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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel rage at partner ending discussions?

11 replies

Wheretogofromheaaar · 19/06/2026 19:58

I'm finding it hard to gauge - I have very few friends I feel able to open up to without feeling embarrassed/woe-is-me like - whether my partner's response to my anger is at all normal?!

We have a DD age 2 and as many - the early months were tough, he never really helped and I resented and still do, how difficult those early months were. He wouldn't talk about it until we got to eruption break up point - and at that point the current concern would the stop any discussion. Things have improved with his parenting - partially he has to make effort now as I'm a shift worker but the bread winner so he needs to cover childcare around nursery hours- but credit to him he has build a bond with her now and she loves her dad.

There is still a massive imbalance in our free time - we were both off today - he had 4 hours for a hobby, I asked for a couple of hours as she's been poorly all week so I've had no off time at all at home, and had to take time off work to look after her as she couldn't go to childcare. Totally fine but tiring as I've also had what she has. On his return I ask him to oversee as I need to clean the bathroom (a thrilling use of my independence) and within minutes DD crying and he's arguing and just shouting for her to get up (from another room, looking at his phone). Was a very 2yo logic breakdown but she is 2yo, and if he had just engaged with her I suspect the whole thing could have been avoided. But I try to give him room to parent his own way. 5 mins go by, no change so I challenge it and ask if he is going to help her, he kind of shrugs and doesn't really reply. I find the no reply the most disrespectful frustrating thing and respond in a brisk but not shout that I will go and help her myself, that I feel he is parenting lazily and it's weaponised incompetence when I just literally want 5 minutes peace. He refuses to reply when I'm being 'irrational like this' and says he will speak to me later. I get on with my day - settle DD, make us all dinner, entertain and do bath and bed for her. He still hasn't revisited the discussion and I know he won't. He's avoidant to the maximum. The bit that REALLY gets me is the lack of discussion and shutting me down when I raise what I feel to be valid concerns/complaints/negativities. He essentially won't talk to me if I show any emotion, but particularly anything angry. Anyone else get emotionally censored like this? I wasn't name calling or shouting but interested to know if others would have shut me down too?

OP posts:
NinaGeiger · 19/06/2026 23:24

That sounds really difficult.

I don't think it's fair to not let a partner express how they feel

Toomanyclothesinthecloset · 19/06/2026 23:30

Can you give him options...do you want to watch the baby or do you want to clean the bathroom?...do you want to cook?
Could you schedule a set time, a meeting to discuss, chores and free time?

Metromayhem · 19/06/2026 23:33

Lazy, selfish sod. Does he have any redeeming features?

Pansykavalier · 19/06/2026 23:37

Make sure your daughter remains an only child…

endofthelinefinally · 19/06/2026 23:46

He sounds absolutely horrible. What do you want your dd to learn about relationships?

Polyestered · 19/06/2026 23:49

Fucking hell…. Another man child. He is shutting you down because he doesn’t want to hear it. Honestly it doesn’t sound like he has the emotional capacity or intelligence to be a decent partner or father. This is only going to get worse.

SwitchUpTime · 20/06/2026 00:00

@Wheretogofromheaaar did you not notice this before you got married, or has he just checked-out once the baby came along?

Could it be old-fashioned views, it’s women’s work? So while you’re there you deal with it.

justintimeforxmas · 20/06/2026 00:06

My ex did this too. I would need to talk/ complain about something. He would get angry, and then take himself out of the situation by storming off. Some time later he would return and apologise for storming off and then that was that.

because hours had passed, the thing I needed to
say was gone/ too late etc so it never got dealt with. They were often trivial things like not doing things in the house.

he was avoident to the extreme but he felt it was over and done with because he apologised. But he was only ever apologising for him losing his temper, not the thing I first complained about. Took
me years to spot the pattern and it’s no wonder our relationship was doomed.
So much happier without him.

oliviaAustin · 20/06/2026 06:42

Rage is perfectly reasonable in this scenario. You must feel destroyed.

category12 · 20/06/2026 06:50

So you used your "free" time to clean the bathroom?

Don't do that. Go out. Or have him take your dd out.

Carve out time for yourself.

Myfridgeiscool · 20/06/2026 06:58

Controlling behaviour from him.
Resentment kills relationships.
He should be sharing the load in the home, not shouting at you.
I'm angry on your behalf.

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