Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Outside perspective on husband and mine argument

267 replies

Suzie567 · 12/01/2020 21:20

husband commented today that we should only have our kids birthday parties every 3 years or so. We’ve only had 2 parties so far for eldest (6) and none for second one. Every year he starts an argument at the mention of a party so that’s reason we had very few. His reason is that as a kid he only had party every 3 or 4 years - but as I keep telling him that was 30 years ago! Just for perspective, and not for a boast, we are not struggling for money and are quite comfortable. He really annoyed me today so I kind of lost it and told him the parties are for our kids not for him and it makes me happy organising and planning so what’s his problem. We argued all day and in evening I calmed down and tried to talk to him. I asked why he doesn’t like the idea of parties but he started his usual shouting and screaming at me.

He’s downstairs now sobbing away. I feel really bad that I wish I hadn’t brought up the party but then why can’t my kids have a normal life like their friends. I don’t know how to handle this. Any outside perspective pls.

OP posts:
Graciebutterfly · 12/01/2020 23:28

He is very manipulative! Ends an argument crying making you look like the bad one because he didn't get his on way.
Obviously he's child hood wasn't hood if he's so emotional and not in the right way. He should be overjoyed to see how happy birthday parties make his children.

It seems he's emotional when he comes to poor him.

Runnerduck34 · 12/01/2020 23:42

There must be a deeper issue if he is sobbing over it. He is being unreasonable, kids love birthday parties and they will outgrow them so the time to have them is now, it will make great memories for them , if you can afford and particularly if you do most the work organising then I can't see his problem. Does he resent his DC having things he never had? Sounds mad but sometimes I suspect this is the case with my DH. Hope you can sort it soon.

MMadness · 12/01/2020 23:43

With my two daughters we have a friend party (proper party or a few friends to movies, water park or similar) every second year and the next year is family only.

It's a good balance.

Perhaps try and compromise with your DH. Kid parties shouldn't cause this much angst.

Smellbellina · 12/01/2020 23:47

He’s an immature twat who doesn’t see why his DC shouldn’t suffer through their childhoods like he did?

Interestedwoman · 12/01/2020 23:53

' I asked why he doesn’t like the idea of parties but he started his usual shouting and screaming at me.

He’s downstairs now sobbing away.'

Erm, not normal. Sounds like some sort of personality issues. Not fun to live with someone like that. I suggest leaving..

@MMadness 'Perhaps try and compromise with your DH. Kid parties shouldn't cause this much angst.'

Well no, they don't with normal people.

Ihavehadenoughalready · 13/01/2020 00:09

My opinion is that a party every year is too much if you mean inviting over a bunch of kids. If it's just family, fine.

Have a kid across the street whose birthday parties are Major Events in which she gets waaaaaay too many presents and I think it's encouraging her to be slightly narcissistic.

Ihavehadenoughalready · 13/01/2020 00:15

Angry sobbing is still anger.

He needs help.

Thestrangestthing · 13/01/2020 00:16

He is really weird!

Bouledeneige · 13/01/2020 00:25

OP don't worry it's a phase he's going through. By the time he turns 3 he will start growing out of having tantrums. Oh no, wait....

Mary1935 · 13/01/2020 01:15

I really hope your children didn’t hear this.
Does he work? Have a party after school for your children.
Keep him out of it and forge ahead. He has some odd ideas.

Pumpkinpie1 · 13/01/2020 01:51

Is he worried about money? How big is this party?
What do your children want to do for their birthdays? Do they even want a party?
I think you all need to talk because his reaction appears extreme , but there must be a reason

PerkyPomPoms · 13/01/2020 02:15

Have the parties let your child enjoy her childhood and he can fuck off and do whatever by himself. Manipulative arsehole.

Yeahnah2020 · 13/01/2020 02:25

@Suzie567 if he sobs at that then he’s got major problems. That isnt just being emotional. He sounds like a killjoy who is being tight with effort, joy and money!!

Daftapath · 13/01/2020 07:12

What else has he screamed, shouted about and then sobbed about when he has not got his own way? Did his response mean that he then did get his own way?

Costacoffeeplease · 13/01/2020 07:59

Jeez, what a selfish, childish, ridiculous prick, arguing shouting and now crying over pass the parcel and musical statues

How did you not just laugh at him? Your poor kids, getting excited about their birthday but not allowed a party when they see their friends and cousins having parties

How do you put up with this? And he even gets you to feel guilty? Manipulative twat

JanusLooksBothWays · 13/01/2020 08:07

He's a cunt, OP. And a controlling one.

Plan the party and tell him to fuck off out while it happens.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 13/01/2020 08:12

I don’t get why he’s so invested, can you throw a party without involving him- he can even go out if he’s that horrified by the concept of a child having a party Hmm

movingdilemma1234 · 13/01/2020 08:12

Sobbing about arguing about how often a child is to have a party sounds like emotional dysregulation
I'd wonder if his personality is disordered OP? Screaming shouting and sobbing are not, on the whole, healthy adult behaviours but maybe you've lived with it for so long that you have normalised this

ravenmum · 13/01/2020 08:26

Based on my own experiences I can see a potential future in which your dh is sobbing in the arms of another woman saying that his cold-hearted wife picks arguments, always has to get her own way and makes him cry. I'd heartily recommend couples counselling at this stage to see if you can learn how to discuss these minor matters properly, as when a serious matter comes up in the future, you are fucked.

My dh never learned how to have a normal discussion because his parents made all the decisions and he simply did not have a say. Have a closer look at your dh's relationship with his parents - do they pander to his every whim, or do they avoid all forms of argument themselves? Or ague all the time, so that he associates discussion with horrible emotions? There are lots of reasons why he might not know how to have a proper discussion.

If your dh sees this anything like my ex, it could look something like this:

You: I disagreed with him.
Him: She criticised my judgement.

You: I asked him to explain his reasoning, but he didn't give a proper answer, so I had to ask him again.
Him: She started a fight over nothing and then kept bringing it up again and again all day until I broke down.

Until you have counselling, maybe it would help if you specifically tell him you are not attacking him:

"Just because I disagree, that doesn't mean I'm criticising you."
"I'm not trying to start a fight; I'm trying to understand you better."

But tbh, whatever you say, he'll see it through the lens of his personality issues. I never found out how to get through to my ex.
And yes, it is manipulative, even if that might not be what is intended.

Quartz2208 · 13/01/2020 08:27

I think you realise this isn’t normal and that your children are now suffering

Mrshue · 13/01/2020 08:36

Me and my husband had very different background

I grew up often with no food. Homeless. No car. No tv. No proper education

My husband grew up skiing each year. In private education. With no money worries ever

Because of how I grew up and how we live now. No money worries. My children want for nothing and they know that. I’ve been there. It’s incredibly hard when your moral values are so so different

Have you explained about how you grew up etc?

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 13/01/2020 08:42

Arrrrgggghhhh fuck my phone, I just lost a big post.

OK

I have empathy for not liking parties. I will drive 400 miles to avoid a party. And thinking about it, I don't have a single memory of any birthday parties for me from my childhood. I can remember my friends parties. And once I was as school I was asked to organise my younger siblings parties, which I loved doing.

Is your husband an anxiety sufferer? If so, I'd just tell him to go out for the day of the party.

But if he's just manipulating you with his histrionics, then fuck him.

ofay · 13/01/2020 08:48

Is he a massive introvert OP, or very anxious in general?

Or just a total arse who likes his own way?

ravenmum · 13/01/2020 08:54

True; anxiety could be another explanation - if he is unwilling to explain why he doesn't want a party because he's ashamed to admit that he is actually terrified of the idea.

You say that he often shouts, screams and cries, so it is clearly not just the party that is the problem. Have a think about whether the other things he screams about are all related to social occasions and might all be sparked by social anxiety.

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 13/01/2020 09:08

Maybe he can't stand the thought of hordes of kids in the house, screaming, shouting and being sick!!

Seriously, why don't you just have the party on a weekday, when he is at work?