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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

Passive aggressive and lazy DH

8 replies

Pickedon · 15/07/2018 17:42

I am at the end of my tether and need some advice.

Only been married 2 yrs and have an 11 month old DS.

My DH was loving and fun when we first met. But now he is sullen and doesn’t help out at all with the baby. I do the gardening, cooking, shopping, washing, cleaning and looking after the baby and he doesn’t do a thing. I go back to work soon (I’m on mat leave) and my job is really demanding. I just don’t know how I’ll cope.

He is always criticising me and puts me down/embarrasses me in front of my friends. Just subtle put downs but it’s chipping away at my confidence. I try to chat to him and ask how his day was and sometimes he ignores me and says “what?!” So I have to repeat myself. Might as well not bother trying to be bright and breezy when he’s not interested.

He has a job (which is his passion) which means he works weekends and evenings so when he has spare time you’d think he’d make more effort but all he wants to do is socialise with his friends or family and doesn’t seem to want to do anything with just me & DS.

I am getting tired of the constant moodiness and lack of support. He lies in bed napping while I am looking after our DS and he doesn’t do anything to help me. He thinks earning a good salary is contribution enough.

Where is the respect I used to have? He doesn’t chat to me and is always on his phone. He can’t be bothered to have sex either and falls asleep before me every night. He’s only 40 but I feel like I’m
Married to a grumpy old man. He doesn’t appreciate me and I know I deserve better but I do love him and want to make it work. I feel like he refuses to do anything he doesn’t like doing but that’s not fair, why should I have to do everything? I’m exhausted (he doesn’t do any feeds or changes of the baby) just looks after himself and I’m always clearing up after him. As we speak he’s lying in bed (17:30 on a Sunday)... it’s just not normal how much he sleeps! I feel lonely and frustrated! I wonder if he’s depressed or having an affair.

I’m not confrontational as I grew up with a bad tempered father who didn’t help my mum and I swore I’d not end up like her (having to do everything and walking on eggshells). I hate arguments and bite my tongue all the time but the resentment is building and I think I will explode one of these days.

Sometimes I start doubting myself I wonder if expecting too much of him on the basis that perhaps I could have it worse (I’ve had abusive relationships in the past) but he is slowly wearing me down and it is not pleasant. I don’t want my dS to end up like him.

Can anyone advise?

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 15/07/2018 17:45

He has checked out.
I don't think it is possible to repair a relationship if one person doesn't want to.
I am sorry you find yourself in this situation.

LannieDuck · 15/07/2018 17:48

Are you going back to work next month? Have you had any conversations yet about splitting the housework/childcare equally when you do? Just wondering if he's expecting everything to remain as it is when you go back, or if he hasn't thought about it at all yet?

Have you had any success talking to him about his changes in mood? Does he think he's changed?

Pickedon · 15/07/2018 17:55

Sad I really hope not... I need to try something new

OP posts:
Babdoc · 15/07/2018 17:56

Wait until you’re back at work after your maternity leave. It will shift the power dynamic a little, as you will be earning money and doing a job, rather than just being a housewife, which he seems to look down on.
That will give you a bit more strength and self esteem to tackle him, and also he can’t dump all the chores on you if you’re both working.
Decide for yourself what he needs to change or improve in order for you to stay in this marriage. Discuss that with him, and give him a timescale to step up to being a decent equal partner. If he refuses to try, or makes a half hearted attempt- you need to consider leaving. Because certainly if things continue as they are, you will be slowly ground down into an abused and damaged wife. And no-one should have to put up with that.

Pickedon · 15/07/2018 18:56

He just says he’s tired and he feels like I nag him. His job is the thing that sucks energy out of him.

Had a chat with him and he apologised- put it down to tiredness making him narky. Will see if things improve...

OP posts:
Glossyglosspaint · 15/07/2018 18:59

Sounds pretty dismal. He might be depressed if he's sleeping a lot but if he's continuing as normal outside the home/relationship it doesn't really sound like it. Even if he was depressed that wouldn't excuse his complete lack of communication with you and his unkindness.

Did he want a baby? He sounds like someone who is massively resentful of the change in the relationship now that you are parents and is deliberately distancing himself. Unless you can talk together about what's going wrong I don't see how you can continue long-term.

Pickedon · 15/07/2018 19:43

This is the mad thing... he was so keen for a baby! He just does as he pleases... I don’t think he’s ever had to do anything which he doesn’t enjoy in life. He loves DS and plays with him but then won’t do any of the hard work.

I will monitor him closely; I’ve been honest and he accepts fault. Time will tell if he means what he says. X

OP posts:
LannieDuck · 15/07/2018 20:23

Does he understand that he'll need to start doing half of all the 'hard work' when you go back to work? Even the jobs that he doesn't enjoy?

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