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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dh says I've broken the system, I think it was already broken

182 replies

comingupmum · 19/01/2023 14:57

We had our first child 3 years ago and at the time dh worked 8am-5pm 5 days a week, he then got a new job when our oldest was 6 months old that was 8am-4pm. It was nice having him home earlier, and sometimes he could go to the driving range or the gym and still get home at what was his 'regular time' of about 5.30pm. This was fine, worked for everyone. Over time it became a bit of an inside joke I guess where if I needed him home ASAP that night I'd text him "rush day". Just if I wasn't feeling well, or had a hard day with our eldest and needed a break etc. It wasn't often. Sometimes if he wanted to go the gym that night he'd text me the same thing, "rush day?" And I'd say no go ahead etc.

Well that baby is now 3 years old and I'm 37 weeks pregnant and it's safe to say what started out as a sort of inside joke I feel he completely takes the piss out of me with. He gradually started going to the gym, range, to see friends etc every single night, sometimes just to the shops etc. He was literally never coming home at 4pm when he finished unless I specifically text him that it was a rush day. If I ever mentioned it he would say "you didn't say it was a rush day, if you say rush day I'm here and you know it" as if it made it ok. He would say "I should still be at work anyway so it's irrelevant", well you've been in this new job for years now and you finish at 4, so no, you shouldn't still be at work that was your old job. Your old job is what's irrelevant.

Throughout my pregnancy I've really lost patience with it, I shouldn't have to say "rush day" for him to finish work at 4pm and think right let's go see my family. Why is there always something he'd rather do. So I just started texting rush day everyday, surprise surprise it stopped being fine to text him that and he got pissed off, said I've taken the only free time he gets off him and I've broken a system that worked for years. I said we're about to have a newborn literally any day, I need you to be a dad and a husband and come home after work without me having to specifically request it. Rush day is done. If you want to do something after work a couple of times a week we can arrange it but I'm not only having you come home on time if I text you, that should be the norm. It's become a big thing and it's just so ridiculous and I'm pissed off about it tbh. He can go to the gym or the range once the kids are in bed, it doesn't need to be straight after work leaving me doing all the parenting even longer and sorting dinners etc. The words rush day make my blood boil now.

AIBU?!

OP posts:
Kastri · 19/01/2023 14:59

YANBU

Danikm151 · 19/01/2023 14:59

He is being a dick. Where is your free time?

Cakeandcoffee93 · 19/01/2023 14:59

Your right he’s taken the piss absoloutely. Why doesn’t he want to come home at 4? Where’s your freedom??? Why are men like this ? They expect the woman to do everything it’s bull shit!!

MirabelMax · 19/01/2023 15:00

He's broken the system by abusing it. He needs to grow up. He can go back to having more time to himself when the kids are older.

Tinkerbyebye · 19/01/2023 15:01

YANBU. When he says it’s his only free time ask him when yours is

personally I would be waiting for him to get home, then say just going for my free time and leave the kids to him

Emmamoo89 · 19/01/2023 15:01

YANBU X

welshpolarbear · 19/01/2023 15:03

Yanbu. You don't get free time.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/01/2023 15:04

That bit of the day is dreadful. The dinners, end of day grumpiness, the day has dragged on, boredom, have to get things done so you can't go out... He avoids all of it. Clever man.

However when you've had something for a long time, not having it seems like deprivation. He's pushing back. You need to take the passion out of the conversation and say talk properly about what it will be like with two, where your time off is, how many nights a week are fair for both of you.

Sarahlouise86 · 19/01/2023 15:08

He is taking the piss. Unless you are also getting 3/4 days a week where he comes home straight after work and you get to do what you like for that time, then the current situation is massively unfair.

I've got a toddler and a newborn and 4-7pm is the hardest time of the day. Toddler is getting tired, needs feeding etc, I'm tired from nights with the newborn and I'm literally clock watching for my husband to get home and help. If he then decided he gets to finish work everyday and swan off somewhere, he would be in trouble!

SingaporeSlinky · 19/01/2023 15:08

You both need to agree a new ‘system’ where you both get ‘me time’. Maybe 2 days after work, he gets to go to the gym or wherever. And then maybe you could leave the kids with him all morning on a Saturday or Sunday to go meet a friend for coffee or whatever you like to do.

When he comes home does he at least help with dinner or wash the dishes or bath the kids?

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 19/01/2023 15:09

I don't agree, unless you don't get any free time. 5.30 is a good time to get home. He could take over until 7 and you still get a break and decent time together. Or you get a break at the weekend, whatever suits.

But I think parents are better parents and better partners if they have free time. But it has to be both parents that get it.

LetUsPonce · 19/01/2023 15:10

YANBU

Stick to your guns. He needs to grow up.

Lkydfju · 19/01/2023 15:10

Oh dear I feel like we have similar things that started out well but DH didn’t quite get that as our life changed then other things should too.
Woth a new baby things need to change and id be asking where your time to yourself is

RobinRB · 19/01/2023 15:12

Well he needs to get used to the idea of every day being a rush day from now on because in the next few weeks you're going to have two small children to take care of and you will be needing his support as much as possible.

Like many men, he ruined what was working by taking the piss. You've done nothing wrong and he needs to start prioritising you and his kids when he's not at work, rather than sloping off for "me" time everyday after work. You also need to reorganise your lives so that you also have a bit of "me" time that doesn't involve doing jobs or looking after anyone else.

I would also add that yours, his and your family's circumstances have changed over time, so the "system" needs to change to accommodate that. What previously worked for you both, now doesn't work, and he needs to realise that.

Flaunch · 19/01/2023 15:13

Yanbu. He’s being a selfish twat.

SerenaTee · 19/01/2023 15:14

Every single time he got home late from work I’d waltz out for the exact same amount of time, see how he likes it! And can posters please stop talking about how much he “helps out” at home, he shouldn’t be ‘helping’ as if it’s a favour, he should be ‘doing’ dinner or bathing etc.

maranella · 19/01/2023 15:16

It sounds like you've both broken the system tbh. He's taking the piss by wanting to do something for himself every day after works, so you've reacted to that by saying you want him home at 4pm every day.

You need to sit down and sort things out once your DC is in bed. You've got three weeks (ish) until new baby comes, so do it before then. You were both giving and taking before - you need to get back to that.

Yeahrightthen · 19/01/2023 15:16

Tell him you’ll start splitting the “rush days” to make it fair and then you go out at 4pm on your days to get your nails done/visit someone/go to the gym - whatever. See how he gets on with that.

He’s a selfish prick but you have facilitated him by letting him get away with it in the first place. Tell him it ends now.

Xrays · 19/01/2023 15:19

Well you’ve created a rod for your own back by making it okay for so long, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t change. My ex dh was exactly like this. He worked 7-3 and would then go and sit in the pub for a few hours until about 6 and then come in expecting dinner. I got very tired of that very quickly and left him when dd was 6 months old (she’s now 19)!

IJustDunno · 19/01/2023 15:20

Maybe time for him to get another job where he is paid for the extra hours? YANBU

Glitteratitar · 19/01/2023 15:21

What time is he actually getting home?

Kitcaterpillar · 19/01/2023 15:23

Men are such a mess.

thislittlelightomine · 19/01/2023 15:23

Have you not just sat him down when you got pregnant again and said from
Now on please be home straight from work - if I don't need you I'll text "no rush" or something?

YABU if you haven't even had a sensible adult conversation about this first?

redskydelight · 19/01/2023 15:23

Does your child to go nursery/pre-school or are they at home all day?

potniatheron · 19/01/2023 15:25

He's basically saying that him coming home on time to be a husband and parent is something that should only happen occasionally and by special request.

Bollox to that attitude. YANBU.