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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner 'ruined' my son's birthday

305 replies

soleparent5494 · 16/01/2024 11:02

This weekend was my son's 5th birthday, he had a party at our house on Saturday and then we had small plans with family & friends on Sunday.

My partner (not my son's dad) in my opinion totally f!cked the weekend up with his behaviour, and I feel totally betrayed that my son's birthday wasn't prioritised. Typically this type of behaviour hasn't happened in the past, we generally work well together and he's never been nasty or mean to me, and I think that's what has made this worse in my head. We have had issues of him being inconsiderate before (e.g. just making plans without thinking how it impacts the family). He is adamant that we are a "family" and treat each other equally, however I don't feel this is always true.

The kids party on Saturday was fine, however my partner's children didn't really get involved and sat on their computers all day. They then broke my son's helium balloons, despite me telling them to be careful with them. My partner did not discipline them for this. (For context he LOVES balloons and it's something I always get him each birthday)

In the evening we had friends over which was fine, but my partner and his friends then decided to drink excessively (they ended up drinking a whole bottle of vodka plus beers, prosecco etc). At 11pm I set up my son's presents in the living room, fixed his balloons as best I could and made it special for his morning. My partner didn't even notice I'd done this, I text him to say I was heading to bed and my son was in our bed so one of our guests didn't have to sleep on the sofa. He agreed to sleep on the sofa instead, but didn't come and find me to speak to me personally.

His children had in this time broken a wardrobe in their bedroom and then taken themselves to bed. He ignored them for probably 4 to 6 hours in total. Even when the wardrobe broke I was the one who went upstairs to check they were ok and tell them off in the reasonable way a step-parent would.

When all of the other guests left, I then heard my partner leave the house. He went into town until gone 2am and didn't even tell me where he was or that he had gone out! When I tried to call him I was busy-toned, my messages telling him I was upset and worried about his behaviour were read and ignored - I've now seen photos of him and his friends having a whale of a time. When he got home I was told I needed to "chill out" and that "no one had died". I explained he had abandoned his children in the evening and been totally inconsiderate to me and what the weekend was about. He didn't feel he needed to apologise and was quite nasty about how upset I was.

The next day he was still drunk in the morning and went up to bed, missed my son opening presents (which were meant to be from "us"). His children didn't get up until gone 9am and neither wished my son a happy birthday. Instead they threw tantrums about having to get showered and generally acted like brats. When I asked if they'd said happy birthday to him they cried and told me I was being mean... not very "family"-like to me...

It's only now (2 days later) my partner seems to realise that he has potentially lost me and my son. I've spoken before to him about how I don't feel we are a family unit, and that we are spare parts in his world where he does what he wants. His children have no rules to live by and do whatever they please, whereas my son lives under my firm but fair rules (e.g. he will have his favourite toy/game taken away for a day/week if he is naughty, whereas my partner's child told us to "f!ck off" a few weeks ago with absolutely no consequences or punishment.)

We've had a long conversation about everything, where he explained he feels that I don't even like him, he would be better off alone and just left to work and do what he wants etc. We've agreed to try and both put a better structure into place for all of the children, however I am struggling to move on from how my son's birthday was a total shambles. I feel really hurt and angry at the total disregard for him as a 5 year old, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to move on from this. Am I being unreasonable to still feel angry about this?

OP posts:
Leveret75 · 16/01/2024 13:14

You obviously know the correct answer or you would not be posting this in the first place. You and your son deserve better. Get out of that toxic environment and make a new start for you and your baby boy.

Tryingmybestadhd · 16/01/2024 13:15

He is a man child , is he even used to wife his kids ? How old are they ? I honestly cannot understand how women get together with this sort of guy . I would never even date someone who goes out to drink until 2 am with his friend or that has friend that why that drink on a child’s birthday party .
you need to set your standards high .

peachesarenom · 16/01/2024 13:15

I think birthday celebrations are really important especially for a 5 year old, I would prioritise my child tbh xxx

LightDrizzle · 16/01/2024 13:15

You are not compatible and he’s a shit dad. His poor children!

Cut your losses and set him “free”.

Thelnebriati · 16/01/2024 13:15

Its a narc tendency to ruin special occasions like holidays and birthdays, because they aren't at the center of your attention.

newyearnewknees · 16/01/2024 13:15

OP, I was in almost exactly the same situation that you are in now a few years ago. Mine and, more importantly, my son's needs and wants were completely disregarded over time and I seemed to exist only to provide a service to XP and his older children like some sort of invisible house elf whilst my son was also just 'there'.

I lost pretty much all of my problems when I moved out and left XP to his selfish 'lads' lifestyle and to look after his children by himself. But I'm still so angry at myself for having allowed my son to live in that environment for too long and wonder how it has affected him and his self esteem. He still struggles to feel that he is important.

Samsung37 · 16/01/2024 13:16

You’d be better off just you and your son. my advice would be to prioritise the two of you and end things

purplecorkheart · 16/01/2024 13:16

Honestly sounds like you are starting to see his true colours. You say that he is adamant you all are a family, it sounds like he is saying this so you will take the bulk of the childcare etc and he can come and go as he please. His children sound like nightmares that he can't bother to be a parent to.

Your son deserves much much better. I would be ending the relationship.

purplehotdogs · 16/01/2024 13:17

He's LITERALLY TOLD YOU WHAT HE WANTS:

"he explained he feels that I don't even like him, he would be better off alone and just left to work and do what he wants"

He doesn't want to be with you and he wants exactly zero responsibility for anything. How have you just skipped over this?! He doesn't like you, he doesn't like havingt to be responsible, he has no intention of stepping up as a better parent, he has no intention of improving his behaviour BECAUSE he doesn't like you, and you clearly don't have a lot of respect for him either after he ruined your child's birthday. You need to get rid, nothing about this is going to improve.

AutumnFroglets · 16/01/2024 13:17

When we moved in I explained to all of the children about respecting belongings, rules, boundaries etc which he was fine with, but he doesn't enforce them so I've subconsciously given up

Read the bold bit back to yourself. It's not just the children's things, you and he have both given up on the relationship as a whole. You keep hoping and crossing your fingers he will become a partner but seriously, your relationship will only get worse and your child will suffer. He treated you and your son with contempt. It's time to leave.

Raqu15 · 16/01/2024 13:17

A grown man acting like a child. Getting drunk at a children's party. Leaving the house and not coming back until early morning and ignoring your calls. OP do right by your son and get rid of that POS. Also he is responsible for his kids, not you so essentially he left his kids alone.

TammyJones · 16/01/2024 13:17

IamnotSethRogan · 16/01/2024 11:08

Even without it being your sons britnfay, the fact that he thinks he can disappear without saying anything leaving you to look after his children is complete fuckwit behaviour.

That would be it for me.
Ps. He has a drinking problem.

Toda11 · 16/01/2024 13:18

ExtraOnions · 16/01/2024 11:25

I think there is some stuff you are being a bit precious about, and that’s clouding the stuff that is a concern.

An entire weekend taken out for a 5 year olds birthday seems a little excessive.
If his children are a bit older, I can’t imagine they want to be at a 5 year olds birthday party. This would happen with any children in a family .. so that’s a bit meh

”broken balloons” .. do you mean they popped them ? That’s kinda what happens to balloons. They you sat you “fixed” the balloons, so what happened to them?

Partner not noticing you had piled up presents and balloons ? Really ? This is not a big thing to anyone other than you.

His Children didn’t get up until “gone 9” (heaven forbid)

You clearly don’t like his kids… you can hardly hide the disdain, I suspect that anything they did would not be good enough. You didn’t want there on Birthday weekend .. and (in an ironic twist) … you are doing the same to them, as you are accusing your partner of doing. It’s a classic case of “golden child”. The only language you use about your partners children is completly negative.

DP should not have gone out without telling you where he was

You both have very very different ideas about brining up children, and family life … probably time to go your separate ways

Amen!

Snowdogsmitten · 16/01/2024 13:18

No. He’s vile. Get him and his disrespectful children out of yours and your son’s lives.

Vinrouge4 · 16/01/2024 13:20

It sounds like you are the one putting all the effort into the relationship and I can’t see that changing. I would put your son first and mine out and get on with your life. Set the bar higher and get somebody who treats you better.

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 16/01/2024 13:21

He and his children sound horrible. Why do you want any of them around. They're thoughtless, careless, shitty people.

TheShellBeach · 16/01/2024 13:21

Thelnebriati · 16/01/2024 13:15

Its a narc tendency to ruin special occasions like holidays and birthdays, because they aren't at the center of your attention.

Exactly.
How many other celebrations has he ruined?

ISpyNoPlumPie · 16/01/2024 13:22

You’re putting him first, yourself second, and your child last. Why??

Might I suggest that this shouldn’t be a “permanent relationship”.

WhereYouLeftIt · 16/01/2024 13:23

"We've had a long conversation about everything, where he explained he feels that I don't even like him, he would be better off alone and just left to work and do what he wants etc."
In other words, he played the victim. But he's not the victim, he's the perpetrator!

It's a bit DARVO isn't it? Which stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. Lots out there about DARVO if you google it.

He DENIES he's in the wrong, ATTACKS you by whining 'you don't like me', all to REVERSE (in his mind, nowhere else) himself into being the VICTIM rather than the OFFENDER, and make you, the actual victim of his behaviour, the offender. It's manipulative, and abusive. And if that is the way he views the world, he won't change. Why would he change? He's the victiiiiiiiiim, and you're the baddie, so there!

Please don't fall for this shite. He's a shit partner and a shit dad, and you and your son will fare so much better without him.

Bin, bin, bin. You don't want your son to grow up in such a household, with two ?older? children who seem to have no consequences for their behaviour; to my mind there's a high risk they'd start bullying your boy in his own home - do NOT let that happen!

C00k · 16/01/2024 13:24

Any thoughts @soleparent5494 ? Are you going to make your kid a priority and stop inflicting the shitty boyfriend on him?

Meadowfinch · 16/01/2024 13:25

YANBU

Explain again, why you are with such a nasty, selfish and manipulative man?

What sort of man goes out until 2am without even telling you he was going (suppose there had been a fire, you might not have realised), leaves his dcs with you without asking if that's ok, and then tries to guilt you for raising it as an issue.

He doesn't give a toot about you. You are a convenience, who shares the bills and provides free childcare. Let me guess, you do all the cooking & cleaning too.

I'd leave. Get your son out now, so he can live in a decent household where people are kind and polite and show respect for each others' possessions. Don't let he grow up coming last in a house, learning his manners from a bully of a man and a pair of foul-mouthed feral teens. You both deserve better.

AnnOtherLife · 16/01/2024 13:25

Birthday bunting or RED flags? Super selfish irresponsibility imo

Agree · 16/01/2024 13:27

ISpyNoPlumPie · 16/01/2024 13:22

You’re putting him first, yourself second, and your child last. Why??

Might I suggest that this shouldn’t be a “permanent relationship”.

Women like this want to talk all day long about the finer detail of what the man and his friends or his kids are doing but they'll never acknowledge this point.

It's tragic, literally, as it often ends in tragedy and a Daily Mail story.

JFDIYOLO · 16/01/2024 13:29

Your child comes first. Imposing this man and his kids, their behaviour, example and attitudes on your child isn't fair.

To be honest, neither of you seem to like each other, do you?

Is there any reason other than habit that you're together?

You're certainly not on the same page with family, childrearing, respect for your partner etc.

I wonder if his kids are jealous and attention seeking, hence the destructive behaviour? Yours gets more of your time and care than they get from him. And is their mum not in the mix?

Lawzy24 · 16/01/2024 13:29

The behaviour totally unacceptable. Getting drunk and leaving without even telling you. I'd be mad.

What sticks out to me is..all through your post you say "my son" and "his kids".. doesn't sound like a family unit at all.