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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

FTM Newborn! AIBU to question par

13 replies

lucylu37 · 20/12/2020 08:39

I’m hoping to get some opinions, as my mind is so confused and was hoping you guys would be able to give some impartial views! I have a ten week old baby girl, who is gorgeous! The relationship with my partner is really strained at the moment and we have argued a lot since she was born! He started a new job the week she was born, so I have voluntarily done all the nights and slept downstairs for the past ten weeks so he can concentrate on his job! Over the past week we’ve moved into the same room, as she sleeps more during the night now! My partner loves the baby but has a very relaxed attitude to the point I find it really frustrating! If he changes her nappy there are many times after I discover he hasn’t done the baby vest up properly and other times just hasn’t done it up at all, then put the baby grow over the top! Other time’s he won’t put the baby grow back on and will go to put her to sleep with just a vest on! When I first asked him if he would dress her properly he said she’s fine what’s the big deal! Now when I ask him he tells me to shut up and tells me I have OCD! I’ve also been trying to get her in a really calm space in the early evening but he comes home from work and excites her! Again when I’ve tried to explain he tells me to just stop Moaning! Last night he said he’s going to take the baby to see two of his friends in separate locations, I explained that it was tier four but his reply wAs she’s my baby stop trying to control me and used the fact I took her to a socially distanced baby sensory class against me (which I had asked if he wanted to go instead of me but he said no and laughed it off) Again, I don’t feel my request is unreasonable.
It’s got to a point now where the lack of respect for me as a mother makes me feel quite depressed and the genuine requests I’ve asked from him now come across as rude and snappy! If he spends a day with her and then I go to change her or feed/play with her he says things like ‘don’t do that she doesn’t like that’ or if he changes her out of an outfit I’ve put her in that he doesn’t like he says things like ‘daddy will put you in nice outfit today and get you out of those uncomfortable clothes.’ I’ve tried to talk to him about how I feel disrespected as the baby’s mother but he always says he does respect me, thinks I’m starting an argument or being sensitive and i can’t control him! My mind is completely muddled as I don’t think expecting to put babies clothes on properly is unreasonable! Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I really want to be respected as a mother! I put so much time, care and effort into looking after the baby and want to work as a partnership but st the moment it feels like two different people trying to look after one child! I feel the way he is being is starting to make me feel depressed and a failure as a mother. Thanks in advance for reading.

OP posts:
FarFromTheMaddeningToddler · 20/12/2020 09:12

Gosh, I’m sorry op. He sounds incredibly immature. Expecting him to dress the baby properly is not unreasonable at all!

Also, as someone else who is now in tier 4, he absolutely shouldn’t be taking the baby to meet anyone, it’s not really the weather to meet people outside with a newborn (if that’s even what he’s doing!) No wonder you are frustrated.

I think you need a serious chat with him, perhaps when the baby is asleep. How long have you been together?

category12 · 20/12/2020 09:16

Mental that he gets the bed and you're on the sofa

Namechangedforthisoct2 · 20/12/2020 09:16

It sounds like he’s jealous of your dd and is now being immature and trying to drive a wedge.

I’d sit down and lay down the law that this behaviour stops and you start working as a loving team or it’ll be over.

Namechangedforthisoct2 · 20/12/2020 09:17

I’d also suggest showing him this post and all the responses

Ikeameatballs · 20/12/2020 09:18

He’s a knob.

I suspect he’s always been a knob but unfortunately you’ve only noticed now.

PurpleMustang · 20/12/2020 09:26

Dressing her properly is just basic parenting and level of care and she needs a certain amount of layers to keep warm especiallyin winter. Telling you to shut up etc is a whole other problem. I am afraid you have a lot of trouble ahead

Seaoftroubles · 20/12/2020 09:40

This sounds dreadful, you should be working as a team now and it sounds as though he is constantly undermining you. He should certainly not be visiting friends with her in Tier 4, is he incapable of reading the rules too? A very firm discussion needs to take place or l fear things will get a lot worse. He is showing you no respect at all.

rainbowstardrops · 20/12/2020 10:22

He sounds like a prize dickhead! Take back control and don't allow home to undermine you.
Oh and does he actually have a brain if he thinks taking a new baby into a tier 4 area is a good idea?
I'd be telling him to clear off.

lucylu37 · 20/12/2020 12:04

I seem to have posted this TWice, so have got lots of replies on both threads! Thank you everyone for replying! I really appreciate it and it has helped put a lot in perspective for me and given me a plan to move forwardI think with tiredness and hormones my perspective has been all over the place! Will definitely have a serious chat with him and the suggestion of counselling sounds a good idea, so we can both put our point across without each one biting back! I think after reading your replies there is compromise needed on both parts! But he also needs to talk to me in a more respectful manner too! Luckily this morning he has changed his mind about wanting to see friends, I'm not sure he totally understood the new rules! Think I need to stand my ground more but be more calm and collective in my approach and also pick my battles (work out when he is being Ok and when he is just acting like a DH)! Again, really appreciate all your advice, sorry I don't have time to thank you all individually! hope you all have lovely Christmases despite the covid crap! Xxx

OP posts:
Skyla2005 · 20/12/2020 18:27

Useless men go under the radar until a baby is born. That really does show what kind of man he is. All I can suggest is keep trying to communicate how he is making you feel. If he won’t listen then I can’t see this lasting. You have a long journey ahead your baby is only 10 weeks so not a good sign. You need to try and nip this In the bud now

LunaLula83 · 20/12/2020 18:30

Yup. This is the moment men become arseholes!

Yellowcar2 · 20/12/2020 18:35

On a whole I agree he's being a dick. However if I've read it correctly you want her calm before bed time and don't like it when he excites her after work. I get it but if i had been at work all day I would want to spend a bit of time with my child and would resent being told I couldn't.

Helpneededbyanoutsider · 20/12/2020 19:03

I would say the dressing her is a little bit of a silly thing to get worked up about...as long as she’s safe and healthy and has two parents who love her who cares?
She’s always going to get excited about him coming home, just change her routine to coincide for that to be okay. Then you can both settle her after he’s come home and the excitement is over.

Having a newborns tough, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You don’t have to be perfect you just need to be there.

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