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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My partner isn't helping out enough

58 replies

Coz97 · 16/08/2024 07:29

So I've been with my partner for 7 years now and we have a 6 month old together. I know he loves us both. He tells me every day. And there's not a day that goes by that he doesn't hug and kiss me. However, since having a baby, it's put some strain on our relationship because I feel like he doesn't do his fair share. When I confront him about this, he says that he feels like he is helping out and he claims he's given up a lot. Hmm not sure about that. He usually plays tennis for a few hours a week and he enjoys playing computer games too. Yes, he works 50 hours a week but that's not an excuse not to be more helpful with our baby. He doesn't play with her much because he says she gets bored easily (she does, but a few minutes here and there doesn't hurt), he passes her to me when she cries quite often, I have to tell him to do things and even then sometimes he sighs or complains that he was about to do something else. He expects far too much from me. I'll be starting work in September for 15 hours a week and he will look after he for 3 hours a day when I'm working, so he will be forced to spend more time with her. Anyway, I'm worried our relationship won't survive if he doesn't start helping out more and spending more quality time with both of us. But my attempts to get him to listen fall on deaf ears. Not sure what else to try...

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 16/08/2024 12:50

Coz97 · 16/08/2024 12:48

How would I even bring the topic up, though? "Let's get married quick so I have some protection in case you kick me out or the relationship crumbles" I don't think that would go down well.. so I feel a bit stuck!

You can bring up the topic of marriage, but to be honest I wouldn’t be if I was you. You’re already having doubts, and you’d have to be married 5+ years before you get half of anything anyway as anything less is a short marriage.

You need to be proactive yourself, ensure you’re in a position where if/when you split, you can fully support yourself and your child. So work full time, start saving an escape fund for rent deposit/house deposit, start paying into your own pension full time etc.

Coz97 · 16/08/2024 12:50

Thanks for some of these comments, they were helpful. Unfortunately, some of these comments were rude and judgemental (guess I should have expected that, eh?). So I won't be responding to any more comments. Thanks!

OP posts:
IdaClair · 16/08/2024 12:59

Bumpingaround · 16/08/2024 07:45

Does your baby take a bottle?
You need to start doing some hobbies

I agree with most of what you’ve said but this is also problematic, I feel. Dad’s who don’t play their part, when pulled up on their lack of time and effort, will say, “You can go out then”, “ok, fine, I’ll look after the baby while you go swimming/gym”, “I will look after the baby while you’re not here”. That’s not what the OP wants, she wants a partner that is sharing the responsibility of parenting with her.

I see similar advice given often, I didn’t want to go out much when my baby was the same age as OPs (I’m not saying that mothers that do are wrong it was just my preference), and it shouldn’t be that mums are advised to spend time away from their babies as a way to make their partners do more. If OPs baby is breastfed and doesn’t take bottles, I wouldn’t encourage her to change how she feeds her baby as a way to get the Dad to do more. It’s not necessary and further plays into the assumption that Dads can’t do anything to look after a breastfed baby and have to leave it all to Mum, which isn’t true at all.

You are right it isn’t about feeding method. I went back to work when my baby was 5 weeks old and her Dad cared for her full time every day, and she was breastfed. There is more to parenting than feeding the baby. And I pulled my weight including all through each night because that’s what has to be done when you have a child.

Shinyandnew1 · 16/08/2024 13:09

Worse case scenario, would I not be entitled to any kind of benefits?

Possibly, but going part time is again leaving you very vulnerable, meanwhile your husband works full time, pays off his house and pays into his pension!

When I confront him about this, he says that he feels like he is helping out and he claims he's given up a lot.

Sadly, it doesn’t sound like this man has your best interest at heart but his own and you haven’t got much left to bargain with. I feel sorry for you-I hope things turn out ok.

Coz97 · 23/08/2024 10:58

Just wanted to share an update: partner is helping out a lot more now which is great. We're continuing to work on things and I'm happy with how it's going :)

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 23/08/2024 11:49

That's good Op, I'm glad he's 'helping' with his own house and baby.

Bumblebeestiltskin · 23/08/2024 12:00

Coz97 · 23/08/2024 10:58

Just wanted to share an update: partner is helping out a lot more now which is great. We're continuing to work on things and I'm happy with how it's going :)

He's not 'helping' - it's his child, his house, his relationship.

Coz97 · 23/08/2024 12:25

Bumblebeestiltskin · 23/08/2024 12:00

He's not 'helping' - it's his child, his house, his relationship.

Fine.. he's "parenting" and pulling his weight more.

OP posts:
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