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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not understand this , dp is leaving me

184 replies

justhataye · 28/08/2024 04:02

Hi everyone

It's 4am I am tired and livid

Our poor baby who has the cold atm woke up during the night screaming , dp was trying to soothe baby whilst I went downstairs to get baby his medicine & some water etc for him, when I had came upstairs dp was frustrated as baby wouldn't settle & dp raised his voice at me about how I was taking my time downstairs I replied "I don't know who you're speaking to like that lower your voice towards me" his reply was "I'm fed up of the way you speak to me I'm done with you I'm leaving in the morning" which I replied "why are you waiting till the morning? You have a car outside, go now"

He is now sobbing asking why I didn't beg for him and treating me as if I caused this whole situation.

I am sorry but if you don't want to be with me I will walk you to the door . I don't beg , absolutely not.

Am In the wrong here? He's seriously making me feel as if I am.

OP posts:
Badgerandfox227 · 28/08/2024 07:58

If it’s a one off I’d put it down to it being 4am. My partner was never very good with night wakings, I’d say we can discuss it in the morning, it’s not helpful right now.

A successful marriage and family takes work and understanding. I’d be having a chat this morning when you both feel calmer with a coffee. Agree that you are not behaving rationally at that time of the night, and that you’ll both try and be more understanding. That threatening to leave - is never ok in any circumstance. If he really wants to do it, he needs to understand what it means, it’s not something you can make a throw away comment about.

betterangels · 28/08/2024 08:02

HoopLaLah · 28/08/2024 07:30

It was more than rude and snappy.

He was rude and aggressive, and when called out on it, escalated to bullying and threatening, and when called out on that, switched to histrionic and manipulative.

Her response called him out on his behaviours and nipped all those tactics in the bud.

Agree. Good on OP for calling him out on his shit. If he wants to go, he should go.

She's sleep deprived, too. But she's not throwing a childish tantrum.

Enough4me · 28/08/2024 08:05

You're in survival mode. At this point you've been tortured with stress and lack of sleep. Go back to basics, have you had enough water, eaten (can be takeaway you just need energy), can you tag-team for sleep and to shower?

This is not the time to analyse anything, I wouldn't choose the colour of cushions in your circumstances. Give it at least 6 weeks (ideally to the point where you have more sleep). If he says something nasty in a sleep-deprived state again, shut it down with words like, "not now, we've got to get through this stage with the baby".

HesterRoon · 28/08/2024 08:07

suburberphobe · 28/08/2024 04:12

Many men cannot deal with a new baby.

Good for you for telling him to 'go now"

He'll be back tomorrow or the next day, but become a single mum.

Never leave him with your baby. He will always be selfish. Divorce and get him to pay his dues for his child.

You've got this. Get your family and friends onboard.

I did it. All worked out fine eventually.

Peak mumsnet-telling someone to leave and get divorced over a stressed argument in the early hours of the morning with a screaming child. If your relationship was good, try to work it out and accept it’s a temporary stressful time for you both. Cut each other some slack and kindness. Talk about things when you’re both calmer and not liable to immediately react to things.

BlueMum16 · 28/08/2024 08:08

suburberphobe · 28/08/2024 04:12

Many men cannot deal with a new baby.

Good for you for telling him to 'go now"

He'll be back tomorrow or the next day, but become a single mum.

Never leave him with your baby. He will always be selfish. Divorce and get him to pay his dues for his child.

You've got this. Get your family and friends onboard.

I did it. All worked out fine eventually.

Really?

It was 4am. Two very tired parents.

Discuss in the morning rationally.

If you both love each other tell each other and work through the issues of a new baby and no sleep.

But you are right not to accept poor behaviour but reflecting back were his words that harsh/shouty? Was this out of character or normal for him?

Bobb1nR0bb1n · 28/08/2024 08:20

HesterRoon · 28/08/2024 08:07

Peak mumsnet-telling someone to leave and get divorced over a stressed argument in the early hours of the morning with a screaming child. If your relationship was good, try to work it out and accept it’s a temporary stressful time for you both. Cut each other some slack and kindness. Talk about things when you’re both calmer and not liable to immediately react to things.

I know!!

And as for never leave him with the baby-err think he’ll have some parental rights. Op doesn’t get to dictate.

Starlight7080 · 28/08/2024 08:21

Well done 👏 he wanted you to beg and get upset. Its a pathetic tactic .
Plus if you had begged he would have just done it again in the future .
He should be apologising to you .

Gardennotebook · 28/08/2024 08:21

He said something stupid knackered at 4am. He’s hardly the first. You both sound arsey.

Gremlins101 · 28/08/2024 08:22

Let the anger pass and see how things are. Only you know what is right for you and your relationship.

Husbands and partners are generally not perfect, sadly.. But it all depends on the big picture.

Mitsky · 28/08/2024 08:22

Gardennotebook · 28/08/2024 08:21

He said something stupid knackered at 4am. He’s hardly the first. You both sound arsey.

Exactly! All these posts reading so much in to his intention or what reaction he was trying to provoke from you when chances are it was just a high emotion / high stress situation where a silly thing was said.

MandyFriend · 28/08/2024 08:24

I'm sorry to hear your little one is poorly and I hope they're feeling better soon! Dealing with a sick child at 4am is stressful and his behaviour was just selfish and childish. The last thing you needed was another crying baby to deal with, but that's what you got! It also
amazes me how he has managed to make it all about him in the blink of an eye. I hope in the cold light of day he will realise how ridiculous he was being and apologises.

AngelinaFibres · 28/08/2024 08:27

The only advice I gave to my son when the first baby was due was not to say anything at all, if possible, during the early hours and to never, ever, ever raise anything contentious or critical. It never goes well. What he said was nasty and he needs to apologise profusely. You bit at what he said and that's understandable too.

Parky04 · 28/08/2024 08:31

The majority of men do not want children. Men are not cut out to raise a child. Men are selfish and have very little paternal instinct. They agree to have a child to please the woman, and then the woman wonders why men are so shit with the child!

If you agree to have a child, then expect the dad to be crap. Of course, there will be the odd exception before I get the 'it's not all men' bollocks!

Gardennotebook · 28/08/2024 08:38

Oh stop with all the psychoanalysis saying men are shit. He said something stupid. I’ve said worse at 4am with a broken leg. And I’m a woman shock horror.

Blackberriesandcobwebs · 28/08/2024 08:38

Youve got an unwell baby, presumably having little sleep and are both tired and cranky. Sit down tomorrow and talk. Bickering because you're both knackered isn't unusual but you both need to be on the same team.

GingerPirate · 28/08/2024 08:38

Parky04 · 28/08/2024 08:31

The majority of men do not want children. Men are not cut out to raise a child. Men are selfish and have very little paternal instinct. They agree to have a child to please the woman, and then the woman wonders why men are so shit with the child!

If you agree to have a child, then expect the dad to be crap. Of course, there will be the odd exception before I get the 'it's not all men' bollocks!

You are absolutely right.
I can't not comment, because you are spot on.
I'm a 45 yo woman, and exactly the same
as these men.
Difference is, I knew since 13 yo and definitely didn't have kids to "please someone".

rainbowstardrops · 28/08/2024 08:40

To be fair, I'd have said what you did too!
Only you know here whether he's generally happy/ unhappy in the relationship or whether this was just 4am stress with a screaming, poorly baby.
Just sit and talk it through. Turning it round to him being the victim though is a bit pathetic.

Gardennotebook · 28/08/2024 08:40

@Parky04 Wow how utterly sexist.

Josephinesnapoleon · 28/08/2024 08:41

Well that’s not dysfunctional at all. Nope.

EdithBond · 28/08/2024 08:41

On the face of it, I don’t think either of you are wrong. It sounds to me you’re both exhausted. It’s likely he’s struggling with the lack of sleep and crushing responsibility of having a child. When people threaten to walk away and ask for reassurance, it’s usually because they’re in need of love/a hug.

Do you know why he said he doesn’t like how you speak to him? Have you snapped at him? Or been criticising him? It’s a common response when people are exhausted and need some TLC. And you must be shattered.

It’s common for couples to turn on each other, rather than giving each other the love and care they need. It’s because you both need love and care, so can struggle to give it to each other - as well as a baby.

When one or both of you starts to get like that, try to hug it out, find the humour in your situation and view yourselves as a strong team, who can get through things together. Try to remember what made you so close before you had the baby.

I really recommend you try to have a little break if you can, depending on the baby’s age and what support you have. A nice lunch and walk (rather than dinner when you may be tired), a massage together, a night in a nearby hotel. Even if you take the baby, the change of scene may help. Make it a special time. But try to have a little talk about how you both respond under stress, how that makes the other feel and what you both need to work on.

For example, he shouldn’t threaten to leave you when you’re tired and dealing with a crying baby. That would likely make someone feel vulnerable and rejected at a vulnerable time, and can be controlling and manipulative. Instead, he should say: ‘I’m struggling to cope right now and I need some reassurance - I bet you do too”.

And certainly keep an eye on it and say up-front if you find his behaviour isn’t improving and a pattern is forming. Being emotional, needy and dramatic at times of stress is pretty normal. But if it keeps happening and he won’t work on it, then that’s a problem.

Josephinesnapoleon · 28/08/2024 08:42

Parky04 · 28/08/2024 08:31

The majority of men do not want children. Men are not cut out to raise a child. Men are selfish and have very little paternal instinct. They agree to have a child to please the woman, and then the woman wonders why men are so shit with the child!

If you agree to have a child, then expect the dad to be crap. Of course, there will be the odd exception before I get the 'it's not all men' bollocks!

What a ludicrous comment.

6pence · 28/08/2024 08:42

A good chat will determine whether splitting is something to seriously consider, or whether it was heat of the moment stuff. If it was that, then a discussion on how to handle pressure better in the future, is needed.

GingerPirate · 28/08/2024 08:42

Gardennotebook · 28/08/2024 08:40

@Parky04 Wow how utterly sexist.

Seems to be an overwhelming reality, though, eh?

Borninabarn32 · 28/08/2024 08:42

DP and I have a "rule" that you never threaten to leave or tell the other person to leave if they don't like something. Its a hard line.

You don't try to make someone beg you to stay with them. It's a horrible power play.

But it's 2am with a poorly newborn, it's nobody's finest hour. He needs to apologise but relationships aren't always their best at this stage.

BeyondMyWits · 28/08/2024 08:44

Speaking to a partner with contempt and/or derision has been found to be a marker of how badly a relationship is going.
Sounds like you are both doing that under pressure.

Would have a serious talk about it in the morning.

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