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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

How to talk to DH about our relationship?

6 replies

MirrorLight · 09/08/2021 09:40

Me and my DH have been married 4 years and been together 9. We have a DD who is 16 months old.

The first year of her life was ok, however we did have some ups and downs. Mostly because of the imbalance of parenting. I was on maternity leave and he was working full time so although it felt very one sided I could justify it to some extent, as I was off and he wasn’t. I would do all night wake ups, feeds, early mornings etc.

Recently I started working more and I’m working full time at the minute, however I’ll probably go back down to 3 days a week soon. My husband still doesn’t wake up in the night and is struggling with early mornings. We’ve agreed I’m happy to do the overnight if he does the early morning (daughter wakes at 5am, we tried everything).

What makes me frustrated and annoyed is that I’m killing myself trying to cope with a full time job and barely sleeping at night so he can have a full nights sleep. However, he still goes to bed at midnight because he absolutely needs his me time. He plays/watches movies every single night.

I work some evenings as well because I earn more than him and I really want to buy our own house. He’s still in the same job he had as when he graduated for the same salary (he’s been there for 5 years). I suggested looking for another job that earns more etc but he’s just not interested/determined and keeps hoping they’ll give him a promotion.

We both work from home but in separate rooms due to calls etc. I just feel like we’re basically room mates.

He does help with DD, always cooks dinner and cleans every evening when I work.

I just overall don’t feel like he’s looking out for me at all. I struggle asking for help (he knows this), so I just wish he’d offer to do things like waking overnight every now and then before I’m literally at breaking point.

Am I asking too much? I don’t feel like we’re a team really. I think the sleep situation is really difficult and we’re both struggling and I don’t know what the answer is.

He also never offers to do anything at the weekend. Like we just stay in weekend after weekend until I’m going out of my mind and just say we have to do something then he reluctantly follows along. I keep saying we need to go out with DD and he says yeah sure but then never does anything about it.

I feel like between working 12-14h a day, doing the night shifts etc I have no time to breathe, let alone relax, think about the weekend etc. He gets 4h+ of free time every single night.

OP posts:
updownroundandround · 09/08/2021 14:04

I think you should tell him that although you realize that he needs 'me time' so do you !

Tell him you're at 'breaking point' because you're doing 12-14 hr days every day, and it has to stop !

Your health and free time is equally important ffs ! So stop doing all the bloody 'night wakings' for a start !

You need to point out that he only has the 'energy' to play online games, at YOUR expense, because you're doing way more than him !

You need to tell him that he will have to 'sacrifice' some of his 'me time', so that you also get equivalent 'me time'.

Your DC has two parents, not just one !

MirrorLight · 09/08/2021 14:23

He knows how bad it is, but whenever he tries to go bed early etc he gets soooo moody and depressed because he “can’t do anything”. Like during the weekend he only cheers up when it’s bad time for our daughter, he’s mostly moody or basically ignores me until then. When I ask what’s wrong it’s always like nothing, I’m tired, I’m in a bad mood.

I just wish we had someone who was happy to be with us rather than happy when we go bed.

OP posts:
MirrorLight · 09/08/2021 14:24

^bedtime

OP posts:
updownroundandround · 09/08/2021 15:28

@MirrorLight

Sorry OP, but he's simply being a selfish prick. Sad.

I'd be telling him he either starts doing 50/50 today, or he might as well fuck off, because what good is he as a H or Father, if he bloody sulks whenever he doesn't get to do whatever he wants to do ? Hmm

Hopefully a sharp 'reminder' that he is not the most 'important' person in your marriage or in your 'family', and it's time he grew up

A H/partner needs to want to be there ffs ! So if he doesn't, then off he fucks ! He's not a child anymore, so he needs to behave like an adult, and that does involve 'sacrifices', from both of you.
He cannot simply 'abdicate' his responsibilities and dump them all on you !

Namenic · 09/08/2021 17:03

Just say that he needs to do the morning wake ups and each of you get one free day on the weekend. Because currently the split is not fair and you are not getting enough sleep.

whatisforteamum · 09/08/2021 18:12

You poor thing.You must be exhausted. I live with a man like this, although he did help more when the dcs were small.
You need to talk to him.He may even be depressed and need some help however the parenting is for both of you to share.
Look after yourself too.

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