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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

Right thats it im filing for Divorce !!

19 replies

debbsyandsonn · 12/11/2007 09:33

As those who know me i have a 11 mth old little boy his father is a good father,but i have had enough,i want a family life for my little boy.I work fulltime long hours and so does my husband i feel weekends should be family time and he should be around but he competes in a sport (he has done this from a child).This takes him away every other week all weekend,he told me when i was pg he would be finishing so we would have lots of time with ds,that did not happen,and now i have found out he is racing again next year and has 2 bikes not bloody one even though he reassures me he wont race more often,im not fucking stupid and after 15 yrs together i know where we are heading .Enough is enough,i have supported him for 15 yrs i work long hours the only family time we have is weekend.I am so angry at the little shit all i want now is a divorce.

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fortyplus · 12/11/2007 09:41

You need to find a hobby that will take you away for a few weekends without the children to see how he likes it!

I wouldn't expect dh to give up his passion entirely. I have a good friend whose dh races so I know how you feel. Training every night - can't stay out past 10pm if racing next day - has to live on pasta before a race - expects her to wait half the day in a freezing lay-by to hand him his water bottle...

247 · 12/11/2007 09:43

Really feel for you, men can be so totally selfish. The time we have with our children is more than precious, do you think he may spend more time at home when your little DS is older and more interactive?

Lulumama · 12/11/2007 09:46

oh debbsy

i remember a thread a few months ago when you were having a really hard time of it

i thikn you should look at some sort of mediation or relate... he is clearly not understanding the impact of his time away...

you need to strike a compromise, unless you think that it is too late

Tortington · 12/11/2007 09:46

i understand when a passion interferes with family life - and although it can seem stupid to other people having to live with someone who puts something before your family is v. dificult

SSSandy2 · 12/11/2007 09:48

Could you not go away with him on the weekends he is away?

debbsyandsonn · 12/11/2007 10:00

ssandy i have done but i cant do it all the time as they can be hrs away 3 4 hrs even longer and because im a rep i drive all the time anyway,like today im driving down to s wales at 11am fro an appointment at 2 and another one at 4 wont get in till after eight tonight.Yes custardo very difficult more than i can take now its time he stopped playing at peter pan with his parents(they go to) he needs to quit or i really sam leaving.Lulu i really think its too late how long have i been singing this song for... 247 or son took over 3 yrs to conceive he is my life and i want to spend all my time with him but i cant and i cant understand why he doesnt think the same as me.Just mulling over which solicitor to contact. i really did not want this for my son but he has left me no choice!!

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elliephant · 12/11/2007 10:40

i think you really need to make it clear to your dh that his hobby is corroding your marriage as calmy as you can.sit down , tell him how your love for him is being destroyed and that you want to protect and keep your family together but need him to help. I've been in the same boat, spending weekends home alone with smalll babies while dh raced and evenings alone while he worked on his cars.I really feel for you.it wasn't the actual racing I hated but the time it took up and the mere mention of the subject used to cause massive rows.I had to make Dh understand that I would have felt the same whether it was golf or fishing. We have eventually reached an imperfect compromise of sorts - he races a lot less, about 6 /7 weekends a year, and rarely works on any of his cars at home(he pays someone to mind them during the season). And now the kids are older I try to go to some of the meetings for my DH'S sake and feign a little bit of interest . Its hard work to overcome the built up resentment however but I do it for my kids sake and my marriage's sake. Like you my Dh is a good bloke and dad its just his bloodly hobby I hate.I think you are quiet right with the peter pan reference - it is a matter of growing up, putting his family before himself and accepting that his role as a parent is the most important job he'll ever have. Your ds isn't going be a child forever so this time now is important.In a few years it will be easier .

debbsyandsonn · 12/11/2007 10:53

i have ellie and he just does not listen at all thinks im bluffing,thanks for telling me your story it really helps as i feel so alone with this ..and yes the mere mention of that bloody bike i wish i could set fire to it bloody thing...

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elliephant · 12/11/2007 11:16

glad to hear my ramble was some help. the other thing that i meant to add was i stopped expecting dh give up racing totally because then the resentment would be on his part and he would be too good at playing the martyr.In fact the compromise we have now was his idea once he realised that i wasn't bluffing. i think tbh i was no longer angry about things i just stopped caring about him really and that withdrawal stopped him in his tracks.he notice that more than the shouting etc. anyway thinking of you hope any of this helps

wannaBe · 12/11/2007 11:16

Debsy, I remember your thread about this before your ds was born.

Tbh, although I totally understand how hard it can be if a hobby takes over, I do think it is very important to compromise, because if this is something he?s done since he was a child, then it would be unfair to expect him to give it up altogether. But by the same token it?s unfair of him to be away doing it every other weekend.
With regard to how he should feel given how long it took you to conceive your ds, tbh I think that a lot of men don?t think along those lines, men seem to live more for the here and now, your ds is here now, the fact that it took 3 years to conceive him is now inconsequencial because he is here, iyswim?

Other than the racing, what is your relationship like? Do you get on well? Communicate well? Are you otherwise happy? And if not why not?

If you have a good relationship apart from the racing, I would get a babysitter and go out, overnight if you feel you can, just the two of you. And during that time I would make time to build on your relationship, and to talk about just how much it affects you all when your dh goes away so often. I would try to find a compromise, where he goes away maybe every 4 weeks instead of every two weeks to start with, and maybe build from there. But I would be very honest with him and tell him just how strongly you feel about this, even so far as that you?ve started looking for solicitors. If he loves you and your ds, then this should shock him into realizing just how all-consuming his hobby has become. You will need to give a little though, it can?t be all what you want, if you want him to cut down the racing then you can only really expect him to cut down not give up altogether. And in time he may spend less time doing it, but if it?s something he feels passionate about it will be hard to just let it go.

geekymummy · 12/11/2007 14:57

His parents share his hobby? Do they remind their grown up son of his responsibilities?

debbsyandsonn · 13/11/2007 11:20

Hi Wannabe our relationship is good we argue but we do love each other its just his racing.Got in from Wales last night and he had made a huge effort ds bathed in jim jams,bottles washed and prepared ready for a cuddle with mummy last bottle for the night then off to bed he had prepared a meal and booked tickets for a nite out on friday.Oh and he said to ds this morning mummy thinks you too Are not important to me but you are you are both number 1 in my life-Aahhh bless.SSo we will just see how we go...

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debbsyandsonn · 13/11/2007 11:21

two (sorry slip of the finger)

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scattyspice · 13/11/2007 12:28

It might improve when DS gets older. DH never really got the baby stage, we just tagged along with him at weekends, but once DS started walking and talking he kind of demanded DH time and DH started to enjoy doing things with him.

Lulumama · 13/11/2007 12:32

so he is listening, that is a good start

sounds like you are cross about this one thing, and although it is a big thing, i don't honestly believe you want to divorce him

many dads do struggle with the baby thing, and once they are toddling, or can do more, they start to 'get it'

doesn;t make it right, but it is sometimes the case

nametaken · 13/11/2007 12:47

debbsyandsonn

You say that your OH is away every other week-end and that you only spend 1 in 2 week-ends together as a family but if you divorce then you won't ever have any time as a family will you? Plus you will still probably be working long hours and only seeing your son every other week-end. I honestly can't see how divorce is going to improve your situation (I thought the same thing a few years back when my workoholic DH wouldn't spend any time with us).

Its really really hard when DCs are small but who knows, when he gets older, your son and OH might have a shared interest (motorbikes) and that would be lovely.

Sorry your having such a yuk time

debbsyandsonn · 13/11/2007 17:01

awww thanks all no lulu i do love him and do not want a divoce its just this bloody racing..

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crokky · 13/11/2007 17:07

Debbsyandsonn: Your DH needs to take a lesson from my father - when I was little, my dad was out every single Saturday (all day) without fail. He was also out in the weekday evenings. Gradually, the "family unit" became me, my siblings and my mum. On the days my dad was home, nobody really knew how to interact with him as he was never there. He became a stranger to his own family in his own home. Needless to say my parents are now divorced. He needs to try and realise the impact his hobby is having on his family and sort it out before he has no family left - like my dad, he will become a stranger.

madamez · 13/11/2007 17:07

I think you've got to aim for a compromise. I also think you should look for some sort of a hobby: there is more to live than work, housework, childcare and wtaching the telly. Bear in mind that your DS may well, when he's older, become just as passionate about the racing and be thrilled that he can go and do it with his dad.

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