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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:
Frazzled2207 · 20/06/2022 09:24

ps if you have a 5 bed house then move him to one of the damp ridden rooms.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 20/06/2022 09:26

Talk to your parents about this. Ask them to look after your existing kids while you're in labour. And explain exactly why.

Cut him out. Change the locks. He is an abusive, lazy, selfish prick.

If I were brave enough to go into labour on my own I seriously would.

You can and to be honest it sounds like you will have to. Do you really want him in the room while you're giving birth?

Mally100 · 20/06/2022 09:30

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?

^^ Mind boggling.

But I do feel sorry for you because this is your life now. Even if you leave, you will still carry the burden of care for the children. Speak to your parents, ask them for help to leave and do it. What are you normalizing for your kids? Have a plan for 3, 6 months but just have a plan to leave. You are so fortunate to be a high earner which gives you options. Don't choose to trap yourself with this useless man.

LolaJ87 · 20/06/2022 09:31

Do you have a close friend or a family member that would be your labour partner? Whatever about your long term plans, it makes sense to have someone loving and supportive by your side for giving birth.

Honestly I couldn't live the way you are now, and it sounds like financially you don't have to. I'd be planning an exit, to be honest.

CecilyP · 20/06/2022 09:36

is kicking him out feasible?

Im not sure kicking him out would help. The house management problems would be the same. Though probably a bit more bearable without this complaining lazy arse lying on the sofa.

OP, as the higher earner, I don’t understand why you don’t just pay a builder to sort out the damp. As it’s upstairs, it must be caused by water ingress.

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.

Agree with this. By rushing out of the house before any chores were done, the chances were it wouldn’t be all finished when you got back.

Who chose this large unmanageable house? It seems to be totally overwhelming you. Could you downsize to something less manageable? It may make life a lot
mo tolerable nor both of you.

Useranon1 · 20/06/2022 09:37

AIBU feeling like this? What would you do?!

I'd have left YEARS ago. OP seriously come on this is horrendous. You are worth so much more than this and so are your kids. Honestly what would you miss if he were gone?

CecilyP · 20/06/2022 09:37

Sorry, I meant more manageable, obviously!

soundofsilver · 20/06/2022 09:38

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?!

That is awful! What a dick head!

KangarooKenny · 20/06/2022 09:43

I’d stay for now, you need him even though he’s useless, and I’d get my ducks in a row for the future.

stuntbubbles · 20/06/2022 09:49

Don’t get your dad to fire him - if it’s even possible, are there work grounds to do so? - right now as presumably your income will be slashed due to maternity leave, and when you file for divorce you won’t want to be the high earner vs his zero income. I don’t know enough to know if you’d keep the house to know if it’s worth fixing the damp now, or whether it’s worth having the house be worth less (because half of it’s uninhabitable) if it’s to be sold on divorce.

Basically: enlist your parents’ support with the baby, choose a new birth partner, and consult a solicitor. Start planning now.

JuneOsborne · 20/06/2022 09:50

He has blocked you in WhatsApp?

How does he think he'll find out if you're in labour? He doesn't give a shit, does he?

Samanabanana · 20/06/2022 09:54

He brings absolutely nothing to the table, you could ltb and not even notice!

peridito · 20/06/2022 10:00

Does blocking on Whatsapp mean he can't text you ? And you can't text or phone him ?

Have you posted before about your situation ,it rings a bell?

Sicario · 20/06/2022 10:04

Right now, I would concentrate on bringing your new baby into the world. Then when you are strong enough, start planning the new life you deserve without your useless husband.

That's what I did. I also was pregnant when I made the decision. The baby was 6 months old when I got out. Best decision I ever made and a happiness turning point.

Good luck.

Bananalanacake · 20/06/2022 10:06

Ok, you earn more than him but does he pay anything at all towards the household? is the house in your name? I would stop the kids activities and work on the house.

Ireolu · 20/06/2022 10:11

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 with bells and whistles on it.

None of these issues are new. If you decide to stay please sort out some long acting contraception.

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2022 10:11

Get your parents to sort the damp out. Regardless of who pays, if your Dad is willing to sort it then tell him yes. You're fine in two rooms, that's plenty of space for now but that isn't the point. You shouldn't be living I na damp riddles house. So just go ahead. Not everything needs to be an agreement. If they come whilst he's at work would he even know?

Then once baby is here and house is marketable, I'd start divorce proceedings. Genuinely.

His job has nothing to do with it. He's employed by someone who should be professional enough to continue a professional relationship with him.

You might end up in a smaller house but you'll be happier.

BattenburgDonkey · 20/06/2022 10:12

I would leave, even at 41 weeks pregnant, I wouldn’t have a newborn in a house riddled with damp and there is absolutely no reason to stay. If you do stay and keep having kids with this guy you aren’t any better, different side of the coin maybe but you won’t be any better staying in this crap situation because you enable it as much as he does. It’s time for a change, you do everything and more on your own anyway, you can clearly handle anything without this man, so go for it and start fresh with your kids and new baby. Your life will be so much better for it OP.

Aprilx · 20/06/2022 10:25

Your husband does sound awful and lazy, but I don’t know why you need his permission to sort rooms out, he isn’t financially abusing you. You are also for some reason having a third child with this horrible man, you had a say in that too. You need to take some responsibility and if you don’t like it then change it.

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 20/06/2022 10:32

If social services/ envirmental health saw your house what would they say?

How many more children do you plan to bring into this misery?
There may be other children suffering but most parents love their children enough to try and avoid intentional damage.

You need to stop being a passive participant in your children's neglect this shit show.

Go to your parents tell them your getting a divorce and can they book the damp solutions now.

Then tell him. He may not leave he doesn't have to. So get a solicitor. Yea you're about to give birth. You'll just have to do both.

miltonj · 20/06/2022 10:34

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?!

Wow. Yes you need to get rid of him. Not ideal timing I know. Maybe you need to formulate a plan for when you're going to break it off.

You're right it will have a terrible effect on how your kids turn out, being exposed to this behaviour. Particularly if any of them are boys, it's such a shit example.

Cherrysoup · 20/06/2022 10:39

He's blocked you when you could give birth any time?? Get the damp fixed, let your parents pay if they can afford it/want to do it. Obviously you need to leave him, what a useless lump. Go for him having 50/50 so you get a break. He works for your dad, that doesn't mean you can't leave him.

Notmytiep · 20/06/2022 10:45

KangarooKenny · 20/06/2022 09:43

I’d stay for now, you need him even though he’s useless, and I’d get my ducks in a row for the future.

Need him for what? He's useless? What on earth does OP need him for?

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2022 11:03

Cherrysoup · 20/06/2022 10:39

He's blocked you when you could give birth any time?? Get the damp fixed, let your parents pay if they can afford it/want to do it. Obviously you need to leave him, what a useless lump. Go for him having 50/50 so you get a break. He works for your dad, that doesn't mean you can't leave him.

At newborn, 2 and 4 you'd push to dump your kids on their useless father who has no interest in their needs or wants and they're too old to advocate for themselves or even properly tell you what happened?

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2022 11:05

I’d stay for now, you need him even though he’s useless surely that's an oxymoron?

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