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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The pub

22 replies

minidancer · 03/08/2022 18:11

Oh is a tradesman and often goes to the pub after work (roughly 3 times a week). He generally starts early and finishes between 3-4. He works 5 days a week, I work 3 days a week 10-3 out of the house and have to do an hour or so once the kids are in bed.
I do all school/childcare drop offs in the morning.
Sometimes it's a rush for me to get back for school pick ups as I have to get my youngest from one school at 3.20 and my other child from another school at 3.30. I just about get back from work in time but it's a rush. I sometimes use childcare until 4 to make it a bit easier.
Often my oh has finished work and while rushing to get the kids I see him sitting in the pub.
Today the kids were at holiday club until 3.30 when it closed. I asked to leave work 15 minutes early to make sure I was back in time as a road had been closed. On my way back I drove past my oh in the pub. He doesn't understand why this makes me cross? Surely he should ring me to see if I need any help before going to the pub? My argument is that I can never just choose to pop somewhere after work, not even to get a bit of food shopping.
I've said it would be polite to ring me and just check before he goes. He said that's embarrassing in front of his mates. My other compromise was him having a set day where I know he's going to the pub so I won't feel angry when I see him there. He said that's controlling.
If he's working of course I'll rush to get the kids but I'm struggling with accepting rushing about while he's sitting in the pub ......am I being unreasonable?
For context he doesn't go out much apart from this. I don't go out much either but probably more than him at the weekends.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 03/08/2022 18:16

Picking up the kids isn’t “helping” you, it’s part of his role as a parent. You both need to plan pick ups between you and it takes priority over going to the pub.

He sounds a bit of a twat tbh.

Morechocmorechoc · 03/08/2022 18:18

Thats rediculous. Call him and say I'm stuck at work you have to get the kids. Starting doing it frequently!

edwinbear · 03/08/2022 18:21

I'd be cross too, running myself ragged to get my work finished on time, then dashing about, presumably very stressed, to collect 2 DC, from 2 different schools, whilst he's enjoying himself in the pub, with his mates at 3pm in the afternoon. It's pure selfishness.

Treabrea · 03/08/2022 18:28

Drop the kids off at the pub. He can look after them.

RealBecca · 03/08/2022 18:30

Ah, he classic "its controlling".

It's not controlling to tell him he has responsibility for his kids.

minidancer · 03/08/2022 18:34

He honestly thinks I'm being unreasonable and won't even talk about it. I told him I'm going to start going to the pub and turning my phone off so that the school call him. I obviously obviously won't but I can't get through to him.
He probably wouldn't mind me dropping the kids at the pub once I've picked them up but they want to go home and I've already rushed around by then.

OP posts:
minidancer · 03/08/2022 18:35

I am going to give him some days next week where the kids need collecting at 3. I was going to finish earlier and make up my hours at some point but why should I so he can sit in the pub?!

OP posts:
Olsi109 · 03/08/2022 18:57

If this was me (it wouldn't be because my DH isn't a cock and probably wouldn't dare), I would pull over, get out, walk over to his table, take his pint, sit down, start drinking it and say Child 1 is at such a place and Child 2 is at such a place, you need to be quick so you're not late. If this embarrasses him in front of his mates then tough shit, why does he care more about what they think than what his wife thinks?

Your comment about turning your phone off is 100% what you should do. Give him all the info he needs, tell the school you have an important meeting and if they need anyone to contact DH as he will be collecting them.

Icecreamclassic · 03/08/2022 19:01

You need set days when it's his job to collect DC

SuperSange · 03/08/2022 19:03

Icecreamclassic · 03/08/2022 19:01

You need set days when it's his job to collect DC

Yes, set days. He can plan pub visits around that.

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 03/08/2022 19:10

Is he 15? Being a responsible father is embarrassing? Twat.

StoneofDestiny · 03/08/2022 19:15

Do you live in Coronation Street?
Never seen people going to the pub as often as they do.

KosherDill · 03/08/2022 19:19

Olsi109 · 03/08/2022 18:57

If this was me (it wouldn't be because my DH isn't a cock and probably wouldn't dare), I would pull over, get out, walk over to his table, take his pint, sit down, start drinking it and say Child 1 is at such a place and Child 2 is at such a place, you need to be quick so you're not late. If this embarrasses him in front of his mates then tough shit, why does he care more about what they think than what his wife thinks?

Your comment about turning your phone off is 100% what you should do. Give him all the info he needs, tell the school you have an important meeting and if they need anyone to contact DH as he will be collecting them.

All of this.

Why is he embarrassed to do parenting tasks?

How much is he spending at the pub? Was he like that before having children?

it's just mind-blowing he expects you to miss work in order to pick up kids when he is right there and not working.

minidancer · 03/08/2022 19:40

He's 45 🙄 and all his work mates he's drinking with either have kids (and also don't help much) or are in their 50's. It's like an inbred culture that they go to the pub after work everyday. He talks about it as if it's part of his work day. He actually walks into the house and says he hasn't stopped all day when he's been in the pub for an hour!
We can afford for him to go but I'd rather spend the money on something else. I don't bring that up as he does pay for everything and spends very little on himself. It's just the fact he thinks I'm
unreasonable being angry about the situation and calls me controlling.
He did go to the pub before we had kids, that was fine as I was working or could go and meet my friends etc we talked about how it wasn't something that could continue when we had children. It did stop when the kids were very little, he just went twice a week but it's gradually crept back up.
I don't even care him going to the pub if I'm not rushing about. I just think a quick phone call to check in with me before he goes is reasonable or having a set day.

OP posts:
brookstar · 03/08/2022 19:44

He's 45!!!!!!!
It's not you that's embarrassing....

neverbeenskiing · 03/08/2022 19:51

Hang on, he finishes work at 3pm but you have to leave work at 3pm to get the kids and then carry on working from home once they're in bed. Fuck that! Why on earth isn't he doing school pick up at least part of the week? Not only are you having to rush about like a blue-arsed fly while he sits in the pub, you don't even get to put your feet up once the kids are in bed. All to facilitate this pathetic post-work drinking culture that's so important to him. Unbelievably selfish on his part.

minidancer · 03/08/2022 20:01

I'm glad to hear you all agree with me, I didn't think I was being unreasonable but he does make me question myself sometimes. To be fair to him he works once the kids are in bed too and does a lot more hours than me but I feel he gets more of a break (in the pub) and more flexibility.
I think going forward I'm going to tell him two days a week that he needs to get the kids. To be honest though, I think he will just put them in after school club until 4 and pay rather than miss the pub. I just can't seem to get through to him.

OP posts:
neverbeenskiing · 03/08/2022 20:08

To be honest though, I think he will just put them in after school club until 4 and pay rather than miss the pub.

I wouldn't let him get away with that. It's your money too. There's no reason he can't pick the kids up two days a week and go to the pub another night. He'd be setting a really shitty example to your kids by putting them in afterschool club so he can go out drinking.

felulageller · 03/08/2022 21:39

This is insane!!!

You are paying for childcare so he can sit in the pub?

If he was a single parent doing this SS would remove his DC's!

He's emotionally abusing you making you think this is normal/acceptable!

Penguinsaregreat · 03/08/2022 21:46

Bloody hell woman are you married to Phil Mitchell?
I couldn’t put up with that attitude.

minidancer · 03/08/2022 21:47

😂 Phil Mitchell 🤦🏼‍♀️ it really feels like it sometimes. I'll give him set days to do pick ups next week and see what happens. Just nice to know I'm not going completely mad thinking he's being a dick.

OP posts:
Kite22 · 03/08/2022 22:00

Do you live in Coronation Street?
Never seen people going to the pub as often as they do.

Grin

OP I agree with everyone else. Well which parent (except for your dh) wouldn't ?
I mean @PuppyMonkey sums it up in the first reply.
This is about 'being a parent', not about "helping you" Hmm

I would give him set days which are his to pick up dc and you have set days which are yours. Contact school and get them to make a note on your contact details you aren't available on X and Y and to contact their father.

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