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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To leave DP due to his refusal to look after his health

380 replies

lonelyinlondon99 · 29/04/2026 09:26

Firstly, I apologise for how long this is but i feel it necessary so you all get a picture of how desperate this situation is.

DP of 7yrs is slowly killing himself. He was diagnosed with fibro about 3yrs ago & hasn't worked since. He is also T2 diabetic (insulin 4 times a day) but his diet is absolutely woeful. His weight has slowly crept up and is now out of control.

Mcdonalds every day (and it's not just a cheeseburger it's a large meal with a fizzy drink, 6 nuggets or he will order 5 chicken mayos)
Huge bowl of crunch nut cornflakes every morning for breakfast with whole milk
Hardly ever drinks water & can easily drink 2ltrs of pepsi max in a day if not more
Huge portions of whatever he eats. He will get two of whatever he fancies from Greggs (2 steak bakes, 2 sausage rolls & 2 doughnuts ect) or order 5 separate dishes from the Chinese / Indian excluding the rice / chips / poppadoms that he has to have of course. Whatever he doesn't eat he has for breakfast the same day.
He has take aways 4 out of the 7 days. I always make food at home and he will have that too.
Has sleep apnea but refuses to where his masks as he doesn't like it (another reason I sleep with my son also)
Eats copius amounts of sweets & chocolate with reckless abandon
Falls asleep throughout the day

Always moaning his body/ kidneys hurt and is constantly tired
Refuses to change his diet
Never walks anywhere, always drives. We live exactly 5 doors away from our GP surgery and he still drives there.
Has an excuse or reason for everything.

Hasn't got up with our son in about 2.5yrs. I sleep with him as he is on the autism pathway & climbs on the windowsill / headboard and i'm scared he will get tangled in the curtains or unlock the window and escape (ground floor flat but next to a very very busy road) so it's safer for him to sleep with me until we can afford to make the room my DP sleeps in safe for DS to sleep in after a OT assessment which is due in May.
He lays in bed till gone 8 or 9am (ds can decide to be up for the day at 3am/4am and not sleep again until around 1pm)
He will occasionally hoover or wash up
Never cooks. If he can't stick it in the microwave or airfryer he won't do it all house work, cooking & laundry falls on me.

I could live again with the breath I waste on him asking, begging and pleading for him to look after himself. As I said our 3yr old is on the autism pathway, he is a runner, no sense of danger and just runs and runs and runs until he is caught and he will never be able to run after him if he ever breaks loose from his harness. I don't know what to do, nothing I say sinks in. I am thinking of leaving as we are dictated by him what outings we do as he cannot walk far at all without sweat pouring out of him & he has to rest every 5/10mins and it's infuriating. I wanted to go to the seaside and zoo soon (separate days) but he wants to hire a mobilty scooter to use both visits and it's instantly put me off going.
I love walking and being outside (i can drive just hate it especially in London) and DS loves being outside too.

We can't even think of going on holiday abroad or uk due to his size and mobilty. He got weighed at Boots 3 days ago and is almost 27st & he is only 5'9 he doesn't even try and help himself.
He's 35 & i'm scared he won't see 40 the way he is going. His pip & esa never lasts as goes on his huge food consumption & petrol so i pay for 90% of bills, food shopping, clothes for ds and whatever else he may need.
So sorry this is so long, both my parents died when before I was 20 & I have no siblings / auntys/ friends to confide in.

OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 30/04/2026 00:09

God what a fucking prick.

Brownbl · 30/04/2026 00:15

What an ugly selfish loser.
And a shit father.

So glad the penny has finally dropped.
You doing it all and him sitting on his arse spending and gaming?
A total waster.

Better to get him out now than be left caring for a waster that had a stroke and was left incapacitated.

He will definitely be back knocking on your door.
Call the police.
Pack his shit up and pass it out the window.
Get a video bell.
Do not allow him back in.

Well done.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 30/04/2026 00:24

Op you’re definitely capable of taking your son on a Sen friendly holiday on your own

Iocanepowder · 30/04/2026 01:08

Fucking hell op just read your update. And also well done.

Is your ring doorbell a video one? If so, keep the footage of him throwing the car seat as evidence in case you need it later on.

I assume you’re going to tell MIL? I hope the childcare situation still works for you. I wouldn’t let him have access to DS though with his temper like that.

Dancingintherain09 · 30/04/2026 07:54

As you have a good relationship with his mum, make sure she knows exactly what happened and you couldn't take anymore. Try to keep that relationship for your child especially as she does your childcare. It's not like your soon to be ex DH can do childcare or have DC at all in his condition.

All the best for the future @lonelyinlondon99, you've got this 💪

Chilly80 · 30/04/2026 07:57

Wishing you an amazing future without that

Polkadotpompom · 30/04/2026 08:06

OP just read your update.

Well done on kicking him out. 🥳👍

You will now need a new car seat. 😔

If you don't have a video doorbell, get one pronto.

I'm so glad you have your own tenancy on the flat, a job, a driving licence, etc. You will find life easier and simpler just you and your ds.

ApolloandDaphne · 30/04/2026 08:12

Well done OP. Do not be tempted to take him back. You have a chance to make a good life for you and your DS now.

Jane143 · 30/04/2026 08:39

This shows the disrespect for your son, to actually throw the car seat and probably damage it. Glad he’s gone. You deserve a better man. The gaming money would really annoy me too. His PIP money! Using it in gaming!!😡

Jane143 · 30/04/2026 08:40

Brownbl · 30/04/2026 00:15

What an ugly selfish loser.
And a shit father.

So glad the penny has finally dropped.
You doing it all and him sitting on his arse spending and gaming?
A total waster.

Better to get him out now than be left caring for a waster that had a stroke and was left incapacitated.

He will definitely be back knocking on your door.
Call the police.
Pack his shit up and pass it out the window.
Get a video bell.
Do not allow him back in.

Well done.

100% agree

Daleksatemyshed · 30/04/2026 08:51

You said he was arrogant and he really is @lonelyinlondon99 , to spend money on another woman whilst letting you do everything. Tell his DM why you've chucked him out, I'd hope she'll be on your side and go on helping with your DC.

Notabarbie · 30/04/2026 08:53

I'm so very glad you have got this man out of your life.

You and your son now have a world of peace and opportunities.

Please don't under any circumstances take him back. Especially after the violence. You might want to buy a new car seat now it's been thrown.

His mum should give him a strict time frame if he's gone to her house. She should not be trying to accommodate him. He can present as homeless and be put up in temporary accommodation which would be better for him in the long run as he will likely die if he's enabled to go on as he's been doing.

Clearly he has issues that need addressing but he hasn't tried to address them and he doesn't sound as if he was ever very nice.

I'm sorry you're without your parents as you go through this transition and loss. There will be someone far better than this man in your future.

clearlyy · 30/04/2026 09:04

Just read the update and I honestly gasped. What a fucking bellend. Well done OP. you’re going to do much better without him x

DownyBirch · 30/04/2026 09:05

I'm so glad he's gone - please make sure you don't take him back. Bag all his stuff up and send it to his mum's or his uncle's. He was bringing absolutely nothing to your life and was clearly just using you.

Torchout · 30/04/2026 09:38

One thing not pointed out here is that this diet is going to cause CKD , chronic kidney disease. Uncontrolled diabetes, tick. High salt, tick, Dark soft drinks, tick. Its not going to be long before he's heading for dialysis.

However, its his life, his choice. If he's not on the tenancy tell him he has to leave. You can't give him an ultimatum because he'll just double down. Tell him.how this makes you feel. Don't make it about the food.

Swiftie1878 · 30/04/2026 09:41

lonelyinlondon99 · 29/04/2026 22:44

I can't reply or thank you all enough for your replies. They have made me feel so seen & validated. You're all amazing.
This evening took an eventful turn. Some app he uses payment got declined and he asked me to pay it & he will pay me back.
On android you have to go into playstore and update the details for it to take the money. On his list of purchases is dozens of payments to a gaming app.
So whilst i've been at work, asleep or out with DS he's been watching & sending this lady gamer money in the form of gifts. One was for over £35. Most in a day was £50.
He doesn't even buy me or DC anything. I felt like such a mug. He never denied it, just said so? i told him I can't live with him or like this any more and he has to leave. He left under protest, slamming about. I was getting DS bathed & my ringdoor bell went off & then an almighty bang. Looked at the video & he's thrown DS car seat at my door. I have called the council and explained the situation and said i need my locks changing. They're coming out to do it tomorrow. The key is in the lock and the chain is on.
Thank you all again so so much.

How fortunate that just as you were starting to question things, something like this came up to prove that you were right.
Well done on being so decisive, and good luck in sorting life arrangements out and settling into a new, much healthier set up with just you and your DC.
I hope his mum remains supportive too - she sounds lovely. 🩵🩵

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/04/2026 09:45

I’m so sorry he behaved like that, it must have been so scary and you must feel very shaken. Well done for getting him out, you’re extremely brave and you’re doing the right thing for yourself and your little boy. You have so much support on here, post as much or as little as is helpful and I’ll keep you in my thoughts. Better days lie ahead I promise. Hopefully the locks get changed today and you feel safe and secure in your home. It’s very good you’ve got a door camera.

I wonder how his mother will react, I don’t know that I’d rely on or confide in her too much as she probably won’t to house him forever and might try and get you to change your mind and take him back. Please be cautious 💐

LizzieSiddal · 30/04/2026 09:53

Flowers thank goodness you’ve thrown him out. You’ve done the right thing for yourself and your DS.

He sounds so like my BIL, absolutely will not listen to anyone, went up to around 25 stone, is type 2 diabetes which he doesn’t control correctly and with lots of other health issues. SIL stayed with him dispute him being an absolute pig to her and the DDs. He had a massive stroke at 49, will never work again, SIL ended up nursing him back to health when he came out of hospital and rehab, as he wouldn’t allow anyone else in the house. She stayed another 5 years and so much damage was done to her DDs. She eventually made him leave but his teenage DDs are a stranger from him.

We’ve washed our hands of him despite putting in a lot of time trying to help him. I think he has something deeply wrong that none but himself can fix.

It’s awful to see but it really is not your problem to solve. Flowers

ERthree · 30/04/2026 10:04

Wow, you are amazing. So pleased to hear you have made him leave. Now don't look back, it is onwards and upwards from here for both you and your son💐

scoobysnaxx · 30/04/2026 10:14

YES OP!
bloody good for you!
hope the door hit him on the way out, disgusting human.

i hope this morning you can breathe and look forward to a life with your little boy alone and without an adult baby bringing everything down.

he’ll soon find out his life is utter misery.

ChristmasCwtch · 30/04/2026 10:17

Well done OP.

Stay strong for your boy.

What a useless piece of shit your ex is!!

LeaderBee · 30/04/2026 10:20

When I saw the title of the post I was expecting this to be a very YABU - Jesus woman, did you not agree to "in sickness and in health!?"

then I read the first paragraph and I sympathise, get the hell out of there; He' snot only not looking after himself but seems like he's no interest in your boy either.

drives 5 doors down the street and wonders why he's always tired? FFS.

Chattanoogachoo · 30/04/2026 10:20

I had a now deceased partner who was almost identical to yours.
He had weight loss surgery but realised he could eat more if he drank coke with his food and regained a lot of the weight.My son cried one day because his father picked him up from school and slept in the school car park for an hour with his mouth open and the window down.
You're in a difficult situation but I would say it gets increasingly difficult to leave.I had finally decided to separate in the months before my partner's death but hadn't told him.His death at 55 was probably predictable but it's been difficult.

pontipinemum · 30/04/2026 10:21

Well done OP!! I am so glad you posted here and got the support to kick him out.

Disgraceful behaviour throwing your sons car seat at the door!

scoobysnaxx · 30/04/2026 10:24

LeaderBee · 30/04/2026 10:20

When I saw the title of the post I was expecting this to be a very YABU - Jesus woman, did you not agree to "in sickness and in health!?"

then I read the first paragraph and I sympathise, get the hell out of there; He' snot only not looking after himself but seems like he's no interest in your boy either.

drives 5 doors down the street and wonders why he's always tired? FFS.

5 doors is just insane. I can’t even picture it without hearing canned laughter from a sitcom in the background 🤣

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