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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

He refuses to use the family calender

152 replies

MrsStiltskin · 10/04/2019 20:12

Most of the organisation at home is left to me. Fine. I just ask DH to include his commitments on the family calender as we're both busy people and want to avoid clashes. Also, I try to preserve 2 evenings a week for us as a couple and this only happens if I'm organised about it. DH is much busier socially and professionally than me.

I forget things he tells me verbally as I'm very busy with family life and children etc so as a way to minimise my forgetfulness, we use a family app.

DH however still isn't adding his commitments to the calender. We have had atleast 6 arguments about this I would say. Not sure if this is forgetfulness, awkwardness or stubborness. He also is not preserving time for us as a couple which upsets and disappoints me and makes me wonder if this is why he isn't using the app, because it's clear to see that he isn't honouring any "Us time."

Our relationship is very much in trouble so it's important we get time to connect properly. We were going to have some Us time on Monday evening but the children were poorly which meant this did not happen. So another evening has not been prioritised to replace it. I have also been sleeping on the floor in one of the children's rooms so we aren't even sharing a bed at night. He was out on Saturday evening, Tuesday evening and also tonight, so I am home with the children who are still unwell and my own company.

The last time we fell out about him not using the calender, he promised me he would start as he actually really likes it. He hasn't. It's as if he sees it as an app for me to inform him my plans for me and the children and doesn't realise he has to inform me his plans too.
He announced at 5pm today that he is out tonight again, he says he has told me, but I haven't remembered so it's all my fault even though its not on the fucking calender AGAIN. I was really hoping to spend some time with him tonight having had an emotional and worrying couple of days with the children, along with terrible sleep. I've also not been well myself.

He knows I'm upset but he has gone anyway. Some may not care about having an organised system like ours at home which is fine- I don't judge, but it works well for our lifetsyle and this is agreed by DH entirely. He loves the app. But he refuses to add to it, leading to last minute outings (or atleast they are to me) and not much time for us at all.

I've been really angry and frustrated in the past, but today I just feel upset and let down. Fed up of being taken for granted as being available to be here with the children whilst he pleases himself. I feel like I've had enough and to be frank, it's killing my love for him. I have told him this and the only response I've had is "you're ridiculous." He has since added his commitment to the calender under "selfish twat out tonight."

I know it sounds silly over a bloody calender but I feel depleted by it all. I am tryjng to hold the family together and keep everything organised etc and I feel I'm all alone in doing so. I am getting to a point where I want to leave him over this.
I'm exhausted by his lack of communication, lack of connection and lack of team spirit.

What do I do next?

OP posts:
spinn · 10/04/2019 20:49

Op, you haven't said if it's a paper calendar or online one - we have a gmail one that's out on everyone's phones and it's made a huge difference to everyone adding things and being more proactive - remembering once we got home to write it on was always a sticky point

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 10/04/2019 20:51

He's using the calendar to identify which nights you'll be at home so he can go out, so I'd dump it and him, selfish bastard.

Lollypop701 · 10/04/2019 20:53

He gets to plan the life he wants because he knows what you are doing... so night in for you equals night out (if he wants) for him. Judge his actions op, unfortunately words are cheap

m0therofdragons · 10/04/2019 20:54

Dh used to forget until I went into bitch mode and started arranging nights out. If he didn't put things in the calendar I'd assume it's a free night and go to a friend's. He'd then have to stay home with dc.

He now uses the calendar!

OrianaBanana · 10/04/2019 20:55

spinn it’s an app

Musti · 10/04/2019 21:11

I'd give him a taste of his own medicine and be very busy out all of a sudden.

timeisnotaline · 10/04/2019 21:16

If its not in the calendar he doesn’t go here. I agree that he’s not prioritising you or ‘us’; you can’t prioritise us on your own so take all the us nights, book yourself out of the house doing something no matter how boring - sitting in a late night costa brooding and counting people with non black jackets, and leave him to keep the home fires burning.

managedmis · 10/04/2019 21:18

Yeah he doesn't give a fuck

Blondebakingmumma · 10/04/2019 21:19

It’s not really about the calendar though is it? You are mostly hurt that he isn’t prioritizing you. Sit down and have another discussion. Negotiate one night a week that is exclusively for the two of you. I’m afraid it sounds like he is being a selfish jerk 💐

Blondebakingmumma · 10/04/2019 21:21

Maybe also book one evening a week that you get to leave the house alone and he gets to stay home with the kids. You should get a life too x

ravenmum · 10/04/2019 21:23

Or just do like him and tell him he's forgotten you're going out partying, bye!

TulipsTulipsTulips · 10/04/2019 21:23

Hmmmm this is not about the calendar. Marriages survived just fine in the past with ordinary communication: talking and listening. It sounds like communication and consideration overall are the issues. Next time you have a row, maybe focus on that instead of scheduling (which can sound a bit rigid and controlling).

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 10/04/2019 21:30

Op, you haven't said if it's a paper calendar or online one

She did, she says in her first post it's an app.

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 10/04/2019 21:35

Him saying he forgets is bullshit.

He doesn't forget to check to the app to make you're at home to pick up his slack and he doesn't forget to verbally tell you. If he can remember his social plans until he speaks to you he can certainly remember the three seconds it takes to add it to the calendar.

A family member tried to set up a similar family app, the husband told another family member he only checks to make sure he plans his hobby around times the children have clubs so that he doesn't have to take them and because she will use the Callander as evidence of just how much time she gets to himself.

DeeCeeCherry · 10/04/2019 21:43

So you have to carry all the mental load as he cant be bothered. & hes always out too -
so he has time for that but cant make 'me' time for you as a couple.

Unfortunately it seems this boringly selfish man has already checked out of family life with you all. You need a quiet Plan B/advice & your rights info in case he ups and leaves you. Out & about when the children are ill? Whats so great out there that trumps DCs being unwell...?

Awful behaviour.

ohfourfoxache · 10/04/2019 21:44

As PPs have said, stop using the calendar.

If he loves it so much he can use it properly, but until then use something else for all your appointments.

He sounds like a selfish cuntweasel

DeeCeeCherry · 10/04/2019 21:45

Also agree with pp's about making time for yourself, and going out

funtimespeople · 10/04/2019 21:56

Stop using it. He's clearly planning his night out around it then lying to you about telling you.

whitehalleve · 10/04/2019 21:57

I told my partner many times if it's not on the calendar.. forget it, it's not happening.

Once he told me about something he was going out for (pub) and I said put it on the calendar or it doesn't count. He didn't. So I booked a night out for myself for that night and wrote it on the calendar. He stayed in with the baby.... he doesn't forget any more... funny that!

jelliebelly · 10/04/2019 21:59

He's not forgetting he just doesn't think it relates to him because he's not taking an active part in family life. Apart fro missing "us time" what other impacts do his arrangements have on the rest of you?

Shouldbedoing · 10/04/2019 22:13

My Ex-H was too important for the family calendar.

Cherrysoup · 10/04/2019 22:51

I like what @whitehalleve says, absolutely what I would do. He announces out of the blue that he’s going out, grab your keys and say me too, see you later!

SolitudeAtAltitude · 10/04/2019 22:58

Yes, you are the family organiser

He's the free agent

That's why the app works for him!

If he wanted to spend time with you, he would (sorry that sounds brutal)

Maybe start to mentally detach a bit. He has already.

MsDogLady · 11/04/2019 04:34

It sounds like he is opting out of the marriage and family life.

Where is he going on all these nights out?

AgentJohnson · 11/04/2019 05:27

Be straight with him, his laziness is negatively impacting your marriage and it isn’t just your responsibility to nurture the relationship. If he continues to play only lip service to making things better then he shouldn’t be surprised when his behaviour kills the love and what’s left of the respect you have for him.

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