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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

I see you're having a go again already

24 replies

Notwittyenough · 12/06/2017 11:15

My husband and I have been having difficulties for a while, but this is the first argument we've had about our daughter, who is 2.

On Sunday she woke up at 5. I went to her and spent a bit of time trying to see if she would go to back to sleep, but she was well and truly awake. So I got up with her and left husband in bed. He got up a bit later and came down to join us.

Anyway DD starts demanding toast when she sees daddy, and he makes her some and then asks if I can make him some while he feeds her. No problem, and whilst I am making him toast, DD comes through to see me. I pick her up and give her a cuddle and then ask her if she wants to go back to daddy to finish her toast. She wants to stay with me, which is fine, but in typical toddler style she is into everything - she wants the knife, to stick her fingers in the toaster, to play with the water in the sink. So I am constantly fielding these things, saying 'no, you can't play with the toaster you could hurt yourself, here's a spoon why don't you play with that etc etc'. I'm quite tired as she doesn't sleep well and was up stupid early. So it culminates in me getting a bit short with her - not actually shouting, but I did say something like 'for goodness sake, can you stop doing that, mummy is trying to make breakfast'. At this point husband comes in, looks disapproving and says 'oh great, your moaning again already. Can't we go one day without you having a go.' About 10 mins later he disappears upstairs.

I finish breakfast with DD then go upstairs to get us all up. Find DH in bed asleep. Ask if he is ok, he says yes and seems alright. So I got me and DD showered and dressed. We play for a bit and after about an hour I ask DH if he is planning on getting up. He asks what's in it for him, is it even worth it since I'm always moaning. I say to him that if he came and offered to help that would be better than him judging me on it. He says I should just ask for help.

Anyway this all heated up into a massive argument, I'm not meaning to drip feed but I can't go into it all now it would take too long. But later, when trying to make up, I asked him if he was liking to put it behind us. He said he wasn't sure he could forgive someone who thought it was ok to have a go at a toddler.

I didn't say I thought it was ok. I just said that he could be more helpful, and even if I asked for help, I'm only human and sometimes I'm going to get stressed and probably going to get snappy. I don't like it, and I'm not justifying it, but I am often very tired and DD is lovely but very demanding.

Do s this make me a terrible parent though, to accept that I may sometimes snap?

OP posts:
YoureNotASausage · 12/06/2017 11:18

He's an asshole. That is all.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 12/06/2017 11:21

No you're not a terrible parent. Your dh is just saying that to make you feel bad about yourself because you and him have been having difficulties for a while.

What sort of difficulties have you been having?

Smeaton · 12/06/2017 11:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Guiltypleasures001 · 12/06/2017 11:32

It sounds like he's deliberately manoeuvred you in to an argument . And now doesn't think he can forgive or carry on, has he been busy with his phone at all ?

Notwittyenough · 12/06/2017 11:35

Difficulties where I don't love him enough or care enough or up enough effort into the relationship.

And yes tiny things do get turned around, but apparently they are not actually tiny and mean something much bigger.

Sorry, I'm sneaking on at work so can't post much all the time. I'm just tired and fed up and wanted a bit of perspective :(

OP posts:
Smeaton · 12/06/2017 11:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StormTreader · 12/06/2017 11:41

Tiny things like him going back to bed once he'd successfully palmed the toddler back onto you? What was he doing in the 10 minutes the toddler was getting under your feet in the kitchen?

PinkPeppers · 12/06/2017 11:45

Nope sorry he was the one who was a crap parent by not carrying on looking after his dd in the first place.
When she came to see you, he could have come with her and then stepped in. Either by taking over the b'fast OR by taking over your dd.

Also no way he needed to ask. He is as responsible as you therefore shouod just step in. No need to ask. He can open his eyes and see what that yiu need help.

Is he ever looking after his dd on his own? Does he have any idea of how hard it is?
Does he have the tendency to judge and berate you anyway, regardless of whether it's about your dd or other things?

PinkPeppers · 12/06/2017 11:46

If he loved you enough, he would know that you are exhausted from getting up at night.
He would know that you needed help in the kitchen.
He would know that he shouod be there, backing you and supporting you when it's starting to get too much for you, rather than putting you down and giving you even more work (by not helping, making things hard for you etc...).

Maryhadalittlelambstew · 12/06/2017 11:53

Hi OP,

Sounds like a difficult morning for you all. He is very much in the wrong to have a go at you for being short with your dd particularly when he let her in the kitchen and yes, he could have made his own toast! Do you ask him for help with her? My ex used to say I would moan at the children but never actually ask for help as I thought I could do it all by myself and he found that tough as he didn't like me being unhappy or snapping at our children but I'd refuse to ask him to help, was a bit of a martyr about it. It sounds like a lack of communication between you both really, I think perhaps you need to not be afraid to ask for help and in order for that to happen he needs to be kinder and gentler when you've had a tough morning. I think it needs a conversation between you both, let him know that he's more than welcome to step in without you having to ask and to speak to you with some kindness and respect without storming off. And perhaps you could try to ask for help when he's around and available to help before you find yourself getting stressed out. However, his "not being able to forgive" you is ridiculous. That needs addressing, does he often hold minor things against you? Could you give each other some space for the day so you can each process your thoughts?

Hope you and your dd are ok OP, early mornings are exhausting x

Funnyonion17 · 12/06/2017 11:59

He sounds like a manipulative pig tbh. Very self centered and playing on the situation and your good nature.

WooWooSister · 12/06/2017 12:01

I don't think it's just tiredness that is getting to you. Living with a judgemental and sanctimonious arse is getting to you too Flowers
Raising a child isn't a test to see who snaps or who is 'better'. It's about working together to lift each other up and to cope with the sheer unrelenting nature of small DCs.
None of it is awkward or rocket- science. It all became fraught because your DH made it fraught.
You are a normal parent. He is an arse who is trying to manipulate you and your relationship with your DC for his own ends. Flowers

chocorabbit · 12/06/2017 12:11

I agree with everybody else.

When he accuses you again reverse his argument and say that YOU are fed up of him always being negative, arguing, avoiding to offer help etc instead of calmly coming to ask "what's wrong sweety" etc.

Learn his language and use it against him. But that's only short-term as I don't think he is going to change.

ThespianTendencies · 12/06/2017 12:11

Agree with everyone who said your husband was a massive cockwomble. What an unfair, controlling, spoilt brat he sounds. It smacks of picking and argument to totallly undermine you and strip your confidence. And I speak from experience. Tell him to fuck off. He is totally unreasonable and I feel angry just thinking about him!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 12/06/2017 12:12

You are very normal, not a shadow of a doubt there. 😀
He is a twisted cockwomble. ☹️
Managing him, will be far harder, and more draining, than your little girl.
You really don't need to be polite, or put up with this Lovely.

chocorabbit · 12/06/2017 12:14

I don't think that it is lack of communication. He manages to communicate perfectly that he wants his toast! Besides, who needs to be asked to help with their own child?! Does he need a manual too?

Tamatoa · 12/06/2017 12:21

So you're working today!? And it's still your sole responsibility to deal with the children? Fuck that shit.

Notwittyenough · 12/06/2017 12:31

Thanks for all you replies - I feel a lot better just hearing that I'm not being an awful mother, and that I'm. It unreasonable for thinking I will probably snap again in the future.

I often tell him when I've had/am having a difficult day with DD and she is being particularly and extra specially toddlerish. I generally just get told that his super perfect special precious little princess could never be anything but sugar and joy.

He does look after her on his own, but i normally make sure everything he could need is easily to hand etc ( I lay out her pjs, make sure her nappy bag is stocked etc). It still normally involves him feeding her chocolate and/or ice cream though.

But yes, I am responsible for most of the childcare, and it feels the default is that I am looking after her unless I specifically request he does it. And I work full time - and am about to disappear into an afternoon of back to back meetings, so really won't be around at all :(

OP posts:
differentnameforthis · 12/06/2017 13:01

No, you are not a terrible parent. However, if you daughter is under your feet and constantly trying to grab at inappropriate things, she needs to be prevented from being in the kitchen, either by way of a gate, or a person.

Ok so what jumped out at me was that he was "feeding" your 2yr old toast, so couldn't make his own toast. Why were you making his toast?

if he was feeding a baby, I would understand but it doesn't sound like your daughter needs feeding, to be fair.

Pinkknickers · 12/06/2017 13:14

I haven't read many replies but I think one issue here is you shouldn't have to 'ask for help'! He should be offering his help willingly not waiting for you to ask. He sounds like he's being a prat and making you out to be the problem.

rightknockered · 12/06/2017 17:11

This reminds me of my ex. It started as 'just let me know if you want help' and ended with me having to prove I needed help. If I was tired, I was just being lazy, and his opinion was all that mattered and my opinion was worthless.
This (and many other narcissistic traits) is why he is my ex

Borntobeamum · 12/06/2017 17:15

Sounds like he just wants to shift any blame into you.
Do you love him?
I mean really love him.

PinkPeppers · 12/06/2017 17:37

Why on earth do you make it easy for him when he is looking after his dd? Is that incapable/stupid of doing anything??
Im sure he isnt. So doing let him off the hook. Dont make things easy. Actually let him stew in the middle of the toddler tantrum for a full day.
Tell him you expect him to feed her properly, real food (not icecream and chocolate).
Come back after two days and see how he likes it.

As for her being all nice and a joy etc... I think he has never been the sole responsible of a toddler for a day or two. Because they are never ever a joy to be around 24/7. They are toddlers and toddlers have tantrums, are into everything, wants to be involved and more importantly DONT SLEEP.

DonnaLynne · 13/06/2017 08:35

Hi OP I've been loving these wonderful comments by all these supportive women that have really got your back, would like to get these guy in a room with all of us and let me know what a prick he is being, sounds to me like he's jealous of your attention to your DD Hmmjust want to let you know that you sound pretty amazing to me and he's bloody lucky that you're putting up with him and he needs to know that! Don't know how you're going to achieve that thoughConfusedAlways think on how strong and resourceful you are as a woman xx

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