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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Contemplating leaving my husband

71 replies

Tiredmumma30 · 07/01/2026 08:35

God I just need a rant about my husband but I can’t tell if I’m overreacting and being a bitch.
We have two young children, and one has extra needs which means I can’t work until he goes to school next year. When I found out I was pregnant with my first 3 years ago my husband (not married at the time) wanted me to get an abortion but I refused and said I would do this with him or without him. He decided to stay with me.
Fast forward two years we start talking about having another baby. I fall pregnant without us even trying but thought my husband would be happy as we were openly talking about trying soon. He wasn’t happy. Demanded I get rid but I said I was ready for another and would be the perfect age gap and I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. We had a traumatic birth and my husband never bonded with the baby and refused to acknowledged them for quite some time. He found them very annoying and anything they do now he still finds irritating. He even texted me last night saying he doesn’t understand how I can love our youngest… wtf😳
We had a falling out last night as our second child is having really bad tantrums and he says he can’t cope. He works 7-5 5 days a week and doesn’t have to deal with them like I do yet he can’t cope… he does the bare minimum. He pays all the bills, food shop rent etc and always throws it in my face. His job is pretty easy, he just drives from factory to factory every day but says he has no energy to deal with the children. He does 0 jobs around the house on weekends and would rather sit on his phone playing games than going out and doing things as a family.
I’m the one that solely gets up in the night with our youngest, and he doesn’t sleep so I spend most nights up every 30 mins. My husband puts our eldest to bed but all he has to do is lie in his bed as he falls asleep pretty easily. But he complains about EVERYTHING. I suffered really badly from sleep deprivation and postnatal depression after our youngest and my husband couldn’t have cared less haha.
He has very little patience when it comes to the kids as well and flips out about tiny little things.
I also get universal credit (£90 a month) and my child’s disability allowance and carers so comes to £600 a month yet I’m the one that buys all our boys clothes, shoes, nursery meals and he still expects me to pay for a food shop a month (£100) and fill the car up one week (£60) and I also have to pay for all my own direct debits I had before I stopped working (£400 a month) don’t really know how he expects me to pay for all this🙄 he makes nearly £3000 a month but spends most his money buying trading cards 🥲 am I being unreasonable expecting him to chip in more? I know it’s his money but we’re married and a family so surely his priorities should be slightly different. And am I being unreasonable expecting him to help more around the house and being more present in the family on weekends? I get he works full time but I’m also at home full time with the kids which is draining. I love them so much but it’s tiring. Yet he doesn’t seem to care and just says “you wanted them” or “I never wanted them” and always throws it back in my face 🥲

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 07/01/2026 08:37

You certainly aren't overreacting.

Jzp · 07/01/2026 08:46

Why are even considering staying with this poor excuse for a man? It doesn’t sound as if you love each other anyway. You are definitely not being unreasonable.
sounds like you’d be better off in your own.
You're worth more than being with a man who is dragging you down, I think you sound amazing achieving everything you actually do.

InterestedDad37 · 07/01/2026 09:01

It sounds like he simply doesn't want to be a part of anything to do with family life or the kids. You sound perfectly reasonable with regard to the practicalities of everything to do with raising the children and making it work.
Get rid, he doesn't want to be there anyway.
(It really does beg the question of how the hell you ended up with such an uncaring arsehole in the first place, but this is not the time to question your choices. You are where you are, and I hope things work out well for you and your children. But send him packing).

Ithinkthisisthelasttime · 07/01/2026 09:06

LTB.
I am in a similar situation to you OP except I have more DC and all have some level of additional need. I am also now disabled and had to stop working due to my health. My DC are older and I worked once my youngest started school.

We were young when I was pregnant with DC1 and we discussed abortion but ultimately I was not willing to abortion the baby.
My DH is also in a driving job and works 12 hour shifts although this is often longer. My DH has always been very hands on and will do anything for his family. I also have open access to all the money. As even though my DH goes to a place of employment to earn that money I also enable him to work. We have never seen money as his &mine, it. Has always been ours.

Even before we married and we had separate accounts if I needed extra money DH would transfer it without question.

You are already a single parent, just living with another adult that gets the good bit of cuddling one child to sleep. You would most likely be financially better off on your own and you wouldn't have the weight of dealing with your DH.

How is his attitude towards your 2nd DC impacting the children? Even if they have never heard him say it, they will sense something. Children are alot more aware than we give them credit for.

TriedALotofNames · 07/01/2026 09:10

You get over £600 benefits and spend £400 on direct debits that don't include rent, food or bills?

moondip · 07/01/2026 09:13

Any man that could ask you how you manage to love their own child needs to be left.

moondip · 07/01/2026 09:14

TriedALotofNames · 07/01/2026 09:10

You get over £600 benefits and spend £400 on direct debits that don't include rent, food or bills?

That’s what you’re taking from this…?

Wordsmithery · 07/01/2026 09:15

Doesn't sound like this man has a single redeeming feature.
Should you leave him? It's a big fat yes from me.

YellowCatt · 07/01/2026 09:19

Personally, I’d try couples counseling as a first step to try & understand where each of you are coming from, then you will be in a better position to make an informed choice.

boobot1 · 07/01/2026 09:22

Why is it his money? All money is family money. Why do you not have access to all the money? Who the hell does he think he is? Most of all, how can you stay with a man who says such things about your children? I would be long gone. He sounds utterly vile.

21secondstopassthemic · 07/01/2026 09:24

The way he is treating the kids is inexcusable because they're already there. But really, he told you loud and clear both times that he didn't want to be a parent. You chose to disregard his wishes and go ahead. You were completely within your right to do so, but it does sound like you envisioned him being a sperm doner with financial benefits.

Unfortunately, the only person who has benefitted from you going ahead with both pregnancies despite his wishes is you. It is certainly not benefitting your two children whose father perceives them to be an annoyance. This will absolutely impact them in the future. I can't fathom why you are surprised with his attitude towards the children, he has told you twice and shown you through his actions that he does not want to be a parent. It is in your children's best interests for you to split up with him and allow him to be the childfree individual that he evidently wants to be.

Deliberations · 07/01/2026 09:24

I do feel for you - you are definitely carrying most of the load here in terms of looking after the family.

However - this man literally told you on at least two occasions that he didn't want to become a Father - so it doesn't seem like he was going to turn into a family man at any point - even excluding the additional needs your youngest has.

It sounds like you are both unhappy so might be good for all of you to split - I'm sorry things turned out this way.

He will need to pay maintenance - and any assets AND debts will be part of any divorce financial agreement.

YodasHairyButt · 07/01/2026 09:25

Your kids will grow up knowing their father doesn’t love them and didn’t want them. For that reason alone I would leave. The rest is just reinforcement.

OriginalSkang · 07/01/2026 09:25

"He even texted me last night saying he doesn’t understand how I can love our youngest… wtf😳"

I don't think "wtf😳" really covers this.

How could you even consider staying with him after any of this, let alone that text.

jeaux90 · 07/01/2026 09:28

Look OP if you stay with him the circle will keep going. Your DC will learn this shitty relationship dynamics where women do everything and get treated like shit. Please plan to make your move.

RosaMundi27 · 07/01/2026 09:31

He works 10 hours a day and pays for everything? I'd say count your blessings and learn how to manage a household.

Thundertoast · 07/01/2026 09:31

He's a twat but then.... why would you bring two children into the world knowing their father doesnt want them? Why didnt you break up with him and try and find someone who did want kids? Or is there context missing here?

VanessaSanessa · 07/01/2026 09:32

OriginalSkang · 07/01/2026 09:25

"He even texted me last night saying he doesn’t understand how I can love our youngest… wtf😳"

I don't think "wtf😳" really covers this.

How could you even consider staying with him after any of this, let alone that text.

Edited

This. F**k him off.

Your child deserves better and they aren't going to get it from him. You deserve better but I'm not sure you see that yet but your child does not deserve that.

HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 07/01/2026 09:33

21secondstopassthemic · 07/01/2026 09:24

The way he is treating the kids is inexcusable because they're already there. But really, he told you loud and clear both times that he didn't want to be a parent. You chose to disregard his wishes and go ahead. You were completely within your right to do so, but it does sound like you envisioned him being a sperm doner with financial benefits.

Unfortunately, the only person who has benefitted from you going ahead with both pregnancies despite his wishes is you. It is certainly not benefitting your two children whose father perceives them to be an annoyance. This will absolutely impact them in the future. I can't fathom why you are surprised with his attitude towards the children, he has told you twice and shown you through his actions that he does not want to be a parent. It is in your children's best interests for you to split up with him and allow him to be the childfree individual that he evidently wants to be.

This

Jumimo · 07/01/2026 09:34

“He even texted me last night saying he doesn’t understand how I can love our youngest… wtf”

I couldn’t love or stay with a man who can say this about our child.

mushforbrain · 07/01/2026 09:35

The impact of this behaviour on your children will be huge. Already. It will cause low self esteem and relationship issues as they grow. They are living with someone who is supposed to love and care for them (and their mother) but he literally doesn’t even want them there. He never did.
He has no interest in being anywhere near a good husband or father, he adds no value to you or your children’s lives. You can do this alone and I bet it will actually feel less lonely.

HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 07/01/2026 09:35

Deliberations · 07/01/2026 09:24

I do feel for you - you are definitely carrying most of the load here in terms of looking after the family.

However - this man literally told you on at least two occasions that he didn't want to become a Father - so it doesn't seem like he was going to turn into a family man at any point - even excluding the additional needs your youngest has.

It sounds like you are both unhappy so might be good for all of you to split - I'm sorry things turned out this way.

He will need to pay maintenance - and any assets AND debts will be part of any divorce financial agreement.

Agree

Jumimo · 07/01/2026 09:35

RosaMundi27 · 07/01/2026 09:31

He works 10 hours a day and pays for everything? I'd say count your blessings and learn how to manage a household.

Wow your bar is low.

Motomum23 · 07/01/2026 09:39

I'd say he brings nothing but stress. Get your ducks in a row - make sure you have good access to financial records and insist if he has contact its with both kids not just the oldest.

Babygirlmamahere · 07/01/2026 09:41

What a horrible situation for you OP. I really think you would be better off on your own, it sounds like you basically are on your own anyway.
I don't think that i could cope with his attitude towards the kids, that would be the major deal breaker for me. As the kids get older, his attitude towards them will be noticed and it will affect them. I don't think i could put up with that.

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