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Should he have come home?

588 replies

SpottyPony · 10/08/2013 11:16

Long time lurker, first time poster. I have written this several times and not had the courage to post as I am feeling very down and sensitive but could use some intelligent insight, the sort that I have come to admire on MN.

The situation is that DH is working away abroad, has been for the last 7 weeks and not due to leave for another fortnight. On Wednesday our DS (6mo) fell ill and was referred to hospital from the doctors. He was admitted and fitted with an IV drip for fluids as he was dehydrated from severe D&V which later transpired to be gastroenteritis. Very listless and crying in pain, I was hugely worried about him. I don't live in the UK and have no family around for support. I called the relevant numbers to inform his seniors what was happening and to let DH know too. I received a phonecall to say DH has been informed and is being offered a flight back the next day to be home and support us and to hold out for further information. I did feel bad for interfering with his work commitments but needed support, and also out of respect for him as a parent and thought he should be there with us.

He refused the flight. A friend even offered him his flight and told him he would fly out another date and that DH should be at home with us. He said he "didn't want to" and that he had "things to do". Their main purpose of being out there has now ended and is merely tying up loose ends and preparing to return home. He asked about DS once during his first day in hospital, the second day I heard nothing and had to contact him to inform him of progress. I have now not heard from him since my last contact to him, we have been discharged today as DS is a lot better. DH's last communication with me was to inform me I was being a nag, to leave him alone as he was busy and has since deleted himself from the apps that we kept in contact with and I am unable to get through to his phone when I call. I should mention that where he is has a good nightlife and he has been out several times since getting there, so it appears he is having too good a time to come back and support his family.

AIBU for thinking his main priority should have been to get home to his poorly son and to support me too? I don't know whether I'm sounding whingey and needy. There is a backstory so as not to dripfeed - DH has been at home for just 5 weeks of DS's life as he's been away with work so frequently, but when home he doesn't interact with him unless forced, ignores him during the night (has gotten up once during the night and that's when I literally begged him and he did so with very bad temper) and will leave him in dirty nappies if I'm not there as he "didn't realise he needed changing". He has several younger siblings and has been around babies a lot. He says as I'm on maternity leave, it's my job to do everything associated with looking after a baby and that he shouldn't have to do anything. This includes any housework and cooking as he says that's my role now. When DS was born he had to stay in ICU for 11 days as he didn't breathe for some considerable time after a traumatic 26 hour induced labour (which DH went home for the most part as he was tired) and he visited him 3 times during those 11 days as he "doesn't do hospitals", so it's not as if this uncaring attitude is purely caused by his absence due to work and not bonding properly with DS as it appears he's never cared from day one.

This is something I am prepared to LTB for as it's the last straw really. This is probably the longest AIBU ever typed so if you are still reading, thank you so much for your time.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 10/08/2013 13:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 10/08/2013 13:14

Fucking hell. An unequivocal LTB.

charlieandlola · 10/08/2013 13:15

You and your child deserve so much better than this terrible excuse for a "husband". There are plenty of lovely men out there who would treat you at least with respect and love and will act as a proper father to your ds.
What exactly do you get out of this marriage ?

SpottyPony · 10/08/2013 13:18

Binky I am going to have a think if there's anything I could use help with such as asking about benefits, housing etc that people might know about, I may post in a different area of the site to get assistance. There are some very helpful members on this site, it's been a great help already Smile

Ruprekt I would be relocating to West Midlands on my return.

YouStayClassy He's due back in a fortnight, agree that it would be better to leave before he gets back. I will have to find a new home for my beloved horse as I won't be able to take her with me, which is heart breaking as she has been my best friend in all this but if in that time I can find a loving forever home for her in this time I could sort the rest out and be gone in the time it takes him to come back.

charlieandlola I don't feel I get anything from staying in this marriage anymore.

OP posts:
Gruntfuttocks · 10/08/2013 13:22

LTB. Get any evidence you can of his financial status and then get yourself back to the UK pronto. Divorce the fucker and take him for every penny you can get. What a complete bastard.

WestieMamma · 10/08/2013 13:22

SpottyPony DO NOT follow the advice you are being given here to return to the UK without his permission. They are right in that YOU don't need his permission but you cannot relocate his son to the UK from the country in which he is normally resident without consent of the other parent. If you do, it is classed as child abduction (even if the other parent is a bastard) and you will be in a pile of shit and risk losing custody of your child.

ImperialBlether · 10/08/2013 13:25

I'm not sure that's true in cases, Westie. In any case, do you really think the OP's husband is going to argue if they do leave?

dreamingbohemian · 10/08/2013 13:26

Westie I'm not sure that's true if he's in the forces as he's not normally resident in that case.

OP -- go through your house with a fine-tooth comb and make copies of everything you can find related to finances. Also really think if there is anything else you can sell from the house, every little bit helps.

JerseySpud · 10/08/2013 13:26

Has he got someone else out there?

ImperialBlether · 10/08/2013 13:26

OP, you are living abroad and yet your husband is working in another country again? Does he ever work in the country you're in at the moment?

Turniptwirl · 10/08/2013 13:27

I could understand if he wasn't able to come home. Even if he stayed but was concerned and checking in to make sure DS is ok. But to call you a nag? Wtf?

LTB as it sounds like this isn't a one off and will prob get worse as DS gets older and can talk back and be naughty and not a "dream child" because no child ever is!

WestieMamma · 10/08/2013 13:27

Sorry, I missed the armed forces bit. I have no idea how The Hague Convention applies in that case.

ImperialBlether · 10/08/2013 13:28

I think there's more to it than him calling her a nag, Turnip!

JerseySpud · 10/08/2013 13:28

If you are living on a forces base in another country it is seen as an extension of the United Kingdom. Therefore you should be fine

LooplaLoopy · 10/08/2013 13:28

That's a really good point Westie. But do army bases not count as UK?

LooplaLoopy · 10/08/2013 13:29

ah, many xposts, again.

SpottyPony · 10/08/2013 13:33

Thank you Westie, interesting to hear. However as we are British Forces posted abroad, we are classed as being on British soil so I believe the usual rules don't apply. The welfare team I am dealing with know my intentions to leave and are actively helping me to do so, and have stated they can get me back to the UK as soon as I need to and I can leave my house keys with them so they can hand them to my husband on his return from overseas. They would inform him that I had left, but I haven't been told anything about needing his consent to go. Imperial you make a good point, honestly I doubt he cares anymore and has commented previously that he longs for the single life again.

Jersey yes, I also unfortunately have my suspicions that he has been unfaithful whilst away, as a woman called me last week asking for him by name. It was apparent she was of the same nationality of the country he is in currently. Our mobiles are one digit out and I believe he gave my number to her by mistake although this is something he strongly denies. Hmm

Yes we live abroad and he rarely works in this country and is more often than not away on exercise and courses as he has been for most of DS's life. So 90% of the time I'm sat alone in a foreign country.

OP posts:
JerseySpud · 10/08/2013 13:34

I'm really sorry to hear that

But it does sound like he has another woman in the country he is in and can't/won't drop everything with her to come home to you.

She most likely doesn't know about you.

LTB asap.

5madthings · 10/08/2013 13:42

Fuckimg hell what an arsehole. Just when you think you have heard it all you find more cases of twattish behaviour.

Seriously spotty just leave, you dotn need this pathetic excuse for a man in your life.

Get home and hopefully you can start building yourself a support network of family and friends.

LittleMissMedium · 10/08/2013 13:45

I'm really sorry you're in this position. All the advice you've been given on here is great - get everything in order, and don't look back. Don't be scared, your life is about to get so much better.

Gruntfuttock · 10/08/2013 13:46

This really does seem like a rare situation in which the OP leaving will result in everyone concerned being much happier. Win-Win (or if there is an OW maybe Win-Win-Win. That is until she finds out what a complete and utter uncaring bastard he is)

CoolaSchmoola · 10/08/2013 13:48

Use welfare as much as you can.

ImperialBlether · 10/08/2013 13:51

Even if you were happily married, I wouldn't see any point in living in a foreign country where I didn't see my OH for 90% of the time, unless I specifically wanted to live in that country, which, given you don't get to choose, doesn't seem likely.

Have to say your parents aren't covering themselves in glory over this, either. All you need is somewhere to stay for a month or so until you can get yourself sorted out.

I wouldn't worry about him staying with any woman he's hanging around with now. If he wants to be single, the last thing he'll want to do is to tie himself down with one other woman.

I'm still fuming at his attitude to money and the fact you can't get hold of any money to make this possible.

CoolaSchmoola · 10/08/2013 13:52

Oops!

Speak to SSAFA (I used to work for them in Germany and Cyprus) they have information booklets on leaving your partner and all the things you can do/access.

Your HV will also be able to offer advice and support, as will Home Start if you have them in your area.

The Cotswold Centre and it's staff are excellent, I have helped families novel their, and have a friend living there now.

There won't be any problem with taking your DS back to the UK.

So sorry you are going through this.

KingRollo · 10/08/2013 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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