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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do I sound like a crap wife?

50 replies

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 22:58

Tensions have been running high all week between myself and dh and it's all culminated today. It sounds like he's been building up a lot of anger and resentment towards me over different things and thrown it all at me... In his words...

I'm not empathetic enough to his mental health issues. He has depression/anxiety but it comes out in quite a hostile and detached way.

I'm also not empathic and understanding enough to his porn addiction. Things have improved with this but I think he wants me to shake off the hurt I felt from it in the past which I do still struggle with.

He's had to put up with a lot from my mental health problems and has had to hold it all together at times (I have chronic health anxiety and ocd).

He says I don't do enough around the house, e.g. Enough hoovering, picking up stuff, putting the washing out, etc. He said that he'd left stuff in the last week or so to see how long it would take me to notice.

He says I'm too controlling over and doesn't want my opinion on decisions he makes.

He said that I'm always saying I'm tired and that he gets just a tired so I don't need to say it. He thinks that I make myself out to be the one who's more worse off.

There were other things but I felt that was quite a lot to digest. I now feel awful - guilty, shameful, depressed, tearful. I've apologised to him and said that I can try to work on those things. I also feel like his expectations of me are too high though. We have a baby dd, a ds with special needs and I work 3 days a week (some of that at home) in a stressful job. I feel totally burnt out this week (dd has also been ill) and now feel like I've got a load more stuff added on my plate. Dh works 4 days a week. Sometimes dh does a lot at home/with the children and sometimes I feel like I do a lot but obviously I'm not doing enough.

Do I deserve dh to cut me some slack or do I just seem like a terrible wife who needs to do better?

OP posts:
Zone2NorthLondon · 02/07/2022 23:01

You have a huge amount to contend with, including work,a baby, SN child so your dh should be kind & empathic to you too
Do you like him?Do you see a future together or is the relationship irreconcilable

Undisclosedlocation · 02/07/2022 23:02

You don’t sound like a crap wife at all……,,, but he sounds like a diabolically shit husband

KillerBoots · 02/07/2022 23:05

He needs to cut you some slack from what you're saying. I could be completely wrong but it sounds like he could be gaslighting you. Do you feel like you do enough around your home?

Whitesapphire · 02/07/2022 23:06

Neither of you sound great tbh

minipie · 02/07/2022 23:10

Yeah, he lost any sympathy from me at you should be empathetic towards his porn addiction. WTF?

Mischance · 02/07/2022 23:11

God help us - why should you be empathetic about his porn addiction? Why are you not allowed to feel hurt? He's really got you under his thumb hasn't he?

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 23:14

Yeh, agree, the porn addiction is the hardest thing for me to feel empathy for. I get that it's part of his mental health problem but it's caused me a lot of pain.

OP posts:
Broadswordcalling · 02/07/2022 23:14

LTB Flowers

SexyLittleNosferatu · 02/07/2022 23:17

Bin him.

Life is short.

Let him find himself another housekeeper.

I promise you, pleasing the penis isn't the be all and end all.

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 23:18

I'm a bit forgetful around the home because I feel like I'm going at 100mph doing stuff for the children mostly. Dh gets irritated if I leave my mugs and glasses around the house. Maybe that is a bit of a teenager thing to be doing still and can only ttry to be more aware of it. He's not perfect around the house either but it doesn't effect me so much.

OP posts:
legaltigger · 02/07/2022 23:18

Undisclosedlocation · 02/07/2022 23:02

You don’t sound like a crap wife at all……,,, but he sounds like a diabolically shit husband

Completely agree !!

FungalNail · 02/07/2022 23:19

It’s fine not to feel empathy for his porn addiction, I don’t think many women would feel sympathy for such addiction.

Blue4YOU · 02/07/2022 23:23

Op - does he act the same way at work as he does at home?
is he getting treatment for his “depression “?
Is his porn addiction more important to him then you/ your feelings?
He sounds absolutely vile.
Testing you to see if you’ve done enough housework ..?
I tell you what I’d be doing.
Id tell him to fuck off with his porn addiction and to cook, clean, wash up, do laundry for himself while you care for his children and work and cook/clean/do laundry just for you.
Or… separate

KillerBoots · 02/07/2022 23:25

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 23:18

I'm a bit forgetful around the home because I feel like I'm going at 100mph doing stuff for the children mostly. Dh gets irritated if I leave my mugs and glasses around the house. Maybe that is a bit of a teenager thing to be doing still and can only ttry to be more aware of it. He's not perfect around the house either but it doesn't effect me so much.

He's being way too harsh on you. Don't let him grind you down. He sounds like an arsehole. Leaving the odd mug lying round is normal in my house as it's not exactly priority.

DelphiniumBlue · 02/07/2022 23:29

He expects you to be empathetic about his porn addiction - is he having a laugh at your expense? I don't think I've ever read anything more ridiculous!
And then he's calling you controlling whilst he is leaving out traps to try and catch you out? He thinks he's as tired as you, but you are the one who has recently been through a pregnancy and given birth. Can I ask who does the night shifts?
You say he is quite hostile but wants you to empathise with his mental health issues, whilst guilting you out about yours.
He actually sounds quite horrible, I'd be thinking twice about whether to stay with him.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/07/2022 23:30

the comment that you aren’t sympathetic to his porn addiction is a strong indication you are married to a screaming prick

So if we precede on that basis, the chances are you are doing ok and he’s an arsehole

Of course there may be things you can improve, but getting shot or him may be tThe best solution. Do you want him around?

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/07/2022 23:31

WindmillsOfMyMind44 · 02/07/2022 23:14

Yeh, agree, the porn addiction is the hardest thing for me to feel empathy for. I get that it's part of his mental health problem but it's caused me a lot of pain.

Is it buggery part of his mental health problem. I have never heard such shite.

OP you are married to a very manipulative man

KillerBoots · 02/07/2022 23:34

@Luredbyapomegranate I was also thinking the same. I wouldn't class a porn problem as mental health OP.

CrapBag39 · 02/07/2022 23:38

Get rid. He sounds like rip roaring thunder cunt.

Azandme · 02/07/2022 23:47

The porn addiction thing is bullshit.

I can't comment on who isn't pulling their weight in the house though because you didn't say who does what. I don't want to automatically assume it's you and he's expecting too much like some posters, because you've said things that imply he does house stuff and child stuff.

You work three days, he works four.

Who does the laundry, housework, shopping etc? Is it equal, more one than the other?

Similarly looking after the children. Is that equal?

AnneLovesGilbert · 02/07/2022 23:52

The porn addiction would be plenty reason to leave on its own. That’s revolting.

JenniferPlantain · 02/07/2022 23:54

Is the porn addiction diagnosed by a medical professional?

JenniferPlantain · 02/07/2022 23:55

Cos it sounds like BS.

mrsfollowill · 03/07/2022 00:00

His 'porn addiction' is utter crap! He just likes watching porn and is trying to justify it to you both. Probably his 'mental health issues' are from the same place. Has he ever been diagnosed with mental health issues by a professional or is this his own conclusion? Sounds like a manipulative twat to me.

Yodaisawally · 03/07/2022 00:15

Sympathetic to his porn addiction? Fucking hell.