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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

So miserable

31 replies

crumpets20 · 23/12/2020 14:41

Hi,
I don’t know why I’m posting, I guess just so fed up and wanting to get it out, even just a handhold. I’m so miserable and don’t know what to do..

I have a 10 month old son who’s amazing but never felt so bad at home. Engaged to DP but not married. He joined the police a few days before I gave birth. He left the same job I do where you can exchange your shifts, get fixed rest days and which could have had the option for him to share parental leave with me, because he didn’t like it. Ultimately I know you can’t control someone’s job but I raised concerns with the shifts of the police, not just being able to finish if there’s work and having a young baby which went ignored. I guess I thought more consideration would have been given for the family and shorter term.
He didn’t tell them I was even pregnant until about a couple of weeks or so before he started. That said and the timings, he didn’t get any paternity leave so I’ve done the majority of caring for our son. In the early days I remember breaking down crying and begging him not to leave us because I was so scared and anxious but he insisted he had to go to work but he wouldn’t speak to his work about the situation either to see if there was any support they could give. With the situation and where family is based, I had no one else.
I later was started on medication for PND. There’s days where I want to just stay in bed and feel so guilty that DS misses out on me or he’ll remember his mummy being sad and not there.

I suppose I really struggle to let go of feeling so let down that when I needed him, he was never there. There’s also lots of other things like, I feel he’s a man child. I moved out of home to live independently when I was 19 (now nearly 27) whereas he’d lived at home until moving in with me a few years ago.
He thinks farting is hilarious and thinks it’s great to smell it. He’ll say he can’t help it and it just comes out.

He leaves his clothes on the floor once worn and nigh on has a tantrum if I say I won’t do his ironing. He’s never ironed his own clothes and won’t learn, just says he can’t. He even made a comment once about how he had to go to work with unironed trousers, because I hadn’t got round to doing it. If he gets changed in the day, he’ll then leave out the clothes he was wearing and have 2 sets of clothes on the floor. He leaves shoes all over, especially now, covered in mud or leaves flip flops at the door in case he needs them as why would he put them away in the cupboard about a second away from the door, to get them back out every time?
He’ll bring loads of crap scraps of paper home from work in his pockets but instead of binning them, will just pile them in his work storage box in the wardrobe or he just won’t empty his pockets.
If I ask for a lie in with all the times I’ve had to manage alone, he’ll say that there’s two of us there so that doesn’t mean anything and we both have to get up.
I’ve gone part time (but going back full time as I can’t stand being in the house constantly, the loss of earnings and my job which I love) so he’ll make comments about how he hardly has any money because he’s had to fund me.

All he wants to do on an evening is lie in bed because he likes his ‘comfort’ and loves to massively eat sweets, crisps, takeaways and rustler burgers. The annoying thing is, he can cook but blames his lack of healthy eating on me (I just don’t eat vegetables) so says he won’t cook them for himself only.

He’s still very much in the mentality of lads holidays and nights out but they always end with him being sick on himself, the floor outside or once he gets home and I have to put him to bed, not something I want to be doing with a young child if the COVID situation ever changes.
We don’t have a sex life really and if we do, he’ll complain if it’s going to take any amount of time and thinks touching me for about a minute is appropriate enough to get things started. He doesn’t always shower every day and wears the same clothes for days on end.
I don’t feel I can rely on him to do anything, the phrases of choice are always - ‘I didn’t see’, ‘I forgot’ or ‘I didn’t know/think’. This makes me exhausted because I feel I have to think for him and plan everything in advance.

He’s now decided he hates his new job and is off with stress. A large factor of that is he’s saying he has soaked up everything that happened with me. Him being at home all of the time is making things even worse as I feel almost ‘the ick’. He’s thankfully good with money in terms of always making sure the bills are paid and he put his savings into buying our home (I could only put in my old house as a part ex which had no equity) which makes me feel massively guilty for thinking of leaving and the thought of leaving him with nothing savings wise. We constantly argue and I’ve never felt this miserable; I don’t want our son to grow up around that. He is a good dad but I just feel things aren’t right with us and don’t have a clue where to start. Sorry for the rant this turned into!

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 23/12/2020 14:45

What good are you getting from this relationship?

Fwiw, I'm a police officer and I'm married to one too. It's difficult with shifts etc and I feel for you, but he should at least be trying to make sure the time you do get together is special.

nimbuscloud · 23/12/2020 14:46

He is a good dad

No he isn’t. Don’t be deluded.
He is a complete waste of space.

thisplaceisweird · 23/12/2020 14:48

Leave, he clearly adds nothing to your life other than stress and anxiety.

Do you own anything together, e.g. house or car? If not it should be straightforward.

Is there somewhere you could go while you set up a new living space, or could he leave?

Wanderlusto · 23/12/2020 14:52

Why do you have to let go of 'feeling let down' ? If someone has let you down then it's up to them to make amends and prove they wont repeat the behaviour. If they cannot do this then you do not just roll over and go 'ok then I guess I'll just have to forgive you even though you let me down and continue to'. You tell them to take flying f*ck.

He is acting like a dick and you would be happier as a single mum of one than one who also has to pander to this selfish baby man.

ThisTooShallBe · 23/12/2020 15:02

I’m sorry OP but he sounds completely useless and extremely immature. Do you have any family nearby to support you?

MrsMarrio · 23/12/2020 15:05

Sounds like he's a weight hanging round your neck. Get rid and it will be like a breath of fresh air.

Greydove28 · 23/12/2020 15:06

The farting alone is disgusting, let alone everything else

JurassicParkAha · 23/12/2020 17:15

What do you get out this relationship? As it seems he's only adding to your stress and burden, rather than helping, as a partner should.

I had an ex partner who was in the police, and it's definitely tough working around shifts, and also being able to switch off once home. But when he was home, he was fully focused on me and the house - he did his share of chores, would look after the house and do all the cooking when I was working and he had days off, and prioritised our time together over going out on benders.

So his job isn't the issue, it's the fact he's lazy, inconsiderate and selfish. You need to have a serious convo with him about shaping up, or shipping out. Be firm and calm, and don't give him options to get out of it. If he still isn't taking it seriously, you should look into options to leave. Part of being a good dad is also being a good role model and teaching your child how to respect their partner, help around the house, pick up after themself and be a considerate, loving partner.

NoPinkPlease · 23/12/2020 17:18

Omg - you would be so much happier without him. What an immature "man"

Greenkit · 23/12/2020 17:21

Your partner is lazy, selfish and a bad father.

Dump him.

The police is full of cheating partners. That will probably be his next move x

Ratbagcatbag · 23/12/2020 17:22

Honestly. Please make moves to leave. He's just an emotional drain and wants a skivvy.

I hated ironing, my exH used to do ironing (and I did other chores). When I left I learned. It's not my favourite task on earth. He could learn. Easily. But he doesn't want to. He sees it as your job.

Why can't he let you have a lie in, he's just a manchild.
If you leave him you will feel so much lighter. Yes you won't get the lie ins but you don't anyway and you won't be tired and having to manage the waste of space that he is.

Is there anything he brings to the relationship (he's not a good dad so not that)?

crumpets20 · 23/12/2020 17:39

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.
I guess I needed to see the types of things you’ve all written and I do appreciate you giving me a bit of a kick up the bum thinking wise. We have our DS together and own our home, both jointly with equal share, nothing else together.

I have a really good friend who I could go to but that wouldn’t be immediate so would still be here into January I’d think.
I’ve tried discussing things with him but he says he joined the police before I gave birth so I can’t say anything about that.

I’ve tried incorporating some of what you’ve said into further discussion. He insists he isn’t a man child; I raised how he can’t even decide if washing is ready to be put away or not without asking me if it feels cold or wet. The response is that in a relationship you help each other and it is ridiculous that he can’t ask me that. He also can’t go to the shop without having a mini meltdown over what to put on the shopping list or meal planning for our DS.

I used to be able to answer the question of what I got out of it but now I’m a bit stuck which says a lot itself I think. I just wouldn’t know where to start with moving forward.

OP posts:
partyatthepalace · 23/12/2020 17:46

You are partnered with a man child.

You could write down all your concerns and what you want to change and talk it through with him, but it sounds like he needs a good 5 years to grow up. And the fact he’s off with stress only a few months after joining the police suggests he has problems he needs to address for himself.

Alternatively you could just call it a day. Could you afford a 2 bed flat w money from your old house? Presumably you are already sorting childcare.

It’s damaging your health so clearly needs to change.

QuantumJump · 23/12/2020 17:52

He sounds like a complete loser OP.

Belladonna123 · 23/12/2020 17:55

@nimbuscloud

He is a good dad

No he isn’t. Don’t be deluded.
He is a complete waste of space.

This ^
TowandaForever · 23/12/2020 18:06

He cannot love you to treat you like this and watch you struggle. That's the overwhelming message I take from your post.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 23/12/2020 18:10

I’ve tried discussing things with him but he says he joined the police before I gave birth so I can’t say anything about that

.. What? What does that even mean? Is he saying you should have had your child adopted at birth if you didn't like him joining? 🤔

I'll add to the chorus of everyone else: leave this irredeemable dickwipe. your MH is going to improve HUGELY once you only have one child to parent. Just knowing you're not going to be let down every day makes a huge difference.

Let him fuck off back to mummy.and daddy (who need to give their heads a wobble for raising such a clueless unit.)

HollowTalk · 23/12/2020 18:14

The thought that we're relying on that idiot to protect us is horrifying.

I can't see any point to living with someone like that. He doesn't care about anyone but himself.

QuietlyExcited · 23/12/2020 18:18

Why do you feel massively guilty for thinking of leaving? I doubt he feels any guilt over treating you like a skivvy/mother figure.

Redburnett · 23/12/2020 18:24

He will probably lose his job soon, so you might as well face up to getting rid of him sooner rather than later. It is only going to get worse.

Ratbagcatbag · 23/12/2020 18:48

Things to start thinking about.

Do you have any debt (not mortgage). Start paying it down now. If you leave it will help. If not it's always good to get rid of it.

Work out what you'd get from the property you have, can you buy anywhere else or would you rent?

Start putting a bit together for a runaway fund, just so you have something to make the move easier. :)

Annoymou5e · 23/12/2020 21:13

You definitely are entitled to paternity leave. Was he at training school and didn’t want to get back classed?

In regards to the job there is plenty of support, carers leave, parental leave, compassionate leave, office based work for those who need adjusted hours for a period of time (a colleague of mine did this whilst his wife was hospitalised with postnatal psychosis) so I would suggest that the job isn’t the actual problem here but rather your partners unwillingness to put himself out to support you and your child’s needs.

He sounds like a lazy twat, and you would be better off alone, as you are pretty much doing it yourself as it is, plus you won’t have to clear up after him! Hope it works out for you x

Annoymou5e · 23/12/2020 21:15

Just to add, myself and my ex partner have a child and are in that job and we both put the work in around shifts to look after our child.

The shifts are not an excuse!

EarthSight · 23/12/2020 21:42

He thinks farting is hilarious and thinks it’s great to smell it. He’ll say he can’t help it and it just comes out

All he wants to do on an evening is lie in bed because he likes his ‘comfort’ and loves to massively eat sweets, crisps, takeaways and rustler burgers. The annoying thing is, he can cook but blames his lack of healthy eating on me (I just don’t eat vegetables) so says he won’t cook them for himself only.

He’s still very much in the mentality of lads holidays and nights out but they always end with him being sick on himself, the floor outside or once he gets home and I have to put him to bed, not something I want to be doing with a young child if the COVID situation ever changes

We don’t have a sex life really and if we do, he’ll complain if it’s going to take any amount of time and thinks touching me for about a minute is appropriate enough to get things started. He doesn’t always shower every day and wears the same clothes for days on end

Your partner disgusts me. Every time he does that farting thing, he is degrading you, disrespecting you one little bit at a time. He knows it's disgusting and that it's horrible & repulsive and he knows the effect it has on you.....yet he continues doing it anyway.

He sounds like a lazy lout that doesn't care about his body or being a grown up. Lad's holidays still?? My God. I have nothing useful to say really but say that I understand why you're unhappy.

Also, home come you don't eat vegetables??? They're pretty essential to a good diet. Don't you eat any vegetables at all??? Surely there must be something you like? What is your child going to end up eating then as part of a balanced diet?

EarthSight · 23/12/2020 21:43

How come*