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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - husband and weekend expectations

12 replies

Champayneproblems23 · 22/07/2023 10:56

Hi mumsnet

Hope everyone is keeping well.

Would appreciate some arms length views.

Dh and I have a lovely 3 year old, who's v active and busy, and I'm in my third trimester with our second and last baby.

Background - I've always worked and have a 'white collar' profession. Worked full time for over ten years, then four days a week (which is five days in four as we know is often the case).

Last year, I became a locum, as I was senior enough and as it is better paid.

It also gives more flex around childcare (we have no wider family or village support with childcare, it is nursery and us). Downside is there are latent periods between projects. Projects can vary from full time to three days a week, all depends on what they need.

When I was pregnant with our first, I worked full time and paid for my husband to go back to uni for a full time course for a year (from savings i had pre marriage).I still did our house admin though he did more cooking and general chores. I've supported him financially at various times throughout our 13 years together, when he ran a business etc, and was happy to do so.

Now, summer is quiet for me as a locum, so I've got the house ready for our baby, sorted through 10+ years of junk (we're hoarders!). I do most of the childcare and nursery shuttles for when 3 year old is in. I do all the cooking, shopping, admin/bills, literally everything. Dh sometimes does laundry or dishwasher.

My issue is my DH wants to go to the gym in the evenings when our 3 year old is up (major sleep regression, gone from going to sleep happily between 7and and 7.30 to being fully awake and clingy until 9pm every night). Tiring. I have no issue with DH going to gym but I think he should go before work, at lunch or when three year old is settled.
By 9pm, I'm running on fumes (third trimester).

Today is Saturday, and I've been having bad pregnancy insomnia (same with pregnancy).
Husband gets up with three year old, then later on at 8.30am bursts in saying he wants to go and exercise. I say no, I don't feel great, it's more than DHs turn to take our son to swimming and I'm bloody knackered. He sees his ass and says right he's taking the entire afternoon to exercise. I point out that our son misses him, weekend time is family time and exercise should fit around it, and that he's away for a full day/night next weekend.

I don't begrudge dh exercising, but AIBu to think it should fit it i.e. Be when son is asleep etc? We pay for an expensive 24 hour gym for dh and he can function well on 5 hours sleep. I am a zombie at the moment.

Husband says I am being unreasonable, as only he is working at the moment. I do however bring in passive income from investments that i have, so it's not as though I don't do anything. Also, I will return to work next year after mat leave.

I don't feel like he sees me as a person, sees my needs, sees my son's needs and is completely obsessed with the fact he is working, so he is entitled to spend the weekend with us fitting round him. I can't remember the last time he cooked a meal for us all etc.

Sorry for long post. Appreciate I am lucky in many ways. Please be gentle. Thanks all. X

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 22/07/2023 10:59

No, he needs to do gym when little one is asleep. He can go at 5am or after he’s in bed. You need to put your foot down now before baby is born.

DustyLee123 · 22/07/2023 11:00

And you are working, you are working at home 24/7.

Notimeforaname · 22/07/2023 11:03

Keep telling him no. Tell him everything you've said here, in the same way you said it. Tell him he is not paying attention to you and your childs needs and you cannot move past this.

He then has a choice to compromise and make changes.

If he doesn't, then you have a choice to either accept this life... or leave him.

That is literally the way forward.

Pippylongstock · 22/07/2023 11:05

Jesus what a prince. Of course he needs to go to the gym when your little one is settled (on an aside are day naps now affecting sleep).

You are working, you are maintaining the home, running after a 3 year old and growing a human being. He should be stepping up not checking out. I’m not surprised you’re running on fumes. Where does this sense of entitlement come from? And why is he sooo ungrateful for everything you have provided for him?

Champayneproblems23 · 22/07/2023 11:11

Thank you xxxX day naps are long gone, our son is the size of a 5 year old (not overweight just v v tall). He needs a lot of physical exertion and mental entertainment. Not sure if linked. Am praying it is a phase.

OP posts:
Pippylongstock · 22/07/2023 11:17

That makes sense OP maybe just sensing the changes coming with a new sibling? Hope sleep resolves quickly.

AnSolas · 22/07/2023 11:49

Children are like a bit like a mortage, both of you are joint and several liability for childcare

You both have 2 jobs, childcare and whatever job will fund the cost of someone other than you or him doing childcare.

First obligation is to look after "the child" by providing childcare. If you are incapacitated he has no choice but to turn up to work and do the work or find an alternative cover for his time at the gym.

So YANBU

Mummy08m · 22/07/2023 11:54

Do you have a garage or similar space? Dh cancelled his gym membership and fitted up the garage with some free weights and a chin up bar etc. Saved loads in the long run compared to gym membership and it means he can go for short bursts when dd is settled (either asleep or quiet TV time). The problem with going to the gym is you have to travel there, queue for machines etc and it can legitimately take a whole afternoon.

I mean, your dh is definitely being unreasonable but this could be a workaround

Goldbar · 22/07/2023 12:24

Tell him he can go but he has to organise a babysitter as you're not available for sole childcaring on weekends atm.

Codlingmoths · 22/07/2023 12:33

I’m sure you are lucky in many ways, but not in your husband. I’d have lost my shit the second time he mentioned working. I have been working and supported you to study and you know what I forgot to be selfish asshole about it! I want my time back, all that time I was considerate and shared the load as now I know that’s not a two way st. So now I am going to take MY selfish asshole time as god knows I won’t have time when baby is born and Mr ‘I’m working’ is never there, so you’ll have to cancel the next weekend, I will be away. From Friday. Modeling my husband by looking after me, as I grow OUR baby. Also you will need to shop since there are no other adults in this marriage who cook for selfish assholes any more. Single men manage so can you. Off you go to your bloody exercise for an afternoon, remind me how much I disappeared for half a day on the weekend when I was supporting you, because I thought that made me some kind of superior being rather than a partner? Oh NEVER? Don’t worry, I’ll be making up for it starting right now. GO ON THEN FUCK OFF.

Champayneproblems23 · 23/07/2023 19:56

Thanks everyone for replying. Feel more sane. Mountain to climb, will see if possible. Hope everyone else is well.

OP posts:
Hibiscrubbed · 23/07/2023 23:36

He’s selfish. Very. He’s forgotten what you’ve done for him in the past, he’s forgotten what you have provided and did during your first pregnancy and since, and he’s not seeing or appreciating what you’re doing now, while pregnant.

All he’s thinking about is himself.

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