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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

Is this weird? Gift from MIL, but nothing from DH for me or kids

47 replies

19Bears · 04/08/2021 11:53

That might sound a bit scrambled. To explain, DH (who I want to separate from, unhappy / sexless for years, he wants to brush it all under the carpet and carry on as if it's all fine) has been away at his mum's for a week. She lives in a lovely holiday-ish part of the country, and until lockdown we have always had our family holiday there, but this time DH went on his own, which is fair enough I suppose, he hasn't seen her for nearly two years so obviously I was pleased for him to go and spend time with her. However, the first I knew of his plans was when he asked me to print out his coach tickets, he didn't check with me that I would be able to take a week off work or arrange some kind of childcare, I was just left to work around his plans. Anyway, the week without him was a massive relief. The usual hard work running the house and keeping the kids entertained, but so much more relaxing.
When he came back he asked if I had enjoyed my holiday.... Hmm... and said that his mum had bought me a present, so I opened it and it was a beautiful stained glass suncatcher, I love it. But, not that I wanted or expected anything from him, the only other things he brought back were for himself, mostly charity shop bits and pieces, a mug, a thunderbirds model thing. Nothing for the kids either. Is that a strange thing to do, or not really?
While he was away I paid to get some garden jobs done, but he hasn't said a word about contributing something towards it, bearing in mind I also paid for major work on the car the previous week. He always refers to the car as 'your car' so maybe he thinks all car bills are mine...
Another thing, if I am making the tea, which he can clearly see I'm doing, he would still rather go along to the corner shop and buy something for himself to eat, and come back with pot noodles, scotch eggs etc for his dinner the next day. Is this unusual?
I just don't know if I'm focusing in on these things, or if it's something I can just brush off. Weird, or not?

OP posts:
Apeirogon · 04/08/2021 11:58

IMO:

Not buying you or the kids after a week with his mum - fine
Not checking with you that he planned to be away for a week - not fine at all
Eating a pot noodle rather than the family meal - not ok at all
Not offering to pay for garden jobs - yes he should pay, why didn't you ask him rather than waiting for him to offer?

allycat4 · 04/08/2021 12:04

Sounds like he's living a separate life but refusing to acknowledge it.

TiredButDancing · 04/08/2021 12:08

Umm, this feels like the boiling frog analogy here. He's not even vaguely part of the family is he? He goes on his own holidays, take no responsibility whatsoever for parenting, doesn't pay his way, organises and buys his own meals etc. The gift is actually the only thing that, while a bit thoughtless and selfish, I wouldn't consider a total deal breaker.

Of course he wants to brush it all under the carpet - he has a lovely life where he gets to do whatever he likes, doesn't have to pay for things and generally just drifts around. I'm afraid that if you want out, and it sounds like you have good reason to be feeling this way, you're going to have to push him out.

Takenoprisoner · 04/08/2021 12:12

Focus on separating from him op, your post reads as a long list of reasons to split up over. He'll be behaving very odd now no doubt, he wants you obsessing over his odd behaviour rather than focusing on leaving him.

Btw, what did he say when you pointed out you had work during his holiday week, and aren't the default parent?

starfishmummy · 04/08/2021 12:13

In our home, money for the garden and car would come out of our joint account.

For him to suddenly go away without mentioning it would definitely not be acceptable here unlees it was for an emergency or work related at the last minute.

MumDad1958 · 04/08/2021 12:16

I would contact your MIL to thank her for present - then see how she responds.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 04/08/2021 12:17

He is /has checked out of your marriage..
Get a step ahead and get planning
.

LittleFroggie · 04/08/2021 12:19

The not buying you a present is the only part of this that ISN’T odd! Asking you to print coach tickets for a trip you didn’t know about and requires you to take a week off work??? Wtf?!

Timetoreflect · 04/08/2021 12:19

He actually sounds like a teenager

Edmontine · 04/08/2021 12:23

It sounds as if you’re already separated.

Pointless to try to analyse his actions for ‘normality’ - nothing he’s doing now is a normal part of a thriving marriage.

You really need to step up the pace in dissolving your current living arrangements.

Mintjulia · 04/08/2021 12:28

He sounds completely selfish and no longer part of the family.
If he has accepted the marriage is over, then it's ok not to buy you a present, but the rest is completely unacceptable.

SixesAndEights · 04/08/2021 12:30

If you want to separate from him why are you bothered if he's not bought you a present?

Why not just split up if it's what you want?

Your current set up seems pointless.

HollowTalk · 04/08/2021 12:32

What kind of miserable fuck goes on holiday on his own without telling you in advance and without bringing back something for the kids? I bet his mother would've preferred to see the kids, too.

It's always very telling when you spend some time apart - if life seems better without him, then that's your message, loud and clear. Time to sort things out.

I'd phone your MIL when he's not in and explain that you had no warning and it would've been nice to see her.

Bluntness100 · 04/08/2021 12:35

Sounds like you’re already seperated. You’re both just playing at being married.

The gifts is fine, there’s clearly a reason he wants to eat something different, habe you asked? Finances dor the garden, did you discuss getting them done, agree the price and the split? Or just roll on and expect him to cough up after? Have you even asked him?

godmum56 · 04/08/2021 12:40

I have to say I do find these "married but not a partnership" posts odd. I mean were you ever a partnership? did you ever love each other?

19Bears · 04/08/2021 12:41

Thank you everyone for your responses. Yes, the title of my post is probably the least of the issues, by miles. I think it just highlighted all the other things.

@MumDad1958 I did phone MIL straight away and thanked her for the gift. She actually said, "oh, you're welcome dear. I knew you would like it. 'P' had suggested I get something else for you but I knew you would much prefer this." She is really lovely, by the way. So not only does she know exactly what I like (he randomly bought me a George Forman grill for my last birthday) but she didn't seem to think it would be odd for her to get me something and him not. Anyway, I am making too much of that!

@Timetoreflect I've always thought he lives like a student. When we first got together and both had our own flats, he would never have anything in the fridge and just go to the corner shop every day for something for tea. He's still doing it 16 years later...

I do want out. I have been waiting for the 'big thing' to tip me over the edge, but it's all small things. I just need to do it don't I.

OP posts:
Triffid1 · 04/08/2021 12:52

I just need to do it don't I.

Yes.

Floralnomad · 04/08/2021 12:55

Yes you need to do it , stop drifting along with this man child - would his mother like him permanently ?

RandomMess · 04/08/2021 13:06

OMG the leaving you in the lurch with the DC and asking if you had a nice holiday are BIG things.

Fifipopopo · 04/08/2021 13:12

Why didn't he take the kids?

19Bears · 04/08/2021 13:15

@Fifipopopo I don't think it crossed his mind. And I'm so conditioned to the way he is, it didn't cross mine either.

OP posts:
MumDad1958 · 04/08/2021 13:54

Aww that's lovely to hear that she knows exactly what you like. She does sound like a lovely lady.

Kintsugi16 · 04/08/2021 15:27

I’ve only read the OP

You say you want to separate from him.
He obviously wants to separate from you.
This should therefore be a simple process.
It’s irrelevant whether his behaviour is weird or not, what does it matter?
Your MIL is keen to keep to still have a relationship with you and the children.

SixesAndEights · 04/08/2021 15:31

Yes, you need to just do it!

Good luck.

Flowers
SnarkyBag · 04/08/2021 15:33

You’re marriage is all but over as you have said so it’s best not to expect behaviours that you would get in a healthy marriage.

It’s not weird in the context of your current situation.

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