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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:
PrawnMeringue · 11/06/2022 09:14

He sounds ghastly. Why are you wasting your precious, short life with someone like him?

AmaryIlis · 11/06/2022 09:18

Have you had a discussion about this with him when he's sober? It could be worth recording some of his behaviour to make him realise what an arsehole he is when drunk.

Beautiful3 · 11/06/2022 09:22

Why are you wasting your life with him. What a miserable existence. You and your child deserve so.much better. I'd leave him and continue my sobriety. I don't drink either, I gave up years ago.

Aquamarine1029 · 11/06/2022 09:23

You are choosing to live like this. It's like something out of a nightmare. Why are you still there?

SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 09:28

Do your grandaughter's parents know that he'll possibly not be sober enough to drive her at 12.15? Will they be told he was 'very drunk' last night and how much alcohol he's likely still got in his system?

girlmom21 · 11/06/2022 09:30

SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 09:28

Do your grandaughter's parents know that he'll possibly not be sober enough to drive her at 12.15? Will they be told he was 'very drunk' last night and how much alcohol he's likely still got in his system?

Op hasn't said she doesn't drive

ChairPose9to5 · 11/06/2022 09:32

OMG Slit up

Said with sympathy Flowers

BadAtMaths2 · 11/06/2022 09:34

Just leave him.

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 09:36

SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 09:28

Do your grandaughter's parents know that he'll possibly not be sober enough to drive her at 12.15? Will they be told he was 'very drunk' last night and how much alcohol he's likely still got in his system?

I wouldn’t put my granddaughter at risk. I drive.

OP posts:
Momicrone · 11/06/2022 09:38

I'm not sure I would have got involved with him at all last night, ida left him in the garden.

BattenburgDonkey · 11/06/2022 09:39

You don’t really sound like you are considering leaving him? If this is just you two then you are as bad as each other really. Hopefully now you are tee total and you’ve started to snap you will realise how much better life will be without him, and not just be an aggressive sober person to
match his aggressive drunk. Leave him and be happy OP, don’t let him turn you into an ugly person.

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 09:39

Will be fun when next door check the footage on their ring doorbell today. I really hope they confront him.

OP posts:
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 11/06/2022 09:39

Seconding anyone who suggests that you might want to have this thread moved to Relationships if you are in search of useful advice.

SurfBox · 11/06/2022 09:39

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

from reading the thread i thought your dh was late 20s-mid 30s.

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 09:40

BattenburgDonkey · 11/06/2022 09:39

You don’t really sound like you are considering leaving him? If this is just you two then you are as bad as each other really. Hopefully now you are tee total and you’ve started to snap you will realise how much better life will be without him, and not just be an aggressive sober person to
match his aggressive drunk. Leave him and be happy OP, don’t let him turn you into an ugly person.

I’m not sure what I’m thinking at the minute, I’m just concentrating on getting through this event today

OP posts:
MRex · 11/06/2022 09:40

He sounds awful, the neighbours sound awful, and the language you use towards him is appalling where you are certainly escalating the situation. If you don't want to live this life then you need to separate, move home, and work on improving how you communicate. Is that something you want and can achieve? If not, why not?

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 09:41

@SurfBox no he’s 51!

OP posts:
SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 09:45

So he's 'only' planning on driving his son around around at midday, and you suggested he actually could go earlier? Still possibly with alcohol in his system?

I can kind of understand why you haven't left him yet - maybe it's 'boiling frog' syndrome, and it's not that easy to just up and leave until you have put something in place - but I don't understand this.

girlmom21 · 11/06/2022 09:46

SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 09:45

So he's 'only' planning on driving his son around around at midday, and you suggested he actually could go earlier? Still possibly with alcohol in his system?

I can kind of understand why you haven't left him yet - maybe it's 'boiling frog' syndrome, and it's not that easy to just up and leave until you have put something in place - but I don't understand this.

FFS stop blaming the OP for his decisions.

Americano75 · 11/06/2022 09:50

StepAwayFromGoogling · 11/06/2022 08:42

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

Having walked a mile in OP's shoes, trust me, that's not helpful.

MintJulia · 11/06/2022 09:51

Have you considered leaving? Finding yourself a nice quiet flat somewhere without drunk prat of a partner or multiple drunk prays for neighbours?

Sounds like your life would be much nicer.

Americano75 · 11/06/2022 09:51

You're me 20 years ago. You need to get out.

Philisophigal · 11/06/2022 09:57

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the user's request.

SpinstileTurnstile · 11/06/2022 10:02

Any way, well done and good luck with your new life without the booze, and very good luck if you decide to leave him. There's lots of good advice on the Relationships board as pp have said.

Leaving (or organising it so that one's partner leaves) is not a simple or easy thing. It takes many steps and it does help to have advice and support that acknowledges this, rather than 'ffs just ltb'.

DrEmilleShofhousen · 11/06/2022 10:08

Your relationship sounds awful. I watched an uncle of mine behave like this for YEARS. He ruled the roost with this sort of behaviour. My aunt stayed and is still with him. She’s old now, her life spent in misery. Get out whilst you can!!