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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I'm trying not to overreact but I'm not sure if I should react or not.

258 replies

PelvicFlora · 19/03/2023 18:36

I've had a lovely Mother's Day weekend. DH gave me a card from him and also from the kids, bought a bottle of champagne, we went to one of my favourite places for brunch. He's been great, and usually is great the rest of the time as well. Maybe a bit too fond of leaving his dirty socks on the floor on his side of the bed, but otherwise generally pulls his weight domestically and is a good egg.

I'm giving all that as background because I really don't know what to think of what he just said to me. I was jokingly telling him that he was sorting dinner tonight because I was going to be sitting on the sofa thinking about all the times I destroyed my body carrying children and giving birth. And then he said to me, 'you could do something about your stomach you know' (with a helpful face). So I was like 'do you think I should?!' and he said 'yes'.

I was really hurt. I'm a size ten and can still fit into jeans I owned before I had any kids. DC1 was absolutely enormous (DC2 was still enormous but less enormous than DC1) and my skin is stretched so much that it will always be wobbly and loose - no amount of exercising or pilates will ever make it go away. I'll always have a 'mum tum' because of the baggy skin.

I also had a terrible birth and massive tear with DC1. It was a 3C tear, if anyone knows what that means, then you know. I was lucky not be left incontinent. But even so, I had to have corrective surgery to try and repair everything when DC2 was 8 months old.

All of that is to say that my body has really been put through it and despite all that, I still rate myself. I'm privately a bit sensitive about my tummy but most of the time I think 'fuck it', it's not like I was ever a supermodel or anything. Who/what do I need to have a perfect flat stomach for?

But what DH said really stung. I'm surprised by how hurt I am and I feel a bit humiliated. I said 'oh I hadn't realised you secretly thought I was a fat cow', and then left the room because I didn't want to cry in front of his stupid 'I'm only trying to help' face.

He likes to keep fit himself and is in good shape but I never had him pegged as a shallow twat. He's very focussed on health but has never been bothered about looks (or so I thought).

AIBU to be upset or am I being too emotional?

OP posts:
Heyhoitsme · 21/03/2023 07:04

When my son was a baby my husband said with a concerned face "your hair had got very thin". We were on holiday and I burst into tears. He said he'd never mention it again. What did he expect me to do about thinning hair? I'm still cross about it.

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 21/03/2023 09:05

@Heyhoitsme you know there’s going to be a pile on now of people saying how it IS possible to sort that out and how you absolutely have to do whatever it is in order to make yourself acceptable to your DH again, as it’s the least he deserves after all … 🤔

AncientBallerina · 21/03/2023 09:40

I’m sorry I haven’t time to read the whole thread but I wanted to say good for you for standing up for yourself. Men have no idea (and don’t want to think about these inconvenient truths) what pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and unending motherhood do to us physically and mentally. They really need it spelled out to them.
Many times.

AncientBallerina · 21/03/2023 09:41

Also Flowers

EightChalk · 21/03/2023 09:57

He's a dick. It's so infuriating how birth injuries are viewed as "just one of those things" when if you'd had the same level of injuries in an accident, everyone would be horrified.

EL8888 · 21/03/2023 17:35

PelvicFlora · 20/03/2023 22:53

Haha, yes quite.

I should have realised when I got pregnant that the inevitable consequence would be that my husband would find my body grotesque.

I need to stop being so oversensitive, hard work and vain. But also consider having a tummy tuck; to fulfil my womanly duty of remaining fuckable.

Well, obviously! Why should you expect any understanding or consideration around this?!

Im currently heavily pregnant with twins, l had better make sure l sort myself out as soon as they’re born. After all, what about my poor husband?!

Barney60 · 21/03/2023 18:18

This,
Suggest he gets one of those penis pumps and he could also improve himself..😁

mustgetoffmn · 21/03/2023 21:05

AncientBallerina · 21/03/2023 09:40

I’m sorry I haven’t time to read the whole thread but I wanted to say good for you for standing up for yourself. Men have no idea (and don’t want to think about these inconvenient truths) what pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and unending motherhood do to us physically and mentally. They really need it spelled out to them.
Many times.

Meanwhile they go bald and paunchy😂

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