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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

Can't help snapping at DH when he has baby

14 replies

Torimum · 16/09/2006 20:18

Help! Do I need anger management? I am becoming a cliche. Every time my DH picks up DD1 (10 weeks) I nag/boss/correct/"advise" him on how to look after her. It has slipped out before I realise it. I know I am becoming horrible to live with and really need to find a coping mechanism so this control freakery doesn't ruin our enjoyment of this special time. Think it might be because I look after her all week and a small part of me slightly resents his long hours and part-time parenting. He only gets to do the fun stuff. Plus am control freak from successful career and am just transferring habits. Any tips? I am such a cow sometimes and I don't like myself for it.

OP posts:
beansprout · 16/09/2006 20:21

It's really, really normal. It's your muumy instincts are they are not to be messed with!!! My dh has 2 other children and I still insisted on bellowing instructions. I just used to ask myself if I really needed to say what I was saying and remember that my way is not the only way to do things.

Still used to nag him though .

Torimum · 16/09/2006 20:26

Thanks! Need to think before I speak. Perhaps I should try waiting a few seconds (counting?) before opening my big mouth each time.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 16/09/2006 20:27

yes totally normal! blimey my poor dp suffered with my nagging for weeks! try and let him take over for a bit go out for a while?

Olihan · 16/09/2006 20:33

Hi, I think you are me, actually . I was exactly the same, it is so hard to let go when you're the one doing the vast majority of the care, especially if you're a bit that way inclined anyway - like me!! I still do it occasionally and ds is now 2.8 and dd is almost 13 months. It is totally normal and part of being a new mum. My dh also works quite long hours and I know exactly what you mean about the 'fun' part thime dad. It isn't their fault though and dh and I came to an agreement where he got up with the baby on a weekend morning, I stayed in bed, with the door shut tight so any noise was minimised and let him get on with it. I also used to repeat constantly to myself 'different is not wrong' because dh always did things his way, as everybody does! I soon realised that it didn't matter if their bedtime routine was slightly different with him than with me, or he held them differently while feeding or rocking to sleep, etc because they accepted the method from whichever parent had them iyswim.

It is so bloody hard in the early days and your hormones don't help matters either. I used to have to take a very deep breath, walk out of the room and find something else to do and bite my tongue very, very hard.

It does get easier as you become more confident in your abilities as a mum and your dh's skills as a dad. In a way, their learning curve is harder than ours because they do miss out on so much. It wasn't until dh pointed out how much he hated going to work and leaving me and the baby that I realised he didn't have it easier at all. Alright, he got a break from it all but he also missed so many of the tiny things that make parenthood worthwhile. I did stop me feeling quite so resentful and made me force myself to take a step back when he was home.

Sorry, for rambling, hope I said something vaguely helpful in all that!!

Torimum · 16/09/2006 20:34

Yes will try as he has told me I am undermining his confidence and I cannot trust myself. It's VERY unattractive. Tonight have martyred myself to cooking and washing up in order to win points!

OP posts:
Torimum · 16/09/2006 20:38

Thanks Olihan - yes, v.helpful. You're right that they miss out on a lot and that's not their fault. Also will try the taking-deep-breath-and-walking-out-of-room method. At the moment absence is safer than presence...

OP posts:
southeastastra · 16/09/2006 20:40

i'm sure nearly 100% of mums feel like this !

lucy5 · 16/09/2006 20:42

It's normal. My friend said to me that the best piece of advice I had ever given her was to step back and not criticise her dh and let him get on with it rather than him give up trying.

mckenzie · 16/09/2006 20:43

Sorrty to repeat what's already been said but it is so normal. I was exactly the same and most of my friends have also done it. One managed not to and she said she had to keep reminding herself that she had only been a mum for as long as her DH had been a dad so what gave her the right to think that she knew best and her way was the right way.
And in the long term, her DH has turned out to be the most hands-on father out of all of them.
So if you can walk away and let your DH do it his way you might find it pays dividends. One night in 3 years time when he gets up at 2 am because your DD has been sick or something you'll be very grateful.

Rookiemum · 17/09/2006 17:20

Again just an echo from everyone else. Our DS is 5.5 months old and we are way better than it was at the start but it was a long road.

My advice is leave the house or do something else whilst he looks after DD1. It will help him to gain confidence in looking after her which in turn will make him more proficient and it will give you valuable time & space to do something else which will make you less resentful.

I had to accept that the way DH parents is not the way I would choose to do it i.e. watching football, not being particularly interactive with DS but it means they have formed a bond and I get to sneak off for a swim or to get my hair done occasionally.

Early days I'm sure it will get much better soon

poppynic · 17/09/2006 17:34

I was too scared to nag/boss/correct etc. my dp with baby. (I was very softly brought up) And I must say I am very very pleased that I couldn't. I just used to ask myself - is what he is doing really going to hurt the baby. If not, shut up. Getting out of the way is definitely a good idea. Unless he's about to plunge it into boiling hot bath water or shake it to make it quiet it will be fine. Just tell yourself that he can give your baby things you can't possibly give it - just because he's him - and your baby deserves to have that. They have done research that shows a baby's brain reacts differently when Dad baths it than when Mum does, providing different ways for baby's brain to develop. It's horribly hard to let go but if you've enjoyed a successful career you know how to "do" hard. Good luck.

What worked really well for us was when he worked three and then four days a week while I worked one or two and we took turns at looking after ds. I realise it's often not possible but I think it may be possible more often that it's used.

lazycow · 17/09/2006 20:40

Before saying anything - STOP and ask yourself

1 Is he going to actually harm her?
2 How would I feel if he said this sort of thing to me all the time?

soapbox · 17/09/2006 21:01

TBH this is where all the 'hands off' fathering posts some years down the track originate from

You have to let them bond and let him parent the child, I think it is really important.

I used to mutter the following under my breath like a mantra if I was tempted to interfere!

'The more styles of parenting she/he gets the easier she/he will find it to accept and be flexible with other people.'

It is hard and if you really struggle, go and read a book in another room or lie on the bed and have a snooze! The child will be well looked after and as a baby there really isn't that much he can get wrong is there???

soapbox · 17/09/2006 21:03

Forgot to say!

I think it is also important to occasionally ask his advice on things to do with the baby - even if you already 'know' the answer

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