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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

Chasing snow reaction

20 replies

ShouldIgonow · 28/12/2020 23:25

This is a little long winded I don’t want to drip feed.

So day to day DH and I get on fine (ish). We are both 40 and met at uni been together a long time.

I was a SAHM gave up a high flying career where even then I earned 10s of thousands Of pounds more than DH. I am bright - incredibly so. I’ve come from a hard economic background and also a second generation immigrant (English wasn’t my first language etc). Parents very working class.

DH - white middle class male - privately educated - wealthy etc - one of 4 siblings and middle child. In a high pressurised career.

I’m starting a new business left my job (I went back to work after 4 years out) now worked back in my field for 4 years and could be at the top of my game if I had childcare support etc but it’s a big sacrifice all round on DH career and my job is more accommodating to do self employed.

I am under an imennse amount of pressure starting up my business and trying to work out how to make it all work.

I feel like if DH had to take care of the kids more he couldn’t do his job. He’s great around the house - he doesn’t tidy or clean. But does the clothes washing and puts it away. He also mainly puts the kids to bed at night

I do everything else - all the kids stuff - manage our house admin - life admin - he literally does his job (which is long hours) and does the clothes washing. We have a cleaner I do all car/house/repairs insurance etc manage the accounts -
He’s very reluctant to share all finances openly but we have a budget I know what he earns so I know what money we have and don’t have.

Back to this evening - he said yesterday that he had work to do this week even though he has the time booked off he said just a couple of hours a day. So I find it really hard to organise stuff. We have two DS 6 & 9 they are good at playing together and not disturbing us when working. Re isolation school work it’s me that organises my work around them not his.

Now this couple of hours a day work means it’s disruptive and sorry this is long.

So I say well tomorrow I have my smear at 4pm and he gets mad saying he works better in the morning - we had agreed he would work 3-5pm and in the morning in the light we would drive about 10 miles into the hill for the snow. Then he said well I work better in the morning - but I said you agreed to work 3-5? Then he said how can I if you’ve got your smear. I know my smear will be 20 mins the surgery is 5 mins walk away maybe 30 mins at the most.

I said look the DS will be on their iPads and they won’t disturb you we should still go look at snow. Then he starts stressing explains what will take 2 hours in the morning will take longer in the evening.

I got cross then abs said why did you say you could work 3-5 then he was like well I can’t now cos if your smear. So I was like well just leave it then if that’s now changed - he basically should never have said he can work 3-5 when he wanted to work in the morning. He should never have said he could come with DS and I to find snow.

So I was like if you need to work you Jsut work. I said I’m jsut pissed off you’ve changed the goal posts - then he was like I’m trying to explain I will get more done if I work in the morning I said well that’s fine don’t come theb. I said just don’t make promises and I’ll take DS on my own and you work. Then he said I’m just trying to fucking explain and kicked the kitchen cupboard and possibly broken his toe.

I’m just fed up - of his work - his stress dealing with his shit of his work stress. When I do everything he didn’t even know what DS had for Xmas cos I bought and wrapped everything .

I just want out. It’s not the snow I just want out.

OP posts:
ShouldIgonow · 28/12/2020 23:37

I feel like my smear is just an excuse

OP posts:
helloxhristmas · 28/12/2020 23:42

Sounds like you resent him more thrown many things else. Do you regret giving up your career?

Why do you need to drive and look at snow?

He does laundry, puts the kids to bed. Life admin - insurance / car etc is bollocks it doesn't take long.

ShouldIgonow · 28/12/2020 23:48

I don’t regret giving up my career eldest DS had health problems (all resolved). I resent he doesn’t appreciate that. Yes he does laundry puts kids to bed (not always) but he has more ‘me’ time. He gets his exercise in (mine is ad hoc cos of trying to fit round kids) he can just say I’m going for a run and go.

I do all house admin - I do ALL the cooking and the food planning. I sort all the kids stuff around my old work - I did all the clubs and drop offs and pick ups when these were on.

I generally wake up with our restless 6 year old in the night - I have a chronic health issue but I work round this too. Re laundry I would do it but he’s controlling over it. Has to be done at weekends he doesn’t like washes on during the week or dryers as he likes washing done and put away instantly

OP posts:
ShouldIgonow · 28/12/2020 23:49

So it’s ok he kicked the kitchen cupboard?

OP posts:
ShouldIgonow · 28/12/2020 23:51

Kids want to see snow and go sledging it’s not far just none on lower ground.

OP posts:
cherrycola742 · 29/12/2020 00:00

Sounds like an easy fix. He works in the morning. Maybe extra early tomorrow so you can still see the snow & get back in time for the smear?

Re kicking the cupboard, no it wasn't right, but most of us do silly things in frustration.

ShouldIgonow · 29/12/2020 00:04

This is what I was trying to suggest when he kicked the cupboard and rather then listening shouting over me and calling me ridiculous - just hate I’m totally fed up. Also he’s hurt his toe now and it’s bad I just don’t care.

OP posts:
ShouldIgonow · 29/12/2020 00:06

I just feel like we met too young - he was my first proper relationship - he’s not terrible but I don’t even know what I want. Just know when he goes away on his lads holidays me and the kids get on totally fine. There is less stress cos I don’t have to put up with his work stress

OP posts:
baileys6904 · 29/12/2020 08:54

Sounds like you've checked out of this relationship and are looking for an excuse to end it.
Everything you've mentioned can be worked around if you wanted to. You don't. That's your prerogative, but don't try and put it just on him

AccidentallyOnSanta · 29/12/2020 09:23

Sounds like he checked out actually.

Everything needs to be done on his terms,when he wants it,how he wants. Don't trouble the big man with the important job with things like snow ,smears,clubs ,childcare.

You're only there to make his life easier, and when you don't he becomes negative/aggressive.

Mustbe3ormorecharacters · 29/12/2020 09:34

Why don’t you start planning an end to the relationship?
I don’t want to be unkind but it doesn’t matter how bright you are if you don’t know how to communicate clearly and effectively, which it seems you might struggle with.

Melonlover80 · 29/12/2020 09:39

* I am bright - incredibly so.*

If you genuinely are, you need to engage brain and change things.

Aminuts23 · 29/12/2020 09:47

I think also that if you wanted to you could both put this right. But it doesn’t sound like you want to. If you want to separate that’s ok, you can try to achieve that amicably. You don’t need to look for reasons to blame him for how you feel. Sometimes relationships just run their course. Don’t demonise him, there are far far worse people out there. Just be honest with yourself about how you feel. It reads to me like you are deeply frustrated with your life and looking for reasons to blame him for it. You’ve made your life choices together. If it’s really not working for you any more change it, you only live once

ShouldIgonow · 29/12/2020 09:50

I know I do - I think I’m exhausted and just been an enabler. It’s what I grew up with my father was an alcoholic and my mum an enabler - but her situation was different. He can be insecure and this turns to aggression in the form of anger. I sometimes call him out on it but I’ve learned there is no point. A small example was when we were on a family zoom and his brother in law appeared distracted - he said to him ‘what are you doing are you part of this call?’ And then of course a few min later BiL signed out. I said to him after that’s your family and you shouldn’t make a show of BIL (backstory is MiL and FIL like to demonise BIL as he almost left DH sister a few years ago). He just lost it said in future I won’t do family calls etc and BIL was distracted etc he said why do I set up these calls (I didn’t his sister did).

I just don’t value myself enough

OP posts:
ShouldIgonow · 29/12/2020 09:57

Another example is I needed some boxes from the loft (I would happily do this) it was to return my equipment to my workplace. We had agreed two weeks before that on that particular day I would go to my office he would have the kids and I would return my equipment. So it got to Weds (return day was Thurs) and I said can I have the boxes from the loft - he had said the previous week he doesn’t want me going up there as unsure of how safe some of the floorboards are now and he knows where to step. So I asked him during the day on Weds and he didn’t respond so it got to about 4pm and then I asked again and I said not a problem if he can’t I’ll go get them - then a whole argument starts as he said it’s the wrong time of day for me to be asking he’s busy etc etc and I said well we agreed two weeks ago I’ve made the office aware (so I can access) and I’ve asked a couple of times now - he then just sulked and went to the loft and got the boxes I needed (computer boxes to return my computer). I feel sometimes I’m stepping on eggshells not sure what his reaction to something might be.

OP posts:
Melonlover80 · 29/12/2020 12:41

@ShouldIgonow

Another example is I needed some boxes from the loft (I would happily do this) it was to return my equipment to my workplace. We had agreed two weeks before that on that particular day I would go to my office he would have the kids and I would return my equipment. So it got to Weds (return day was Thurs) and I said can I have the boxes from the loft - he had said the previous week he doesn’t want me going up there as unsure of how safe some of the floorboards are now and he knows where to step. So I asked him during the day on Weds and he didn’t respond so it got to about 4pm and then I asked again and I said not a problem if he can’t I’ll go get them - then a whole argument starts as he said it’s the wrong time of day for me to be asking he’s busy etc etc and I said well we agreed two weeks ago I’ve made the office aware (so I can access) and I’ve asked a couple of times now - he then just sulked and went to the loft and got the boxes I needed (computer boxes to return my computer). I feel sometimes I’m stepping on eggshells not sure what his reaction to something might be.
Drama drama drama

You don’t need to talk about going up in to the loft. Once clear he wasn’t readily doing it, pull down hatch and get up there yourself.

If you’re going to single parent, as I am, then get used to this sort of thing.

It’s not negative. It’s liberating.

But what a waste of energy and breath!

cherrycola742 · 29/12/2020 13:57

I think what melonlover is saying is that these are small things. Mountains out of molehills. The real issue is something else. Maybe you just don't "like" your DH/maybe you feel that he doesn't love you? Might be worth trying to get some clarity on how you feel and what you want first, without picking on or directing fault at your DH.

ShouldIgonow · 29/12/2020 15:31

Thank you - just to clarify I would go in the loft he doesn’t like me to.

OP posts:
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 29/12/2020 15:39

@ShouldIgonow

Thank you - just to clarify I would go in the loft he doesn’t like me to.
He can't have it both ways. He either does what he says he will when he says he will, or you take back control and do your own stuff.

Stop pandering to him and his wants. It all seems to be about limiting you, your choices ,what you can do and when. Nearly like you need/depend on him.

He doesn't want to come. Fine.. bye ,see you later.
He doesn't want to take boxes off? Fine, get them off yourself,do your own thing, book things for when they suit you.

How much of your life is actually geared towards what he wants and how he wants it to be? That's no way to live.

Chillswills79 · 29/12/2020 15:47

@ShouldIgonow

Thank you - just to clarify I would go in the loft he doesn’t like me to.
But that’s my point

You’re a grown arsed woman, who describes herself as extremely bright.

If he has this opinion and then promptly goes up there for you - great.
But he has the opinion but doesn’t follow through.

So... you shrug and do it yourself.

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