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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have asked for plans to be changed slightly.

320 replies

breakdown2025 · 05/12/2025 10:55

Dh and I are married and living together. 4dc between us 2 mine and 2 his.
Due to a lot of difficulties currently going on he is seeing his children in a hotel every weekend as this is what works best for them right now.
I’m really struggling mentally. I had a breakdown earlier this year and another suicidal episode 3 weeks ago. I have fully supported dh in keeping all contact with his dc during this time.
This week however I am really struggling. I asked if there was any chance he could do one night and 2 days with his children instead of 2 nights and 3 days but he point blank refused. He said this would be letting his dc down. It’s not something I’d normally ask of him but my mental health is so bad right now I’m struggling to even get out of bed.
He does also see his dc during the week.
It feels like the whole run up to the festive period is messed up as we are never together with dc to do festive things. This weekend we are putting the decorations up and dh won’t be around to join in. It feels like I’m single to be honest.
He doesn’t understand why I’m so upset. I’d never stop him seeing his children I just asked if it could be one night less this weekend just to help me get back on my feet.
AIBU?

OP posts:
IsThisTheWaytoSlamMyPillow · 05/12/2025 23:05

breakdown2025 · 05/12/2025 11:26

It’s nothing to do with my needing help with my dc. It’s to have his emotional support and company.

I can see from replies that was wrong of me.

This is completely unfair on his children and on him. His DCs need to come first and they shouldn’t miss seeing him because you need emotional support.

I understand you’re struggling but saying you had ‘another suicide attempt’ is VERY different to what happened which you said is that you ‘shut down and wanted to’.

You do need to see the GP and ensure you get the therapy underway because this isn’t healthy for anyone.

Zumbalya · 05/12/2025 23:18

Diarygirlqueen · 05/12/2025 21:41

Nowhere in the posts does it state that the hotel decision was made by the children. It was the adults who made this decision.

Even more ridiculous to continue doing it then.
Think it's time to throw this one back.

Zumbalya · 05/12/2025 23:28

logsahc · 05/12/2025 22:39

Equal priority? Does your partner have equal priority to your kids? Equal?

Absolutely to an extent we both feel the same way about each other and our kids. Fucking shocking hey that two adults can see each others values and once the kids grow up and move on we are the two left together and we would like to stay together so why would we not give equal priority in different ways?!

I'm sorry your partner or husband does not appreciate you the same... But we don't all live that way. In the scenario detailed if we couldn't come to a more reasonable or appropriate arrangement I'd be moving on.. Had a shitty previous marriage, got rid and now I am with someone who treats me as well as I do him so to some degree we do prioritise each other equally alongside the children and we are on the same page. I wouldn't settle for any less, why the fuck should I?! so I'm sorry you did but that's not the path I'll take..
Fuck. That.

It is extremely possible to manage this without all the hotel expenses and having dad to themselves every single time he sees them. I'm all for taking them out alone whenever they come but fucked if we are wasting money on hotel rooms and therefore all 3 meals a day for everyone since they aren't at home just so kids can learn they never have to share and everyone will bend over backwards at great expense so they can have their way. That would be very interesting watching them go out in the world and expect the same from people that owe them nothing.

No thanks I'm in a relationship where for the first time I feel truly loved and appreciated, he feels the same and wouldn't want to be staying away from me all the time. Each to their own but mine works for me if it was the scenario described in the Op, I'll just be by myself thanks.

Phoenixfire1988 · 05/12/2025 23:33

Why marry a man with this arrangement? Why does it have to be a hotel ? He's there 3 days a week what's the actual point of being married ?

Phoenixfire1988 · 05/12/2025 23:36

breakdown2025 · 05/12/2025 11:18

No not at all. Somebody on their side of the family started showing photos of the parents wedding and just really stirring things up. That along with them getting older has made them just what their mum and dad back together. This then made their behaviour at our home unsustainable. We tried for a year to make it work but it was just causing everyone so much upset when they were here so we’ve done what we thought was the only alternative we had.

So you've basically let 2 children destroy your marriage and dictate how things will be ..... well done . File the divorce papers now because this won't ever get better .

ToKittyornottoKitty · 05/12/2025 23:59

Phoenixfire1988 · 05/12/2025 23:33

Why marry a man with this arrangement? Why does it have to be a hotel ? He's there 3 days a week what's the actual point of being married ?

Well they’ve been married more than 3 weeks haven’t they.

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 06/12/2025 06:55

Sorry to hear your are struggling. In all honesty if I were in your husbands shoes I would have done the same.

My kids have and always will come first!! Has he supported you in other ways through this?

NoisyViewer · 06/12/2025 07:11

breakdown2025 · 05/12/2025 17:03

just checked my dates were a bit out sorry. This is the 3rd weekend of this so it started November 21st and my break down was the 12th

That’s not that long in truth. Going to a hotel isn’t as exciting as you may think it is. Stuck in one room & not being able to go anywhere if the weather is crap. They will have noticed they’re not at yours & maybe seen that as a rejection. The EW would also have her concerns & opinion on it. So after only a few weeks to then have the time he has with his kids changed may look really bad for that side. The kids will probably resent you more. The EW will wonder if he’s contact will drop off. I don’t think it’s a small deal as your making it

logsahc · 06/12/2025 07:46

Zumbalya · 05/12/2025 23:28

Absolutely to an extent we both feel the same way about each other and our kids. Fucking shocking hey that two adults can see each others values and once the kids grow up and move on we are the two left together and we would like to stay together so why would we not give equal priority in different ways?!

I'm sorry your partner or husband does not appreciate you the same... But we don't all live that way. In the scenario detailed if we couldn't come to a more reasonable or appropriate arrangement I'd be moving on.. Had a shitty previous marriage, got rid and now I am with someone who treats me as well as I do him so to some degree we do prioritise each other equally alongside the children and we are on the same page. I wouldn't settle for any less, why the fuck should I?! so I'm sorry you did but that's not the path I'll take..
Fuck. That.

It is extremely possible to manage this without all the hotel expenses and having dad to themselves every single time he sees them. I'm all for taking them out alone whenever they come but fucked if we are wasting money on hotel rooms and therefore all 3 meals a day for everyone since they aren't at home just so kids can learn they never have to share and everyone will bend over backwards at great expense so they can have their way. That would be very interesting watching them go out in the world and expect the same from people that owe them nothing.

No thanks I'm in a relationship where for the first time I feel truly loved and appreciated, he feels the same and wouldn't want to be staying away from me all the time. Each to their own but mine works for me if it was the scenario described in the Op, I'll just be by myself thanks.

I didn’t read beyond the first paragraph because you were waffling and clearly getting triggered. But prioritisation isn’t a problem for DH and I as we share children, I would expect it to be different if we remarried and were in a house with other people’s children. I would always expect each of us to prioritise our children over the new spouse, whilst they were young at least.

whitewinefriday · 06/12/2025 07:54

Zumbalya · 05/12/2025 21:04

I get you OP.
I also would never stop my partner seeing his kids but I also know I'm of equal priority and if I was having a tough time as you are I am 100% confident he would have my back and make some adjustments so he can support me and see his kids. He also wouldn't bow to their unreasonable demand of paying for a hotel every time either though. He has a beautiful home that we pay a fortune for that is of greater priority than a hotel room bill all the time.
He, as the parent, would just tell his kids what the plan is not letting them dictate.

Excellent post

itsallrosy · 06/12/2025 08:15

In my opinion, YANBU at all. It sounds like you’re at rock bottom and you need support; of course that support should come from your husband and it’s not at all unreasonable to want to be looked after a little bit when you’re so poorly! Could the kids not come to your house so that DH could look after you whilst still seeing them? Or could he not just see them for a few hours a day and be able to come home to support you? I’m so sorry you’re feeling low, OP and I hope you are feeling better soon and get the support you need.

Theboymolefoxandhorse · 06/12/2025 08:32

@breakdown2025 sorry you’re having a difficult time. Haven’t rtft just your replies. I’ve voted YANBU. Problem with mumsnet is people often can’t / don’t want to look at nuance and prefer to see everything in black and white. Parenting is hard, blended families and keeping everyone’s needs met appears even harder.

YANBU because in life there has to be an element of flex. Someone gets unwell, the car may break down, the dog needs to go to the vets etc. your husband is in a tricky situation because it sounds like whatever option he chooses he will letting someone down, but I find it hard to believe there couldn’t have been fair way to rearrange this weeks meeting up with his dc - could he have seen them twice the following week instead for eg. I’m sure over the 8 years there has been time when arrangements may have had to be changed last minute - this happens even in unblendee families - although it is important to appreciate in this particular context him not seeing his kids on the set day May read as him picking you over them and perhaps that’s something he’s trying or avoid

Mental ill health is serious. My concern is that you say you have no help, are feeling suicidal and have had a mental breakdown - do you feel your children are safe at the moment and do they need support ? They are older yes but this could still affect them. Hope therapy goes well and please see GP re medication if not already on some.

I think PP suggestion of family therapy is probably most important one. His kids staying in. A hotel isn’t sustainable long term and it seems a huge part of the problem is your DH inability to parent and look like “the bad guy” by enforcing consistent boundaries. You need to work out how to work as a family together if this marriage is going to work. I would be telling him that. I’m sorry things are so awful. Do you have crisis numbers of places in your area incase you start feeling suicidal again? Hope you’re feeling better soon

CraftySeal · 06/12/2025 08:50

I feel for you OP, it sounds hard.

From what you have said about:

  • The differences in house rules and parenting styles between you with your kids vs your DSC's mum with her kids
  • Their dad's "weak" parenting in terms of not setting out reasonable consequences then following through with them
  • Interference from other family members who seem to be intentionally trying to turn your DSC against you (if I understood the insinuation correctly)
  • Your own fragile mental health

...it does make me think it could be hard to get this blended family working well again.

However, you all got along once so that gives hope you can do again.

Someone suggested family therapy and to be honest I think it's your best bet.

In terms of the specific question in your OP, honestly I don't know because it depends too much on multiple elements of the backstory/context that are hard to discern.

You're certainly not unreasonable to feel sad and like you want more time with your husband when you are mentally ill.

You may or may not be unreasonable in actually expecting him to specifically drop time with his DC this weekend, I don't know.

BeKookyExpert · 06/12/2025 10:11

OP can you share where in the country you are? I’m concerned about you. Not specifics but general area?

Mh67 · 06/12/2025 15:22

He is correct to say no. His children are and always will be number 1 priority.

Donttellhim · 06/12/2025 16:45

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 05/12/2025 11:02

Yabu to try to take away his time with his kids, yes.

Please don’t emotionally blackmail him either.

See your GP today if you’re struggling, that’s what they are for.

Jeez, you’re really not very empathetic are you! Presume you have kids, god forbid you and they have MH issues!

ByCandidRobin · 06/12/2025 17:07

Sorry but you come across as a drama queen. It's alarming that he can't bring his children to his home. Is it because of you?
Sorry about your MH difficulties but his primary concern should be his children. Get some professional help for yourself

jacks11 · 06/12/2025 17:41

I understand why you want support, but when you blend families and your new partner has children, you do knowingly enter a situation where you are aware they have DC and your partner will have to put them first. It’s a hard situation for you if you are struggling with mental health problems, but he is also between a rock and a hard place. In his situation would you want to destabilise your relationship with your DC when things have been tricky? You aren’t just asking him to compromise- you are asking his children to. Maybe he worries it’s one day, as a one off now, but then this sets a precedent or you will want to keep that change if it helps you.

As it happens, I don’t think this situation is sustainable and I’m not sure how it can be resolved. I think your DH needs to explore some family therapy with his children first, then potentially involving you.

My other concern here, OP, is that all the “blame” is being placed on your step-children. I have no doubt their behaviour was an issue, but I also believe that will have come from somewhere- and I am certain that “somewhere” is at least in part unhappiness and feelings of insecurity. You appear to almost resent your step-children for being the problem and making life harder for you- but, honestly, this sort of behaviour does not come from absolutely nowhere and without an underlying reason. It just doesn’t. All children can be naughty, argumentative, will try and wind up or annoy siblings/step-siblings or play parents off against each other- but for it to have got to the point where they can’t be in your house is a huge leap on from that. I think you and you DH need to reflect on what else might have been going on for his children. Are you sure you/your children were not contributing to the issue? It is rare one side is always in the “wrong”/misbehaving and the other always behaves perfectly when it comes to conflict.

I suppose that I don’t believe things were “perfect” in the household before some photos of their parents were shown, given that they have no memory of their parents together. if all was well, some photos and memories would not have caused this. You might have felt they were perfect- and from your perspective, they might well have been- but perhaps your step-children weren’t quite as happy as you thought? Children can be quite good at masking unhappiness and playing along, especially if they feel it will gain parental approval and that is something they crave, or feel uncertain of. Sometimes, things change as they get older as they feel more able to act out/voice issues, or work out alternative ways to get their needs met. They may have been jealous of their father spending more time with his step-children than them, for instance. It might not have been that, just an example.

I think you are at risk of demonising young children as the problem. I suspect they aren’t actually the problem, they are merely acting in response to the actual issue. I also doubt that you and your children In any case, creating a situation where his contact with them is lessened or disrupted is highly unlikely to help matters.

Hopefully, with some professional help your DH and his DC can work through it, before involving you and working towards a better relationship with you too. I hope with professional help your mental health will also improve.

whitewinefriday · 06/12/2025 17:52

Mh67 · 06/12/2025 15:22

He is correct to say no. His children are and always will be number 1 priority.

But does he need to spend his contact time in a hotel??

AllGoodNamesRGone · 06/12/2025 17:57

Bless you. I don't think you are being unreasonable.
I think all you have done is ask for some support and I don't think asking for 1 day is unreasonable. When struggling with mental health you need support from those closest to you.
I'll be brutally honest and say I don't think your DH is the support you need. When I've struggled with mental health my DH has been 100% there for me, but I know your situation is different (I don't have step children).
I don't know what the solution is but I couldn't just read and run.
I hope you get the help you need x

TFImBackIn · 06/12/2025 18:04

Your husband sounds useless. In fact, it sounds as though he and his children are enjoying themselves in the hotel - and I bet that's at your expense, either directly or indirectly if he can't pay the household bills as a result - and he thinks he's got you where he wants you, in the wrong.

Come on, OP, you'd be better off without him in so many ways. I bet your kids wouldn't miss him or the other children. You'd be better off financially - that means an awful lot as you get older. You are paying for this palaver to carry on.

Tell him it's over and he has to leave. When the children realise they won't be going to a hotel every weekend and will be stuck with their dad in a small rented place, I'm sure they'll realise the error of their ways. So will he - that's the point where he'll beg you to let him return. Tell him to get lost.

PinkyFlamingo · 06/12/2025 18:18

OP what to you mean about what your DS has witnessed?

FlockofSquirrels · 06/12/2025 18:21

whitewinefriday · 06/12/2025 17:52

But does he need to spend his contact time in a hotel??

Edited

Apparently their father decided that was the best option for the time being in the week after OP had her most recent "breakdown" and threatened suicide. After only two weekends of that she's asking him to shorten it to be with her to help manage her mental health.

I have plenty of empathy for (and experience with) mental health issues, but it's entirely possible that this father has chosen the least bad option for his DC in this moment.

Kasma · 06/12/2025 20:14

logsahc · 06/12/2025 07:46

I didn’t read beyond the first paragraph because you were waffling and clearly getting triggered. But prioritisation isn’t a problem for DH and I as we share children, I would expect it to be different if we remarried and were in a house with other people’s children. I would always expect each of us to prioritise our children over the new spouse, whilst they were young at least.

What a pleasant person you are. As someone in a similar situation to that poster, I get that post completely.
And given you aren't in a situation where there are step kids you have absolutely no idea what that would look like if it happened to you in real life.
Can never know how we would act of what would happen in a situation until we are there ourselves.

Only read half your post though since that's the courtesy you give others and it was pretty boring and inaccurate since you haven't experienced it....
Though with attitude like that over someone else's living situation I wouldn't count it out 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't read it all either if you were so certain you're right on things you haven't even experienced... How visionary.

cranberryhaddock · 06/12/2025 21:20

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/12/2025 13:00

The difference is between children's needs and wants.

Any adult should always put any child's needs before another adult's needs.

A parent should only sometimes put a child's wants first, otherwise you end up with spoilt children.

The trick is to distinguish what a child wants from what it needs.

Any adult should always put any child's needs before another adult's needs.

Good heavens. Even when that adult is suicidal, they're still bottom priority or is that only the case for stepparents? I have no words.