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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband not caring about me

145 replies

mumtoboys12 · 22/09/2023 10:19

Hey. I was wondering if anyone could please give me some insight to whether I am being unfair or sensitive.
We have two children - 3 year old and 7 month old.
I am on maternity leave still, due to return back to work soon. Husband works full time but chooses his own hours due to type of role. He works very hard however.
Long story short- my husband has never done a night feed. States he needs the sleep as he's working (he can wake up at 9am and still go to work.). He sees me absolutely exhausted, and still doesn't get up to do a feed to let me have that bit of extra sleep. He does wake up with our 3 year old some mornings at 7am, but then our youngest wakes and I'm up anyway too. On weekends, he goes upstairs during the day to nap or naps on the couch when I have the kids , will rarely suggest I nap instead even if I'm telling him I'm tired.
Over the last few weeks, little one has been awake 1am-5am and I've been lying in bed in tears watching the monitor or getting up and down up and down settling him, my husband sees me doing this but doesn't offer to help. He wonders why I get angry at him and shout at him that he's useless.
This morning in the early hours when I was trying to settle him, I said to my husband "please can you wake up with our other child at 7am when he wakes as I really need to sleep I've only had an hour all night." His response was no I'm having a lie in tomorrow I'm tired." And he did- I woke with both kids at 630am, got one of them to pre school and back. When I got back he was still in bed.
I feel sad, lonely, and like we aren't a team.
This is an example of many. He's never put our 7 month old to bed. He has to be told and shown everything for our children, ie if the outfits aren't laid out and he's asked to get them dressed then he wont.
He states I should respect him more because he pays our mortgage and bills. He says we have our own jobs and his is putting the bins out and the gardening. I am never shown appreciation for everything I do around the home, we have the most beautiful spotless home because of what I do day in day out. And every day, he will make it unclean and untidy again through not giving a shit. Ie - leaving clothes everywhere, towel on the floor after shower, toothpaste all over the sink, won't make the bed when he gets up. Our children are so well looked after by me, they have everything they need and want for nothing, beautiful bedrooms and well dressed. He never shows me appreciation for that. It's just taken for granted.
I just need some clarity as to whether I'm asking too much of a man who works full time, or if he is really taking the mick out of me here. He swears in front of the children to the point that the oldest is now repeating it. He has a sense of self importance that just makes me sad as we are both equal. AIBU- should I just put up with it as he works full time? I'm back to work very soon and I'm going to be burnt out exhausted if this carries on. Any advice would be great. Thankyou. Xxx

OP posts:
WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 22/09/2023 13:19

Your DH needs a wake up call and to stop being so bloody selfish.
Stop doing everything he takes for granted and see how he likes it.
He also needs to learn that respect goes both ways.

Boujibroke · 22/09/2023 13:36

I honestly couldn't be with someone like this. He sounds so unsupportive and uncaring.

So sorry but its a LTB from me.

Freezingcoldinseptember · 22/09/2023 13:41

Ask him genuinely what sort of relationship he hopes to have as they get older. And what sort of marriage when they have left home. My ex once commented he would be taking ds out for his first pint. When ds hit 18 he hadn't seen his df for 11 years..
Ime doing what I call The Donkey Work is what bonds you with your dc not paying the bills.. The night feeds /the putting to bed /mopping up sick from your poorly dc /your dc won't know who df is will they?

PollyAmour · 22/09/2023 13:45

He is being selfish and uncaring. What would happen if you became ill and were admitted to hospital for a couple of nights? How would he cope then?

You need to sit down and talk about this to him, when neither of you are tired and angry - if you can. He has to step up and start being a father to his children.

cadburyegg · 22/09/2023 13:47

He sounds awful and he won't change. Make plans to leave.

whatchulookinatwillis · 22/09/2023 13:51

As soon as he's home today, walk out, leave the kids with him and go and stay somewhere else for the weekend.

You can come back on Monday morning to take over so he can go to work.

Until he us to do what you do, he won't appreciate what you do, so book a hotel or an Airbnb and go and sleep for 48 hours and work out how to leave this man who treats you as his servant, rather than his equal.

anyadvicefor · 22/09/2023 13:52

Oh op I can feel your pain through this post, you seem so sad.
Fuck him off.
I think you've proved to yourself you don't actually need a man to help you in life considering you've done it all yourself.
I can't believe he's sees you so tired like that and says he's going to have a lie in, that's like torture the prick

Hollyisalrightactuallysorry · 22/09/2023 13:59

OP your post makes me so so sad

I am not that far along from where you are-3.5 and 18 month old and been back at work 7 months

During maternity leave my DH
-took and picked up older child to nursery, got him up in the mornings etc and did a lot of bedtimes
-often in the week did any wake ups between bedtime-1pm so I could have a good stretch of sleep
-gave me a lie in at the weekends and had both kids in the morning

This was while working FT with a 8.30-5 job.

Since going back to work myself we've shared any nighttime wakes

I definitely did more around the house but I rarely felt at breaking point with tiredness so it was easier.

On the occasions where he did see I was suffering with tiredness but couldn't help due to work he'd call my MIL and organise her to come over and look after the baby so I could sleep in the day.

That is normal and o felt supported and cared for. I'm not sure what to suggest but I need you to know he's not acting like other partners do if that's what he's suggesting to you

Cupofteafortwo · 22/09/2023 13:59

What a twat! I’d be thinking of leaving him. There’s no partnership in this relationship, you are his servant.

Velvetbee · 22/09/2023 14:07

I’d be making plans to split too. He’s a terrible husband and father, you’re already doing everything and it’ll be a relief not to pick up after the man-baby.

Maray1967 · 22/09/2023 14:16

I’m so sorry - he’s appalling. Mine did night feeds at the weekend, cooked as soon as he got in, and pulled his weight in general.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 22/09/2023 14:25

He said you should respect him more because he pays the mortgage?! WTF?!! He doesn't seem to respect you at all. I'm so sorry your stuck with this arsehole. I hope you can get him to see how unfair he's being, because if not I think you actually might be better off on your own.

Mojoj · 22/09/2023 14:31

Another man who thinks because he works and pays the bills, he's entitled to opt out of family iife. He's not your partner and you're just the unpaid help, keeping house and raising his kids. It's unlikely he'll ever change unless you force the issue, i.e. stop picking up after him, doing his washing, cooking etc. Let it all come to a head and then decide what to do, based on his reaction. Good luck.

Livinghappy · 22/09/2023 14:37

@mumtoboys12 his attitude is unusual for most fathers. Does his father & mother have a very similar relationship?

What is concerning is his lack of respect for you, let alone care or love.

How long have you been together?

WDIAROM · 22/09/2023 14:42

My ‘D’H was like this when my DC were little. I was so sleep deprived I was hallucinating, I didn’t know if I was awake or asleep. I had no support at all, started suffering panic attacks and I became so unwell that I had a mental breakdown. If he’s like mine, he won’t get any better. I feel like a single parent, even though technically I’m not. If you have a way out of this relationship, you should take it.

MojoMoon · 22/09/2023 15:01

OP. Surely you see this is a terrible relationship to be in

He doesn't care about
He doesn't respect you
He doesn't value spending time with your children and taking care of them
He behaves inappropriately and aggressively in front of them by swearing at you.
He is cruel towards you.

This is not a healthy relationship
This is not a normal relationship

You should leave.

The good news is you were wise enough to stay in your job so you have an income

Your children don't need beautiful bedrooms. They need a home in which their mother is also treated with respect and care.

mumtoboys12 · 22/09/2023 15:27

Thankyou for all you're advice it's nice to feel I'm not alone in this and I'm not going totally mad.
@Livinghappy his parents relationship is very similar whereby his father never looked after the four children, it was left down to his mother to do everything. He just worked and provided the money.

I don't even know where to begin with what's been said today. I've told him I feel like a single mother etc and he doesn't respect me, he's flipped it round onto me- that the way I speak to him makes him not want to help me with the kids. He says I speak to him badly and use him as a bank. This is untrue. I sometimes shout at him in the middle of the night out of pure exhaustion and upset because I'm spoke everything but he's certainly not a bank. He's my husband- he earns great money and I'm on maternity leave- what else am I supposed to do!? I'm so sad. I've said what are we doing in this marraige it isn't working if he doesn't change and support me better. He's said he doesn't want to change and he's said that I don't either by the looks of it, so he's said I hope you have thought long and hard about what life as a single mother is like, and that I better find a way to pay the mortgage As he won't be paying for somewhere he isn't living. I'm in bits. All I want is help and love and support

OP posts:
mumtoboys12 · 22/09/2023 15:29

Together on and off for 7 years before marrying three years ago.

OP posts:
mumtoboys12 · 22/09/2023 15:32

And honestly I don't even know where to begin if I was to leave. I have next to no savings, I pay for childcare (even on maternity leave) which is in excess of 450.
He pays for my car finance so I wouldn't have a car.
Parents couldn't accomodate me and the kids.
I couldn't afford rent on my own somewhere and childcare full time.
It's almost like I have to stay for the children to be safe and have a roof over their heads. I don't want to break the family up. I'm so upset

OP posts:
WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 22/09/2023 15:33

You can do and deserve so much better. Don’t let him manipulate you in to thinking you won’t cope without him. You have been all this time, you just won’t have him to clean up after.

Sending hugs OP 💐

BrawnWild · 22/09/2023 15:34

Yet another man who thinks he is more important than his family and will no doubt be scratching his head about why you dont want to shag him round the clock and will want a divorce in 5 years.

randomusername2020 · 22/09/2023 15:38

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

randomusername2020 · 22/09/2023 15:40

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Pumpkinpie1 · 22/09/2023 15:41

Wow what an AH! Are you married and is the house in both names?
Two can play that game. I would start getting your financial ducks in a row. Separate bank accounts, get to know your joint savings, pensions etc
Speak to a solicitor about legal separation , divorce etc.
Your husband doesn’t respect you or his children, this won’t get better. Be brave and don’t settle. Your MIL settled and look at the damage it caused her son/your husband

mumtoboys12 · 22/09/2023 15:42

@randomusername2020 because he says I should pay for it as he pays the mortgage and bills. So I've been living off my savings paying it each month, as well as food shops each month. And my own bills like phone and car insurance. I don't feel looked after and loved

OP posts: