Please or to access all these features

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

dh is glaring at me from across the room... sorry ridiculously long

18 replies

lunavix · 10/02/2006 22:48

This is about the second or third time I've posted about him, I don't want to leave him or do anything stupid, but sometimes I just don't understand why he seems to work to wind me up.

Friday night is for me online grocery shopping night and for him ironing night. Ironing and clothes washing are the only household chores he's responsible for.

We both work full time, me from home, and normally I'd spend evenings cleaning. Dh spends a lot of evenings working on his uni work (he's a month away from completeing degree) so I understand he's under stress. I'm 13 weeks pregnant and have struggled so far, thrown up everything I eat, and have been so exhausted I just fall asleep where I'm sitting middle of the day (when I can't cos I'm working.) I've been trying to get to bed asap each day (averaging around 7pm) and the housework is most definately neglected, but it's still more than liveable (mostly because it has to be). I haven't been coping with the washing up recently (food smells trigger sickness) so dh volunteered to help out...but only does it about once every two or three days, so the smell gets to me, and it piles up (not good with 2 adults + up to 6 kids)

But this isn't my grudge tonight. Dh usually does a washing basket of ironing, takes a few hours. He never used to pack it away, It'd be piled on the floor in our room and it would be a state. He's hasn't ironed for very long though, we're usually creased lol.
But the past 4 weeks, I've been trying to go to bed, around 10 (the online shopping takes hours and I only do it online because it's cheaper and dh hates me going food shopping) and dh usually hasn't finished. And like tonight, he has a go at me for 'leaving him downstairs on his own'. I mean, shouting and saying I'm selfish. I struggle concentrating on food shopping, granted I'm usually MNing too, but as you could tell looking from recipes or food topics, I've been posting a lot tonight as I shop for inspiration.

Anyways, tonight he says I won't 'communicate' with him, he wants to 'spend time togheter' etc etc and has shouted at me for leaving him to do the ironing. Also he says 'whenever I'm on the pc in the evening I'm completely unsociable.' Which I think is unfair as I'm never on in the eveing now as I'm in bed, and he uses it upstairs to download music while he's doing his uni work.
Tomorrow night we will watch a movie together, and chances are he'll be on the pc at the same time. THen the rest of the week is him on pc upstairs as normal.

We have this argument every week. Usually I'll go to bed, then I will be shouted at for not taking hanging clothes up with me, which I'll do, then I'll be shouted at for not taking folded stuff, ... then all the stuff that needs packing away eg socks. So by the time I've done all this, he's in bed the same time as me. But I wanted to go to bed an hour earlier! I've tried taking half, I get shouted at for being lazy.
I've tried going to bed really early, I get shouted at for being unsociable, and then he stops ironing and watches tv. If I do manage to get into bed, when he's finished, he'll come in our bedroom, turn the lights on, bang around, then find an excuse to actually wake me up 'where do ds pants go etc'

Tonight was the final straw, I said I was exhausted, and needed sleep, and he said all I do is put myself before him... no acknowledgement of the fact I work full time, cope with a house of kids, keep the house manageable and throw up solidly throughout the day.

I know I know that tonight I have less to do before him, I know I know I should help. But if I walk over there and pick up the hanging clothes, pack it away and go to bed.... in 20 minutes he'll be storming through the house turning lights on and waking me (and prob ds) up.

I've thought about hiring someone to iron... but we have A LOT so it'd be rather expensive... plus why should we pay someone to help out on the one job he does a week? Why not pay someone to help me keep the house tidy? A job I do every day???

OP posts:
colditz · 10/02/2006 22:53

Lunavix, honestly, if he shouts at you again tell him to F*ck Off.

And if he accuses you of putting yourself before him, point out that you are putting your unborn baby before him, and is he going to tell you honestly that what he wants comes before what a baby needs? (A well rested mother!)

Kidstrack2 · 10/02/2006 22:54

You need to rest, and he needs to understand that in the first few months these are the most demanding changes that your body goes through in early pregnancy. You sound as if you are doing enough already, and you dh is doing a good job with the washing and ironing, just explain to dh things will get easier its just that you are overly tired at the moment with the sickness etc

colditz · 10/02/2006 22:54

Also, point out that yes, he is right about you not wanting to spend time with him, because when he shouts and makes accusations, he is unpleasant to be around.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/02/2006 22:55

I dontknow what to say, except that you need to try and get him to understand how much a baby demands on your body especially at the beginning. Since he likes his pc so much, find a good website for him to swot up on.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/02/2006 22:55

Oh, and F*ck off is good too

lunavix · 10/02/2006 22:58

argh... sitting here with tears in my eyes lol i know how he'd react if i told him to f-off and it's not good.. big argument, me crying, no sleep till 5am with him shouting etc and I'm far too tired for it... he does it on nights when I say I really need sleep to (for example, used to look after a little boy who came at 6am, dh would ALWAYS start something the night before, and pull a stunt like saying 'im sleeping downstairs and when boy arrives what will you do cos I'm not going anywhere?' ) anyways trying not to let him see me tearful, he'll just start and he's already wondering why I'm 'typing' when I should be 'shopping'

I love him really but argh I look forward to weekends and friday night is worse than the week. I might try going to bed with just the hanging stuff and see what happens.

OP posts:
soapbox · 10/02/2006 23:05

Lunavix - just go to bed!

If he starts shouting tell him to get out!

Sleeping on the sofa is no option - if he doesn;t want to sleep with you then he can sleep in the car, the shed, a cardboard box - not your problem.

If he starts shouting - drop your voice to a low growl and tell him he will not talk to you like THAT.

Tell him he can ship up or ship out!

It is not good enough - and for the life of me I can;t see why you would stay with someone who is so unsupportive to your needs and the needs of his unborn child.

Is there anyone nearby that you can storm off to if he really gets on your tits???

colditz · 10/02/2006 23:08

Sweetheart go to bed, please. If he tries to keep you up all night rowing, get your keys and purse and walk out, go to your mums or go to a hotel, but don't let him abuse you like that.

colditz · 10/02/2006 23:08

Do you have any other children?

lunavix · 10/02/2006 23:10

okay... I know I should I just hate how this always goes... his nickname for me is 'shellfish' I have no idea where he got it from bar the fact he knows it bugs me.... think it's a play on another name he knows annoys me...

Thanks for the support guys... there isn't really anywhere I can go the only people locally are his parents, plus I don't drive. Either way don't want to leave, just sleep!

Will try n update if it kicks off again tonight...

OP posts:
motherfunkerhunkermunker · 10/02/2006 23:11

Oh, Luna

A row's only a row if you reply. Otherwise it's just a man ranting. Nothing more dull than trying to argue with someone who won't rise to it.

Just say, once, in a low and calm voice that you're tired, you're pregnant, you're going to bed and you expect him to behave like an adult, not a three-year-old. Then ignore him. After all, he is behaving like a three-year-old - so treat him like one.

chipmonkey · 10/02/2006 23:11

Lunavix. He is out of order and as for calling you selfish, pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? I think in situations like that, organising a "meeting" with just the two of you to discuss things can help and lay down what is "acceptable" and what is not. And he does need to know that a pregnant woman needs 10 hours sleep and some suspension of her "duties"

Sparklemagic · 10/02/2006 23:26

Luna, how many kids do you have? Are you a childminder or is the house full of kids your own?

Others have said what I'd say about his diabolical attitude toward you, but to practicalities:

Do you / he HAVE to Iron???? I never Iron!!! I hang things on an airer or outside in nice weather and it dries pretty much crease free. I would rather gnaw my own arms off than iron things like sheets, pants, jeans- tell me you don't do this! I just wonder if you can lighten the load a bit. I guess if your husband is an office type then he has shirts to hang, but other than that Tshirts, jeans, all or most of your Ds's stuff can be folded surely? Put in piles outside the room they're going in then it would take a minute or two in the morning to put them in.

You both work full time AND your dh is finishing up a dregree, with you pregnant - you are both under LOTS of stress so perhaps accept this - you're neither of you at your best at present I'd imagine. I would if I were in your position, definitely, definitely hire a cleaner, if money allowed. Why not? It's at least acknowledging that you cannot do everything and would give you a bit more energy for everything else!

very best of luck, hope you are already in bed?!?

mumfor1standfinaltime · 10/02/2006 23:38

I havent read your other threads, but from this thread I feel that you are both trying to burn the candle at both ends.
I understand about the sleep issue, as I slept a hell of a lot in early pg, infact all the time!

You both have busy lives, and a lot of stress seems to be building between you. Take a break from 'the friday night routine', do something else. Is it really that important to do ironing on a Fri? Can it not be done in two lots?

Why not tackle the 'Putting clothes away' together?

Enjoy your film tomorrow night, and unplug the damn pc!

colditz · 11/02/2006 13:34

Did he keep you up all night lunavix?

lunavix · 12/02/2006 21:27

hey everyone... thanks again. I picked up all the hanging clothes (best part of the ironing) and packed them away, then for some unknown reason packed away all the clothes left on the floor from last week. Maybe to avoid a 'lazy' argument.

He did come in and strop, turned lights on and dropped the ironing basket on me in bed but I just pretended to be asleep. Not that he packed anything away, I did it all today!

I'm sure it will go this way next friday.. will try and think of a strategy to avoid it.

OP posts:
Groggymama · 12/02/2006 22:04

sorry you're with such an annoying immature man, sending you hugs, sleep and rest

jayjaybaby · 13/02/2006 22:52

oh my god i cant believe he would be so un supportive me and my dh are always arguing re money but i would never put up with what he is doing re the sleep deprevation and as for dropping the ironing basket on you i hope you are ok . im in same postion re stomping off noone near cant drive i go in bathroom lock door take the phone and cry to my mum or my friend it's nice just to get it out to someone who understands but will also be supportive whatever. i hope things get better for you and your babies health

New posts on this thread. Refresh page