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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:
MrsStiltskin · 11/04/2019 10:28

Inlaws are great practically. I am dropping DC2 off at their house this afternoon and seeing my counsellor. I was recently diagnosed with PND so see a counsellor for that.

OP posts:
MoreProseccoNow · 11/04/2019 10:28

He's deliberately being such a shit that you'll be forced to make the decision.

I'm sorry OP, it's really crap for you.

In your shoes, I would tell him he needs to step up or leave.

Quartz2208 · 11/04/2019 10:29

Why did you only have 8 minutes

OP this has escalated into being abusive quickly is there anywhere you can go or contact

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 11/04/2019 10:30

Sorry, I just read your last update.

Fucking hell. You need to call Women's Aid. You need to speak to your family and you need to make plans to GET HIM OUT.

endofthelinefinally · 11/04/2019 10:32

Your PND is probably caused by your selfish husband.
Now is the time to get as much help and support from your in laws as you can.
Use the time to get cracking and locate and copy all legal and financial paperwork.
Get some sleep. A couple of afternoon naps will make you feel a lot better.

endofthelinefinally · 11/04/2019 10:33

Actually, I wouldn't advise confronting him at this stage.
Get the ducks in a row first.
His behaviour is escalating fast.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 11/04/2019 10:34

Yes, what @endofthelinefinally says.

Get your plans in place first. Abuse accelerating this quickly is dangerous, quite frankly.

StormTreader · 11/04/2019 10:36

"He gave me 8 minutes to get ready "you have 8 minutes to get yourself ready!!" He was roaring. "

What would have happened if you said "no, I'm not going anywhere."?
The answer to that will tell you whether you need to leave asap.

category12 · 11/04/2019 10:55

You really need to ditch the calendar, it's pointless. Delete the app.

Your actual problem is being married to a selfish prick, and nasty to boot, given his behaviour towards you this morning. When you speak to your counsellor today, perhaps start exploring whether this is a good relationship for you and what effect living with someone who puts himself first and shows no care for his sick wife and kids is having. Perhaps it's not PND at all, but situational.

MrsStiltskin · 11/04/2019 11:00

He needed to leave the house in 8 minutes which is why I had 8 minutes to get ready before he left as I needed to breakfast and get DC1 off to preschool.

OP posts:
MrsStiltskin · 11/04/2019 11:01

I'm no longer bothering with the app. You're right, there is absolutely no point.

OP posts:
timeisnotaline · 11/04/2019 11:03

With the update, this is not a man anyone should be in a relationship with. I agree with the pp on contact women’s aid and ask how to get him out. And tell everyone you know he’s never home even when the children are sick, you’ve given up and asked him to leave and he had refused, shouted at you and pushed you out of the way.

dronesdroppingzopiclone · 11/04/2019 11:04

He needed to leave the house in 8 minutes which is why I had 8 minutes to get ready before he left as I needed to breakfast and get DC1 off to preschool.

He's incapable of getting his own child breakfast and dressed for nursery? You realise he did this to you as a form of abuse, don't you? The app is the least of your worries.

MrsStiltskin · 11/04/2019 11:08

He's great practically and had dressed DC1 and given breakfast. I'd been breastfeeding DC2 so needed to give them breakfast (and me) and get them ready and shower, dress myself etc.

It was punishment for contacting his parents. He was furious.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/04/2019 11:18

How is he great practically?. He hardly ever seems to be home.

He likely only did this with the children because he got up earlier, does he want a medal or something?

He is using you and in turn your children to control you and his actions are about power and control.

If a friend was telling you all this what would your own advise be here?

dronesdroppingzopiclone · 11/04/2019 11:22

He's great? He's a dick. Why did you have to get ready and go out, too? Can he not take his child to nursery? WTAF? Get who ready if he'd already dressed your older son and given him breakfast? He's abusive as fuck.

MrsStiltskin · 11/04/2019 11:26

Oh I know he is behaving appallingly.

But he gets the DCs ready most days actually, I can not criticise this at all and always gives breakfast, obviously not a medal rewarding task, as he is a parent too, but he doesn't leave it all to me.

He is always around for bedtime, but does seem to have a lot of work commitments and social commitments and when the DCs are waking up, it's not like I can get an early night.

We agree a couple of nights each a week to do as we please. But, "us" nights are supposed to be prioritised. They have not been. And this is what upsets me along with the fact that he has not been using the calender and keeping me in the loop.

If he had apologised and hankered for a compromise "just an hour or so" or something along those lines, I probably would have let it go, but he becomes all self-righteous and brands me "pathetic" and "ridiculous" etc.

My only intention is to make family life as smooth as possible with breaks for us both and time for us as a couple. I don't see why he's getting so wound up over a simple request for him to communicate via the calender. He could have compromised kast night, particularly as the kids and myself have been unwell, but he couldn't even do that, just gets angry and defends his position as if I'm his enemy or something.

OP posts:
dronesdroppingzopiclone · 11/04/2019 11:31

Jesus wept, OP, you are totally deluded. Forget about all the 'us' time, it's actually not very realistic when you have a pre-school child and a baby. He's not interested in compromising, he's not interested in family life, he's interested in carrying on as he pleases, you doing most of the donkey work, treating you like shit and your shutting up about it so no one knows what a twat he is.

endofthelinefinally · 11/04/2019 11:32

The word punishment should not crop up in the context of a good relationship.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/04/2019 11:33

To him Mrs S, you are the enemy.

Look at his actions, not mere words. He in all likelihood frightened your children by his shouting at you today and demanding that you leave in 8 minutes.

What do you want to teach your children about relationships and what are they learning here from you two?. Is this really the model of a relationship you want to be showing them?.

dronesdroppingzopiclone · 11/04/2019 11:33

I think it's pretty unrealistic, however, to expect 2 nights a week (1 for each person) of 'do as you please' and 2 nights a week of 'us' time when you have such a young family, but the real issue is that he treats you like shit.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 11/04/2019 11:34

I've often wondered on here if people understand the phrase 'walking on eggshells' - and I'm afraid that your post above is a textbook example of a woman doing just that. Can you see how much you are stressing and stretching yourself to create what's simply a normal family life? YOU are the one setting up calendars and filling them in, YOU are the one looking after the children night after night - and the minute you question the status quo your husband 'brands you pathetic'?

You're suffering from PND so ask his parents for help he won't give you, and he's furious?? Cheeky fucker. He should be mortified!

He just gets angry and defends his position as if I'm his enemy or something.

He is your enemy. He certainly isn't your partner.

Musti · 11/04/2019 11:35

I would scrap the idea of a calendar and have set couple days and set you days. That way everyone knows what's happening and it's fair. If that doesn't work, then you may habd to reconsider your relationship

ScatteredMama82 · 11/04/2019 11:39

OP this sounds awful, I'm so sorry you're living like this. Take a look at your friends, family - their relationships. Is what you're living with normal? I'd say it isn't. You can't fix a relationship by scheduling your entire life and slotting in 'couple time'. Especially if the your other half isn't interested in it. It doesn't sound like your DH is someone you really want to be having a relationship with anyway. Think about it, you are spending most of your time alone, and when you are with him he is adding to your stress. Things should be easier when he is around, not harder.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/04/2019 11:40

The calendar and issues surrounding that are symptomatic of problems in the relationship as a whole. Like many such unhealthy relationships too, the op cooperates, bends over backwards and tries to smooth things over but he never cooperates.

He does not want either couple time or two days a week of me time, what this man wants is to go out as and when he pleases because he feels entitled to do so. This is who he is, all he cares about is getting his own needs met.