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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

How unreasonable was I? sorry a bit long

11 replies

whatamess · 10/07/2006 08:24

Hi, I'm afraid I'm not a regular poster at the moment. I used to be but recently life has just seemed too tough.

I've been with DH 13 years although only married 2 (a year after dd was born). We've always had our ups and downs and to be honest have had as many bad times as good.

We had an extended good period hence DD (3). DD wasn't the easiest baby, she was a terrible sleeper and that took it's toll particularly on DH who was working shifts.

DH told me that he wanted to leave me last August. At the time I was training for a world championship competition in October in my sport (it is a small aport so not as big a deal as it might be) and was quite focussed on this but I knew there was only a few weeks to go. He wasn't happy but ended up staying (basically as he didn't want to give up dd) and we went to relate a few times but that wasn't really helpful. DH thinks that it's al my fault and that I'm always the unreasonable one. He thinks that he's told me what I need to do to change and so I should just do it. He has also said that he thinks from my behaviour that I might have Aspergers. At relate he was unwilling to accept that he might need to make any changes. While I can see that I can be unreasonable DH isn't always easy to live with . He's a very sociable person who has at times in our relationship has spent a lot of times out and while that time has lessened recently he's be out at football twice a week (with a drink or a few afterwards) a quiz one evening and one or 2 other evenings with friends (and was increasingly staying over if they were going out away from home) and I get the feeling he felt that he could do this because he thought I was taking the piss before. He says that he thinks it's even now but that's a man's 70% is even!

Things have been better since October with the odd blow up but it did look as if there was a chance of making it however I seem to have blown that this weekend.

He had been away for 8 days in America (a friend's wedding) and come back Friday morning, Friday afternon and evening he was at at Stag do for another friend so we didn't really see him at all that day. Saturday I was at a competition in London. I was a bit upset as I didn't do well I'd been ill before DH went away and then couldn't train while he was away and so I was unfit and unprepared. I nnormally go to 2 gym classes on a sunday morning and Dh enjoys the tiem alone with dd. I wasn't intending to go at all this Sunday but DD was upa nd about to have a bath with dd so I stupidly asked if I could go to one and meet them at the soft play area that tey were going to in 1 1/2 hours. I realise that I shouln't have done it and that it was a self-centered request. I didn't end up going but now DH feels that I don't want to spend time with him, that he's low down my list of priorities and I think that it migt be the end of us. He says he's glad it's happened as it reminds him what a cold fish I am and how nasty I am. He says any 'normal' couple (as if we've ever been one of them) would just think my behaviour was outragious.

What would a normal couple think? Am I odd? I'm thinking of trying to go to relate by myself to seee if I do need sorting out - what do you think?

Sorry this is so long and rambling and I don't feel I've even started to explain myself.

Thanks for reading

OP posts:
Turquoise · 10/07/2006 08:32

Sounds to me like he's the unreasonable one, in fact it sounds as though he is a narcissistic personality who is trying to control you. He's eroding your self-esteem and got you questioning your right to an hour at the gym after he's had over a week to himself?? Does he frequetnly call you names (cold fish etc) and put you down?

I don't think you need sorting out - he does.

ssd · 10/07/2006 08:33

I think you dh is being selfish. Of course we all need me time, but his sounds excessive. And he's doing the classic thing of turning it around to be all your fault. Don't let him do this to you, you desreve better.

Turquoise · 10/07/2006 08:40

This book might be worth a look

whatamess · 10/07/2006 09:05

Thanks turquoise - I just don't know any more.

To be fair I'm out all Thursday night running my sports club and a couple of hours on Sunday morning and soem times go to the gym another time in the week.

I feel like he's right that I should have wanted to spend all of Sunday with him when he'd been away rather than want my own time.

I sometimes think your assessment of his charachter is right though - he can be very charming and it's impossible to argue with him - well to reason with him as you just have to agree that he's right. He sulks and bears a grudge and has fallen out irrevocably with a lot of his best friends in the time I've known him (and according to him it's always been their fault)

I just can't bear the idea of DD having to go through a separation and he's so good with her. a real hands on dad. I'm beginning to feel resigned to it though even though I feel we should be able to sort it out

OP posts:
Angsthase · 10/07/2006 09:16

Sounds like your DH is the unreasonable one. Where was his desire to spend time with you when he went to the States for a week for a wedding? Last time I heard weddings only took a day - what was he doing the other 6 days. And then to come back and go straight to a stag do instead of electing to spend that time with you and your DD.
Agree with Turquoise - he's trying to twist it round and make it all your fault. He needs to take a look at his own behaviour before having a go at you IMO.

pecka · 10/07/2006 09:19

Errrrrr why is it unreasonable for you to have some time at the gym after a stretch of 9 days with no break but its ok for him to take 8 days away for a wedding then a night out on a stag do on his return?

Am I missing something?

NotQuiteCockney · 10/07/2006 09:32

Why should you want to spend time with someone who isn't nice to you and calls you a cold fish?

Seriously, it's not like he was out on mandatory work stuff, he was away for a holiday! You wanted a break! Shocker.

Relationships are complicated. Both parties always need to change. Anyone who thinks they're absolutely perfect and don't need to change is bonkers.

Steppy1 · 10/07/2006 09:41

sounds like a selfish whatsit to me...what's the sports club that you run... is it a hobby or your business...are you competing at a professional level because, if you are, it sounds as if he's making you feel guilty about your work... I'm afraid that if my DH was out so much and on so many nights away (other than work related) I'd be sniffing around to find out what he is up to...but then I am a cynical old bird who has caught DH's out having affairs ...the lesson that I've learnt from that is that partners often try to put their guilt on to you to make themselves feel better..... sound like your in for a bit of a "roller-coaster"

whatamess · 10/07/2006 09:54

hi steppy1 - no it's a hobby but has taken up a lot of time, a lot less now.

i guess he thinks that as i was out the day after we got back we should have spent all of sunday together (except for the time bhe was watching the wc final and incommunicado - but that's just most men for you)

Friends sometimes say they think he is unreasonable but I wonder do they just not see how difficult I can be?

OP posts:
whatamess · 10/07/2006 19:14

Anybody out there think I was unreasonable??

OP posts:
Piffle · 10/07/2006 19:19

Nope hs is
time for a cards on the table share down the middle time
your time
his time
family time
agree it all
and then see how you get on
Good luck it sounds like a very negative situation I do hope you can get through it with a good outcome for you all

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