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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

Feeling under appreciated

33 replies

babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 13:50

DP and I have a 11 month old DD and will be expecting DS next week Tuesday.

When I had my daughter in May, I had a terrible labour. I had a third degree tear, I lost 2L of blood and had a punctured spine caused by an anaesthetist which took 3 procedures to fix. I had CBT therapy for the trauma, numerous meetings with medical professionals and now have a negligence case open with a solicitor. I’m just adding all these details to really highlight just how terrible my labour was btw.

Even tho DD had only been here for a month at the time, when it was Father’s day last year, I got him a few bits. A personalised card that had a nice picture of him and DD which he loved along with loads of other things.

Fast forward to this year and at the beginning of March I said to him, ‘all I want to do for Mother’s Day is go out to eat. I just want us to go out as the three of us one last time before the new baby comes.’ I said where I’d like to go but if money was tight then I’d literally be happy with Nando’s up the road from where we live.

Because I know he has a rubbish memory I’d bring it up in conversation and say ‘are we still gonna go out to eat before the baby comes’ etc and he’d always say yeah defo. When Mother’s day finally came all he said was ‘happy Mother’s day.’ I wasn’t too bothered by this because I didn’t care if we went out on the exact day. I was happy to go out to eat any day from the beginning of March right up until when the baby is due (April 19th). I didn’t care about actually going out to eat on the day of Mother’s day if that makes sense.

Surprise surprise it’s April 12th and we still haven’t gone out. There’s no way I’ll be able to make it to a restaurant as I have such bad pelvic pain and can barely walk. That’s not the reason we won’t be going though. No the reason we won’t be going is because he simply doesn’t care. It wasn’t a priority to him despite me continuing to ask him if we’d still be going out. All I wanted to do is celebrate my first ever Mother’s day by going out to eat as a family of 3 before our new baby came along. Especially after the horrible labour I had with DD and the fact that I still have long lasting migraines due to the spinal punctures. I would have even been content with a measly card just so I felt somewhat appreciated.

Maybe I’m blowing it out of proportion and it’s the hormones but it just feels so shitty when someone is clearly showing you that they don’t care about something that’s quite important to you. I’ve even had a bad day today as the eyebrow lady completely fucked up my eyebrows so maybe that’s why I’m really miserable. Not sure what I’m looking for here but it’s been good to rant as I’m just sat in my room crying to myself like a loner

OP posts:
babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 14:44

Anyoneeee😬

OP posts:
pog100 · 12/04/2022 14:56

I am the last possible person to advise you but didn't want to leave the thread empty. This does seem like a pretty major lapse in his care for you. What is he generally like? Dues he show, love kindness and understanding in any other ways? I hope so, otherwise he doesn't seem like much of a partner!

mstumble · 12/04/2022 15:03

Ah that sounds crappy OP. It's really hard when you want something and rely on someone and they let you down. Is he good in other ways? Does he know how you are feeling? I know it's not the same but could he cook you a nice meal or get a posh take away before the baby arrives? My partner was a bit crap at stuff like this. I have to focus on what he does do well so I don't resent him! I think it's thoughtless rather than being intentionally horrible. Sending you hugs.

worriedatthistime · 12/04/2022 15:10

I know its not the point but could you of not booked the meal out ? I often book all our meals out as dh bit rubbish plus not much signal at work
Have you told him how he has made you feel
The least he could do now is a nice takeaway or cook tour favourite meal

babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 15:23

No tbh, he doesn’t show love in other ways. He’s really hard to read and doesn’t ever talk about his feelings. He’s never been in a relationship before me and sometimes I wish he had! He’s a great guy and stuff but he just isn’t very loving if you know what I mean.

He can barely cook but that’s the point! He won’t think ‘oh let me get a nice takeaway to make up for it,’ he just won’t do anything which I struggle to understand. I agree that it’s thoughtless instead of being intentionally horrible but it still isn’t a nice feeling

OP posts:
babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 15:25

@worriedatthistime

I know its not the point but could you of not booked the meal out ? I often book all our meals out as dh bit rubbish plus not much signal at work Have you told him how he has made you feel The least he could do now is a nice takeaway or cook tour favourite meal
To me, there’s no point in doing that. I may as well book it, plan the day and pay whilst I’m there. He’s a grown man so if I say ‘I’d like to go to this restaurant’ surely you can plan it? There’s not even any planning to be done as we can turn up on the day and get served straight away. I don’t want to book my own Mother’s day gift and then be reminding him of the day and time. It’s hardly going to feel like a gift
OP posts:
ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 12/04/2022 17:26

He's pathetic.

In what way is he great? He doesn't show feelings. Doesn't show he cares.

What do you get from this relationship?

After your traumatic birth experience - which sounds so distressing for you 😞 - was he supportive, kind and loving at all?

You're asking some big, probing questions just before the arrival of your next child. Perhaps now isn't the right time.

But are you fully expecting the rest of your life to never be treated and cherished with loving, thoughtful affection by him?

It's not ok.

Orgasmagorical · 12/04/2022 17:28

He’s a great guy and stuff

In what way?

ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 12/04/2022 17:30

And I just wouldn't bother getting him anything for Father's Day or his birthdays. Some people don't get it until they themselves feel the chill of neglect.

Catcrazy83 · 12/04/2022 17:36

Considering you had such a terrible birth, bad enough to try a sue the nhs I’m surprised you got pregnant again so quickly, was that also down to his selfishness?
Don’t make excuses for him OP, he’s a grown man. It’s not your job to mother and micro manage him. If he can’t be bothered to show you any care or love without being strong armed maybe you should consider what benefit this relationship is to you.

babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 19:12

Thank you for all of the comments!

After your traumatic birth experience - which sounds so distressing for you 😞 - was he supportive, kind and loving at all?

He really wasn’t! He didn’t realise what had happened to me was SO bad. He kind of just thought ‘ah labour has some complications sometimes’ so just assumed it was some minor complication. It’s only until he saw me going through therapy and hearing me explain the story to friends, did something click for him for him to realise ‘actually this situation went SO left.’ So no he wasn’t really supportive at all.

I’m 23 next week and he just turned 26 so I put a lot of it down to inexperience or just not really understanding situations but as time goes on I’m starting to realise this is just how he is…. I find it so strange

OP posts:
babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 19:16

When I say he’s a great guy I just mean he’s a great dad (literally can’t be faulted) and he’s a good person. We get on well and have loads of laughs but I just find him to be a brick wall. Like he just isn’t affectionate at all! He’ll compliment me but that’s about as far as it goes. He’s not the spontaneous time and doesn’t have any interest in Valentines/Mother’s/Father’s day etc

OP posts:
babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 19:18

@Catcrazy83

Considering you had such a terrible birth, bad enough to try a sue the nhs I’m surprised you got pregnant again so quickly, was that also down to his selfishness? Don’t make excuses for him OP, he’s a grown man. It’s not your job to mother and micro manage him. If he can’t be bothered to show you any care or love without being strong armed maybe you should consider what benefit this relationship is to you.
Both pregnancies were unplanned but he can’t be blamed with that. We were both just careless.

If he can’t be bothered to show you any care or love without being strong armed maybe you should consider what benefit this relationship is to you.

I’m starting to agree with this. It is said that people have different love languages and I definitely think ours are completely different!

OP posts:
SuziSecondLaw · 12/04/2022 19:27

You poor thing, that sounds horrible.
You need to sit him down and have serious words, like right now. You have a new baby on the way, you don't want to go into it with this hanging over your head.

babywalker56 · 12/04/2022 19:37

Sorry I forgot to add.

He came into the bedroom and asked if I was alright, I said ‘no I’m just feeling under appreciated.’ Explained the whole thing about us not going out and he was saying sorry and can I forgive him. I just ignored him.

He then came to me in the kitchen and said sorry again and that he’s actually trying to be more considerate. I think it’s pathetic when someone says they’re trying but they haven’t actually made any improvements to back this up…. Anyway, what can I do! You can’t MAKE someone be thoughtful can you

OP posts:
throwaway101 · 13/04/2022 21:19

No. You can't make someone be thoughtful. You can't make someone care.

You can believe them when they show you who they are, and honey, this man might as well have screamed it in your face that your feelings, needs or wants aren't anywhere on his list of priorities.

It'll be tricky to do something about it when you're about to go through another major life shift but he's going to make more work and more sadness. Take steps, OP. Take steps to get rid of him and he'd better make sure he's a good parent because he's a terrible partner

babywalker56 · 13/04/2022 22:55

Thanks for the comment!

The thing is, he is like this with EVERYONE. He’s never got his mum anything for Mother’s day or her birthday. He’s never got his twin siblings anything for their birthday. I was genuinely surprised when he got DD a few gifts for Christmas.

As you said, you can’t make someone be thoughtful. It just seems a bit sad that I’ll always be disappointed despite telling him what things I’d like done. Luckily he is a good sad but we defo aren’t compatible when it comes to this side of the relationship

OP posts:
ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp · 14/04/2022 07:26

Like I said, see how he likes it when nobody makes an effort for him. Bet you see a change....

babywalker56 · 14/04/2022 07:40

Hm do you think? I honestly don’t think he’ll bat an eylid!

I’m certainly in agreement with you though. This Valentines I didn’t get him a thing and I definitely won’t be getting him anything for Father’s day. We’ll see what happens….

OP posts:
2DogsOnMySofa · 14/04/2022 07:43

Words are cheap op, he can say sorry all he likes, but if he's still don't NOTHING to try and rectify the situation it's all bullshit.

As you said, maybe you can't go out for a meal but he could order a take away, he could go and buy you your favourite foods and cook for you, he could give you a foot rub, garage flowers, it doesn't take much to make someone feel appreciated

PussInBin20 · 14/04/2022 08:08

I’m wondering why you picked him as a life partner to be honest, let alone have 2 kids with him.

You knew he was thoughtless so not sure why you thought he would change.

Orgasmagorical · 14/04/2022 10:22

It just seems a bit sad that I’ll always be disappointed

That is so sad to read. You are lowering your expectations at this stage in your life, to suit his laziness/selfishness.

NovelFarmer · 14/04/2022 11:14

Did he organise nice dates out at restaurants when you first started dating?

babywalker56 · 14/04/2022 15:55

@2DogsOnMySofa

Words are cheap op, he can say sorry all he likes, but if he's still don't NOTHING to try and rectify the situation it's all bullshit.

As you said, maybe you can't go out for a meal but he could order a take away, he could go and buy you your favourite foods and cook for you, he could give you a foot rub, garage flowers, it doesn't take much to make someone feel appreciated

I agree so much with this comment.

Fine, we haven’t gone out for whatever reason. But what have you done about it. Nothing. I just struggle to understand the mindset

OP posts:
babywalker56 · 14/04/2022 16:18

He’s always been like this but I had no problem with being the one to arrange things and say ‘we’re going to X place on X day.’

I’m just surprised that I’ve actually said, ‘I want to go here for this occasion.’ I’ve explicitly stated what I want to do and it’s just been dismissed. Maybe I sound shocked and a bit dramatic but it’s the first time I’ve actually said what I want to do and to see how it’s just been completely ignored is so rude. It’s been ignored and disregarded for no reason whatsoever. Just making me re evaluate a lot of stuff if I’m being honest

OP posts:
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