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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 think DH is building up to leaving me over my dad having a go at him

134 replies

Staceysmomhasgotitgoingon · 11/12/2017 19:22

If you're heard of the mental load that's pretty much how our house runs. Dh doesn't really take responsibility for much. He works 56 hours a week and I understand this is tiring but he uses it as an excuse for not doing much else. Apart from a hobby he has taken up this year that takes him out of the house all day on his days off and sometimes overnight too.

Anyway we have just recently moved house and, although dh did so most of the clearing out in the old house (it had to be stripped back carpets lifted etc), he didn't do anything much in the new house.

My dad had to come up and do all the diy/heavy lifting stuff that I couldn't do on my own. And my dad also have dh a loan of a tool and dh mistreated it and broke it.

Being on my own with the dcs and the move and I also had a research paper due and an exam. It took it's toll on me and I ended up unwell and extremely stressed.

My dad was just so angry at dh for leaving me with everything and for not taking care of his stuff. Now... that part I think he was a bit ott my dad is very particular about his things and normally I don't really like to borrow anything from him because if it doesn't come back in perfect condition he cracks up. .

However, the other part I agree with him.. maybe it's none of his business and definitely there could have been more tact involved, but I understand where my dad was coming from. I was a mess and my dad was worried about me. If it wasn't for him I would have had no way to wash our clothes or cook food for the dcs.

So anyway, dh is raging and said I should have backed him up. I said if I thought my dad was out of order I would have but the only thing I think was wrong was the way he went about it. We had a massive row but it fizzled out nothing got resolved but the row died out.

Anyway a week passed and nothing more was said about it then I mentioned Christmas we always go to my mum and dad's. Dh said he's not going he wont go because of my dad.

It was playing on my mind today so I text him and said we shouldn't be spending Christmas apart and that he should go see my dad and sort things out. How would the dcs feel if dh ducked off on Christmas?

He said he's not going to see him and he can't believe I'm not backing him up. I repeated the above about agreeing with him but not how he went about it and that he should be putting his own pride in front of the dcs and their Christmas. Dh said well if that's how I feel he's not spending Christmas with any of us. I assume that also includes the dcs.

I don't know what to do he's not due in from work until after 10pm I think he's going to say if I don't back him about against my dad we are done.

OP posts:
CheapSausagesAndSpam · 11/12/2017 20:56

SandandSea He says he just didn't feel the same way about his wife as he does about his girlfriend. He says he loves his girlfriend in a "proper passionate way" and that if his wife had ever asked him for example not to go out on the piss he would have ignored her....but if the new girlfriend asks...well she needn't ask because he just always wants to be around her.

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 11/12/2017 20:57

I agree about finishing your course OP. Get it completed before he buggers off or you get rid of him.

MikeUniformMike · 11/12/2017 20:58

What is the hobby?

SandAndSea · 11/12/2017 21:03

@CheapSausagesAndSpam - Aahh, I see. Poor friend; sounds like she's better off without him.

Blackcatonthesofa · 11/12/2017 21:05

Do you want to be right or do you want to save your marriage? It sounds to me that you are both exhausted and drifting apart. You might want to act on that rather sooner than later.

GreenTulips · 11/12/2017 21:05

However why didn't you pay for help?

Why didn't he?

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 11/12/2017 21:07

Green when I said that I meant both of them. Assuming they pool resources.

FluffyNinja · 11/12/2017 21:11

Christmas at your parents EVERY YEAR is non negotiable?
How old are you, 6?
Sorry OP, but you are extremely unreasonable. I wouldn't blame your DH for leaving as from what you've written, you sound rather childish and like hard work.

GreenTulips · 11/12/2017 21:13

Christmas at your parents EVERY YEAR is non negotiable?

Well it appears his hobby and days away are NON negotiable, even when his wife is looking after kids all the housework and working/study

I think she deserves to be looked after by her mother as her husband appears incapable of doing so!
Who wouldn't want a rest?

peggypip · 11/12/2017 21:15

OP your story sounds so familiar to mine. My husband worked very long hours, didn't have any interest in spending time with me and DC and when he did he just moaned and complained. We lived close by to my extended family who were always very supportive of us. My husband was spending more and more of his free time away. Naive as it sounds but I trusted him so much never for a moment did I think he could every be unfaithful. Turns out he was having a full blown affair. It explained why he was always gone and in fowl form when he was with us. Don't dismiss the idea like I did

BenNevis2017 · 11/12/2017 21:18

I agree with greentulips. What sane person wouldn't want to spend Christmas with people that loved & cared about them?
If your DH showed he cared about you & the DC the rest of the time- then you could compromise over the Christmas arrangements.

Nipplesunited · 11/12/2017 21:19

My mind jumps straight to him having an affair.
If he is far too tired to help with stuff at home, where is he finding the energy for such a time consuming hobby?
On top of all of that his behaviour change has been noticed by many.
He is also latching on to this arguement which would get him away for christmas since he knows you are spending it with your parents no matter what.

Sounds fishy to me

EllaHen · 11/12/2017 21:19

Your dh is in the wrong for leaving all the shitwork to you, especially as you were clearly struggling.

Also, to prioritise his hobby over his kids will affect their self esteem. Knob.

However, I'm in two minds about your Dad's involvement here. Didn't he realise it would cause you further stress?

I'm trying to put myself in the different shoes here and it's difficult.

If he doesn't want to go to your parents' house for Christmas, why don't you all stay at home? Same traditions can be had.

Anyway, he and your Dad are not the wrong. The answer to your issues does not lie in Christmas or their argument. It lies in your dh stepping up to support you and clock back in to his family.

EllaHen · 11/12/2017 21:20

Are both in the wrong.

Nipplesunited · 11/12/2017 21:21

Suggest you have your own christmas at home this year. See how he reacts.
He will either be relieved as he feels an outsider which is causing thos behaviour change. Or he will continue to argue to try his hardest to get christmas away from you

sofato5miles · 11/12/2017 21:34

Jesus, he sounds like a crap DH. My DH works as long, I work 27 hours and we have 3 children.

We regulate our hobby times, to occasional weekend days but mostly evenings. I would have zero respect for your DH .

If you leave him, he would have to look after his own house and his children on visits. I"d point that out. I'd also stop looking after him until he hears you and values ypur role in the family.

I absolutely could not be married to someone like thia- what an arse.

Staceysmomhasgotitgoingon · 11/12/2017 21:35

Of DHs family did Christmas when we met and he wanted to to a year about I would have a greed to it then. But he willingly and gladly joined my family Christmases because he wanted a traditional family Christmas. But now that it doesn't suit him none of us have to go ? That's shit. He's not going to spend Christmas with his own family he's going to spend it in the house by himself.

I did sort of think of affair a whole ago but I don't think it is... his working hours are definitely what they are it's the nature of his job... And his hobby is definitely what it is I've seen physical proof... He's even been on the telly !

That was another thing that we were shut out of... He did a half marathon recently and I wants to take the dcs and stand at the sideline cheering him on... but she was adamant we were not to come. Apparently we would have gotten wet Hmm

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 11/12/2017 21:37

BenNevis2017
What sane person wouldn't want to spend Christmas with people that loved & cared about them?

What sane person would want to spend Christmas with someone that hated them?

It works both ways.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 11/12/2017 21:56

OP, you just sound very incompatible and neither of you seem to care enough to compromise. I would want to end this marriage if I were you - or if I were him. From what you post there really sounds to be very little joy or pleasure in being a couple - and certainly no loyalty. That's very sad.

Mumof56 · 11/12/2017 22:04

Why dodn't you hire someone to help instead of imposing on your dad?

Dilligaf81 · 11/12/2017 22:11

I'm not sure how people think this has nothing to do with your dad OP. Your dad and mum enable you and your husband to work by providing free childcare. Your studying plus working 40 hours and all the household stuff including Dcs. Not sure why because do gets paid for his 56 hours its worth more than your hours which will total a lot bloody more thanks hours and what time do you get away for your hobby?
We all know the answer will be zero.

The husband as far as we know hasn't made any complaint about going to the ops parents every Xmas previously so that's by the by.
Op your dh and dad need to talk so maybe invite your parents over and leave them to it. Say they are both important to you but you can't solve this they need to.
I'd be mightily pushed off if I was you in your situation op and hate it when paid work as opposed to family related work outweighs yours the only time I think it's relevant is if the household are struggling financially but as you have just moved I don't think that's the situation here.
Good luck op, it's horrible being in the middle.

RidingWindhorses · 11/12/2017 22:15

Who was he running with that he didn't want you at the marathon?

Nipplesunited · 11/12/2017 22:17

Usually at events like that you would want your family there supporting and cheering you on Hmm

HeckyPeck · 11/12/2017 22:17

That was another thing that we were shut out of... He did a half marathon recently and I wants to take the dcs and stand at the sideline cheering him on... but she was adamant we were not to come. Apparently we would have gotten wet hmm

That's very odd. Does he run with a club?

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 11/12/2017 22:18

Who does he go running with?

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