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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

41weeks, useless husband, want to leave!

85 replies

busymamaof2 · 20/06/2022 08:55

I am 40weeks + 4 days with our third child. Two young children, both pre school.

Husband couldn't be more unhelpful at the moment, let alone more generally day to day in our marriage which I've clearly ignored got used to. All of the general laziness is now getting on top of me given current situation.

He lay in bed both mornings at the weekend, I was up at 6 with the kids sorting breakfast etc. Any time he has down time he's lying on the sofa scrolling news on his phone. I'm flat out washing, ironing, sorting house etc. I'm sure some of that is nesting but he sees me bending down, picking up kids toys, picking up broken crockery off the floor on my hands and knees with no offer of help.

Admittedly, Saturday morning, he spent 2 hours cleaning and hoovering the house whilst I took DD to ballet, but the kitchen was a tip because he didn't clean up after dinner on Friday evening (the deal was I'd do bath, he clean up dinner- which he didn't do and decided to leave the kitchen with all dishes left out because it was a Friday evening). That in itself drives me mad, waking up to a gross kitchen, but I'm at the point of picking my arguments. He did go beyond the kitchen, hoovering all of downstairs, putting clean laundry dumped unfolded on the bed away but then I heard of nothing else all weekend. He doesn't cook at all for the children yet when I picked up brunch (for everyone) of sausage sandwiches from our local deli on the way home from ballet he complains they shouldn't be eating that and need vegetables.

Generally he has NO interest in weekend days out with the kids nor any family holidays. Doesn't want to go away, no interest in travel. Says it's too stressful with kids so what's the point. He has to be almost dragged to the farm or to do something child friendly with the kids at weekend. He instead prefers to take them for walks etc which suit him, not something they'd get fun out of. I want to book a fun kids holiday in Sept once baby is 3+ months and he has said absolutely no way (he wouldn't be the one paying, btw, it would be me as higher earner).

We live in a 5 bed house but only 2 of the bedrooms are really habitable. The upstairs rooms are riddled with damp, wallpaper is peeling off the walls. I spent £600 two years ago decorating one of those rooms (unaware of the extent of damp at the time) which was pointless as you now see damp through all the freshly painted walls. I don't think it's safe/sensible to have kids sleeping in those rooms so we are all cramped in to two rooms of the house, but that's about to get worse with a new baby!

I pay for all house expenses, extortionate £400pcm council tax, £400pcm gas and electricity bill, all childcare (£1000pcm), all groceries, school requirements and every single bill or child need. That is because I'm on 3x his salary so fine, proportionate. But why do I kill myself on all those costs when I can only use 30% of the house. I may as well live in a 2 bed house and have more money in my pocket! I want the kids to have nice bedrooms and he has no interest, says the upstairs is fine and kids have lived in far worse conditions.

My parents (who are good at home redevelopment) are appalled and said they would pay themselves for the damp to be fixed as they think the kids will be poorly if they go upstairs. My parents came round yesterday and he hit the roof that he's being told what to do with HIS house by my parents. He doesn't want to spend the money doing the work. He walked out of the room when dad was advising what we should do which I found unbelievably insulting and rude.

He has no interest in taking the kids to clubs and is annoyed they have to attend swimming, ballet etc at the weekend because he says they're too young (2 and 4) so are none the wiser. There is an absolute veto on Sat afternoon clubs, they're only allowed to do mornings. This is because he feels running around after the kids dominates his weekend and he wants to relax doing nothing having been out the house 5x days a week at 7am. Isn't this just real life with young kids!?

This weekend we argued all weekend. Everything irritated me. I want to leave as I think that would have such a scare factor for him but clearly in my condition it's not something I can feasibly do. I know once baby arrives he'll be all emotional and we'll have a "let's stop this", put it behind us moment, brush it under the carpet and carry on. But it'll never go away!

The complicating factor is that he works for my father so his career fairly entangled in this mess.

I told him last night that his lack of any drive, lethargy is really unattractive, I don't want my kids to be brought up seeing that. He is happy getting by working his bare minimum hours, sitting on his phone at weekends but brings absolutely nothing to the table.

AIBU feeling like this? What would you do?!

OP posts:
busymamaof2 · 20/06/2022 08:59

... and clearly all this stress and intensity is not conducive to inducing labour!

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 20/06/2022 08:59

I'd call it quits. Get him out, get your parents to help with damp and live a happy life with your kids without this waste of space bringing you all down.

That's what I'd do.

PinkButtercups · 20/06/2022 08:59

He sounds like a lazy twat. I wouldn't be with someone so lazy.

Ivgotasecretcanyoukeepit · 20/06/2022 09:01

I would tell him to leave, he adds no value to your life and quite frankly watching you on your hands and knees picking up crockery is disgusting. Too late now but Why are you bringing a third child into this situation?

stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:01

I would:

Flush his sodding phone down the loo and boot him off the sofa.
Divorce him.
Let him sort his career path out himself, don’t get involved with him working for your dad or let it influence your thinking.
Pay for the damp to be resolved or move – new house with you and the three DC, no damp and no useless, dead-weight, anti-sausage sandwich wanker.

Obviously leaving is tricky when you’re on the cusp of birth but ask yourself: if not now, when? How long do you want to live your life like this? Arguing, carrying all the financial load, carrying all the emotional load, living with damp? He’s the damp in your marriage! It sounds like you have hands-on supportive parents so you’d have support.

busymamaof2 · 20/06/2022 09:02

Sorry for drip feed... he's also blocked me on WhatsApp (!). We were having a text argument last night which led to him blocking me. Monday morning, he's left for work and I remained blocked. If I were brave enough to go into labour on my own I seriously would. Who blocks their wife at 41w pregnant?!

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:02

Also book the fun kids holiday and invite your parents instead of him. Book damp work to happen at the same time while you’re all out of the house. He can use the time while you’re away to pack up his things and move out.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 20/06/2022 09:03

Why on earth have you had three children with this prick???? He can't have just turned into this overnight.
If you chuck him out he will no doubt claim half of everything and you will be looking for a new home with a newborn in tow and going through horrendous upheaval.
I suppose the only thing you can do is try and make him leave but its not going to be easy.

Notmytiep · 20/06/2022 09:03

He sounds horrible. Couldn't live with someone like that.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 20/06/2022 09:04

"anti-sausage sandwich wanker"

😅

CrumpetStrumpet · 20/06/2022 09:04

I throw him out and get your dad to sort the damp. Then live a rage free life with your children.

One thing though...2 and 4 year olds absolutely do not need a plethora of organised weekend activities. Dont burn yourself out rushing around to them so much.

Notmytiep · 20/06/2022 09:04

busymamaof2 · 20/06/2022 09:02

Sorry for drip feed... he's also blocked me on WhatsApp (!). We were having a text argument last night which led to him blocking me. Monday morning, he's left for work and I remained blocked. If I were brave enough to go into labour on my own I seriously would. Who blocks their wife at 41w pregnant?!

OP, I think you know what you need to do.

dreamscametrue · 20/06/2022 09:05

Christ why have you continued to have children with this man? Why on earth didn't you sort the house out before having another child? I sympathise to a point because he's clearly a lazy bastard but come on OP - take charge and some responsibility here

bloodyunicorns · 20/06/2022 09:06

dreamscametrue · 20/06/2022 09:05

Christ why have you continued to have children with this man? Why on earth didn't you sort the house out before having another child? I sympathise to a point because he's clearly a lazy bastard but come on OP - take charge and some responsibility here

This, I'm afraid. Your house sounds uninhabitable and your life chaotic. Take control over your contraception.

MolliciousIntent · 20/06/2022 09:06

Begs the question, why on earth are you pregnant again!?

orwellwasright · 20/06/2022 09:07

And yet here you are, just about to bring child no.3 into the world.

This is your life. It's what you chose. I have endless sympathy for people trapped in abusive relationships but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Just someone merrily producing children with a man they then moan about. Why?

AnotherDelphinium · 20/06/2022 09:09

stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:02

Also book the fun kids holiday and invite your parents instead of him. Book damp work to happen at the same time while you’re all out of the house. He can use the time while you’re away to pack up his things and move out.

This.

He’s really adding nothing to your life. I imagine your father would be very happy to see him gone from both of your lives, especially if he just walked out whilst giving advice. I can possibly imagine doing that to one’s FIL, but not to one’s Boss!

However, make sure the job remains whilst you sort the divorce financials 😉

Can you rope in a mum/sister/friend to support you in labour? He really sounds like he’s not going to help nor advocate for you at all, which, after all, is that the other person is there for!

stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:10

She’s 40w4d, she can’t just cross her legs and keep the baby stuffed in there: the third child is done, it’s cooked, it’s (to all intents and purposes) here, it’s a moot point.

ZekeZeke · 20/06/2022 09:11

He adds nothing to your life. In fact you would have less dishes and clothes to wash/put away if he wasn't around. Sounds like your life would be better without him.
Get rid.

Yikesafhutt · 20/06/2022 09:12

Just get the damp sorted. You pay or you parents can pay. Just ignore him protesting,I can't believe you haven't sorted this already. Just get someone booked today so it's maybe sorted or started before baby comes. Then just ignore him and have your parents round a lot to help out and when he gets annoyed just say 'well you're not helping me at all' and leave it at that. Stay blocked, don't entertain conversations and once you're settled into a routine post baby look at divorce. What a massive overgrown man child.

DangerNoodles · 20/06/2022 09:12

It sounds like you have supportive parents. Tell them everything you have told us here, things will be much easier with real life support. Then tell your husband to leave. You do everything yourself anyway so why bother having him around?

MrMrsJones · 20/06/2022 09:16

Who owns the house?

Get divorced, sell it or buy him out but get rid.

orwellwasright · 20/06/2022 09:17

stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:10

She’s 40w4d, she can’t just cross her legs and keep the baby stuffed in there: the third child is done, it’s cooked, it’s (to all intents and purposes) here, it’s a moot point.

Not really. I think it's very pertinent.

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde... To produce one child with someone you don't like may be regarded as a misfortune, to produce two looks like carelessness.

And now she's on no.3!

If I didn't like my husband I wouldn't have three kids with him. Suggests to me it's not all that bad and she's having a 40 week hormonal freak out. In which case she needs some soothing words rather than advice on how to LTB.

DinoWoman · 20/06/2022 09:20

Is there anything more to say? LTB.

He brings nothing to the table...

Frazzled2207 · 20/06/2022 09:23

I totally could not put up with that pregnant or not
is kicking him out feasible? It sounds like In the longer term possibly but I am guessing if you’ve got mat leave coming up possibly not
it sounds like your parents are generally supportive of you. I’d be having a conversation with them about whether or not they’re prepared to sack him and help you with the children in order for you to be able to move on with your life

apols if not helpful but why did you get pregnant with a third with him so useless? Doesn’t sound like a recent development

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