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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WYB miffed? Dd in hospital and dh fucked off to Glastonbury?

889 replies

Hopetheportaloosareminging · 26/06/2025 15:58

Just that really.

Long story short, dd 12 has been in and out of hospital the last couple of weeks having to have her obs done as a result of an ED that has really accelerated in the last few weeks. It has been extremely stressful and is obviously upsetting. She’s under camhs and they took her readings last week resulting in me having to take her to A&E. She then had a ward review yesterday and her readings were so low they kept her in overnight. I stayed with her.

DH has been mentioning going to Glastonbury for a while to meet up with an old friend who goes every year. They haven’t been able to get tickets but h seems convinced they’ll be able to bribe someone his friend knows and get in 🙄 apparently “loads of people do it”.

I left the house for her appointment yesterday at 12pm (was supposed to just be a routine appointment) and didn’t manage to ring him until about 7pm as there was no signal in the hospital. I thought he’d have been trying to ring me but no, nothing. He has a stressful job (wfh) and I don’t honestly think he’d even given it a thought. He can be very one track minded.

He has form for being uncaring and unempathetic (I suspect he’s autistic - he has a lot of traits) but we nearly split last year after a build up of issues and he’s been like a changed man since. A lot more caring and considerate. I am starting to notice a few of the old behaviours creeping in though.

Came home last night to get some overnight stuff and after asking how it went/how dd was etc he was like “oh, I’m not going to be able to go to the festival now am I?” I said “it’s up to you, I’m not going to stop you - yes go if you want!” I said (in a jokey way) “it’s on your conscience” But quite honestly I thought he wouldn’t go.
Had a horrible night in the hospital. I’ve had one text from him this morning which I responded to telling him they were still concerned about her blood pressure/heart rate being low and low blood sugar etc and wasn’t sure whether they were keeping her in or not. The dr has now let us come home (he doesnt know this yet - I tried to ring him as we were leaving but he didn’t answer) but we have a nurse coming out at the weekend to check on her and do more obs, so it’s pretty serious. They said if she doesn’t improve over the next couple of weeks it will be another hospital admittance and complete bed rest with a feeding plan which is usually for two weeks.

Anyway, got home and he’s not here - he’s fucked off to Glastonbury!! No message either since the one this morning. No note, he’s just gone and when I asked ds he said “I think he’s gone to Glastonbury” (ds is a typical teenage boy hooked up to his Xbox and probably wouldn’t notice if the house was burning down)!

Im not angry I just think he’s a selfish arse and I’m a bit incredulous really. Can you imagine one of us mum’s doing that? It’s not even like he has a ticket and would lose the money.

Oh, and it’s our anniversary this weekend which I’m guessing he’ll be missing too.

He isn’t a sociable or “going out with the lads” type of person usually - this is a one off to be fair to him. He is a good dad generally, just often seems to be missing some kind of empathy gene. I know he’ll be thinking “it makes no difference whether I’m there or not”. But what if they’d kept her in and I needed him to bring stuff/come and take over for a bit? It’s selfish and unthinking imo.

Anyway, I think I just wanted to get opinions really. Feeling a bit upset and like “no, he hasn’t changed really has he?”

But maybe IABU and it’s not a big deal bc she’s not in imminent danger?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
TomatoSandwiches · 26/06/2025 18:46

@Shetlands that is diabolical, I'm so sorry.

commonsense61 · 26/06/2025 18:47

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

lifeonmars100 · 26/06/2025 18:48

Shetlands · 26/06/2025 18:44

When I was 13 I fractured my wrist and after I'd been seen in A&E and strapped up, given a sling etc. my father left me there and told me I could get a bus home, on a Sunday, because he was going out with his mates. So I had a long walk to the bus stop (in pain) then waited ages for a bus (Sunday service) then a long walk from the bus stop home.

He was immature and selfish - always - never changed. Some parents are like this and you can make all the fuss you like but it won't make any difference. You either tolerate it or you leave.

That was appalling and I am so sorry. No words for such negligence and downright cruelty.

whackamole666 · 26/06/2025 18:51

StartleBright · 26/06/2025 16:15

You gave him permission to make a choice. A choice that comes with a consequence. The consequence is now you are totally sure he is a selfish and emotionally stunted person capable of doing vast emotional damage to those around him without a second thought. What are you going to do with that information OP? Only you can decide, and I wish you the best of luck.

I guess what the OP should have said is ....

You have a seriously ill daughter. I can't make those kind of choices for you.

Uol2022 · 26/06/2025 18:52

His excuse is always that he’s extremely busy and important and he can’t just drop things like other men.

what’s most ironic about this is that he probably would gain social value at work for showing a more caring side and it would end up benefitting his career. There’s evidence that, while women are punished at work for their family responsibilities, men see the opposite effect.

SaturdayDream · 26/06/2025 18:57

You said he could go!! He didn’t ’fuck off to Glastonbury’ you gave him your blessing.

Learn to speak up at the time.

Uol2022 · 26/06/2025 18:57

Sorry your daughter is unwell. Eating disorders are horrible and I know it must be taking a massive toll on you as well. Your husband is an idiot and a loser, as you already know. But you are doing wonderfully in a really tough situation. Keep focusing on your lovely kids and forget about the dickhead x

Lookuptotheskies · 26/06/2025 18:59

Urgh.

This would massively give me the ick AND probably be the final nail in the coffin of the relationship tbh. Sounds like you were pretty close to that last year anyway.

It must be really shit for your two youngest to see what a selfish arse he is! They're old enough to realise he isn't there for them or for you. 😔 Not really what I'd describe as a good dad!

Kirbert2 · 26/06/2025 19:02

SaturdayDream · 26/06/2025 18:57

You said he could go!! He didn’t ’fuck off to Glastonbury’ you gave him your blessing.

Learn to speak up at the time.

OP isn't his mother. He shouldn't need her to 'speak up' to know that if your child is ill enough to be in hospital, you don't fuck off to Glastonbury.

Zanatdy · 26/06/2025 19:04

I think in these situations you should say, no you can’t go now given the circumstances, as always the case the woman says its up to you (which means I want to test it you’d really go) then get angry when they go. You should have said well it’s our anniversary anyway so maybe next year. It is quite selfish yes, but guess if he will just be sat at home whilst you’re in hospital it won’t make a big difference. No, a woman wouldn’t go, but even these really good dads, still put themselves first it seems.

Viviennemary · 26/06/2025 19:08

You told him he could go if he wanted. He took this at face value. If you didn't want him to go you should have been clear as you know what he is like.

Hotflushesandchilblains · 26/06/2025 19:09

If he is autistic, sarcastic communications will not work. You needed to say no, dont go.

TrentCrimmsflowinglocks · 26/06/2025 19:10

I love my husband very very much. However if he fucked off to Glastonbury whilst our child was in hospital, he'd come back to find the locks changed and his stuff in boxes on the pavement....just saying...

Slightyamusedandsilly · 26/06/2025 19:13

Hopetheportaloosareminging · 26/06/2025 16:01

Oh I do take responsibility - obviously these men have good points too otherwise we wouldn’t marry them would we?

He'd have to be able to walk on water to make up for leaving, and being uncontactable, while HIS OWN CHILD is ill in hospital.

But if you think he has redeeming features, then maybe you deserve him?

Pateallday · 26/06/2025 19:15

Op you say he does understand sarcasm. From that ive assumed that he doesn't struggle with only ever taking what you say literally?

From your other updates and how worn down you are, im struggling to fully understand why you haven't split up?

Takenoprisoner · 26/06/2025 19:16

Hopetheportaloosareminging · 26/06/2025 17:19

Haha, haven’t heard moron for years!

Obs is observations as in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels etc and ED is eating disorder.

Ive unfortunately had to become conversant in these terms the last few weeks.

So sorry about your daughter! I can't imagine any decent man going to Glastonbury leaving their child like that.

You sound utterly exhausted, no wonder, you have no fight left in you. No halfway decent bloke should even be asking if they can go in those circumstances. If they are insensitive enough to ask, you just KNOW they will be beyond useless if they stayed and probably blame you for missing out.

@Hopetheportaloosareminging I really hope you find the strength to leave this disgusting man, and for the reasons below

  1. He is horrible and managing him will suck your energy. He will not change.
  1. He doesn't deserve a family set up. currently he has that. He is benefitting from having a wife and his family together. That should be treasured. He should be cherishing you for everything you do to keep the family going while dealing with such challenges as your dd being sick. He is getting to present to the world as a family man. He doesn't deserve any of that, he should lose that privilege, he deserves to lose you.
  1. Like pp said, your children need to know this is unacceptable behaviour in a marriage and that you value yourself more than to stay and tolerate his rubbish treatment of the whole family.
ASimpleLampoon · 26/06/2025 19:16

Lack of care and empathy for a DD are not autistic traits. They are shi t parent traits

Bollihobs · 26/06/2025 19:18

Hopetheportaloosareminging · 26/06/2025 16:07

Yes, he’ll use that against me now if I tell him I’m annoyed.

Well yes, you did say it "go if you want to, it'll be on your conscience" - if he is autistic he may well have just taken that as "go" rather the nuance of "obvs don't go I'm being sarcastic" I get irritated when people "double speak" like that, especially in the context of a difficult conversation.

I'm not in any way saying what he's done is OK.

HarryVanderspeigle · 26/06/2025 19:19

You told a probably autistic person to go if he wanted. You knew he wanted to go. You are now annoyed that be did. I am not saying he should have gone, but you can't expect that he will be able to read your subtext. Next time be clear how you feel.

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 26/06/2025 19:23

Hotflushesandchilblains · 26/06/2025 19:09

If he is autistic, sarcastic communications will not work. You needed to say no, dont go.

OP says he understands sarcasm. So even if he is autistic, it doesn’t mean he didn’t get what she was saying.

Nottodaythankyou123 · 26/06/2025 19:25

SaturdayDream · 26/06/2025 18:57

You said he could go!! He didn’t ’fuck off to Glastonbury’ you gave him your blessing.

Learn to speak up at the time.

Because otherwise she knew she’d be the bad guy. If my DP told me I could walk off a cliff, I wouldn’t bloody do it because there are some circumstances where common sense should prevail, and having an unwell child in hospital is one of them.

Shetlands · 26/06/2025 19:26

lifeonmars100 · 26/06/2025 18:48

That was appalling and I am so sorry. No words for such negligence and downright cruelty.

Thank you. At the time, it seemed normal because that's what he was like. When there's a pattern of behaviour, it becomes normalised in a family and you become desensitised to things that others might be shocked by.

Howmanycatsistoomany · 26/06/2025 19:27

Backtoreality1 · 26/06/2025 16:10

So you told him to go - and he went. Sorry but what did you expect?

Maybe, just maybe, she expected him to behave like a father should when his child is in hospital.

Rosscameasdoody · 26/06/2025 19:30

ThatDeepGoose · 26/06/2025 16:00

At some point you have to take responsibility for marrying this man. It’s as simple as that really.

Stupidest reply ever.

Dutchhouse14 · 26/06/2025 19:32

If he is autistic then he may not have got the joke when you said go if you want to.
You have to explicitly say, I need your support, I need you to do xyz, please stay.
He hasn't even got a bloomin ticket!
DD had anorexia and only after her younger siblings were diagnosed did I discover that there is a big crossover between anorexia and autism, often undiagnosed . Girls present very differently. So be worth considering if your DD also may be autistic. .
Nursing anyone through anorexia is tough very tough. When DD was ill it was very noticeable at hospital and clinics that's dad's were barely present, when the going gets very tough it's the mums who pick up the pieces and make sacrifices in a consistent long term basis, putting themselves last and their poorly child.
You probably don't have headspace for DHs selfish behaviour right now. He can't control DDs anorexia or fix it and probably doesn't understand it., he is probably running away, literally, because he can't or won't cope.
DD will recover she will get better but it's not a quick fix. Concentrate on her and yourself.
You are not being unreasonable to want more support, where would DD be if you had f**ked off to Glastonbury too!!!

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