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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let his teenager behaviour get to me

7 replies

TullyMay · 17/10/2023 20:28

For a bit of background - DH and I have been together since our teens and now have 2 DDs (both under 5yrs). He works a high paid demanding job and barely sees me and our girls during the week due to long working hours. I'm a SAHM and don't earn anything, he pays for and sorts out all bills/finances. I do all domestic jobs and take care of DDs/school/life admin etc.

My issue is that he feels because he earns all the money and works hard, he can do whatever he likes with his free time. When he's in family mode he's a brilliant dad, DDs adore him and life is pretty perfect. But frequently he goes for nights out drinking with his friends, "lads" holidays, days out to festivals/car shows etc, and is often completely uncontactable during these - I know he feels like I'm nagging but he won't read or respond to any messages or calls and I end up worried as well as pissed off when he doesn't come home. The following day will be hungover in bed and feeling sorry for himself. He also does a lot of client entertaining for work involving drinking so might go for a boozy lunch, stagger in the front door early evening and collapse on the bed asleep fully clothed. I know he gets carried away drinking and finds it hard to leave because he's the life and soul of the party - a thing I love about him when it's the right occasion or when we were younger but now we're in our late 30s with two little girls and that party life feels like a memory for me but apparently not for him.

We've spoken about this many times together, both in arguments and calmly, and he just doesn't think he's doing anything wrong. He'll acknowledge he should keep in touch with me when he's out and apologise but says at the time he just doesn't remember (which I don't really believe), he says I should arrange to go out with my friends if I want to (which is not so easy as we're all mums and I'd have to sort childcare), and it always comes down to "I work so hard all week and I just need to relax and enjoy myself". I've gone through stages too where I've been convinced he's having an affair because he's so sketchy about where he's been, isn't contactable, his friends don't know where he is either - I've straight out asked him during an argument and he laughed it off and denied it.

I'm kind of sick of having a teenager for a husband but don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Flufferblub · 17/10/2023 20:32

Got his cake and eating it here

16HamstersCalledThemAllDave · 17/10/2023 20:34

Apart from money, what does he bring to your family life? What example is he setting for your children?

Quitelikeit · 17/10/2023 20:34

I know the sort very well unfortunately

TullyMay · 17/10/2023 21:14

I know, this is what I'm asking myself. When we go on a family day out or he's around at the weekend all day then he's great, and I know how much he loves me and the girls. But I hate feeling like I'm his mother at home worrying about him, ironing his shirts whilst he's out having fun drinking... thinking what has happened to me

OP posts:
MojoMoon · 17/10/2023 21:17

If you went out with your friends, you'd need to sort out childcare?

Here is an idea: their father takes care of them.

Would that not happen?

Coldinscotland · 17/10/2023 21:17

Ask him how he will manage dc if you get divorced..

TullyMay · 17/10/2023 22:04

He would call his mum round or take them to her house. She's always overly keen to help out so he takes huge advantage of that. Actually I reckon the way he was brought up has a lot to do with his attitude towards me and the kids, he wants the old fashioned stay at home wife/mum because that's his mum. I feel guilty arranging to do social things myself because I know she would then be involved and she does so much for us as a family already.

OP posts:
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