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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH didn’t come home… again

483 replies

Roonil · 26/05/2024 14:14

Please help me make sense of what’s going on with DH. Will try keep it as brief as possible.

We have 2 DC - one is 4, one is 6 months.

I’ve forgiven him for a lot over the years (together 10 years), and since we had our eldest he’s gone AWOL on me a few times after nights out with his mates. Well, last night he did it again. I woke up with the baby in the early hours and he wasn’t home, so sent a message asking where he was. No reply. Up with baby again about an hour and a half later, again no reply. Tried to call with next wake up, didn’t pick up. By this point it was about 5.30am - everything would have been closed. He went out in the afternoon. If he’d have responded ‘in a bar/at friend’s house, be home later’ or just ANYTHING it would’ve been fine, but it was the ignoring that bothered me. He would’ve just not come home with zero contact if I hadn’t pushed it.

Next time I woke with baby (we’re both ill with Covid and she’s EBF, so I’ve done all night feeds for 6 months and am knackered/feeling shit) I sent a message saying I was locking the front door. Miraculously he responded straight away. Claimed he had been trying to get home for “hours” but his bank cards had been “blocked”. I told him how upset/angry I was and that he should have just messaged me, etc. etc., and he told me I was “locking him out of his home” and that “this is your decision, not mine” - as if I’m ending the relationship. Feels like he’s trying to push me to leave?

When I said again that I was upset and he needed to stop being so irresponsible at 36, he responded “cry me a fucking river.”

Even if his story is true, why not respond? If you were stuck, surely you’d be on your phone trying to sort a solution? But also, he could’ve gone home with friends who live in the same direction, or asked one of them to book him an Uber and pay them back. Also thinking if it’s true, he’s blown an awful lot of money… why else would his cards stop working other than the accounts being emptied?

He’s still not made an appearance. No idea where he is. Had to tell eldest DC that daddy wasn’t home this morning because he’s having a sleepover with his friend.

I spoke to a friend about it this morning, and they said it comes across like he just doesn’t care about being with me or being a family man. To me it’s the latest example of him choosing the single lifestyle over his family, and expecting me to just be there and not question him about anything, ever.

I feel like he’s gradually treating me worse and worse, but it’s heightened since I went on maternity leave, when I’m more vulnerable. But then I don’t know if he’s that calculating…

I wouldn’t mind as much if this was a one off, but he’s got form for irresponsible partying type behaviour and, like I said, has pulled disappearing acts before.

But then part of me thinks maybe I am just going crazy and being harsh.

Am I overreacting?

OP posts:
AGodawfulsmallaffair · 26/05/2024 14:18

This is Munsnet, you know what everyone will say. Get him out, because he’s vile, and enjoy your life.

Glenthebattleostrich · 26/05/2024 14:19

So where is your line in the sand? He's utterly disrespectful, treating you and the family with contempt so what will make you leave him? It's not him repeatedly staying out overnight. Is it him cheating? Giving you an STI? Letting down his kids on a special occasion?

If I were you I'd be getting ducks in a row and when back at work sending him packing.

MatildaTheCat · 26/05/2024 14:20

Over-reacting? Hardly.

I very rarely say this but I would be thinking very carefully about this relationship. You say you’ve forgiven him a lot over the years. It sounds as if that has encouraged him to behave worse and worse rather than feel grateful for your forbearance.

Also I would be very suspicious that he’s not just drinking on these binges. Does he have any form for drugs?

In short I’d be keeping that door locked awhile and have a hard think.

TheShellBeach · 26/05/2024 14:23

I'm sorry you're in this situation. It's even harder for you because you're ill and not getting much sleep into the bargain.

Is there another woman? It does sound likely. Have you thought about confronting him and then splitting up? You might as well, since he doesn't respect you.

mindutopia · 26/05/2024 14:24

But it’s 2pm, assuming you are in the UK, middle of the afternoon. Where is he if not home? Like surely by now any transport problems could be sorted or he could have politely asked you or a friend to come collect him.

Moveoverdarlin · 26/05/2024 14:24

So he went out yesterday afternoon and still isn’t back (at 2.35pm) the next day? I’d go fucking mental. I just wouldn’t tolerate this. I’d have his bags packed and on the doorstep awaiting his arrival.

Fair enough if he was honest, even if he said ‘I was so drunk I stayed at Xxxxx house or we went to a casino and stayed there.’ But to so obviously lie just makes me think he was up to no good.

Hopingtobe4 · 26/05/2024 14:27

Sorry you're ill,have a baby and are in this situation.

Sorry to say it but he needs to go. At least on s break. If he doesn't see what he has/continues to do as wrong then there's something wrong. He should be grovelling,explaining and not doing it again.

K0OLA1D · 26/05/2024 14:28

YANBU op. My dp has history of 'going for a pint' and stopping out longer than anticipated. But he always keeps in touch with me. And he'd never have done it with dc so young.

Your partner is just taking the piss. Don't let him continue to treat you and your kids like this

StormingNorman · 26/05/2024 14:29

How is he still not home at 2 in the afternoon!?

I’m sorry but he just isn’t interested in putting family life first. I feel like it’s all lies. He could have got a taxi/uber and asked you to pay. Did he say where he stayed last night?

Willyoujustbequiet · 26/05/2024 14:31

You've been conditioned to accept abuse as normal behaviour. It often gets worse during/after pregnancy

As hard as it may be you need to think of your children. It's not healthy for them to be raised in this kind of relationship.

You deserve so much more.

BlastedPimples · 26/05/2024 14:35

What a disgusting creature he is.

It will never get better. Only worse.

GreyBlackLove · 26/05/2024 14:36

Honestly it sounds like you are under-reacting. You're ill, he's left you with the two kids on a night out and not bothered to come home. It's normally drugs or OW but in any case you don't deserve this and nor do your kids.

If you decided to end things do you have a support network to help you leave?

Ladyj84 · 26/05/2024 14:37

Sorry but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who has stayed and then chosen to have another baby

RobertaFirmino · 26/05/2024 14:40

He's well and truly checked out. My guess is that he does not enjoy parenting and wants to go back to his old life. If he had the guts to tell you this it wouldn't be so bad but he hasn't. Honestly, I think he's trying to drive you to kick him out. That way, he isn't a man who abandoned his children.

This won't get any better. They never change, that I can promise you.

RobertaFirmino · 26/05/2024 14:41

Ladyj84 · 26/05/2024 14:37

Sorry but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who has stayed and then chosen to have another baby

Oh come on now, not all pregnancies are planned. What do we do, force all women with deadbeat men to abort?

PTSDBarbiegirl · 26/05/2024 14:42

My ex husband was like this. 18 years later the divorce was the best thing I ever did. A selfish, gaslighting man child who who could charm birds out the trees.

Cantalever · 26/05/2024 14:42

He's checked out because he is an immature, selfish and manipulative man child. He is trying to get you to be the one to end it because he doesn't have the balls to do it himself. Call his bluff, put his stuff outside the door, and keep it locked. He is treating you with huge disrespect, and it sounds as tough you have enabled him. Just stop! Hope you feel better soon - you have a lot to cope with while feeling ill. What a bastard he is. Flowers

GreyBlackLove · 26/05/2024 14:43

Ladyj84 · 26/05/2024 14:37

Sorry but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who has stayed and then chosen to have another baby

If you are starting a sentence with "Sorry but", best not bother. It's rarely relevant, never valuable.

Babymamamama · 26/05/2024 14:46

It’s drugs or women (or both). Sorry OP.

Cherrysoup · 26/05/2024 14:47

Bar the money he hopefully contributes, does he have any redeeming features, because quite frankly with those responses, I genuinely don’t think he gives a shit.

TheShellBeach · 26/05/2024 14:48

Ladyj84 · 26/05/2024 14:37

Sorry but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who has stayed and then chosen to have another baby

How helpful.
Hmm

Roonil · 26/05/2024 14:49

He’s just walked in, said he stayed at his brother’s.
Came in and just said “you unlocked the door then.”
He proceeded to tell me all the things I do that make him unhappy (basically that I’m always having a go at him about something).
Gave me a very feeble apology, told me he slept at the train station, waited for first train and stayed at his brother’s because he came home to locked door.
But a lot about his story isn’t adding up. Says his phone died, which is why he didn’t reply initially. But he did to me later to try stop me locking up.
then said he kept trying to book an Uber but card was declined and phone died

he does this every time… fucks up and then turns it into a debate about me

OP posts:
Roonil · 26/05/2024 14:49

RobertaFirmino · 26/05/2024 14:40

He's well and truly checked out. My guess is that he does not enjoy parenting and wants to go back to his old life. If he had the guts to tell you this it wouldn't be so bad but he hasn't. Honestly, I think he's trying to drive you to kick him out. That way, he isn't a man who abandoned his children.

This won't get any better. They never change, that I can promise you.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

OP posts:
Snugglemonkey · 26/05/2024 14:50

GreyBlackLove · 26/05/2024 14:43

If you are starting a sentence with "Sorry but", best not bother. It's rarely relevant, never valuable.

Sage advice!

TheShellBeach · 26/05/2024 14:50

So he's gaslighting you as well as either taking drugs or sleeping with an OW.

He sounds awful.