Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask husband to pay for everything

32 replies

Scorpiolady99 · 19/11/2025 22:31

I know this is long so please bare with me and I apologise but there is so much i needed to add in.
My husband and I have been married 4yrs. Our 3yr old has autism, GDD, is non-verbal and still in nappies.
I had worked in a very well paid self employed job (i did nails / body waxing) for over a decade and worked right up until 3 days before my due date. I haven't gone back due to needing to looking our little boy. He is a beautiful, happy boy but incredibly and relentlessly difficult to look after day to day. No two days are the same.

Lately, my husband has been very difficult with me. He won't cook, does bare minimum cleaning, will think nothing of thrashing the kitchen after i've cleaned it and gone to bed and leave it for me to clean as i get up with our ds every morning (h can wake up at 2am some days and be awake hours and hours before he naps) he will bang and crash about if i ask him to clean up what he's left all whilst talking under his breath. I do all the cleaning, cooking, washing, child care. etc.

Had a very bad few days when our ds had a cold, he sleeps with me so if he wakes in the night, i deal with him. I also do all bathtimes, every wake up & every get up. I haven't cooked anything yesterday hoping he would knowing I've had a really rough few days with him (all the
Ingredients were in the fridge/ freezer) and when i'd come down from bathing him & getting him to sleep he asked me what i was making for tea i said whatever you want to make. He sighed & made himself sandwiches. I went to bed having nothing. I was too tired.

Well today he woke up and instantly went into in a mood bc i reminded him i needed to borrow the car to nip to Tesco & i'd have it back in 2hrs and he could use it for the rest of the day. I asked if he could possibly wash up about 3 things whilst me and ds were out at the supermarket. He said no i said why not he went off on a tirade of because he works (secuirty / door supervisor) and bc i don't work i need to do 100% of everything house related including gfood shopping, all appointments for ds & preparing his food for work as all the other wives / gfs of his work mates do that. I said ok (i do it anyway apart from his work food) i will but then he will have to be 100% responsible for all bills / money related things.
I won't be using my savings for things i usually get or pay for myself (clothes, food / coffee when I'm out toiletries etc). I get DLA for our youngest and it goes into a bank account i opened so I know it goes on him & his needs (he only eats certain food, wears certain materials, needs special sensory toys etc. It really does add up) He didn't like that idea AT all. He said the DLA i get should cover it all for me and ds and apart from bills I will get "f* all and like it". He has been like this with me since our youngest was around 2. For my birthday last week all I wanted was a pair of pjs i'd seen in primark & a bathbomb from Lush (also a lay in but I knew that will NEVER happen) I got pjs from Next and a takeaway. I was grateful but a little let down as i didn't ask for much and he said "you got what you got & that's that" I said ok then.
I can't type any more of that he's said and done as this is already far too long. I am thinking of leaving after Christmas and moving from where we live (south london) back to Essex where I am originally from. Being single would be so much more easy. He would 100% let me go no arguments about outr ds or divorce. It would be just like i am now but without him to deal with. Sex life is none existent. Not bc he doesn't ask, he does i just can't bring myself to do it as he isn't the man I fell in love with any more. He spends alot of time watching porn & probably talking to other women but i really don't care any more.
I lost all my friends when I had my ds as I can't leave him to do my old activities and they've all filtered away and I cut contact with my family when I was 18 (10yrs ago now). I have nobody to talk to about it.

OP posts:
Marmite1992 · 19/11/2025 22:35

I'm so sorry he sounds awful and I think you have a lot of strength to leave and do what's best for you. I can't imagine being treated that way day in and day out. He's a waste of space and you deserve better

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/11/2025 22:35

YANBU OP and I’m so sorry you’re having to live like this.

It sounds like you’ve made your mind up to leave, and that is totally the right decision. He sounds absolutely horrible.

Appikate · 19/11/2025 22:38

Sounds like you have already made the right decision. He does not bring anything positive to your life and does not see you as a partner.

WhichBigToe · 19/11/2025 22:46

Of course you shouldn't stay with someone who treats you so awfully. I am worried about your isolation, though. I think it's completely understandable that caring for a child with additional needs has prevented you from keeping up your friendships, but as time goes on, having no social connection will deplete your reserves to go on being the responsive, loving and attuned parent you want to be. I wonder if moving back to Essex might give you a chance to reconnect with people or to make a new network around yourself? I know it's not easy when you are devoted to your child, but I really think it is vital in the long run. Wishing you all the best x

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 19/11/2025 22:56

Well done for recognising that the way he treats you is wrong. You and your son don’t need him. Leaving him is the right thing for you both. If you can make a new start back home in Essex, maybe look for some some support groups for parents with disabled children? Or even whether there is some appropriate childcare, either to let you work a bit or just get some much needed respite for a few hours.

Overthemhills · 19/11/2025 23:59

I’m so sorry for you OP. He’s a Class A prick.
If you do move to Essex I’ll happily guide you through services and suggestions for groups for your child (I have a disabled child but she can’t access a lot of services but I do know a lot of things about what groups there are from endless searching).
Leave him.
You can’t be any more unhappy than you already are.

HollyBerri · 20/11/2025 00:04

You should be able to carers allowance as well. Might help you a bit financially.

Nofilter · 20/11/2025 01:07

What an amazing mum you are! Your DS is a lucky little boy. You know the answers here - it’s actually shocking hearing how he speaks to you, it’s absolutely disgusting sweetie. He may make it sound “normal because that’s what his friends do” but that’s just rubbish. Run, get out ASAP.

Scorpiolady99 · 20/11/2025 06:22

Thank you all for your lovely words. I have just read them holding back tears as I haven't been able to speak to anyone about this without risk of it getting back to him.
I am still in contact with one cousin who lives in Sheffield. I sent her a link to my post on WhatsApp & she told me off for not saying anything to her sooner. She said not to wait & to go now. I can stay with her until the New Year. She's 10yrs older than me & her only child is away at university. She also recently just got divorced herself so we both will probably be great company for one another. I can borrow her car if needed when up there (when ds has a meltdown, a drive around calms him down). So when my husband goes off to work today I will be packing us a bag and taking the train up to her until new year. I hope it doesn't effect ds too much being in a different house but he is usually very nonchalant about things so i'm sure he will be fine after a day or so.
I will leave him a note. I will inform ds support worker and health visitor what is happening. I feel i can finally breathe again. Thank you all once again. xxx

OP posts:
Strikeback · 20/11/2025 06:27

Good luck OP!

jeaux90 · 20/11/2025 06:32

Good for you OP. I left years ago and there is not a day I regret it. We do not need to put up with this crap. You’ll find a way to support your DS and get back to work when you have settled. Best wishes to you.

zazazaaarmm · 20/11/2025 06:32

You sound amazing.
When you make your new live let in friends, make some space for yourself. Its the right thing for you and your DS.

Appikate · 20/11/2025 06:46

Good Luck... So great to have the support of family

DonewhatIcando · 20/11/2025 06:47

@Scorpiolady99
I take my hat off to you, well done for reaching out to your cousin.
Good luck, can you come back and update us when you get there.
Don't forget that if/when you have a wobble the nest of vipers on MN will be here to support you ❤️

x2boys · 20/11/2025 07:03

Do yoy have savings etc?
I'm just wondering how you will manage financially initially?
Once everything is in place ,you should be OK, with DLA, carers allowance, UC and maintenance but it takes a while to set up?

Ericeric · 20/11/2025 07:08

Do not struggle with this man anymore. Move out. Or get him out. Get all the benefits you can. You sound like a loving Mum and good person. You may spend the rest of your life on benefits but you and your children will be free from this beast of a man.

Scorpiolady99 · 20/11/2025 07:25

x2boys · 20/11/2025 07:03

Do yoy have savings etc?
I'm just wondering how you will manage financially initially?
Once everything is in place ,you should be OK, with DLA, carers allowance, UC and maintenance but it takes a while to set up?

I have lots of savings. I saved from when I started my job when i was 18 up until the day I left to have ds in 2022 (he was 3 in august) and I just turned 28.
I also got a sum of money off of a neighbour I cared for 7yrs when she sadly passed away. I get dla for ds which i only use for his food, clothes, sensory toys, etc it goes into a separate bank account so i know his dad cannot access it. He is terrible with money and wouldnt think twice of spending on himself. I'm not a big spender at all. It will definitely cover a deposit / first months rent / bond and more. When ds is in nursery (finding one for him will be extremely difficult as he needs 1:1 supervision) I can go back to doing my job. I loved it so much and really do miss it. x

OP posts:
Ericeric · 20/11/2025 07:27

Can you get carers allowance too?

With your savings you could rent a new place and get the ball rolling quite quickly.

Your current house with partner is it rented?

You will never be out of work doing nails and waxing so when you can jump back in it should be easy.

x2boys · 20/11/2025 07:30

Scorpiolady99 · 20/11/2025 07:25

I have lots of savings. I saved from when I started my job when i was 18 up until the day I left to have ds in 2022 (he was 3 in august) and I just turned 28.
I also got a sum of money off of a neighbour I cared for 7yrs when she sadly passed away. I get dla for ds which i only use for his food, clothes, sensory toys, etc it goes into a separate bank account so i know his dad cannot access it. He is terrible with money and wouldnt think twice of spending on himself. I'm not a big spender at all. It will definitely cover a deposit / first months rent / bond and more. When ds is in nursery (finding one for him will be extremely difficult as he needs 1:1 supervision) I can go back to doing my job. I loved it so much and really do miss it. x

Let the LA know as soon as you move as you move so they can assess him for an EHCP so everything is in place for school.

PragmaticIsh · 20/11/2025 07:37

Well done! Hope you have some calm between now and the New Year.

If you're planning on heading back to Essex I'd start researching sen schools, it's this time next year when you'll need to apply if your DS is 3 now. Does your DS have an EHCP yet? That can be a place to name a particular school.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 20/11/2025 07:42

Thank goodness for your update, as I was going to say - why wait until after Christmas.

Brassknucks · 20/11/2025 07:47

@Scorpiolady99 you are smashing this. 💕
get yourself away. I am a carer for one of my DC who sounds similar to yours, (currently I can’t work with him needing me home and in all honesty being up all night even after he’s had melatonin etc, I’d be a shocking employee, Im sure you get it) and even though my husband works full time we still get UC that helps us, my carers allowance is £83 weekly but they also pay into my state pension. Im unsure if you get UC already but please look into everything youre entitled to and update us with everything x

LunaDeBallona · 20/11/2025 08:01

Get yourself back to Yorkshire.
You will soon make friends - look for some local parents groups of kids with autism.
Theres so many women who sit in unhappy relationships for years so good on you for doing this, I’m really proud of you.
You go and dont look back.
Get your CMS claim in asap!
Have a wonderful Christmas - and make sure your cousin knows she’s one hell of a woman too.

Scorpiolady99 · 20/11/2025 08:08

PragmaticIsh · 20/11/2025 07:37

Well done! Hope you have some calm between now and the New Year.

If you're planning on heading back to Essex I'd start researching sen schools, it's this time next year when you'll need to apply if your DS is 3 now. Does your DS have an EHCP yet? That can be a place to name a particular school.

Yes he does. He currently only goes to a play therapy session every other Tuesday as no nursery place was available for him due to the level of care he needs. He is 3 in years but around 11mths old in behaviour etc. I understand the lack of space as staff are stretched to the limit in childcare. My cousin did say the funding for SEN children in Sheffield is very good (she works within the council) so if i like it I may stay there providing i can find somewhere suitable for ds x

OP posts:
LondonernotinLondon · 20/11/2025 08:25

Wow you are amazing! So strong. And I’m glad you’re not hanging around thinking husband might change as he won’t. You and your son will be better off living on your own with no stress from him.

Swipe left for the next trending thread