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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH and alcohol. Sober me blew up last night

124 replies

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 08:20

So many parts to this story I don’t know where to start.

ive been sober since New Year’s Day. I now consider myself teetotal. DH however has continued drinking heavily on a weekend. He is not a nice person when he drinks, it starts with him shouting and arguing with the TV and then he tends to turn on me being argumentative, sarcastic, cocky, passive aggressive and animated. He’s been the same throughout our marriage but because I used to drink too my memories of “last nights argument” was often hazy and he’d gaslight me into thinking it was my fault. Since I became sober I’ve realised it’s all him.

so, last weekend he caused upset (not an argument as I’ve largely learnt to be passive when he’s drinking to avoid conflict) by totally taking over the TV and putting on cunting Jools Holland twice when he knew I wanted to watch a film and knowing full well I can’t stand Jools Holland.

Then we get to this weekend. We have a social event today that I have been nervous and anxious about all week. I’m neurodiverse. I had previous asked him not to cock it up by faffing around today so that we’re late etc or him deciding he can’t come. he promised me all would go smoothly.

He then tells me he’s going on a night out on Friday (last night). I remind him about the event today (he’s previously cancelled plans with me due to hangover). He promised me all plans would go to plan. I also told him not to be an arsehole when he gets home because quite frankly I’m fucking sick of it every weekend. He promises me he won’t.

so he gets home drunk and disappears into the garden. I go see what he’s upto and he’s peering over the fence eyeballing the also very drunk man next door saying “what is this dickhead doing staring at our house” 😱 I explain that whilst he was out a fight/argument took place next door and now he’s stood guard on the front door trying to stop his wife getting out and getting into another fight with the locals. DH becomes all animated and starts spouting off bullshit about how they only started misbehaving because he was out. I assured him that I doubt that even knew he was out or gave a shit 🙄

we gets back in the house and he keeps banging on about it asking what happened and what were they doing. I told him they’d knocked on our door earlier but none were making any sense as they were all very drunk so I have no idea but it was none of our business. He turn says “I’m going to go out there and get my arse out in front of their door”. I say “ha, yeah ok” not believing he was being serious. He was being serious and marched outside and stood in front of their ring doorbell doing god knows what. Mortified I drag him back inside and tell him to stop causing trouble.

he goes on and on about it before telling me that he’s arranged to pick his 25 year old son up tomorrow (today) and give him and lift to his mates. I say “remember about the even planned?” And he said “yeah I can do both”. I say “well what time are you picking him up?” And he says “12”. I say “well that’s not going to work is it as we need pick (granddaughter) up at 12:15 as has been arranged all week”. He says “we can do both”. I said “we can’t get across town in 15 minutes, you promised me you wouldn’t faff around tomorrow”. He raises his voice and says “no! You’re making a drama out of it, there is no need for a drama yet you make a drama” and gets all animated with his arms. I snap. I mean I properly snapped and shouted not to speak to me like shit just because he’s had a drink and I’m fucking sick of him being an absolute cock everytime he drinks, I’ve had enough!

he’s visibly shocked that I’ve finally stood up for myself and shuts up. 5 minutes later he says “so am I telling my own son that I can’t give him a lift tomorrow then?”

I say calmly “tell him you’ll have to pick him up earlier as we need to be somewhere by 12:15”.

He says “so I’m telling him I can’t do it because you said so?”

I say “as I just said, you’d need to pick him up earlier”.

he says “you said I’m not allowed to do it so I’ll tell him that?”

I blow up again and shout at him not to try and fucking gaslight me because it won’t work. My suggestion was perfectly reasonable and clear and if he wishes to deliberately misunderstand then that’s on him, not me.

he does a daft thing with him arms and says “ooo I’m scared!”. He’s 51.

I continue trying to watch tv and he tries to shove his phone in my face as he wants me to see the message from his son. I shout “get that phone out of my face”. He gives up and stomps off to bed.

Im not been unreasonable to be fucking livid am I?

OP posts:
TheFuckingDogs · 11/06/2022 08:27

Well done on your sobriety. That’s an amazing achievement - obviously you’re not wrong to have lost your shit with him. Sounds like he’s got some big changes to make if he can

MyBrilliantFriend · 11/06/2022 08:27

What good things is this relationship bringing you? It just sounds horrible.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 11/06/2022 08:30

It sounds like you have a very unhealthy/abusive relationship based on a mutual alcohol problem. It sounds like you want to change this but he doesn’t. All you can do is focus on what you want your life to like and make that happen. You can’t change your husband but you talk to him about it when he is sober.

StridTheKiller · 11/06/2022 08:30

At least you didn't snap and fart.
Sorry OP your life and husband sound awful. How can people live like this?

CheshireCats · 11/06/2022 08:31

Divorce the cock.

SW1amp · 11/06/2022 08:31

There is more to this than the drinking,
neither of you sound like you’re in a good place

He obviously needs to sort out the drinking but also you both need to work on communication and boundaries and supporting each other

Whats he like at talking/discussing when he is sober?
would he be willing to stop or cut down his drinking as part of an overall relationship-improvement-plan?

His behaviour last night was obviously terrible, but he probably isn’t going to respond well to having this shouted at him, so positioning it as you both making changes to help each other might be more productive

Fairislefandango · 11/06/2022 08:39

He sounds like an utter arse. Is he genuinely only an arse when drunk? How often does he get drunk? Is he perfectly fine and a good, nice partner when he's sober? And is he properly apologetic the next day? I mean... that still wouldn't excuse his behaviour, but it might indicate there was some chance of him changing.

TheDepthsOfDespair · 11/06/2022 08:40

It sounds like neither of you speak very nicely or respectfully to one another. He sounds like a horrid drunk too.

maybe you need to move on to a more positive relationship

StepAwayFromGoogling · 11/06/2022 08:42

Honestly, you sound as bad as each other. You escalated all of that as much as he did.

Pollydonia · 11/06/2022 08:42

He sounds like a fucking arsehole.
I bet he tries to blame you this morning.

RaleighDurham · 11/06/2022 08:44

Of course you are not being unreasonable, but as you said in your OP, any sort of conversation with him when he's drunk is not going to end well.
His behaviour towards next door (mooning at their Ring doorbell??) was outrageous. Sounds as if they had their own stuff going on too but let's just hope they report him to the police.
I would write off his attendance at your event today and or ably for any future events too, until he stops drinking.
As an aside, what sort of arse says, "my OWN son" like that? WTF has the "own" got to do with it?

Isaidnoalready · 11/06/2022 08:47

Didn't take long for piss head apologists to show up and blame you

Your only fault lies in staying with him and expecting him to change

Do better

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 08:48

StepAwayFromGoogling · 11/06/2022 08:42

Honestly, you sound as bad as each other. You escalated all of that as much as he did.

When you spend every single weekend treading egg shells because you don’t want to “upset the drunk” you eventually snap.

I escalated because he started speaking me like shit - AGAIN

OP posts:
Carrotmum · 11/06/2022 08:51

I tried to type a longer message but it kept getting deleted thanks MN! Is he even going to be legal to drive by lunchtime, just how much did he have to drink last night? Sounds like everything is a total shit show at the moment is this how you want to live your life?

BlancmanegeBunny · 11/06/2022 08:52

You are worth more than the way he is treating you. He isn't going to change but you can change the situation and remove him from your life.
Congratulations on giving up drinking, now that you are sober you can see this man for who he really is.

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 08:55

When he’s drunk he turns into Kevin the Teenager. I remember once at a rock concert he managed to piss off a big group of people - one of them gave him a dig in the ribs so he stood there with his arms folded and said “god!” Like a 4 year old and refused to move at all, literally stood like a statue with his arms folded. I was so fucking embarrassed.

OP posts:
CherieBabySpliffUp · 11/06/2022 08:57

What were you planning on doing with your grandchild when you picked them up? Can you pick them up by yourself and do something that doesn't involve him? It sounds like it would be the best option.

pointythings · 11/06/2022 08:58

So when he's drunk he becomes a horrible person. That means alcohol is having a negative effect on your relationship. And that is reason enough to end the relationship if he will not admit there is a problem.

Ignore any posters saying you are as bad as each other - you aren't. You're allowed to stand up for yourself. You've addressed your own issues with drinking by admitting it's a problem for you and going teetotal. You now need to address the husband problem by telling him he deals with his problem or he's out - and meaning it.

Life without someone who drinks dysfunctionally is so much better - been there.

LaingsAcidTab · 11/06/2022 09:00

But you're choosing to stay with him. There is no excuse for that that makes any sense whatsoever.

Mally100 · 11/06/2022 09:01

Well this is really embarrassing and pathetic.You are both what, late 40s and 50s and both of you behaving like screaming banshees. It doesn't matter who is at fault, you are both reduced to this embarrassing behavior. Leave him, stop complaining about something you can't change about him and do something to change your own situation.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 11/06/2022 09:05

Why are you still with him???

ChagSameachDoreen · 11/06/2022 09:07

This isn't working for either of you. LTB.

notanothertakeaway · 11/06/2022 09:08

Well done giving up the booze yourself. Congratulations

Your relationship sounds very unhappy. If it's as bad as you describe, why are you still together?

Shouting at a drunk man is never likely to get the result you want. Better to have these conversations when sober. But he wont change unless he wants to

Sparkletastic · 11/06/2022 09:10

I expect your sobriety helps you to see your husband and marriage in a much clearer light. Time to consider a different future perhaps?

girlmom21 · 11/06/2022 09:14

You did the right thing in standing up to him.
I think this would be a dealbreaker for me. He either stops drinking or it's over.

I couldn't bear the constant treading on eggshells.

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