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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be pissed off - or do I need to chill

762 replies

marshmallowbooks · 06/05/2022 23:36

Genuine question

DH doesn't go out very often anymore. We are both in our 40s, we work full time, we have kids, life etc etc

However - whenever he DOES go out - it usually ends in disaster.
He doesn't seem to have a stop button. There's usually bodily fluids involved , sometimes more than one, and he often loses/breaks his phone 🙄. He's always terrible at keeping in touch, doesn't reply to texts etc. I always get anxious when he goes out as I don't know when he's going to be home or what he's going to be like (never violent).

Anyway, he's out tonight for a reunion. Before he left, he assured me he would keep in touch. He assured me he wouldn't get too drunk and bring anyone back to the house (this has happened on a couple
Of occasions - with friends). He assured me he wouldn't go back to anyone's house for an after party once the pub was closed yada yada.

I text him about 3 hours ago to let him know one of the kids seems to have chicken pox. No answer.

Text him an hour or so later.....no answer.

The thing that REALLY pisses me
Off is that his phone is never out of his hand at home. Between his phone and smart watch he is always replying
To texts/WhatsApp/emails - ALL THE TIME. It annoys me that he will have seen my texts come in but has ignored them.

So - should I be annoyed? Should I be royally pissed off tomorrow (which realistically Will be the next time I see him)
OR should I just assume he's having a great time with people he's not seen for years and too occupied to reply or look at any texts.

He's also out with the same group tomorrow evening for part two of the reunion!

OP posts:
marshmallowbooks · 07/05/2022 02:07

@Forgottenmypasswordagain I've known a few people give up drink altogether for this very reason! X

OP posts:
Starlia · 07/05/2022 02:16

@marshmallowbooks is he home yet? Where would he have gone if the pub is closed?

FrankLampardsBrokenHand · 07/05/2022 02:17

This is batshit

The text is neither here nor there. Expecting communication from someone on a night out is obviously not on.

But feeling anxious because your partner usually pukes everywhere and pisses themselves, or invites all their mates back to your home where you and your 2 small children are sleeping, is absolutely not unreasonable.

I don't get how you can find him attractive.

cultkid · 07/05/2022 02:27

I would be really hurt if my husband didn't text me back when one of the kids had been worrying us about something

I text my husband all day too and would be anxious if he didn't text me when he we out

I think you've had some harsh responses from people

Is he home yet? Can you sleep? Xx

DogWithMyOwnRoom · 07/05/2022 02:29

marshmallowbooks · 07/05/2022 01:51

I'm genuinely lying here wondering whether he's being a dick, or I'm being a dick.

And no. I've not text him. Not for a few hours makes.

I get that you both normally text a lot but I think a night out is a different situation to a regular day at work and you should chill out about expecting replies to anything non-urgent.
And yes, that’s even despite him asking you to keep in touch tonight (based on past history, it was setting him up to fail)

BUT - I’m with the majority here - he is the dick for drinking to excess. If he cannot control bodily functions then he definitely is overdoing it and should not be returning to a house with children in it. However many/few times a year it is.

That’s regardless of how often you go out or if you both drink together at home (red herrings).
I’m not anti-drinking… but he has a problem. Unacceptable

LicoricePizza · 07/05/2022 02:40

Has this always been how your DH has drunk OP or has it gotten like this over time? ie the less he’s gone out/increase in life responsibilities/stress, resulting in all out blow outs??
Does he actually enjoy the nights out? If he has any recollection of them or is he drinking himself into oblivion to overcompensate for something??

Totally understand how you feel. Like others have said I’d see the extent to which he gets blotto as harmless (although highly annoying) if a one off or fairly infrequently, but if it’s becoming the way he does going out - not sure it’s something I’d be able to tolerate going forward. And/or if it’s really that healthy.

Certainly doesn’t mean doing anything drastic but I’d either put in damage control ie hotel or spare room & clean yourself up when he does go out (which is I agree kind of enabling it) & same parenting duties next day or think about what’s going on to make him go so extreme.

Do all the others get in the same state? Is it always/only when in an all lads type situation? Or just regular get together? Has he always been the one in the group to take it to that level & they all egg him on?

Or has he got a tolerance to alcohol problem/allergy/something else medically going on?
If it’s a relatively new thing where he could handle his drink previously, it could be worth exploring. Is he actually drinking any more than his friends (doubles every time they do singles) or throwing it down like no tomorrow??

I have friends who have DH’s like this. They hate it & put up with it despite best efforts to change. But their DH’s were like this from their uni days. They’re fully responsible, successful, adjusted, grown up men & good parents. But when they get back in that group environment where binge drinking was always the norm, they revert back & a couple of them (always same ones) end up peeing in the wardrobe in middle of night b’cos can’t find way to the loo. Overgrown menchildren? Probably. Functioning alcoholics? Who knows. Our society’s relationship with alcohol is truly bizarre really.

You either put up with it or look at what’s going on. Or withdraw things like childcare/your support/tolerance afterwards so that he isn’t enabled each time to be keep doing with no consequences.

Think you’re right to expect it not to be unreasonable for him to be capable of responding to you when out drinking. Giving him space & time out to switch off from minutiae of daily grind is needed by us all - but what if there were an emergency & he was needed to be reached & was completely out of it & lost his phone??

I would also wonder (if it’s a change in his habits) if any other substances were at play to cause these reactions? V easy for someone to produce a line of something at a reunion or otherwise & it’s just seen as part of the fun & games?

Sounds like he shares that it’s not great hence attempts to reign in & be contactable. But don’t think he really wants to accept what’s really going on - if am honest. Worst thing is you don’t equally want to become the nagging partner having to reign him in all the time OP.

Not easy. Apologies if it’s really not that big of a deal to you & suggestions seem excessive.
Maybe do the same to him & see how he likes it?? Effectively disappear on your nights out, make him handle any crises alone (ok CPox hardly a crisis but..) projectile vomit in his shoes on your return & ignore parental duties the next day (not saying he does that but…!)

Wonder if this was how a woman/mother of young kids routinely (being the all important word) behaved when drunk - how we’d view it & whether our tolerance towards it would differ??

Good luck

Bpdqueen · 07/05/2022 02:52

I'd be pissed off I obviously don't know you so don't know if this is part of the issue but I know myself I get really anxious in these situations where I need regular ish communication just to check he's OK and when I don't get that I imagine the worst has happened it literally takes seconds to send a txt just to check in

Pawtriarchal · 07/05/2022 02:52

You don’t sound annoying or unreasonable at all, OP, and if you’d written this in reverse (it was you going out and vomiting and ignoring texts about ill children) then they would all be saying the absolute opposite. It’s probably their only outlet and it’s absolutely 100% predictable. Hope all is ok.

kittenkipping · 07/05/2022 02:56

Again, I am shocked at responses. Of course text book the dh is a problem drinker. Alcoholic. But in real life?! Loads of people binge drink irresponsibly, it negatively impacts others, and whilst it's technically "problem drinking" it is the norm in this country. As evidenced by the posters who agree that getting pissing yourself vomiting drunk is fine and op needs to chill and be less controlling 🧐

In my life it's fine to go out and get pissed- whilst being an adult and keeping in touch, not spewing/ pissing everywher. . For me, the expected behaviour is drunk but not dangerous, lie in the next day but not still drunk at 3pm . Too fragile to eat a full roast but not so that you can't smile and nod with a berroca whilst the family eat.

RewildingAmbridge · 07/05/2022 03:01

Why on earth are people focusing on OP sending a text to say their child has chicken pox? Firstly he ASKED her to keep in touch , sounds like we a reminder that he promised he would control himself and not get so drink he vomits and wets himself. Secondly he vomits and wets himself and gets so drink he doesn't know what he's doing our brings other drink people back to a home with sleeping children.
I have been accused of being a cool wife here far too often, for 'allowing' my DH to not text me every five minutes when out/away or have female friends.
This isn't about OP being uptight, Christ I wouldn't expect that repeat behaviour from a teenager let alone a man in his forties with children. No wonder you are anxious OP, not knowing what state he's going to be in this time and what you're going to have to deal with. Once and I'd be livid, more than that without genuine change I would actually be reconsidering the relationship..

blinkybilll · 07/05/2022 03:16

I think you do need to chill out, but I do understand why you are anxious.

I would leave a glass of water, a sick bowl and some clean clothes/pjs out downstairs with his pillows and a blanket.

Text him to remind him to be quiet when he comes in, and let him know what you've left out so he doesn't come in clomping about. And go to bed.

MyCatIsAJerk · 07/05/2022 03:33

marshmallowbooks · 06/05/2022 23:54

@HikingforScenery I'll never understand how people can say things like 'you sound annoying' to people they don't know. Form reading one thread. Would you say that to a someone in person after one conversation?

I’m thinking she probably would, @marshmallowbooks.

I hope your kids will be ok - if one has CP, the other will surely catch it too. But they’re little, so it shouldn’t be too bad.

LightEveningsAreBack · 07/05/2022 03:34

My husband is similar in that when he goes out now (twice a year max) he goes all out and tries to drink like he did at uni when now he barely drinks anything on a normal week. So he obviously ends up very drunk, usually lost from friends and very vulnerable when he's out in a big city he doesn't know well. He often throws up when he gets home too. I get very annoyed/worried at this but it only happens twice a year. What I don't expect him to do is message me or reply if I text. I'd never sit on my phone messaging if I was out with friends, it's so rude, so I wouldn't expect him to. So I think you are unreasonable for messaging about things he can't do anything about, but not for being annoyed at him getting very drunk etc. I'd happily tell my husband he couldnt go out, but that'd be weird and controlling, I just accept it as him letting off steam a couple of times a year and just stress until I hear him come in like I'm the mother of an 18 year old, not the wife of a 39 year old man!

mathanxiety · 07/05/2022 03:35

milkyaqua

So, he's a problem drinker, a severe binge drinker, or whatever you want to call it. Yet you expect him, when he is obviously three sheets to the wind, pissed as a neut, blind drunk, tonto, blotto, etc, to behave rationally and with consideration respond to your text...

I think you need to accept reality. You can be pissed or chill, it is irrelevant. You are expecting a different result - this time he won't get drunk - from the same set of circumstances. That is your problem. And that you are minimising his drinking problem as 'only every so often'.

He clearly has a drinking problem, and you have an irrational expectations of a drunk man problem.

You need to face this ^^, @marshmallowbooks .

You have a problem drinker on your hands.

He drinks so much that he loses control of his bladder, throws up, makes poor decisions that bring chaos into your home.

You for your part are turning into an enabler. You are using terms like 'only' and painting his approach to drinking as an occasional lapse. You are trying to get him to agree to limits when he is out and away from your scrutiny.

You are trying to gauge what way the wind is blowing by texting him when he's out, while you're lying awake, tense and nervous.

I recommend you look into Al Anon for Families.

Good luck. You are going to need it. I don't think this is heading in a healthy direction.

timestheyarechanging · 07/05/2022 03:42

I never used to text my ExH when he went out and he didn't me.
My daughter was in hospital with bronchitis when I was out with friends and staying overnight and I didn't know until the next day because he is her parent and took charge of the situation. No need for me to be involved. He didn't want to worry me.

If he was off his face when out with friends, he would stay at a friends where there were no kids though, thankfully.

alwaysanauntie · 07/05/2022 04:56

@marshmallowbooks I just wanted to add i totally get where you're coming from. My DH is the same, when he goes out out he drinks too fast & can never say no to one more drink for the road, which often means he falls over & breaks things when he gets home or misses the loo when he goes for a pee. He also is very sorry for himself the day after & promises it won't happen again, but after 20 years together I just don't believe that anymore 🙄

I completely get the worry of not knowing when they'll get back & always get promised a text when he's heading home which often doesn't materialise. It's also a pain having to clear up after them so the DC don't touch anything grim but where i can I now leave things for him to sort out when he wakes up as otherwise he never sees the carnage he causes. These nights out have got fewer & fewer and as you say in the grand scheme of things I'm not going to leave him over it but it still massively winds me up! Feel free to vent to me anytime 😉xx

HP87 · 07/05/2022 05:10

I wouldn't be putting up with binge drinking like that from a grown man! I'm guessing you're doing all the childcare tomorrow then?

The constantly on his phone would piss me off aswell. He's busy with his friends to not reply to you, but during the day he's not busy with you/kids to not reply to people.

ShirleyPhallus · 07/05/2022 06:38

Is he home yet OP?

Mamanyt · 07/05/2022 07:15

He does this every time he's out. Either you accept that he does it, or you don't. If you don't, then you either have to end him going out, or end him having you to come home to. But if you accept it, stop texting/calling him. You know it is a non-starter. He's gone as long as he's gone, period, and you are own your own.

As for chicken pox...what, precisely, did you expect him to do about THAT???

BanjoVio · 07/05/2022 07:46

My ex husband used to do this, have no ‘off’ switch, only it was 2-3 times a week. We had all the serious talks and promises but nothing changed, of course, and I remember lying awake tense and anxious just like OP. It was truly horrendous and I really do feel for you. Eventually I lost every ounce of respect for him, ditched him and never looked back 👋

Luculentus · 07/05/2022 07:51

He specifically told me to keep in touch this evening to 'prove' he wasn't going to be going mental. He wanted to prove to me after the last couple times that he's learned some kind of self control.

So he's failed to prove that. You need a serious conversation about what he is going to do about it.

Bananarama21 · 07/05/2022 07:58

Yeah I don't tend to message when dh goes out. He went out last week to a festival and messaged me to say he smashed his phone screen. I wouldn't expect him to be in contact with me. Nothing worse than going out somewhere and someone is on their phone all the time to their partner. Such bad manners.

HTH1 · 07/05/2022 07:58

I think reserve judgement until you know what kind of state he’s in. If really bad, you should have a serious talk (though it doesn’t help that you also go out and get drunk more often, even if you can control yourself better).

Knittingchamp · 07/05/2022 08:03

Tbh the easiest if he doesn't go out much is to say when he does, he has to stay at a friend's or cheap hotel. That way you don't have to deal with him being a sloppy drunk, he can sleep it off the next morning, and it doesn't disrupt family life. In the mean time you can have a chill night to yourself, long bath, netflix, whatever, and with no interest or expectation for texts, phone calls or what have you.

AngelinaFibres · 07/05/2022 08:04

marshmallowbooks · 06/05/2022 23:50

All very well @spotcheck but could you really relax knowing he'll probably come in and be sick/piss everywhere when you've got a 5 and 3 yo in the house?

Why are you with someone who does this. He isn't a teen , he's a dad of 2. That's a pathetic way to behave. It is perfectly possible to go out and have a great time with his mates without needing to pee and vomit everywhere when he gets home. That would give me terminal ick

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