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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
thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:23

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 06:16

Hi Op I have an autistic daughter who has had serious anorexia for years involving frequent very long re feeding, tube feeding and monitoring stays in hospital. As you know Anorexia is horrific for both parents and parents cope in different ways. You have to grab the joy when it appears. It is also important for sufferers to see life goes on for those around them and what they’re missing.This was advice we had from several professionals which has helped hugely with recovery.

I’m not sure what you expected from your husband.I wouldn’t have expected my husband to hover at home whilst my daughter was in hospital or vice versa if he was in with her and I was at home. It is a marathon and hugely tough on marriages. Although it’s worrying she wasn’t in for long and her being allowed to go home is a big positive. I hope things are continuing to go well at home.

Yes yes re wording as regards autism. You weren’t that clear and those with autism take things very literally. Also they can bolt and not know how to handle difficult emotions. Yes not great in some situations but they’ll be amazing in other situations and have many positive characteristics too.

I presume CAMHs know that there is autism in the family and I’d mention it if not as it can impact treatment in patients.

None of this has been hard on OP's DH as he hasn't really been involved. It has all been on OP. She is the one that needs a break, not him, but she obviously wouldn't dream of going and enjoying herself for the weekend, not even checking on how her DD is doing.

I genuinely don't understand how anyone could take the side of OP's selfish and immature DH.

SomethingInnocuousForNow · 28/06/2025 08:23

3sthemagicnumber · 28/06/2025 08:03

@SunD0wn I hope your daughter continues to recover. I wanted to make a comment in support of some of what you've said - I think it's easy to say 'I would never... I could never...' when you haven't been there. I also have some experience of autism/anorexia within the family. Our experience was some years ago, and our family member did not survive the illness. She was in hopsital/treatment wards for almost a decade. And in that time, although of course it was always present, life went on to an extent it is hard to believe when you haven't lived it. It has to.
I think where I might disagree with you is that from what the OP has written here it sounds like what life going on might look like for her is separating from her husband, with this being the final straw. It might not. Only she can know how much this is another nail in the coffin with an incapable and selfish man she doesn't want to be with, and how much it is a poor response to a stressful situation. Dealing with a situation like their family is facing does put strain on people and ideally you would give each other grace and space. But from a position of both doing so, and pulling together, and recognising that neither of you is your best self in this situation but you both care and you are both trying. In that situation, I absolutely agree with you that facing it together is important (we had a lot of family therapy too). But that doesn't sound like the situation as the OP has described it to me.

OP, I wish all the best for your daughter, and for you.

I agree that there is a world of difference between the scenario that happened and if the husband had been pulling his weight the entire time, said to OP 'look, I am completely burned out, I have the Glastonbury ticket, I would really like to go for 1 or 2 nights' and then keep in touch a reasonable amount.

I would have had some sympathy for him if he'd acted in any way like a normal dad because with eating disorders they can last for decades in and out of hospital. But he didn't act like a normal dad and it's quite clear he literally doesn't care. He may or or may not be autistic but (and I barely ever say this) I think he's possible psychopathic. I have a relative who I believe is the only psychopathic person I know personally and he acted in almost the exact same way as OP's husband in very similar circumstances.

Doubledenim305 · 28/06/2025 08:25

thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:18

OP's DH sound like as much fun as a bout of diarrhoea. Your continued cheerleading for him, even though OP has made it very clear that he makes no sacrifices for his family, who all correctly think that he is a fucking knob, is ridiculous and tone deaf.

Hopefully, OP will go through with splitting from him this time and his children will vote with their feet and not bother with him. He will then be another middle-aged divorced man lamenting that his wife has turned his kids against him as they don't want to see him.

If he's the breadwinner then he is making sacrifices for his family.

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:26

thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:23

None of this has been hard on OP's DH as he hasn't really been involved. It has all been on OP. She is the one that needs a break, not him, but she obviously wouldn't dream of going and enjoying herself for the weekend, not even checking on how her DD is doing.

I genuinely don't understand how anyone could take the side of OP's selfish and immature DH.

Because it’s a MN thread and we don’t know both sides and it has been stated that he has a stressful job. Having tried to manage a job and an ill child I can say it’s crucial to have down town. Maybe the op doesn’t work or has a less stressful job- who knows! It’s a forum not CAMHs and professionals working with the family are the ones best placed to support them not frothing MN baying for male blood.

Hibernatingtilspring · 28/06/2025 08:26

Nice to see the trad wife fanclub joining the thread

Alonebutmarried · 28/06/2025 08:26

Doubledenim305 · 28/06/2025 08:25

If he's the breadwinner then he is making sacrifices for his family.

What sacrifices? He’d still be working, family or not.

A SAHM makes far more ‘sacrifices’ than a useless dad who turns up to work each day.

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:27

SomethingInnocuousForNow · 28/06/2025 08:23

I agree that there is a world of difference between the scenario that happened and if the husband had been pulling his weight the entire time, said to OP 'look, I am completely burned out, I have the Glastonbury ticket, I would really like to go for 1 or 2 nights' and then keep in touch a reasonable amount.

I would have had some sympathy for him if he'd acted in any way like a normal dad because with eating disorders they can last for decades in and out of hospital. But he didn't act like a normal dad and it's quite clear he literally doesn't care. He may or or may not be autistic but (and I barely ever say this) I think he's possible psychopathic. I have a relative who I believe is the only psychopathic person I know personally and he acted in almost the exact same way as OP's husband in very similar circumstances.

🤣arm chair psychopath diagnoses now!!!

diddl · 28/06/2025 08:28

He says he doesn’t have enough room in his brain bc he’s so busy and important.

Sorry Op but I did actually howl at that.

What a ridiculous embarrassment he sounds.

I mean if he was of any use, actually cared, had been trying to go for years & was keeping in touch & could get back pretty easily it might have been a different story...

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:29

Alonebutmarried · 28/06/2025 08:26

What sacrifices? He’d still be working, family or not.

A SAHM makes far more ‘sacrifices’ than a useless dad who turns up to work each day.

A dad working every day in a stressful job and providing for his family isn’t useless. I’m sure he’d love a less stressful job. Maybe that is something that could be looked at and discussed.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 28/06/2025 08:29

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:17

My experience is relevant. You can judge all you like but it’s still ridiculous and pretty ignorant as you clearly have zero experience of living with a child who has a long term illness.

Thousands of parents endure multiple long stay hospital stays. They do not have the other parent on permanent standby. Most of us have jobs we’re desperately trying to cling on to for a start.

I’m not judging someone for going to work.

I’m judging someone for fucking off to a festival for four days.

Also,did you miss the post by an ED nurse who expressed concern about the impact this would have on the daughter and her recovery?

I’m assuming she has enough experience for you to have an opinion?

thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:30

PatriarchyRuinedMyPesto · 28/06/2025 08:20

The bad language is often used to increase the melodramatic tone I find

the narrative is that the man/husband/Dads needs are not important and must always come below the women’s and kids. In reality relationships and families are more nuanced than that. It’s a ridiculous manifestation of modern parenting and sexism. It’s not so long ago that the parents would go to the pub every Saturday and the kids would just be there. None of this their priorities coming above the parents. There would be no question about it the dad wanted to go to the pub, or a football match or a gig. They work hard to provide for their families all week so why not

Also if the shoe was on the other foot the man would get called controlling and probably even abusive for trying to stop the wife from going on a trip. You can hear the hysterical howls now of strangers trying to convince her to leave an otherwise excellent relationship of many years or even decades for something like that

OP's DH is a man who always puts his needs first. His children recognise that he is a selfish and crappy father. You can continue your unqualified support of his behaviour, but most people have recognised that he isn't someone who is burnt out due to caring for his daughter so genuinely needs a break, but someone who leaves the caring up to his wife and swans off for the weekend without a care in the world.

IButtleSir · 28/06/2025 08:30

PatriarchyRuinedMyPesto · 27/06/2025 23:17

That’s nothing to be proud of. Some people are actually fun you know. Why the casual ageism and sexism? Plenty of people in their 30s and 40s and beyond go to Glastonbury and other festivals such as Download, not to mention gigs. Are we all supposed to turn into a hermit once reaching an arbitrary age?

The lack of respect for the Dad is very out of order. He probs sacrifices a lot, provides a lot and is allowed to have a break for a few days. Tickets are notoriously hard to get too. As for the DC not being impressed, they should be more grateful for the sacrifices that their father has no doubt made for them over the years, this attitude shows everything that’s wrong with modern parenting

He probs sacrifices a lot, provides a lot and is allowed to have a break for a few days.

Did you somehow miss the part where his 12 year old daughter is in hospital?

LemondrizzleShark · 28/06/2025 08:31

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:29

A dad working every day in a stressful job and providing for his family isn’t useless. I’m sure he’d love a less stressful job. Maybe that is something that could be looked at and discussed.

But if he has a less stressful job, what excuse would he have to refuse to pick his wife up from hospital after major surgery?

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:33

IButtleSir · 28/06/2025 08:30

He probs sacrifices a lot, provides a lot and is allowed to have a break for a few days.

Did you somehow miss the part where his 12 year old daughter is in hospital?

She was in overnight!

thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:35

Doubledenim305 · 28/06/2025 08:25

If he's the breadwinner then he is making sacrifices for his family.

FFS most people have jobs and lots of them are stressful. We even don't know whether he is the sole breadwinner or not.

IButtleSir · 28/06/2025 08:37

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:33

She was in overnight!

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.

She was kept in overnight after being in and out of hospital for two weeks. She is clearly very unwell. No decent parent leaves the other parent dealing with this situation alone unless it is absolutely necessary.

Lostworlds · 28/06/2025 08:43

@SunD0wn lots of your points are very valid and your experience with ED is helpful however, this is op’s marriage.
I think you’re massively missing the point . You’re defending a man you’ve never met. You’ve been dismissive of one night as you’re thinking of your own experience of Ed, not op’s.

We don’t know what job the husband does but what we’ve been told so far by op is that the husband isn’t supportive, he’s not doing anything to help anyone . He’s disappeared for a long weekend without actually phoning and seeing how everyone is, but most importantly how his unwell child is. He didn’t even bother to check his wife and unwell child would be home to be there with the second child that he’s just left in his room! Yes he’s a teenager but surely you’d make sure someone was going to be about for him!

Yes everyone is entitled to a break, life sadly does go on when there’s and illness in the family but at what point does a responsible parent realise that they need to do more as it sounds like op’s husband is barely doing anything.

LemondrizzleShark · 28/06/2025 08:43

thepariscrimefiles · 28/06/2025 08:35

FFS most people have jobs and lots of them are stressful. We even don't know whether he is the sole breadwinner or not.

You can’t underestimate the sacrifice that this poor man is making, by allowing two of his four children to live under the same roof as him.

It really is amazingly generous of him to give up at least two bedrooms for his offspring, when I’m sure he would prefer to use them for something else. You can’t then expect him to care about them as well!

PatriarchyRuinedMyPesto · 28/06/2025 08:45

This reply has been deleted

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SomethingInnocuousForNow · 28/06/2025 08:46

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Jesus Christ! People don't actually think like this do they?

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:48

Lostworlds · 28/06/2025 08:43

@SunD0wn lots of your points are very valid and your experience with ED is helpful however, this is op’s marriage.
I think you’re massively missing the point . You’re defending a man you’ve never met. You’ve been dismissive of one night as you’re thinking of your own experience of Ed, not op’s.

We don’t know what job the husband does but what we’ve been told so far by op is that the husband isn’t supportive, he’s not doing anything to help anyone . He’s disappeared for a long weekend without actually phoning and seeing how everyone is, but most importantly how his unwell child is. He didn’t even bother to check his wife and unwell child would be home to be there with the second child that he’s just left in his room! Yes he’s a teenager but surely you’d make sure someone was going to be about for him!

Yes everyone is entitled to a break, life sadly does go on when there’s and illness in the family but at what point does a responsible parent realise that they need to do more as it sounds like op’s husband is barely doing anything.

You have one side and one side only.You don’t know if the OP works, who takes the burden re stress overall or the finer details of the marriage. We don’t even know the exactconversation only the confusing language the op used.

This is why MN is not a good place to become judge, jury and marriage therapist.

PatriarchyRuinedMyPesto · 28/06/2025 08:48

SomethingInnocuousForNow · 28/06/2025 08:46

Jesus Christ! People don't actually think like this do they?

Yes outside this extreme echo chamber most people think like this, and always have done

ThatCyanCat · 28/06/2025 08:48

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Far from ruining your pesto, patriarchy seems to be serving you very nicely. A female-centred forum shouldn't make you feel this threatened, but it's a very common reaction.

LemondrizzleShark · 28/06/2025 08:50

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Rather foolish of him to have four children over the space of a decade then. I assume OP wasn’t cutting holes in the condoms.

Lostworlds · 28/06/2025 08:51

SunD0wn · 28/06/2025 08:48

You have one side and one side only.You don’t know if the OP works, who takes the burden re stress overall or the finer details of the marriage. We don’t even know the exactconversation only the confusing language the op used.

This is why MN is not a good place to become judge, jury and marriage therapist.

Lots of people work incredibly stressful jobs but that doesn’t stop them from checking in on their wife whilst their sick child is in hospital. It doesn’t excuse them from their parental responsibilities. It doesn’t prohibit them from making sure all other children under their roof are safe.

We might be getting one side of the story but at the end of the day, this man has disappeared for a long weekend and is posting about having a great time whilst his family struggles at home.

Also if you re- read a lot of ops posts you can see it is her to deals with the overall’burden’ of the illness etc.

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