepting this way of life that I'm not happy with!

OP posts:
Newestname002 · 01/04/2022 04:48

@JamieJ1234

This man has his life pretty much how he likes it - so why should he change?

You do all the life admin and childcare together, you do all the compromising, he gets to decide who is hosted in your home (does he any of the prep such as buying in food, cleaning, cooking, laundry etc - I'm guessing not?).

Expecting him to change for better is just wasted effort when he is contributing so little to your life together and you acquiesce, even unwillingly, to his poor behaviour.

It's hard to accept the situation you are in but it won't change until you change it - he won't. And all the promises he makes about marriage are just his way of keeping you in a "relationship" which only suits him.

For things to change you need to take control of your own life and get out of this relationship. What is your financial situation? Do you work, own home together, rent, etc. Work out (without discussing with him until you have out things in place) what you need to do to separate and stuck to it. If finances are likely to be tight do check what benefits you could claim. Check www.entitledto.co.uk.

In the meantime do ensure there's no likelihood of getting pregnant with him again - you know how unsupportive he is (you knew before your first child to some degree I think?) and you will be in a more difficult situation than you are in now.

Good luck for a better future. 🌹

Monty27 · 01/04/2022 05:43

It is hard to accept it but the outcome is written on the wall.
Separate before you waste another moment.
In Mumsnet terminology LTB.
Brutal but realistic. 💐

Libertybear80 · 01/04/2022 06:42

You can't change him. You just need to work out what you are prepared to live with. If you can't. You leave.

JamieJ1234 · 01/04/2022 07:53

Thank you. @Newestname002 financially, I would need to go back to work full time and save for about 9 months to be able to leave and afford to support myself and my son. I had a very well paying job (earning the same as him), which I left to take up part time work and study for a few months, whilst taking care of our son. A huge part of my decision to do this was based on the fact I would have struggled to do the job I was doing, and everything at home, when he is always working - our son would have suffered and so would I. But I am planning now to return full time.
He

OP posts:
Thirkettle · 01/04/2022 08:38

Some men don't want an actual relationship. They just want a housekeeper. And access to a uterus.

JamieJ1234 · 01/04/2022 08:40

** He doesn't do any of the prep before visitors come - I strip the beds, clean the entire house, change towels, wipe down bloody windows, do all the washing. For this visit I didn't do some of it as I really couldn't be bothered if comments were made about it being dirty, I have a one year old!
The problem wasn't MIL staying, I'm glad she had a nice time on the Saturday and it was fine from that point of view. But as mentioned it is the complete lack of thought for me on a special(ish) weekend, compounding the issue that if it doesn't happen for a special day then why the hell would it be different any other day

OP posts:
Maray1967 · 01/04/2022 09:10

Next time he invites people when you didn’t agree to it, he needs to do the housework. He’ll soon stop if you don’t bail him out - but you actually have to make it clear that you haven’t got gone to make beds and clean and get extra food in and then stick to it.
You read similar cases on here about Christmas present buying - women who have had enough of being expected to sort out gifts for their in laws. The ones who have cracked it are those who stick to their guns and whose husbands have to go sprinting round shops on Christmas Eve.
As with parenting you have to be clear and consistent and not give in.

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