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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

He went to sleep

112 replies

SeveruslyFrazzled · 08/12/2022 13:34

Ive name changed but been here for a good 9 years.

I just want a reality check to see how other people would feel. My husband and I have been struggling for a few years. I feel he puts his needs first, then the kids and then mine. He would dispute this. We nearly split up in March this year but he promised he would help more around the house and with finances. He went self employed. It tanked and we now have no savings and more debt. He’s done this in fits and starts but can’t seem to keep it up I.e the helping.

Ive been really quite unwell with some random virus. Couldn’t stop coughing. Couldn’t breathe well. Not Covid.

I had to go to the out of hours doctors twice but this is what happened the last time.

id been cooking a joint if meat despite being ill in the slow cooker for most of the day whilst I looked after the kids. He came home said I looked awful and told me to go to bed and that he would take over.

He then (he’s actually a very good cook) butchered the joint, served watery tasteless potatoes and it was just all shit. I was quite upset as moneys been tight and it was a treat and because I know he can do better. And because he’s the one who told me to go to bed! He later admitted he hadn’t wanted to cook so hadn’t given it his full attention.

So we argued about his lack of care but managed to resolve it.

Called 111 as I couldn’t breath and if anything the steroids and inhaler wasn’t working. They wanted to send an ambulance. I declined this because I wasn’t at deaths door just needed better medication.

I managed to get an out of hours GP appointment at 1.45am. We have young children so he stayed with them and I drove down to the doctors and managed to get in. It did involve me walking down a quiet street, in the cold and dark and no one except my husband knew I had gone. He said he would stay up and wait but might fall asleep on the sofa.

Doctor wasn’t listening to me. Kept putting me down when I said the nebuliser was making my chest feel tighter not better. He prescribed more steroids and antibiotics and urged me to be checked for asthma.

I got home at 3.30am. My husband had locked up the house. Tuned all the lights off except the patio. Put the dog to bed with the radio and took himself to bed because he was cold. He fell asleep and didn’t know I was home. I’ve been sleeping on the sofa as can’t lay flat.

How would you have felt? I know I wouldn’t have been able to have done that. I’d have been worried and waiting.

He was the only one who knew I was out. I could have had an accident… anything could have happened and no one would have known.

He says he didn’t mean to fall asleep… but I just can’t get over the fact he turned everything off and locked up like he intended to go to bed.

I’ve said our marriage is now over because I feel there is no care. No base line level of care.

im now worried I am making a mountain out of a mole hill And doubting myself. I don’t think this is working for either of us. But the kids :( that’s the only reason I’ve stayed and because I’m scared to be alone but mostly the kids.

sorry it’s so long.

OP posts:
FHmama · 08/12/2022 15:53

This alone sounds like a huge overreaction but I've also been in a relationship when all of the things build up and these little things can the last straw. Hope you feel better soon OP

saffronrabbit · 08/12/2022 15:59

I sense you are unhappy and trying to find reasons to take offence (watery potatoes, really?)

He doesn't sound the greatest, but I think he can't win with you really.

I hope you're feeling better, it sounds like you're having a rotten time.

YRGAM · 08/12/2022 16:03

Ridiculous

EmilyGilmoresSass · 08/12/2022 16:23

Okay... the whole thing sounds far too overdramatic. I'm sorry. But not a lot of work is involved in whacking a joint in a slow cooker. Having to walk down a street alone? How dreadful. Your husband looking after your kids and going to bed himself after them? Shocking. Not.

I wonder how us single parents cope when we or our kids get sick. When we have nobody to watch them to go to the docs so just battle on. You sound quite entitled to me tbh. Be grateful you have someone there to cook for you and your children when you're ill, to look after them and put them to bed.

ProseccoOnIce · 08/12/2022 16:34

I get the dynamic OP.

I've been there with the laziness, the selfishness, the passive-aggression, the disrespect, the "agree to anything to shut her up" then not doing what was agreed.

It's a death by a thousand cuts.

Ofcourseshecan · 08/12/2022 16:34

I sympathise,OP. The GP didn’t help, then your husband went to bed without knowing whether you were still having difficulty breathing. It all mounts up.

The GP and viruses aren’t H’s fault, but his lack of caring adds to all the other ways he lets you down.

Would counselling give you and H a chance to talk calmly, with a mediator, instead of starting out hurt and angry?

mrsm43s · 08/12/2022 16:44

Sometimes I think I live in another world! I can see examples of the DH being caring (sending OP to bed/taking over dinner and presumably childcare/leaving on the patio light so that she can see to get in) and I can see examples of OP being uncaring (criticising a meal that someone had cooked for them/expecting them to stay up all night despite there being no actual need for it). Genuinely, I think if this had been written as a the other genders, it would have a very different response. I get the impression that OP's DH can't win, whatever he does.

In any case, OP clearly is unhappy in her marriage and wants to leave, and it's clear this relationship has broken down. So ending the marriage is probably the best thing to do for both parties.

Mydogatemypurse · 08/12/2022 16:47

category12 · 08/12/2022 14:11

I think it's pretty off to turn in for the night, while you're out at the doctor's in the middle of the night.

Coming back to a dark house and no-one up must have been quite upsetting.

I'd have waited up, or napped on the sofa in his place.

Me too

Zanatdy · 08/12/2022 17:47

Does seem like a bit of an over reaction but if it’s the final straw that’s different. Maybe he didn’t realise you weren’t just parking up in a car park. It was very late to expect someone to have stayed up, but yes he could have slept on the sofa but it was a very cold night so maybe he was cold

Wakk · 08/12/2022 18:04

I would have gone to bed too and I'm not usually selfish at all. No point both being knackered.

whichwayisup · 08/12/2022 18:32

Maybe it doesn't have to be either or... You know he's either caring and loving or an uncaring unloving asshole. Maybe he was caring about you when he said get to bed but then he was tired and fed up with having to make dinner and couldn't really be arsed and so just did a half ass job. Maybe he was caring when he said he would stay up but then when you'd gone and it was freezing cold and he was going to fall asleep he became a bit selfish and went to bed (although I'm not sure why you would want him to be as tired as you next day).

Maybe you are getting over a really bad virus so feeling low and life just feels too hard. Why don't you park it all for a couple of weeks and then revisit. I'm not sure he's all that bad from what you've said but what they hell would I know.

ImustLearn2Cook · 09/12/2022 03:17

billy1966 · 08/12/2022 15:48

OP, he sounds like a selfish waster.

He ruined a piece of meat deliberately because he didn't want to finish the minding of a meal already made?

A complete waster.

Who does that to their family?

I would think that it is the last straw for a woman whom has had enough.

Remember he spoiled that meal for your children too.

I would be furious at the waste, selfishness and disrespect.

You are ill clearly, and he couldn't even slighly step up.

I am married 30 years and have been very ill a few times.

My husband has never been a particularly wordy romantic man, but the way he has cared for me and 100% taken over, has shown me so many times that actions not words, are what count IMO.

You are done.
You don't need to justify yourself to anyone.

He's a poor husband, father and man.

You deserve better.

I really hope you feel better soon.

Difficulty breathing is truly awful.

Can you reach out to family and friends for support?

I just love what you wrote @billy1966.

Sometimes I worry that humanity is losing sight of what it means to care for each other. Clearly you and your husband do know what it means. 💖

ImustLearn2Cook · 09/12/2022 03:27

Apart from telling op to go to bed and actually doing the parenting responsibilities that any and every parent should do, did he make her a cup of tea or give her a cuddle or show any love or concern or empathy.

Doing the bare minimum isn’t really evidence of caring, is it?

ImustLearn2Cook · 09/12/2022 03:33

Oh, and if someone I loved or cared about was sick, having breathing issues and went to hospital out of hours to see a doctor I would make the effort to call them and show them that I am thinking of them and hoping that they are getting the help that they need.

And if I really needed to go to bed I would at least call or text first to check on them, because I care about them.

And as a parent I have had to parent on a sleepless night. Most parents have had to do that.

musingsinmidlife · 09/12/2022 03:48

I am not sure he ruined the meat. He just didn't serve the meal the exact way OP wanted it cooked, seasoned, and served.

And go read some posts on women complaining about their men being sick. The advice is that the sick spouse should shut up, suck it up and deal with it themselves, that their spouse isn't their mother and it isn't the spouses job to look after them.

OPs expectations aren't reasonable. And if she was was the one expected to stay up and baby her husband while sick...those of you saying she is reasonable would change their tune quickly.

musingsinmidlife · 09/12/2022 03:50

ImustLearn2Cook · 09/12/2022 03:33

Oh, and if someone I loved or cared about was sick, having breathing issues and went to hospital out of hours to see a doctor I would make the effort to call them and show them that I am thinking of them and hoping that they are getting the help that they need.

And if I really needed to go to bed I would at least call or text first to check on them, because I care about them.

And as a parent I have had to parent on a sleepless night. Most parents have had to do that.

They were texting while she was seeing the doctor, then it sounds like he fell asleep.

ImustLearn2Cook · 09/12/2022 04:13

@musingsinmidlife She text him and he replied to a text. Big deal he replied to her text. Not really comparable to using your initiative and contacting someone unprompted.

And if the roles were reversed and Op was a man who felt this way, Mumsnet would have responded with a bit more compassion and support than what you’re implying.

I know, because I have seen threads posted by men and they have been responded to in a reasonable and compassionate way.

ShopoholicIn · 09/12/2022 04:55

OP i think you have been unwell and it adds a lot to the stress. But Yabu on him in this case. Hope you n him can find happiness together or apart. Hope u feel better soon.

Fucket · 09/12/2022 04:59

You’ve got two young children and you’re both busy and exhausted. You don’t mention any relatives that help out (but maybe you do have some). Life is not going to be easy for you, you can work together and accept less than perfect. Also putting the needs of yourself first is not a bad strategy for you both to adopt every now and then. If you don’t do that you get ill, and it takes longer to recover. So you both need to work together; lower expectations and don’t put him before yourself, put yourselves equally at the top of the list.

if You are ill he needs to feed you, take care of the kids and Make sure he’s getting enough rest himself. You need to do this once better as well.

long term you need to communicate better with each other.

PepsiMaxAholic · 09/12/2022 05:04

A similar thing happened to me but it didn't make me angry at DH. I was taken to A&E in an ambulance in the early hours of the morning. They didn't want DH to come with me. He ended up falling to sleep but he did try hard to stay awake. I don't hold it against him, he knew I was fine.

GiltEdges · 09/12/2022 05:07

Meh, mountain out of a molehill with this one incident. If you can even call it that. But yes, I think your reaction was disproportionate to the situation. You say you were really ill, yet declined the ambulance which 111 recommended, and insisted on getting yourself to the OOHs, to be annoyed at the doctor not meeting your expectations too, in the same way as your DH 🤷‍♀️ Some people just have impossibly high standards of other people, who are ultimately just human and doing their best.

As a PP said, it sounds like you’re just looking for reasons to make it your DHs “fault” when you split. It will help you justify to yourself why you upended your DC’s lives. But really, you need to own your own decisions, do what you need to do and move on.

nolongersurprised · 09/12/2022 06:08

Wakk · 08/12/2022 18:04

I would have gone to bed too and I'm not usually selfish at all. No point both being knackered.

Me too. In my mind I’d be secure that my partner was having their health needs addressed.

I’d be thinking about what I had to do the next day in terms of getting children to school/me to work, picking them up from school/sport, sorting out food for the next evening and figuring that as the one who’d be doing all of the next day’s driving it’d be better to get as much sleep as possible.

Outtasteamandluck · 09/12/2022 06:40

He's telling you how he feels. Listen.

Action over words etc etc.

pinkfondu · 09/12/2022 06:45

I think it's often the silliest sounding thing that breaks the camels back!

Sparklfairy · 09/12/2022 07:18

I wonder how us single parents cope when we or our kids get sick. When we have nobody to watch them to go to the docs so just battle on. You sound quite entitled to me tbh. Be grateful you have someone there to cook for you and your children when you're ill, to look after them and put them to bed.

Being a single parent is very different to still being married to someone who took vows, remember "in sickness and in health"?