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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

Lost all respect for DP

76 replies

Norespectwhattodo · 24/08/2022 04:36

Been with DP for 6 years, when we met he was really hardworking and had lots of friends however it his work and socialising was all alcohol based.

He became sober after 2 years together and cut ties with those friends and has spent 4 years unemployed with no friends, only wanting to sit on the sofa gaming or watching TV. I felt for him at first as thought he must be struggling with his mental health but he refuses to try therapy again. He’s on SSRIs but won’t speak to the GP about adjusting the dose.

He’s now in his 30s, we have a 1 year old and it’s a struggle to get DP to come out with us, when we’re out he complains “this is why I don’t go outside” “this is enough being outdoors for the week”. He won’t ever take DC to the park alone, won’t take him to baby groups, won’t go to a dads only baby group to make new friends, has no interest in socialising or going out and doing anything ever. Any suggestion of a walk is “what’s the point”.

He has gained 10 stone since we met, he eats rubbish all day long.

And he refuses to get a job. Every time I suggest getting a job he says he’s not qualified to do anything and asks me what he’s supposed to do then later on that day his anxiety will flare up again because the thought of working apparently makes him so anxious.

I have to tell him how to do absolutely everything, I log on to pay all the bills and rent, I sort out the admin side of everything, organise DCs appointments, I plan what time bus we need to get to get places on time, I ring the GP, I do the budget, I meal plan, I do the food shop, I do the cooking, I tell him when to put a wash on because otherwise the clothes just sit in a pile for ages and he’ll ignore them, a bit of rubbish can be on the floor for a week that he’ll walk past every day and won’t notice. He literally does nothing apart from some chores and playing with our toddler. I’ve just spent and hour and a half trying to get our upset toddler back to sleep, he woke up for the 6th time and I asked DP to try who handed him back after 5 minutes and told me to “do something rather than lying there ignoring him” when I’ve been up since 3am trying.

I feel like I’ve lost all respect for him, I’m snappy and argumentative with him all the time as he irritates me so much, I find it really pathetic but that he won’t get off his arse and do something with his life and instead just sits around waiting for something to happen.

However I also feel really sorry for him, it must be a very lonely existence, he has had a rubbish past, he’s now got no friends and nothing going on, I can’t tell wether he’s still struggling with mental health problems or if he’s just using them as an excuse now and now he’s so isolated and if I leave that’s going to become even worse but I can’t bring my DC up thinking this is ok as surely having a dad who never goes outside, complains about being outside and has no friends isn’t good for his upbringing?

sorry for the huge rant just needed to offload

OP posts:
bloomety · 24/08/2022 07:46

You’ve lost all respect for him because he’s just accepting how he is and not trying to get help. You need to state your boundaries, “I cannot be with you any more unless you get some help with your mental health and start doing x and y”. If he refuses then you leave. You can’t fix him, it’s up to him.

MillyWithaY · 24/08/2022 07:47

He's not your responsibility. Women are not rehabilitation centres for dysfunctional men. Set your son a good example and end this pointless relationship.

HamSandwichKiller · 24/08/2022 07:54

Leave. You're inadvertently enabling him to carry on like this forever. Also please don't have another kid with him - he'll do even less and you'll go under with the stress of it.

anotherpotoftea · 24/08/2022 07:54

Mamette · 24/08/2022 06:45

However I also feel really sorry for him, it must be a very lonely existence, he has had a rubbish past, he’s now got no friends and nothing going on,

You can’t fix this for him though unfortunately OP. You have given him a relationship and you’ve given him a child and he’s like this. You can’t help him, and it’s not your job to help him.

Nothing going on? That’s not true. He has a partner and a child, whose lives he does nothing to improve.

Sorry but it’s time to get rid.

RaininSummer · 24/08/2022 07:55

What was the hard working job he had when you met and how did it end? Bit puzzled he says he can't do anything if he had a decent job previously.

Rounddog · 24/08/2022 07:59

He is still an addict. Now it’s food and gaming. Do not model this life for your child. It is so harmful for them.

And yes as above women are not put on the planet to fix dysfunctional men. He has to sort himself out.

Sellorkeep · 24/08/2022 08:07

Rounddog · 24/08/2022 07:59

He is still an addict. Now it’s food and gaming. Do not model this life for your child. It is so harmful for them.

And yes as above women are not put on the planet to fix dysfunctional men. He has to sort himself out.

Agree

ArcticSkewer · 24/08/2022 08:09

You sound bad for each other. When you met, he wasn't like that. You now enable everything. Probably a hugely co-dependent relationship that is slowly killing you both. If you leave he may well improve massively.

newbiename · 24/08/2022 08:11

He's been like this for 4 years and you have a one year old? I sympathise with you , but why did you have a baby ?

Norespectwhattodo · 24/08/2022 08:13

RaininSummer · 24/08/2022 07:55

What was the hard working job he had when you met and how did it end? Bit puzzled he says he can't do anything if he had a decent job previously.

He was a bar and restaurant assistant manager, he left for a job elsewhere that never happened and then just didn’t look for another one.

OP posts:
Norespectwhattodo · 24/08/2022 08:14

ArcticSkewer · 24/08/2022 08:09

You sound bad for each other. When you met, he wasn't like that. You now enable everything. Probably a hugely co-dependent relationship that is slowly killing you both. If you leave he may well improve massively.

I agree, we met when I was 19 and he was my first boyfriend

OP posts:
Norespectwhattodo · 24/08/2022 08:19

Morning everyone,

I really didn’t expect anyone to reply to my middle of the night rant. Thank you for validating my feelings and giving me a kick up the arse, it’s so hard not to feel guilty and like I should still be trying to make him better but 4 years of trying is too long isn’t it? He’s said previously if I never took our son away he’d turn to drink again.

I have given him numbers for therapy, told him to ring the GP lots of times, helped him switch medication before, I’ve given him ultimatums about getting a job, I’ve asked him to do more, I’ve given him the login details of all our bills and told him to pay them (he didn’t), I’ve asked him to do a food shop/start cooking the week DC was born and we had ready meals for lunch and dinner for weeks cos he wouldn’t do it.

I feel guilty because him and DC really love each other and I feel terrible taking him away but I can’t see in another 4 years, having a 5 year old with a dad who refuses to go out and does nothing and complains whenever we’re outside

OP posts:
ShirleyJackson · 24/08/2022 08:21

He’s blackmailing you too, then.

Time to go. Whose house is it?

Jewel7 · 24/08/2022 08:23

Time for an ultimatum. He comes to the gp with you. For his mental and physical health. Or you can’t stay together. This isn’t a life is it. He is avoiding everything and literally burying his head. Plus what kind of influence will it have on your child as he/she becomes more aware. Maybe seek counselling yourself first so your prepared and aware of what you need.

crystalize · 24/08/2022 08:24

Leaving is the only option. Probably give him the shock of his life and start to make changes. He will still have a relationship with his child - probably a more productive one if you're not there doing everything.

Norespectwhattodo · 24/08/2022 08:25

ShirleyJackson · 24/08/2022 08:21

He’s blackmailing you too, then.

Time to go. Whose house is it?

We are on a joint monthly rolling tenancy

OP posts:
ShirleyJackson · 24/08/2022 08:30

Should be fairly uncomplicated to leave, then?

He’ll have to get off his arse if you leave. You’ll be doing him and yourself a huge favour. By staying, you cross the line into enabling, and that’s no good for any of you.

rainbowstardrops · 24/08/2022 08:45

Oh blimey, I'm sorry but it doesn't sound as if he has any intention of trying to sort his life out and why would he?
He's got you run ragged, doesn't have to slog at work like the rest of us and sounds like he does very little with your DC or around the house.
You're already pretty much a single parent aren't you?
If you left him, it might be the kick up the arse and the wake-up call that he clearly needs.
If he threatens to turn to drink 🤷🏻‍♀️ That's his choice.
Please let your child have the life they deserve.

mamabeeboo · 24/08/2022 08:45

OP, time to put yourself first. You would be surprised what people are capable of when they don't have a choice. Without you, he will have to leave the house for food, have to clean his clothes if he wants something to wear, have to get a job/apply for benefits/take responsibility because no one else is. By staying, you enable this behaviour. It's actually better for both of you, if you leave.

oke · 24/08/2022 08:52

The lack of job motivation is a big problem. With a job, the rest would probably fall into place. Socialising and leaving the house more.

It is sad because I can see how after 4 years, you'd have no self esteem and whatever. You can't continue like this though. I'd really just leave. Stay in contact from a distance.

If you have family, it's very do able for you to leave. Your son is fairly young, if just get it over with

user1471462428 · 24/08/2022 08:56

You sound like his carer not his partner to be honest. I’ve got a lot of sympathy for people with mental health problems, I’ve had anxiety and depression ,trauma and some PTSD symptoms. What I don’t have sympathy for is people with children who do not seek treatment for their mental health problems. I tried numerous different medications with horrible side effects before I found one that was effective. When you have kids you have no other choice.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/08/2022 08:57

What do you get out of this relationship now?. Ask yourself that question.

re your comment
"it’s so hard not to feel guilty and like I should still be trying to make him better but 4 years of trying is too long isn’t it? He’s said previously if I never took our son away he’d turn to drink again".

Put your own self front and centre now along with that of your child, not this man. He is also not above using emotional blackmail on you re his drink comment. Its his choice to drink and his attempt to pin that on you is frankly despicable.

Read about codependency in relationships and wean yourself off this through counselling. Who taught you that you had to fix such men and become codependent?. Its likely to be one of your parents, perhaps your mother here. You being codependent along with acting as some sort of rehab center/surrogate mum/his enabler to boot has got you precisely nowhere both for you and with him.

Leaving is your only real option now and certainly before he drags you and your child further down into his pit. This is no relationship model for your child to be witnessing either.

Fe345fleur · 24/08/2022 08:57

Really feel for you OP, this is no way to live. You can't make him change, the only way he will do something about it is if he wants to. And at the moment he doesn't have to as you are doing everything for him. It's hard when someone has MH problems, but it's unfair of him to expect you to cope with everything and for him to do nothing to improve his life. If I were you I would leave him. You won't notice how much of a weight it is on your shoulders until it's gone!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/08/2022 09:00

Do you think he feels any guilt whatsoever for what he has and continues to put you through?. Not a bit of it so why do you feel guilty?. Your guilt is a useless emotion here as well as being totally misplaced.

And children love their parents too, no matter how crap his father here has been towards his child and in turn you as this child's mother.

Let this man sink or swim without you continuously propping him up.

Goldbar · 24/08/2022 09:05

MillyWithaY · 24/08/2022 07:47

He's not your responsibility. Women are not rehabilitation centres for dysfunctional men. Set your son a good example and end this pointless relationship.

This.