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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:
Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 20/06/2022 11:06

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.

There is no court that can enforce patenting. If this man won't parent at home OP would be a fool to plan anything other than him fully waking out

Vikinga · 20/06/2022 11:11

Give him an ultimatum. Either he sorts the damp out or your parents will. Either he starts pulling his weight or you split.

cuparfull · 20/06/2022 11:17

Don't let this man shape the lives of your children with his bad example.
1/ Speak to your dad, get him to engineer this wastrel out of the family business entanglement.
2/ Get you dad to sort out the damp, bypassing the OH.
3/ Take legal advice and protect your finances.
4/LTB after preparing/planning
5/ Employ a live in nanny to lighten your load.

You can do this, he is an unnecessary encumbrance. Ditch those that don't bring positivity to your life.

Willow8383 · 20/06/2022 11:27

Hello OP, I'm really sorry to hear that you are in this position! Personally I would focus on the delivery of your child for the time being, and try have support lined up from friends and family for the next few days and weeks. But once you have settled in with the baby, it might be time to think about your options, and if you would be happier without him. It's always difficult to leave, and even more so with children and a newborn, but if the current situation just wears you down and there is no sign of improvement, this is what you might have to do in order to live happily with your children! Best of luck!

pinkyredrose · 20/06/2022 11:36

Is the house in your name or joint? Do your parents know what you're going through?

LaFloristaCalista · 20/06/2022 11:50

Is the house in your name or joint? Do your parents know what you're going through?

Would that make any difference, given they are married?

ImplementingTheDennisSystem · 20/06/2022 11:51

What would you do?!

I certainly wouldn't have had babies 2 or 3 with him...

Chaoslatte · 20/06/2022 12:12

Chuck him out at least for a little while and see if that brings him to his senses. Can your mum be your birth partner instead?

Ballsaque · 20/06/2022 12:18

He doesn’t do much by the sounds of it so you’re probably better off if he’s not there.

get the bedrooms sorted and think about an Au Pair to help you out instead!

wibblewobbleball · 20/06/2022 12:22

I genuinely don't know why you've had three children with him. I would leave him and take your children with you.

Surgarblossom · 20/06/2022 12:30

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 20/06/2022 09:04

"anti-sausage sandwich wanker"

😅

I know!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

babyjellyfish · 20/06/2022 12:34

Here's what I would do.

Take your parents up on their offer to sort out the damp in your house. Present it to your husband as a fait accompli. You and your children will not live in a house that is a health hazard. If your husband has a problem with the damp being fixed, he's welcome to rent himself a place which is sodden with it.

Find a family member or friend to look after your children when you go into labour. Have another family member or friend on standby to be your birth partner if necessary. If you're only allowed one birth partner with you, choose the person you feel would be most supportive, and if that's not your husband, too bad for him.

Have your baby, and spend the next few months getting through the newborn stage. Tell your husband that he is on his last warning, and that if he doesn't shape up you will be going your separate ways.

Get your financial ducks in a row and see a solicitor.

CrotchetyQuaver · 20/06/2022 12:41

Surely blocking you on WhatsApp past your due date would qualify as unreasonable behaviour on a divorce petition?

I'd be telling your parents the full story, asking for their support and making plans to kick him out once the baby's here.

If he's like this now, is he really likely to be any meaningful form of support whilst having the baby? I'd be considering having my DM as my birth partner and grandad in charge of the other 2.

I would gently suggest that him working for your DF may be at the root of his issues, but that can all wait till later, if you can be bothered to discuss it with him and want to save your marriage. I think I would be done if mine had blocked me - there would be no coming back from that.

PollyDarton1 · 20/06/2022 12:41

I thought this was me posting from last year, except I (thankfully) only had one child with my ex, we weren't married and didn't have a 5 bedroom house! Even down to the petty "blocking" on WhatsApp during an argument.

Ex took no happiness in doing anything with either his DS with me or his eldest, it was literally an uphill battle to get him to do anything that didn't involve walks, occasional meals out or sitting in front of the TV whilst he sat on his phone the entire weekend. He said he needed downtime from work (fair, except he went to bed at 11pm most nights whilst I cooked and put our son down to sleep and ended up going to bed at 9-10 most nights) and couldn't I just be happy staying around the house. Well, I would have been, if he actually did anything with them without having to be asked.

He also got up whenever he felt like it everyday (8am usually, whilst I'd have been up at 6am with the youngest) and on work/childcare days would bark at me for not having our son ready Hmm - never mind that I worked longer hours, didn't get a chance to have a shower etc!

This wasn't the main reason I left him, but one of them. Guess what? Within 4 months of a new relationship he's now a Disney dad (spent 5 months just shoving our DS on an iPad most weekends) with her and her kids (who she allows to call him Dad) and does all the things he hated before - soft play, beach, you name it! It's fucking sickening, and makes me so angry, but a) he's either far happier doing these things which frankly, is a benefit to my son who he couldn't be bothered with most of the time and b) its all for initial show.

OP - he sounds useless, disinterested, petty. I would hasten a bet that he brings the entire mood of the family down when he's in one of his funks, and that the kids probably avoid him (mine did). I'd want to go solo even if it'll be stupidly hard, because honestly, the relief of not having to chide a grown adult into actually behaving like a parent is so freeing!

whatisheupto · 20/06/2022 12:49

Sending hugs and strength op. Ignore all the rude posters questioning why you have had children with him.
I think you should leave him. And I think it would be much easier to do it now before the baby comes. Once baby is here it will seem impossible.

Would you quite like the opportunity to get out of the damp house? If so maybe it's a good chance to leave the house and start anew. Depending on how hard it is to find a rental property in your area. You might have to go and stay with your parents until you sort something out. Could you afford an aibnb for a couple of months?

Or tell him you want a divorce and he has to leave the house so you can stay there with the kids and then your parents can help fix the damp.

I wouldn't worry about the fact he works with your dad... leave them to sort that out.

Good luck OP, you can do this!!

HesASnake · 20/06/2022 12:52

What you have described is my life. Just too many similarities. We have one ds 4yo and I'm currently 24weeks pregnant. OH is just so incredibly unhelpful, he will literally just watch me do stuff and then he has the fucking nerve to get fustrated at me cz he doesn't like me doing so much since I've just come out of hospital due to infection. He doesn't help with cooking or chores but enjoys eating homemade meals and having a clean and tidy house. When I ask its always I'll do it later but never gets done. All is spare time is spent sleeping and on his phone watching tiktok or on Facebook. It makes me cringe, his lack of ambition and drive is unattractive to say the least. We live in a 2 bed, it has damp I've mentioned it for the past 4 years that it needs sorting but nothing, I've said I'd pay, even my mums offered to pay, but hes insulted that shes offered, so there'll be 4 of us cramped into the 1 room. He doesn't take ds to his kickboxing class neither has he paid for them like he said he would. Never takes ds out by himself as he says hes too much to deal with(ds is perfect with me), he just cant be bothered. I want to go on holiday when babys born in Oct, ill be paying (like I always do), but hes just being hot and cold about it. Never plans anything or wants to do anything. He also blocks me when he goes to work after an argument so I cant contact him an emergency. I too want to go into labour alone without him, I think it'd be better without him. For the past month hes been calling me a 'snake' because he says I went behind his back to call his sister, who he refuses to talk to(he has cut off his family for no reason). He went through my phone and found messages and calls. Since then hes been calling me a snake and changed my name on his phone to snake.

If you have the support of family and friends, do it free yourself.

Sorry for the long message

bloodyplanes · 20/06/2022 12:53

I had an ex like this, literally would not do anything he wasn't forced into. Life is so much nicer now we are divorced!

Mally100 · 20/06/2022 12:56

HesASnake · 20/06/2022 12:52

What you have described is my life. Just too many similarities. We have one ds 4yo and I'm currently 24weeks pregnant. OH is just so incredibly unhelpful, he will literally just watch me do stuff and then he has the fucking nerve to get fustrated at me cz he doesn't like me doing so much since I've just come out of hospital due to infection. He doesn't help with cooking or chores but enjoys eating homemade meals and having a clean and tidy house. When I ask its always I'll do it later but never gets done. All is spare time is spent sleeping and on his phone watching tiktok or on Facebook. It makes me cringe, his lack of ambition and drive is unattractive to say the least. We live in a 2 bed, it has damp I've mentioned it for the past 4 years that it needs sorting but nothing, I've said I'd pay, even my mums offered to pay, but hes insulted that shes offered, so there'll be 4 of us cramped into the 1 room. He doesn't take ds to his kickboxing class neither has he paid for them like he said he would. Never takes ds out by himself as he says hes too much to deal with(ds is perfect with me), he just cant be bothered. I want to go on holiday when babys born in Oct, ill be paying (like I always do), but hes just being hot and cold about it. Never plans anything or wants to do anything. He also blocks me when he goes to work after an argument so I cant contact him an emergency. I too want to go into labour alone without him, I think it'd be better without him. For the past month hes been calling me a 'snake' because he says I went behind his back to call his sister, who he refuses to talk to(he has cut off his family for no reason). He went through my phone and found messages and calls. Since then hes been calling me a snake and changed my name on his phone to snake.

If you have the support of family and friends, do it free yourself.

Sorry for the long message

I hope you have plans to leave this useless waste of space Flowers

Pipsquiggle · 20/06/2022 13:05

@busymamaof2 - he does sound like a deeply selfish man. I do find this deeply unattractive. Sounds like all he is bringing to the party is sperm and can't put his family's needs above his own.

First of all - tell him he has to start to sort out the damp by Friday of this week or you will ask your dad to do it - I have put this first as it is affecting the health & living conditions of your family.

Second - have your baby

Third - sort out your finances, seek out a solicitor

Fourth - tell your parents of your intentions to potentially separate

Essentially this cannot continue to go on

AllNightDiner · 20/06/2022 13:17

Hmm. I can see my opinion isn't going to be popular. But.

Yes, he sounds disengaged and a bit lazy, and blocking you on whatsapp is appalling when you're past due and could go into labour at any moment. But I feel like there's another side to this story. You earn more than him, and what he does earn comes from your family. You could make a joint decision about what to do about the house's problems, and financially you would be in a position to call the shots if he's being lazy and useless about it, but instead you invite your parents over to accompany him from room to room telling him what needs doing. You run yourself ragged taking very small children from activity to activity even though he doesn't think it's necessary at their age - and he's right tbh, but apparently your opinion is what counts. He's happy to take them on walks but according to you 'they wouldn't get any fun out of that'. He spent two hours cleaning and hoovering but you're cross because what you wanted was for him to prioritise the kitchen.

It just seems like he gets no say in anything and - without knowing more - I can see why he might have checked out of your marriage and family life. He must feel like there's no point in doing or suggesting anything because you've got different ideas, and if he doesn't agree with you, you get your mum and dad to pile on and tell him what's what.

I'm not saying he's blameless, just to be clear. If he doesn't want to work for your parents, he should get another job. If he wants the kids to eat more healthily, he should be making the effort to prepare that food for them. And clearly the damp bedrooms need to be sorted out one way or another. I just don't think he sounds like the complete waste of space you're painting him as.

It's your life, and obviously you know better than strangers on the internet what's going on, but it seems to me that if you could both cut each other some slack, actually talk about your problems and expectations instead of firing off salvos via whatsapp at each other, and leave your parents out of it, then perhaps you might be better placed to rekindle some kindness and happiness between the two of you.

I hope you figure it out anyway.

caringcarer · 20/06/2022 13:21

Divorce the waste of space from your lives. Let you Dad help you with damp. Move onwards and upwards. I bet your parent hate seeing you with this loser.

woody87 · 20/06/2022 13:43

Here is my first official

LTB

Honestly why are you with this guy? He sounds worse than useless and completely uninterested in you and your childrens lives.

Everything you have said pointas that you would be better off without him, plus you have family support.

Who blocks their own wife on WhatsApp never mind a wife would could literally go into labour at any minute.

I'm 28 weeks pregnant with twins, have a 2 year old and 3.5 year old and I was annoyed this morning that my husband went for his usual run (like 25 mins) whilst I dealt with one of the kids being sick and got the other one breakfast. I should give my head a wobble if this is what other people are dealing with.

oakleaffy · 20/06/2022 13:47

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!
why on earth procreate with such a hopeless man once, never mind three times.
You are 50% responsible here.
One kid is excusable- but three with such a lump?
Crazy.

BackToTheTop · 20/06/2022 14:04

Can you and the dc move in with your parents for the time being? At least that way you'd have some support, once the baby is a few months old I'd then sell the house as is and find somewhere for just you and the dc.

Lovemypeaceandquiet · 20/06/2022 14:09

What would I do?

More about what I wouldn’t do - certainly I wouldn’t continue to have kids with such man, living in a damp riddled house.

Some men (and women) are just waste of space, granted, and there’s no way of changing them.

BUT

You need to accept some sort of responsibility when you choose them as your life partners and fathers to your kids. Unless you were forced to marry him …

So no @busymamaof2 , YANBU for feeling like leaving him. But YABU for bringing 3rd child in this situation.

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