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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

DH acting weird after I went away on my own

257 replies

amberisola · 29/06/2023 16:16

I’ve just got back from a few days away at a yoga retreat. Absolute bliss and long saved up for. It’s the first time I’ve been away on my own apart from short work trips since before I got married, although I travelled and worked all over the world alone when I was younger. My self-confidence has taken a knock recently and I can feel it bouncing back.

DH was sulky about my work trips early in our marriage. He also got moody after I told him I was going on the yoga retreat, in a passive aggressive way (while insisting he was fine with it). I didn’t pay much attention because I had real problems to deal with - work has been very stressful, my dad has been seriously ill in hospital for weeks, I’ve been coming and going, exhausted, and had no bandwidth for dealing with nonsense. I was disappointed that he hasn’t been at all supportive about my dad, but I left it.

Anyway, DH picked me up today and all seemed fine. Until we got home and I found a complete bomb site, I was so disappointed that I couldn’t completely bite my tongue. He’s normally a bit of a clean freak so it was a shock. I didn’t go mad but asked him why there was mouldy bread and food lying around from 5 days ago, and why he hasn’t given the cat her medicine. Both cats seemed really upset and scared as well which is unusual. He said “they probably don’t recognise you” which seemed a bit nasty.

Later I noticed a prosecco bottle in the fridge with a bit left in the bottom, and two wine glasses in the dishwasher. I asked if he’d had someone round (fine, just unusual) and he said no, he drank it on his own. He hardly drinks and definitely not prosecco! He’ll have a little if I buy it (rarely) but we had none in the house when I left and I never buy that brand. I didn’t tell him I’d spotted the glasses. But it’s obvious he’s lying.

He got angry then and said I was “attacking” him, I’d “come back in a horrible mood” (no, I was really happy and relaxed until I saw the mess!) and I’ve clearly “got it in for him”.

I said neglecting the cat and drinking a bottle of prosecco alone was out of character and I felt like he wasn’t being completely honest with me, and he started going mad saying “what about you? You’re not being honest are you?!” I asked what that meant and he snapped at me “we’ll talk about that later” and stomped off out of the house.

Now I’m left here racking my brains as to what I could’ve done (or what he could think I’ve done). I’m coming up with nothing. I think he’s upset that I went away without him and is trying to make me feel bad - possibly to deflect from something he’s done? Maybe he just made a weird, cryptic comment to mess with my head. I don’t know.

It did mess with my head though, so I’m asking for the wisdom of MN. What do you think is going on, and how should I respond? Should I ignore, should I be worried about the lie, or could I really be in the wrong here?

OP posts:
Summerslimtime · 29/06/2023 18:06

This is your punishment, op. How embarrassing for him with the prosecco. What a massive twat. I'd move on.

ZeppelinTits · 29/06/2023 18:06

Aquamarine1029 · 29/06/2023 17:56

I think there has been loads about your husband's behaviour that you have minimised and/or ignored over the years, and this incident has finally opened your eyes.

Decent men don't just start acting this way. This is part of a long pattern of behaviour.

Completely agree with this. I think it's possible he drank the wine over a few nights himself hence the two glasses and the resultant mess is just part of his childish dirty protest to punish you for going away. Although what you say about his coldness and him seeming like a stranger plus lack of empathy regarding your Dad screams affair to me. Honestly, who cares either way, life is too short for this shit and you aren't yoked together by kids. Leave and be happy! Sulkiness is the least sexy trait on the planet.

JudgeAnderson · 29/06/2023 18:06

He's really dreadful. Please don't stay with him, you'll have a lifetime of this shit. Neglecting the cats alone is a sackable offense without all the other weird controlling shit, lies and bad attitude.

MadeofCheeese · 29/06/2023 18:08

Are you planning DC?
What would he be like if you went away for the weekend and he had the DC or even a dog?

Crikeyalmighty · 29/06/2023 18:08

I've had 2 marriages and one 4 year live in relationship and on paper whilst all ok guys- they all turned into total tits for a short while if I went away in a passive aggressive kind of way- it seems sadly common- I do realise not all men are like this- I just seem to have dropped on ones who were-

Clymene · 29/06/2023 18:08

Leave. This relationship isn't going to get better. You're married to a petty controlling bully.

FluffyFlannery · 29/06/2023 18:09

Don’t have children with this man child. It’s only going to get worse.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 29/06/2023 18:09

You're not in the wrong, OP. I have no idea whether he had a woman there or not, or set it up. What I do know is that he made your cats suffer to punish you. That would have me throwing him out on his arse - because what will he do next time you have the cheek to go away?

almostoverthehill · 29/06/2023 18:10

Jewelanemone · 29/06/2023 16:23

I reckon the prosecco and glasses are a set-up. He wants to to think he's been up to something as he resents the fact that you've been away.

That’s exactly what I thought too.

FluffyFlannery · 29/06/2023 18:10

callmeblondee · 29/06/2023 17:34

I often read some of these threads and feel like if you removed the "husband" or "partner" and read it without any labels, it would be like reading a battle between enemies. Who does these things to people they are meant to love, bottom line. They dont love you, they just like to posess you and the things you do for them. Simple as that, sorry to say.

You’re absolutely correct.

Cosycover · 29/06/2023 18:13

I'd have a wee bag packed for him coming back and send him on his merry way.

He will shit himself.

Tophy124 · 29/06/2023 18:13

He sounds pathetic. My husband often goes away on work trips and last year went away with friends for a week (I stayed home with dc) and we were so happy to have him home! He had a wonderful time away and I’m glad he got to go as it was the first time he had gone just with friends for years and he came back fully recharged. I know he would also support me going away with friends I just haven’t had the chance yet as my DC are little.

Your partner should support you and encourage you, not punish you for going away seperate to them. I’m sure this stings a lot as you were probably so relaxed when away!

Howdoyouknowwhitney · 29/06/2023 18:15

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MzHz · 29/06/2023 18:16

Don’t you dare tidy up. Tell him the cats are happy but you’re not going to tidy up and clean after a grown adult.

my ex used to be a real pain in the arse and totally unhelpful around the house, Leaving it all to me and moaning that it wasn’t tidy enough

I went away once with dc and the house was spotless because of an inspection, I came back a week later and it was extractor as I’d left it. That really pissed me off because it was then clear that he could keep things tidy but didn’t want to and chose to make my life harder

this relationship won’t get any better

Yeahno · 29/06/2023 18:17

Why are you going to tidy up his mess?

Mylifeislikeaboatrace · 29/06/2023 18:18

There's the door, shut it after you.

greyhairnomore · 29/06/2023 18:21

Does he think you've been away with someone ?
I'd have to ask about the glasses but I can't keep my mouth shut 🤐

greyhairnomore · 29/06/2023 18:24

@amberisola don't tidy up his mess !

Anxioys · 29/06/2023 18:29

Btw you can't win.

If you tidy up, he gets his way.if you mention the mess, he gets the argument. If you complain about the cats treatment, he will say you are making it up. If you mention the glasses you will be paranoid, and if you ever go away again it will be a miracle.

Get away. You have two choices. Leave or become silent. He's already decided that it's better you are quiet but he would probably like it if you objected and then he silenced your objections.

MumInBrussels · 29/06/2023 18:34

What positive things does this man contribute to your life?

They'd have to be pretty big for me to overlook this shit, if I were in your shoes - his behaviour is pretty poor for a child who's annoyed mummy's gone away for a few days, let alone a supposed adult. And that's without all the other stress you're dealing with without his support.

ZickZack · 29/06/2023 18:38

Jewelanemone · 29/06/2023 16:23

I reckon the prosecco and glasses are a set-up. He wants to to think he's been up to something as he resents the fact that you've been away.

My first thought too. To punish you. Op, he's awful. Think carefully about if this is the type of man you want to be with

Wexone · 29/06/2023 18:38

What a little shit! I have to travel for work a good bit - my husband loves it. he gets the whole bed to himself and watch what he wants on telly etc. I don't come home to a mess, more often a lovely dinner waiting as more than likely i have driven for hours or sat on a plane for ages. The pets will have been looked after so well ( photos and videos sent to me ). Go away more often and tell him to shove his sulking up his hole. I would put the cats in the cattery though- how can he not look after them ? Really is this a happy relationship

massiveclamps · 29/06/2023 18:40

JudgeAnderson · 29/06/2023 18:06

He's really dreadful. Please don't stay with him, you'll have a lifetime of this shit. Neglecting the cats alone is a sackable offense without all the other weird controlling shit, lies and bad attitude.

I agree. Leaving the place in a mess is one thing, but neglecting the animals?

That would be my line in the sand right there.

readbooksdrinktea · 29/06/2023 18:40

Anxioys · 29/06/2023 17:26

You have no kids. Life is too short for this and if you get pregnant it would get all the worse.

He is desperate for you to lose your temper and have a fight. Do not give him one.

This kind of passive aggressive game is however a total death knell for the marriage. If the games are real it's over. If they are to mess with your head, it's also over.

Agree. Plus, he sounds like such a dick about your dad. What's the point?

Ep1cfail · 29/06/2023 18:41

amberisola · 29/06/2023 17:05

Thank you.

I do think you and all the PP are correct, his behaviour just seems so unhinged that I’m struggling to get my head around it. It’s so far removed from how I’d behave (and how I do behave when he goes away on his regular trips solo/with friends)

About the moodiness about work trips early on - I told him to knock it off, he apologised and seemed genuinely embarrassed, that seemed to be the end of that. Everything else was fine at the time, I thought. Obviously I should have been more concerned.

Him not being supportive about my dad’s illness really shocked me as well. He has been increasingly cold and distant lately, and I feel like I’m dealing with a stranger sometimes. I have had so much on my plate that I just haven’t wanted to get into it with him.

The cats are much happier now and are purring away next to me. I’m going to go and tidy up and try to process some of this.

Don't tidy up his mess. He's being a petulant child sulking because you went away. Book a hotel and tell him you'll be back when he's cleaned his shirt up and grows the fuck up.