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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

Anyone up? Need a quick opinion on whether to let my dp sleep in and be late for work.... urgent!

163 replies

fedup1981 · 01/08/2007 06:51

My dp usually has to leave about 7am for work, he's lying in bed asleep. He can sleep through any alarm. I've called him and got an increasingly ratty response four times, and the last time was 6.35 and I said "I'm not calling you again, either get up now or lie there and be late, I don't care"

Normally I get up and start making him a coffee, breakfast and his sandwiches for the day, but he's gotten so used to me doing it (so he just has to roll out of bed and put clothes on) that now he sleeps for another 30-40 minutes while I stand downstairs fretting and trying to wake him up.

I haven't made his breakfast or lunch today because I feel like he's treating me like a mug.

Do I go and wake him up and possibly get a mouthful and him stomping around, or leave him to sleep and be late for work and possibly even more angry?

OP posts:
elfsmum · 01/08/2007 13:01

HI Fedup

two experiences here: my sister and her ex - hers didn't help with DC2 AT ALL - and after 6 months of this she said to him if I'm going to be a single mum I may as well be completely - and kicked him out.

Mine - although DH and I didn't argue over what got done in the house there were other things, and it took the shock of me asking for a divorce for him to finally see sense and we now work COMPLETELY as a team and have never been happier.

If we do hit a patch I will say "we need to sort this now or we'll end up where we were and that will mean a split, I love you and don't want that to happen so lets fix it now" and fortunately things have NEVER been that bad since.

the first time you are a mum is one of the hardest times I can remember, and things didn't ease off until the baby was on solids - I know everyone's experiences are different - but when the baby comes (s)he will be your 1st, 2nd and 3rd priority.

He needs to get his act together now, and as CountessDracula has said you need to be a team, he's going to be the one there that needs to support you and tell you everything will be o.k.

How on earth you're doing all of that with SPD as well ??

You have my full admiration and support - good luck.

fedup1981 · 01/08/2007 13:03

Budababe, if I showed him this thread he'd

a) Go mental
b) Pick apart everything I've said and make out I'm exaggerating and lying
c) Accuse me of being lazy and selfish ("drama whore" is my latest nickname)
d) Go mental again.

He wouldn't take any of it on board, he'd just say you were all a bunch of kneejerk manhaters.

His best trick when we argue is to take the focus off WHAT I'm saying by focussing on my tone of voice, or the fact that I said "every time" instead of "sometimes" or whatever. That way he can avoid actually having to answer me.

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 01/08/2007 13:05

He sounds horrible.

bossykate · 01/08/2007 13:05

good luck. you'll need it.

bossykate · 01/08/2007 13:06

"drama whore"

you're in the late stages of pg with spd...

bossykate · 01/08/2007 13:08

accuse you of being lazy and selfish...

fedup1981 · 01/08/2007 13:09

Thanks for your input elfsmum, it's good that you got your relationship sorted, your husband sounds like the type who listens when you speak seriously enough. Unfortunately I can't threaten dp with divorce as we aren't married, and when I have said in the past that we should split he just acts like he doesn't care.

It breaks my heart to speak to him like that, these are such simple bloody problems, it should be easily resolvable by talking it through! I need to make him feel how serious this is. Whoever said it's going to be so much worse with the baby here when sleep deprivation kicks in is so right, I'm dreading it.

OP posts:
fedup1981 · 01/08/2007 13:12

I'm not perfect, I can be a bit lazy (but I'm getting better at this housework lark!) but if I didn't do anything in the house, NOTHING would get done. I swear he thinks the bathroom etc just miraculously doesn't get dirty. No dear, it's just someone comes along every couple of days and cleans it and washes the towels.

This thread has been hugely useful, not only for the support (which I very much appreciate) but also to help me understand what I need from him, and what I need to do to get it resolved. Thanks again everyone x

OP posts:
corblimeycharlie · 01/08/2007 13:21

Have skimmed this thread so apologies if I'm repeating.
What time does he go to bed? Does he need to get more sleep so that he might find it easier to get up in the morning? I'm not excusing him in any way.
You do need to stand up for yourself more. My advice is to become much more needy after the baby is born, DO NOT do too much for yourself. Get him involved in your baby's needs and he can help you to.

elfsmum · 01/08/2007 13:22

he only did after nearly 2 years of me putting up with the systematic erosion of me and my self confidence and when I had no fight left and nothing left to give.

it was actually one of his friends that switched a light bulb on for him and he came home and said we needed to talk but I had nothing at that point and was resigned to splitting

it took a hell of a lot of effort from him to make this work and he still does to this day, I credit him with saving our marriage.

I know I'm lucky and we're 18 months on now.

there is a funny story, well not so funny but I couldn't find it but it goes something like this

man comes home from work, toys are all over the garden, kids are running round in pyjamas not dressed, the kitchen is a tip, dishes in the sink, the living room is in array, he gets concerned and thinks something serious has happened, he goes upstairs to find his wife in bed, reading a book eating chocolates, and he say's what's happened, she says well you know you say I don't do anything all day, well today I didn't

don't feel too downhearted, I'm sure there is a lot of good in your DP even if he's acting like an @rse - focus on what works, and what he does do well, and he needs to up the ante on the things he can improve

I know with my DH if I criticise he goes on the defensive straight away, but if I say I have a point to make I want you to listen and not say anything - I say it - then go away and leave him to think - then come back to the discussion later - seems to work for us

oh and ((((HUGS)))) just because

WideWebWitch · 01/08/2007 13:22

OP, you say "when I have said in the past that we should split he just acts like he doesn't care. " - It really sounds like he doesn't care, sorry. I wouldn't treat someone I cared for like this.

kittywits · 01/08/2007 13:27

Do you really want to child to grow up seeing its mother belittled and disrespected in such a way?
What will you be teaching him/her about relationships and how women are treated by some men?

If you have a son then he might well end up doing the same as his father, if you have a daughter then she might well chose an abusive relationship when she grows up.

If I were you I would get out and at least limit the damage he's doing just to you.

Protect your baby from him please.

fedup1981 · 01/08/2007 13:53

Don't worry kittywits, I have no intention of letting anything bad happen to the baby, or letting him grow up in an unhappy home. If it eases your mind, my older sister is well aware of what is happening lately, and she has said I can go live with her at a moments notice. Right now it's not the best idea (as I said, I need to be close to the hospital) but I'm not alone, and I'm not daft.

Well, I am daft for putting up with it for this long, but lets just say I'm not seeing him with such rose tinted glasses these days. He has to get his act together.

Elfsmum thanks again for posting, the little story made me laugh! Maybe he would benefit from one of his friends having a quiet word... something to think about.

Corblimeycharlie, he goes to bed far too late. Normally he's in bed at about 12.30am to 1am. He's sposed to be up at 6am. At night all he does is mess about on his laptop from having his tea to going to bed, not vital stuff just surfing the web and playing games. I try now and again to encourage him to go to bed from about 11pm onwards (but again I'm accused of nagging) and why should I, he's 30 ffs, if he's tired the next day he should go to bed earlier, I won't stop him!

I'm all set to talk to him tonight anyway. He won't know what's hit him!

OP posts:
edam · 01/08/2007 14:33

'drama whore'. How dare he talk to you like that?

The idea that he'd accuse other women who disapprove of his behaviour of being man-haters shows that he's actually the one who is prejudiced. Typical trick of racists or sexists to turn the problem around and pretend it belongs to the victim.

It's possible he has a deep-rooted dislike or fear of women, tbh. In which case without recognition of this on his part, and a great deal of work, he may never be fit to be a decent partner or parent.

kittywits · 01/08/2007 14:35

fedup, I'm SO relieved. I sure you are anything but daft. it can take a long while to get out of an abusive relationship.
Firstly it takes a while to realise what is going on as it often creeps up so slowly and then it take courage to get out.
You are in a very vunerable position now but it sounds as if you are really together and have the support you need.

Do keep posting for support won't you?

I'd love to see your dp's face when you have your little 'chat'
very good luck to you

mumblechum · 01/08/2007 19:09

Have you spoken to him yet?

expatinscotland · 01/08/2007 19:10

Wow, fedup, think of what your children are learning watching you be a skivvy and him being an utter piss weasel.

mumblechum · 01/08/2007 19:19

How very eloquent, Expat!

mumblechum · 01/08/2007 19:31

Come back, Fedup!

BandofMothers · 01/08/2007 19:33

If he's this tired now, I can only imagine how he'll be when the baby is born
Sorry for the grin, but he's in for such a shock. And if he dares to say to you "can't you shut him/her up I'm knackered." Hand him the baby and say, you show me how and I'll do it.

TheArmadillo · 01/08/2007 19:34

he sounded like a lazy bastard until the bit where you said 'drama whore' was your latest nickname.

He now sounds like a complete and utter piece of crap

You do not deserve to be spoken to like that.

You do not deserve to be spoken to like a slave.

Tell him.

Fingers crossed for you.

gothicmama · 01/08/2007 19:49

fedup1981 I think you recognise you are in an abusive relationship, remember you are a strong person and that despite his reasons and apologises and making it all your fault it is not they are excuses. It is good you have your sister to confide in and of course mumsnet stay strong and positive don't be afraid of teh future look after you and the baby take care

LadyMacbeth · 01/08/2007 20:15

Any news yet?

He sounds like one of those types that can be an absolute charmer (he makes you laugh when he's in the right mood/schmoozes the powers-that-be at work into thinking he an do no wrong) and at the same time can be a complete bastard by disrespectfully treating you like a piece of dog poo.

What's that word when someone has a split personality? Schizophrenic? I don't know - but it strikes me as worrying - at the very least he is being an emotional bully towards you.

The way he calls you a whore - even if it is in jest - is really nasty.

Having children is hard work, as I'm sure you already imagine. I never nagged my dh before children (he nagged me!) but there's nothing as draining as a tough day with them... I have a funny feeling he will never quite understand that though unless you shove a rocket up his arse and force him to take responsibility for his family.

fedup1981 · 02/08/2007 10:02

Hi, sorry I couldn't really update last night. Yes, this is my first baby, so no kids have been observing my skivvying or his pissweaseling just yet.

When he got home last night I said we needed to talk and that the morning situation wasn't working, and really wouldn't work when the baby was here with me feeding him every hour or two all night.

I said that I wanted him to take responsibility for getting himself up and ready for work, and he said "right so I won't hear the alarm, and you'll just lie there and let me be late, thanks for caring, nice to know you give a shit"

He knows that's a crap argument because I'm a very caring person and if anything I do far too much for him. I told him this and he didn't argue back. I also said that the rest of the world gets themselves up and how did he get himself to work on time when he lived on his own? (he said he had three loud alarm clocks)

So I said he had two options, either we get a shakeawake vibrating alarm which he has under his pillow (and the radio set 10 mins later as a backup) and he gets up when they go off with no arguments, or I move into the spare room with the baby and he can have all the alarms he needs.

Fast forward to this morning (and bear in mind I have to get up as soon as the alarm goes off, my bladder just won't let me lie in) his alarm went off, so I gave him a poke and he got up, no argument or moaning. We came down, and since I was making coffee for myself, I asked him if he wanted any, but told him to make his own lunch which he did. I don't mind compromise, just don't want to skivvy around for him like an idiot while he lies in bed!

So that's the plan on that front anyway- in return for me ensuring he is up for work, he has to stop being nasty and sort himself out in the morning. Not perfect, but a big improvement!

We also discussed some other issues such as him calling me names/shouting/bashing stuff about, and I said it has to stop now or he'll make the baby scared of him, and I wouldn't let that happen. He looked half scornful ("I'm not scary, how could I scare him?") and half guilty, as if he'd only just realised it would scare a child, even if it didn't scare me (and sometimes it does)

He wasn't in the mood to listen to any more, so I tried to address the main issues, and haven't mentioned the housework/list idea just yet. I thought it might be better to leave it til he was in a more positive frame of mind. Pick your battles and all that!

Still, even if only those things improve, it'll make the atmosphere around here so much nicer.

Once again thanks everyone for your support and advice, it's appreciated.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 02/08/2007 10:07

wow
well done
it sounds like he has been taking the piss (and you have let him!) but he now realises you mean business and is pulling his finger out!

Well done
Very impressed!

BTW you can get a vibrating alarm on a wrist watch, that should wake him up!