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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be starting to resent my other half for his attitude to parenting?

23 replies

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:03

He is the most unmotivated person when it comes to doing anything with the children. I mean, he's hands on with caring for them and meeting their essential needs, but anything other than that and he always has an excuse or a reason or a moan about why it's not convenient and tries to kick the can down the road.

One of our DC has special needs which means they require a lot of time / attention. I'm very aware of the impact this will be having on our other DC who doesn't have special needs, so I try to foster good friendships with her peers and make an effort to go out and do things with/for her that doesn't involve our little one with SN. Otherwise she would miss out on a lot.

DD has become friendly with a little girl in the year above her at school and as a result OH has become friendly with her dad who is a lone parent, they've swapped numbers as it turns out they have a mutual hobby. Lovely!

So DD has been asking to arrange a play date outside of school so I nudge OH to sort something as he's the one who knows the dad and has his number, and actually the dad had already suggested OH and DD could go round to their house.

Oh the drama. So many bloody excuses and reasons why it's not convenient atm.

We had some crossed words about it and he relented and sent a message suggesting a park trip this coming Monday. The child's dad said that would be nice they'll go after school, all sorted and DD is happy.

Then OH realises that it's not the end of this week the kids break up from school, and the park trip would have to be after school and suddenly it's a no go. He doesn't mention that to me at the time.

The following day (today) he tells me that he's text the dad and said he thought they'd have broken up for the holidays by then so they should go at the end of the month or next month instead.. dispite DD already having been told and being excited. Cue one disappointed DD and the dad isn't texting back now as he's also probably thinking "wtf?"

So we've had a bit of an argument this morning, the long and the short of it for him is that its just not "conveeeeeenient" to do anything on a school day.

Hint, nothing ever is. He point blank refuses to do anything on a school day, even if he's off work himself, claiming there's no time. How do other families do it then?

I suggest Sunday afternoon as a compromise but that's not convenient either because he said he'll be tired from working Saturday night (he'll still get 7 hours of sleep if they go in the afternoon) and Sunday is 'bath night' for the kids so it'll be "too busy" and pushed for time.

What a fucking bore.

I'm due to go and sit in soft play this afternoon after work and school. I'm not doing it for my own entertainment, I hate soft play and the lighting gives me a migraine every time. I'm still going.. because it's not about me.

The mum of the little girl we're meeting there is a lone parent who works for the emergency services so she's ridiculously busy, yet she does so so much with her DD and has lots of activities on. If she can do all of that why can't he do something as simple as going to the park after school?

This seemingly small thing has seemed to have flipped a switch for me and I'm feeling really resentful. He has managed to get this far along because as you might have guessed it's always me doing the play dates, me arranging activities.

If he was a lone parent the kids would do absolutely nothing bar school and a very occasional hour in the park across the road once every six months.

Everything is too much bother for him unless booked months in advance at a time that suits him and nobody else.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable?

OP posts:
DisgruntledPelican · 17/07/2024 09:06

YANBU. I can feel the rage rising reading this post, as I know a lot of men who are exactly the same.

Your poor DD. is there any way of rearranging for the original date?

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:06

Oh and to add, he accused me of harassing him!

By harassing him he means asking him to take the lead and arrange something for DD for once in his life.

OP posts:
TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:09

DisgruntledPelican · 17/07/2024 09:06

YANBU. I can feel the rage rising reading this post, as I know a lot of men who are exactly the same.

Your poor DD. is there any way of rearranging for the original date?

I'm not sure to be honest.

After a further heated exchange via text he said he will see if the dad is happy to switch to this Sunday but I wouldn't be surprised if he decides he can't be bothered with the faff.

He has mentioned atleast twice OH and DD going to their house and OH replies vaguely saying "at some point" so the dad probably thinks there's not much point in engaging 😵‍💫

I would suggest he give me the dads number and I will deal with it myself but I'm not sure how that would come across as I don't actually know the man to speak to and it might seem weird.

OP posts:
Loubelle70 · 17/07/2024 09:12

I tell you what will get his ass moving? Tell him youll go with the single parent dad with the kids instead

DrSalome · 17/07/2024 09:14

I am with you all the way except for this sentence.
I hate soft play and the lighting gives me a migraine every time. I'm still going.. because it's not about me.
Do you mean the lighting gives you a headache? Or do you continue to go to soft play knowing it will result in several days, potentially over a week of debilitating neurological symptoms which will likely mean you are unable to work or care for DC? Most migraine sufferers go to huge lengths to avoid attack triggers. Lights are a huge one for me and I'm unable to drive in the dark because of it. Please don't minimise migraine.

Other than that, yanbu, I think he is taking the piss and needs to step up.

mightymam · 17/07/2024 09:16

You're absolutely justified feeling how you are. Mine is the same which is why we're in the middle of a very acrimonious divorce- again, the same pattern follows- it's not him, it's everyone else who's to blame. Yawn.

DisgruntledPelican · 17/07/2024 09:23

@TGL1945 I think in this case I would take over & say “sorry, massive misunderstanding, DD would still love to go to the park with your DD on X date, husband will see you there” and not overthink it. Rather than anyone missing out. But going forward he needs to be less of a dithering twat, certainly.

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:24

DrSalome · 17/07/2024 09:14

I am with you all the way except for this sentence.
I hate soft play and the lighting gives me a migraine every time. I'm still going.. because it's not about me.
Do you mean the lighting gives you a headache? Or do you continue to go to soft play knowing it will result in several days, potentially over a week of debilitating neurological symptoms which will likely mean you are unable to work or care for DC? Most migraine sufferers go to huge lengths to avoid attack triggers. Lights are a huge one for me and I'm unable to drive in the dark because of it. Please don't minimise migraine.

Other than that, yanbu, I think he is taking the piss and needs to step up.

It's the lighting yes, light and strong smells like perfume are my biggest triggers. I tend to wear dark shades when I go, luckily it doesn't look that weird in summer!

I have a clinical diagnosis of chronic migraine which I'm under secondary care for. I'm on a cocktail of meds (propanolol, sumatriptan when needed, NHS medical botox, a heavy dose of amitryptiline) which keep me on an even keel (IE not being bed bound for days when i have an attack) so I just have to get on with it unfortunately.

If I avoided every place with similar lighting I would never be able to work or go anywhere.

OP posts:
TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:25

DisgruntledPelican · 17/07/2024 09:23

@TGL1945 I think in this case I would take over & say “sorry, massive misunderstanding, DD would still love to go to the park with your DD on X date, husband will see you there” and not overthink it. Rather than anyone missing out. But going forward he needs to be less of a dithering twat, certainly.

I don't have his number unfortunately. If we see them after school later on I will have a word. It's just so embarrassing isn't it? Having a bloke like this.

OP posts:
Sunshineafterthehail · 17/07/2024 09:26

I would tell him you will go. Arranging to spend your time with a single df may engage his fucking brain. No reason he can't be your mate....

DrSalome · 17/07/2024 09:27

@TGL1945 fair enough. In that case, OH should be doing even more.

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 17/07/2024 09:29

Loubelle70 · 17/07/2024 09:12

I tell you what will get his ass moving? Tell him youll go with the single parent dad with the kids instead

Nice plan! Every week!

rainbowstardrops · 17/07/2024 09:42

I'd tell him he's a bloody wet lettuce and you'll take your DD and he can sit on his miserable arse by himself!

Starlight1979 · 17/07/2024 09:47

Sunshineafterthehail · 17/07/2024 09:26

I would tell him you will go. Arranging to spend your time with a single df may engage his fucking brain. No reason he can't be your mate....

This.

And I would go home saying "Oh isn't X a wonderful dad. He spends soooo much time with his DD doing all her favourite activities. We've arranged to meet up again with the children soon".

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 10:25

I'll try and catch DD's friend and her dad later on, though I resent the fact I have to and I'm a bit 😬 as I think he'd much rather meet up with OH than me. I've never had a conversation with him bar good morning or a polite hello.

OP posts:
Topjoe19 · 17/07/2024 10:53

I would be so annoyed. YANBU. I would be pretty nuclear with him actually letting her down like that.

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 11:54

I'm glad the general consensus is that I'm not being unreasonable. Thanks for that. I think it's time for a serious talk.

OP posts:
Devon23 · 21/07/2024 15:49

The nightmares of having two parents working - feel for you.

BeckiBoBecki · 23/07/2024 14:21

TGL1945 · 17/07/2024 09:24

It's the lighting yes, light and strong smells like perfume are my biggest triggers. I tend to wear dark shades when I go, luckily it doesn't look that weird in summer!

I have a clinical diagnosis of chronic migraine which I'm under secondary care for. I'm on a cocktail of meds (propanolol, sumatriptan when needed, NHS medical botox, a heavy dose of amitryptiline) which keep me on an even keel (IE not being bed bound for days when i have an attack) so I just have to get on with it unfortunately.

If I avoided every place with similar lighting I would never be able to work or go anywhere.

Haha - epic response <3

HairyBanana · 25/07/2024 05:18

If DH won't do anything after school, what about after school clubs, or are you just not there yet? At some point your DD is going to want to do something after school, and need her parents to work together on logistics. In fact, an activity outside school is a really good way to ensure your DD gets time that is focused on her.

WineMakesTheWorldGoAround · 25/07/2024 06:09

He sounds insufferable.
We both work and one of my biggest worries when my kids were little was them missing out on time with friends. Consequently most weekends were spent either with a house full of kids or ferrying mine to a friends house!
Interestingly it always seems to be men that can't seem to find the time to do things that their children enjoy, I bet if you gave him £50 and told him to go to the pub/golf/cycling for a few hours after his shift at work (and 7 hours sleep!) he would be off out the door with barely a backwards glance!

Scarletrunner · 25/07/2024 06:55

His DF was probably like this but you don’t want him teaching the DCs that mum always does it all.

somewhatmiffed · 25/07/2024 07:05

He will get the relationship with his children that he puts in. If he can't be arsed to make a effort it will affect his relationship with his children in the long run

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