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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Furious with husband. AIBU?

276 replies

TS45 · 24/08/2023 15:56

I’m so upset.
My husband and I have been TTC for 16 months with no success. After a very late period, I felt so hopeful, but it turned out to just be another negative test. My husband’s brother, who’s 2 years younger, is expecting a baby with his girlfriend, which they have been very open about in how easy they were to convince. I’m absolutely thrilled for them but I can’t help but feel heartbroken that it isn’t me, and it feels so unfair to hear all about an accidental pregnancy when I’m doing everything I can to get pregnant. So many close friends are also pregnant, and last night was a particularly heavy night of hearing, ‘we weren’t even trying, I’m so shocked’, from so many different people. Once home, I broke down. My husband asked what was wrong (he was out with me), and after I explained, he put his arm around me for about 2 minutes then got up and went on his Xbox. I was still crying and asked him if we could do something together, and he responded by saying he wants to play Xbox by himself. I reacted by getting up and telling him I’m going to bed then, and then he got annoyed and said I was ruining his evening by making him feel like he can’t play on his Xbox. I told him he can play on his Xbox, but that I thought he would have wanted to do something together. He said that I shouldn’t use my heartache to guilt him into getting my own way. He then put his Xbox back on and I went upstairs to bed. I sobbed because I just felt like he didn’t care about me and I felt sad because of the complete lack of comfort. He could hear me crying but didn’t come up to bed until 2am (he started his game at 9.30pm).
when he finally came to bed, he asked me why I was upset, so I had to re-explain how down I feel about not being able to get pregnant. I told him I feel so alone when most women in my life are currently pregnant, and I feel like my life is on standstill. He then asked why I’m so upset with him because ‘it’s not my (his) fault you can’t get pregnant’. I explained I’m upset with him because he didn’t comfort me, and chose to sit there and play Xbox knowing his wife was in tears. He said he did comfort me because he put his arm around me. That was for 2 minutes and he stopped doing it to play even though I was still crying. He said he wanted to play Xbox and it’s selfish of me to expect him to not do what he wants to do.
This morning, he got up early to take our puppy out for the toilet. He then got ready and went out with his friends for a few hours. During this time, I watched our puppy, took our older dog out for an hour long walk, then took our puppy out for a 20 minute walk (our older dog pulls so much it’s impossible to walk them together by yourself). I then did work in our garden, cleaned the downstairs of our house, and made us both lunch. He came home and had his lunch then proceeded to lie on the floor with the dogs whilst all the plates, pans, and bowls were in the sink. I asked if he could help me with the dishes which he did. He then followed up by telling me to put all the dishes away because he’s washed them and it’s not fair if he washes and dries. I then pointed out all of the things I’d done whilst he was out and he said, ‘well I got up early with the puppy and you didn’t’. I normally get up early with the puppy. He also said I should have done the dishes because I made the lunch and therefore used the dishes and he didn’t. I’m now sat upstairs really upset whilst he’s sat downstairs. I just feel like he’s been so selfish yesterday and today. But I’m still really sensitive from last night. He also hasn’t asked me once how I am today.

am I being unreasonable or has he been quite selfish?

OP posts:
XiCi · 24/08/2023 17:43

How old are you? You both sound as if you are teenagers

JFDIYOLO · 24/08/2023 17:44

You are married to a fourteen year old boy whose ability to maintain an adult relationship has not yet developed. Playing with his X Box. FFS.

CollagenQueen · 24/08/2023 17:45

He appears to be totally lacking in awareness - he didn't notice other people announcing pregnancies on the night out? How on earth could you miss that?

Also, lacking in empathy - he should have known that this would have made you upset.

No matter what you are doing, if you can hear a loved one sobbing in the next room, you ought to put down what you're doing, and go to comfort them. Even if you are working from home, in the next room. The added layer of it being an X-box adds to the lack of care, as he is doing something entirely for fun that could be postponed - and yes - it all sounds rather juvenile given the context. Even a toddler or dog would know to give you a cuddle. He sounds like a mannaquin.

The "Tit for Tat" attitude is also bizarre. What is the obsession with measuring who does what? Why would you do that, unless one person is constantly lazy? Yesterday, whilst my DH was at work, I had a slowish work day (WFH), so this is what I did:

Changed the bedding
Washed and hung up the old bedding
Washed everything else in the wash basket
Hoovered the house
Cleaned the bathrooms
Weeded the garden
Made the dinner

At no point did I try to figure out how he would "repay" me in other jobs.

The comments about how you should wash the plates because you used them, is so irrational (given that he ate the food), that you'd have to wonder if there is actually something wrong with him. Most households have a "I cooked so you clear" mentality, because it shares the load - one person cooks, the other clears. He sounds deranged quite frankly. And probably the kind of person, that you can't argue with, because his thoughts are so left field that you'd be left open mouthed at what nonsense he comes out with.

I think if you do have a child with him, that he will constantly be measuring who does what as an excuse to do as little as possible, and you will be run ragged. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be one of these wankers who expects you to still pay half of the bills, despite the fact you're on reduced or no pay. He's not a Team Player.

A very good friend of mine, tried for over 2 years to get pregnant by her H. They split up for other reasons, and she got together very quickly (within weeks) with her now DH. She didn't use any contraception, as she thought she was infertile. She got pregnant the 2nd or 3rd time they had sex. She wasn't infertile at all. Nature is funny sometimes. In any case, why hasn't he had his sperm tested? Yet another FAIL from him.

Thelonelygiraffe · 24/08/2023 17:45

Please don't have kids with this loser. He's immature and petulant. Imagine what he'd be like once a baby was here!

Thelonelygiraffe · 24/08/2023 17:47

He also a bit daft if he thinks that your not getting pregnant is nothing to do with him - unless he's had his sperm tested and knows his swimmers are swimming ok...

Stompythedinosaur · 24/08/2023 17:47

Your relationship doesn't sound like it's in a place to have a baby together.

It sounds like there's fault on both sides - he could have been more sensitive, but you also could have had a discussion and agree an evening that wasn't about one person winning and one losing. Maybe try asking whether you could (for example) watch a show together and then you find something else to do while he plays his game?

It sounds like he interpreted your loudly crying upstairs as a ln attempt to control him, is there any chance that is right?

Life with a baby is super hard. If you can't pull together now and communicate with each other, then you shouldn't have a baby together.

YouJustDoYou · 24/08/2023 17:48

This relationship isn't ready for a baby.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 24/08/2023 17:50

I can't imagine a situation where my partner was crying and I didn't understand why and had to ask (when it was something that's clearly been ongoing for some time), then I just put my arm around them for 2 minutes, then went off to have fun whilst they were still crying and called them manipulative when they wanted to spend more time with me.

Everyone saying 'maybe it's his way of coping with the pain of infertility',, the OP has said that he is not upset, he is very transparent with feelings usually and has said that he is not bothered by the situation. So this is unlikely.

What's more likely is that either he doesn't want to be a parent, or he has a complete lack of empathy or regard for the OPs feelings, or the OP is constantly and what he considers to be disproportionately upset and he has run out of sympathy.

OP - which do you think it is? Do you think your relationship is otherwise healthy. His comments that 'its not his fault' (even though he won't make the effort to take the tests that evidence this) and the tit for tat about who has made more effort to look after a puppy, and the apparent lack of care about you being upset, would suggest to me that it's not in the beat place

ZickZack · 24/08/2023 17:50

EVHead · 24/08/2023 15:59

Your relationship isn’t ready for children. He sounds very immature.

My first thought too. You're both not ready for kids yet...

starfro · 24/08/2023 17:50

He either doesn't want kids, or is ambivalent.

ActDottie · 24/08/2023 17:51

He sounds very immature.

We took ten months to conceive and it felt like an eternity!! Everyone around me was getting pregnant… at least that’s what it felt like.

One of the best things we did though was to have a fertility MOT (c£600) and we were told we were both fertile. A few months later we were pregnant. I generally believe this reprieved some stress and anxiety I had about getting pregnant which is why we then got pregnant as it literally consumes your mind TTC. Not sure if this would be an option for you? Plus it means you can find out if you do need any help TTC etc. although I think at 2 years you get this on the NHS anyway.

felisha54 · 24/08/2023 17:52

You both sound immature. The things you listed are just very small tasks in the grand scheme of things. I think you need to reconsider whether you want to have children with him.

pimplebum · 24/08/2023 17:54

You went upstairs sobbing from 9:30 onwards a

KarmaStar · 24/08/2023 17:54

Ouch.what a lot you two aren't saying to each other.
Perhaps going to see a relationship counsellor is your best bet.
You're assuming he doesn't care
He could be coping with his feelings too which you are not picking up on as you are focused on your pain.
And already it's into the point scoring I've done more work than you which,if you have a baby together will result in who is the most tired and who does the majority of dirty nappies.
Really think this through before you continue ttc.
You are possibly both stressed and that won't help you get pregnant.
All this crying won't get you anywhere either,was it all about the earlier comments or was some of it for attention?
He needs to put his toys away and talk openly with you and you need to not focus so much on your wish for a baby,your misery,your longing for one and look at your relationship.
Hope you can be honest and open with each other and come out of it happily.

tt9 · 24/08/2023 17:56

get out while you still can OP

TibetanTerrah · 24/08/2023 17:57

You need to think long and hard about what your life will be like if you have children with this man.

You see it every single day on Mumsnet. Lazy manchild, the woman taking all the mental load, running herself ragged while the man plays on his Xbox.

I'm not religious at all, but honestly I'd be seeing it as a blessing you haven't conceived with him. And I'd be taking steps to divorce so I could find someone who could be a proper father, partner and equal.

pimplebum · 24/08/2023 17:58

It was a bit immature to go up stairs sobbing and then be furious he didn't comfort you all night

He clearly has a v different way of handling this trauma than you do
It's in likely he will change

I would questions if he really wants a baby either with you or at all right now

MeridianB · 24/08/2023 17:58

Ledwood85 · 24/08/2023 16:00

Sounds like a right twat.

Right from the first mention of the word "Xbox".

Sorry - this jumped out at me, too. WTAF?!

And who is 'very open about how easy it was to conceive'? Apart from total dickheads?

Time for a proper talk with your manboy about his attitude.

Mumuser124 · 24/08/2023 17:58

It sounds childish on both ends to be honest.
The tit for Tat you are doing with chores and what not also stands out. My god OP, if you are feeling this much contempt and feel the need to take score at this point in your life, I promise you, when you do have children this will turn into all our warfare.

Im sorry your having a hard time conceiving and I wish you all the luck but I think you need to also do a little bit of work on being a romantic couple and not in competition with each other. You are both entitled to your feelings and free time.

my82my · 24/08/2023 17:59

God this all sounds awful.. Don't have a baby with him it'll only get worse.

FOffULEZ · 24/08/2023 18:00

He sounds immature and cruel
And how dare he say it's not his fault that you're not pregnant when he won't have the required tests.
He sounds awful - are you sure you want to be tied to him by a child?

Seryse · 24/08/2023 18:01

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Americano75 · 24/08/2023 18:01

How old are you love?

Thepeopleversuswork · 24/08/2023 18:05

I think the fixation on the Xbox as some marker of a shit man is basically snobbery masquerading as feminism. Fundamentally I don’t see a difference between playing on an Xbox and going to play the guitar/write poetry. I wouldn’t do it but I don’t think it’s a crime.

I do think he quite emotionally illiterate. One thing to want to be by himself and do it in his own way but the fact he had to told twice what the matter was suggests he either deliberately pretended not to know why you were upset or genuinely couldn’t understand. Neither is good.

I also think if I’m honest that your crying yourself to sleep was a bit performative and at some level you were doing it to get his attention.

And the whole tit for tat about the dishes is pathetic.

You sound (both of you), petty, immature and incompatible. I have sympathy with the fertility problem but as others have said you should not be having children together.

ukgot2pot · 24/08/2023 18:06

How old are you both?

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