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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Fathers Day weekend disasters

80 replies

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 10:13

I’ll try to keep it brief but it may still be a long one…

Other half was taking his kids (older teens) to a football tournament about an hour away yesterday, and going to see his parents on the way back. He said he wouldn’t be home until about 5pm.

He told me he’s never had a decent Father’s Day before so while I told him I’d use the way to write an assignment, I actually set about deep cleaning and decluttering the kitchen/diner and cooking a roast from scratch, complete with homemade apple sauce and gravy (not bragging, just telling you so it shows the time taken). He always knew about the roast and had picked what he wanted for it.

For context on the decluttering, it’s been like that since I moved in a year ago. On Saturday we went to a friends bbq at their beautiful home and on the way back he said he loves hosting and he’s missing that part of himself, he just can’t host with the house as it is.

while he was out, he text at 2pm saying they’re coming back early. I said no, you can’t… then there were several texts saying he’s dropping his kids back then, what’s going on etc. I said ‘it’s Father’s Day….just wait and see 😊’.

5pm he came in, I was making cheese sauce and he grumpily said ‘aren’t you going to give me a cuddle’. I explained I’m just in the middle of the sauce and will do in a second.

He then complained about the roast almost being ready and that because I said not to come back until 5 (the time he said he’d be back!) they got a McDonald’s and weren’t hungry.

when we eventually sat for dinner, he had a go at me for moving his things (done carefully so they weren’t out of any order). He had such a go we all ate in silence. He then said he can’t store things under the stairs because ‘it’s a mess’. I reminded him the storage isn’t a mess but we all have to put our coats on top because he has so many jackets hanging up.

I made myself scarce for the rest of the evening. When I went to bed he started on about it all again, said he must be imagining things or maybe I’m confused about things. He then started reading a book on how to win arguments- I kid you not.

for further context, on Friday he came back from a work day drunk, said he’s never shaken my hand before. I am a left handed so without thinking put my left forward. He said I am so entitled thinking the right handed who are on the majority should yield to me. I said it’s not like that, I’m just left handed, I did it without thinking. He said ‘I don’t need this shit,’ then walked off before shouting ‘I don’t need this shit!’ and slamming a door.

i can’t bring up Fridays events and Sundays with him as he will say they’re different events, not to be joined together and I was fine on Saturday. If I tell him how it’s all making me feel he’ll stop me and say to give specific examples as just saying how I feel isn’t helpful.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ChaliceinWonderland · 16/06/2025 13:07

He is mentally unwell. Call the solicitor today.

rainbowstardrops · 16/06/2025 13:09

You tried to do a really nice thing for him and it still wasn’t good enough.
If you hadn’t bought gifts and a card for his children to give him, I expect that would have been wrong too.
Why didn’t their own mum sort something out for them?

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 16/06/2025 13:12

How often does he see his dc?

Sunshineandblueskysalltheway · 16/06/2025 13:13

'The confusing thing is that some of the time he is one of those men'

Is that confusing though. Really?

I don't think you're as confused as you want to be.

Oh and leave him. He's a cunt.

Mothership4two · 16/06/2025 13:16

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:00

They’re very self absorbed, lovely but it is all about them. The sad thing is he was crying about the beautiful card they bought him and how thoughtful they were to pick such a meaningful design. It was me. They didn’t contribute, nor come to the shops. Didn’t even wrap his gifts.

It was me. They didn’t contribute, nor come to the shops. Didn’t even wrap his gifts.

Frankly, after his shenanigans, I would tell him this. And, next year, if you are still together, I would leave them to it. I'm pretty sure my mum never did anything special on Fathers Day, it was all down to me (so just a present and a card).

Is their mum still in the picture?

Myfridgeiscool · 16/06/2025 13:16

Interesting that he’s now back tracking and saying how he appreciated all your efforts.
Don't fall for that old tripe.
Reading the book about arguments would be the final straw for me.

Mynewnameis · 16/06/2025 13:18

If someone told me I couldn't come home I'd be annoyed

Naunet · 16/06/2025 13:19

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:00

They’re very self absorbed, lovely but it is all about them. The sad thing is he was crying about the beautiful card they bought him and how thoughtful they were to pick such a meaningful design. It was me. They didn’t contribute, nor come to the shops. Didn’t even wrap his gifts.

That's a result of HIS (and their mothers) parenting though, it's not your job to make up for that. Did he even thank you for it?

Nanny0gg · 16/06/2025 13:23

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 10:43

Because sometimes he’s very lovely.

Sometimes isn't enough when the other times he's vile

Pallisers · 16/06/2025 13:27

for further context, on Friday he came back from a work day drunk, said he’s never shaken my hand before. I am a left handed so without thinking put my left forward. He said I am so entitled thinking the right handed who are on the majority should yield to me. I said it’s not like that, I’m just left handed, I did it without thinking. He said ‘I don’t need this shit,’ then walked off before shouting ‘I don’t need this shit!’ and slamming a door.

you don't need this shit. No one needs this shit.

Cucy · 16/06/2025 13:29

He doesn’t like you very much does he.

How much of the cooking and cleaning is shared?

From what you’ve said, he literally only puts up with you because you act like his mum cooking, cleaning and ordering gifts/cards from the kids.

I would be annoyed if someone told me not to come home early because it’s my home and I can do what I want, especially as all you were doing was making a roast and de-cluttering.
If someone told me not to come home early then I would have assumed they had planned something really special.

But everything else hes is BVU and the fact that this wasn’t a one off grumpy episode is even worse.

You are not valued.

ZippyBrick · 16/06/2025 13:30

I have a bit of an idea what's happening here, who wrote the book he's reading?

outerspacepotato · 16/06/2025 13:31

Part shit sandwich is still a shit sandwich.

Of course he's not shitty all the time. No one would stay for that. But here is a holiday and you cooked a meal he wanted, put in effort to buy his kids gifts to give him, and you got what in return? Oh yeah, shit. You're the one that doesn't need his shit.

MooreMooreMoore · 16/06/2025 13:33

He wants you to move out, but doesn’t want to be the one to tell you. He wants you to get pissed off and save him the trouble.

Goditsmemargaret · 16/06/2025 13:33

How long are you with him?

Nicaveron · 16/06/2025 13:45

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 10:13

I’ll try to keep it brief but it may still be a long one…

Other half was taking his kids (older teens) to a football tournament about an hour away yesterday, and going to see his parents on the way back. He said he wouldn’t be home until about 5pm.

He told me he’s never had a decent Father’s Day before so while I told him I’d use the way to write an assignment, I actually set about deep cleaning and decluttering the kitchen/diner and cooking a roast from scratch, complete with homemade apple sauce and gravy (not bragging, just telling you so it shows the time taken). He always knew about the roast and had picked what he wanted for it.

For context on the decluttering, it’s been like that since I moved in a year ago. On Saturday we went to a friends bbq at their beautiful home and on the way back he said he loves hosting and he’s missing that part of himself, he just can’t host with the house as it is.

while he was out, he text at 2pm saying they’re coming back early. I said no, you can’t… then there were several texts saying he’s dropping his kids back then, what’s going on etc. I said ‘it’s Father’s Day….just wait and see 😊’.

5pm he came in, I was making cheese sauce and he grumpily said ‘aren’t you going to give me a cuddle’. I explained I’m just in the middle of the sauce and will do in a second.

He then complained about the roast almost being ready and that because I said not to come back until 5 (the time he said he’d be back!) they got a McDonald’s and weren’t hungry.

when we eventually sat for dinner, he had a go at me for moving his things (done carefully so they weren’t out of any order). He had such a go we all ate in silence. He then said he can’t store things under the stairs because ‘it’s a mess’. I reminded him the storage isn’t a mess but we all have to put our coats on top because he has so many jackets hanging up.

I made myself scarce for the rest of the evening. When I went to bed he started on about it all again, said he must be imagining things or maybe I’m confused about things. He then started reading a book on how to win arguments- I kid you not.

for further context, on Friday he came back from a work day drunk, said he’s never shaken my hand before. I am a left handed so without thinking put my left forward. He said I am so entitled thinking the right handed who are on the majority should yield to me. I said it’s not like that, I’m just left handed, I did it without thinking. He said ‘I don’t need this shit,’ then walked off before shouting ‘I don’t need this shit!’ and slamming a door.

i can’t bring up Fridays events and Sundays with him as he will say they’re different events, not to be joined together and I was fine on Saturday. If I tell him how it’s all making me feel he’ll stop me and say to give specific examples as just saying how I feel isn’t helpful.

AIBU?

Hi
Make your mantra thus:
You can’t reason with the unreasonable
Don’t waste time on it

BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:45

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 16/06/2025 13:12

How often does he see his dc?

He has 50% care

OP posts:
BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:51

ZippyBrick · 16/06/2025 13:30

I have a bit of an idea what's happening here, who wrote the book he's reading?

I don’t know; I’ll have a google and see if i can see the cover. His office is near the room so I don’t want to arouse suspicion by going in there to see

OP posts:
BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:54

He’s come to find me again and said he’s joined the dots, clearly if he’s been unreasonable he must be depressed and needs understanding. For context, I used to support mental health clients so I try to be very understanding but it seems like he’s said he’s depressed because I’ve said I’m leaving.

I am leaving. Whether or not I shouldn’t have barred his return until the decluttering was done, or if I shouldn’t have declutterred in the first place, I’m dealing with someone who treats me as second class. I’d rather be alone than live a lie.

OP posts:
BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:55

Naunet · 16/06/2025 13:19

That's a result of HIS (and their mothers) parenting though, it's not your job to make up for that. Did he even thank you for it?

He thinks they did it all.

OP posts:
BeWittyTurtle · 16/06/2025 13:55

rainbowstardrops · 16/06/2025 13:09

You tried to do a really nice thing for him and it still wasn’t good enough.
If you hadn’t bought gifts and a card for his children to give him, I expect that would have been wrong too.
Why didn’t their own mum sort something out for them?

She stopped when I came on the scene

OP posts:
PeppyTealDuck · 16/06/2025 13:59

It looks like the event served you well for seeing his horrendous behavior towards you. He behaves like this because he thinks he can and you’ll take it all.

coxesorangepippin · 16/06/2025 14:16

'Our children'??

Do you actually have children together?

If not, as pps say, I'd be walking away

Neemie · 16/06/2025 14:21

I think you should leave him. He doesn’t sound nice. The whole situation does sound a bit forced though. He is not your father or the father of your children so you don’t need to make him father’s day dinner, tidy his stuff or buy and wrap gifts from his children. It is all a bit fake. A bit like if your MIL organised a valentines meal and gift from him to you. He should appreciate you but you sound more emotionally invested in your setup than him or his children.

NescafeAndIce · 16/06/2025 14:27

Then he very sarcastically said several times on repeat ‘I’m so grateful from the bottom of my heart that you did what you did yesterday, do you hear me?’

Ahhh That's beautiful.... what every red-bloodd human dreams of hearing from their soulmate!