I have 2 children, one who is 3.5 and one is 4 months old.
I’ve been with my partner for 6 years. We moved in together as soon as we found out we were expecting our first.
All I can say is the last few years have just been hard.
My partner has been a heavy drinker, when I say heavy, he doesn’t drink every night. He will only normally drink Fridays and Saturdays.
He will buy at least 8 tall cans and sometimes with that 2 or 3 bottles, never drinks spirits, only beers!
He used to try and get away with drinking on a weekday normally a Wednesday to break up the week (and sometimes he will still try) but I put a stop to that as much as I can
When he drinks, (and he drinks fast) his attitude changes
He has never ever been violent towards me or our children so I’m never in fear or anything. But it’s his personality.
He withdraws, looks as though he is staring in to space, and sometimes can’t acknowledge or keep in a conversation, it’s as if he’s in his own little world
He does take medication for some sort of anxiety to calm his mind (I have told him many times he shouldn’t drink /that we need to go to the doctors) but he won’t listen.
My 3 year old knows when he drinks he becomes a bit “strange” and she mentions it but he doesn’t say anything, in the mornings when I tell him how he has been he says he’s sorry, but he doesn’t feel he’s doing anything wrong!!
On a few occasions, he has spoken to me not nicely and can be confrontational if he feels threatened.
This was seen in front of my dad last year, and said he noticed my partner would have a drink, and then 10 minutes later have another one and took advantage of the beers.
When we go round to peoples houses or away, it’s always mostly me who has to look after my children.
Once my daughters medication was due at a set time when he was going round to my dads house for a meal where I was joining later. He “forgot”
His memory sober is terrible anyway, but when he drinks it’s worse
He just sits down with the family and I feel I’m always the one minding the children.
I do of course ask (sometimes shout) at him to help me but it’s so embarrassing and on occasion he has refused saying “he’s entertaining” but also, it’s like he can’t move when he’s had a few drinks because he must feel too drowsy! (In one way might be a blessing - who would want a drunk person to look after 2 children!)
I do love him, I do, but I for a long time almost have a bit of resentment towards him.
I feel like it's affecting my mental health too!
When I have told him in the mornings when he is sober of how he is, he just dismisses it, and whenever I try to say “ let’s go to the doctors to see what we can do” or “please cut down HOW much you drink and how fast”
And I threaten to walk out, he just tells me to stop being so silly
My dad is aware of his ways, and has said the only way he will change is if you left
But I don’t like the idea of doing this.
I feel like I’m always causing an argument between me and my partner but I don’t want to be unhappy for the rest of my life!
Sorry for the essay!
Any advice would be much appreciated
Update: he's gone to bed at 8pm this evening for me to settle the little one as he is feeling so drowsy (he blames the heat)!