Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
notsofamous · 29/06/2023 20:52

amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:46

Just "Ok, sounds good"

Probably not the response he wanted.

Best response. 😂 ’Ok, no rush 👍🏼’

ToWhitToWhoo · 29/06/2023 20:52

I agree that he's 'punishing' you for going away. The glasses were probably left to worry you, as pp have said: if he was really seeing an OW, he'd be pleased, not annoyed, that you were away. The mess and sulkiness are most unpleasant and childish, but the worst is his apparently taking out his annoyance on the cats.

amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:52

notsofamous · 29/06/2023 20:26

The thing is, he has knowingly done things you can’t argue about. Didn’t clean the house, so what didn’t have time or feel like it. Didn’t give the cat medicine, I thought it didn’t need it or else I would have. Prosecco and two glasses, you can think what you like but I drank it myself. He is asking for a fight and he has got his foolproof stupid arguments ready that will only make you look like an unhinged wife who doesn’t trust her dh. So pretty smart to tidy up, give no reaction, ignore him. It’s the opposite of what he was after. No fight, just nothing, he is not worth it. Then leave, just tell him he is simply not what you want in life anymore.

I think this nails it.

At work the issue of plausible deniability often comes up, and that phrase popped into my head earlier.

The sad thing is that I might have let him draw me into a fight, but a) I was feeling too zen after all that yoga and meditation and b) I have bigger problems I need to save my energy for right now!

OP posts:
Lacucuracha · 29/06/2023 20:53

amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:19

Update:

DH has just texted to say he’s staying at his parents’ house tonight because he “doesn’t want an argument”.

(It is very likely he’s really staying there, although after today I can’t say I would care that much if he was somewhere else.)

I’ve just been to the shop and bought a new bottle of prosecco, crisps, and some treats for the cats.

Sounds like he wants to leave the mess for you to clean to punish you. Please don’t. Do as little as you can and tell him he needs to clean.

And yes, please do leave him. Any chance the house is yours?

amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:56

HairyKitty · 29/06/2023 20:45

@amberisola he is definitely trying to manipulate and punish you, making you wait for the confrontation so that’s you will grovel.
I’m not sure how you will get past this? Unless he apologised. If you’re not going to get rid of him I don’t think I’d want to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was upset or bothered by any of it.

I think you’re right, it’s so shocking to realise he would do that... on purpose.

I don’t see any way past it honestly. Even if he saw sense and apologised I don’t see how I could trust him. For now I am definitely trying not to rise to any of it.

OP posts:
amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:59

Lacucuracha · 29/06/2023 20:53

Sounds like he wants to leave the mess for you to clean to punish you. Please don’t. Do as little as you can and tell him he needs to clean.

And yes, please do leave him. Any chance the house is yours?

Probably! I’ve cleaned as little as I can to make it nice for myself, and left him the worst jobs.

Its half mine, half his, unfortunately, so I think we’d probably have to sell up. I will be looking into the finances once my head is on straight.

OP posts:
Appleblossompetal · 29/06/2023 21:01

You deserve better than this. My DH would be 100% supportive if I wanted to do something like that. He would probably leave the house in a mess and we would fight about it when I got back, though. 🙄

PaigeMatthews · 29/06/2023 21:02

amberisola · 29/06/2023 20:46

Just "Ok, sounds good"

Probably not the response he wanted.

Great response

MerryMarigold · 29/06/2023 21:03

Your DH is trying to take your lovely experience away from you.

I agree

drspouse · 29/06/2023 21:05

This does sound like dads who are deliberately incompetent when their DCs are left in their care, so it's "more trouble to go away than it's worth".

Taytocrisps · 29/06/2023 21:08

Oh my dear, I hated the image of you floating home after your lovely weekend away, only to have your "D"H burst your bubble. He sounds thoroughly unpleasant. Sounds like you've had a really rough time of it lately between work stress and your Dad's illness. If your husband really cared about you, he'd be delighted to see you have a nice break after everything you've been through. Instead, he's behaved like a petulant child - his moodiness when you told him initially, his neglect of the cats, leaving the house in a mess etc. etc. It all smacks of, "I'll show her". He's totally thinking of his own feelings and not showing any consideration for you or your feelings. THAT would be prompting me to make an appointment with a counsellor and/or solicitor with a view to ending the marriage. I'm not sure I'd be all that bothered about the presence of two wine glasses and what that might mean. You deserve so much better.

azlazee1 · 29/06/2023 21:09

He's acting like a child. He's punishing you for going away. Does he usually demand a lot of your time and attention? This would certainly ruin any good the trip did if it was me. It's mean spirited to say the least. I would leave his mess for him to take care of. Expecting you to is just another form of punishment.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 29/06/2023 21:13

hellsbells99 · 29/06/2023 16:38

Why are you with him?
Think carefully about what you want in life.

This. Thank god you didn't have kids with him!

A decent man would be happy his beloved wife had a nice retreat.

keyboardkat · 29/06/2023 21:15

There is an awful lot to be said for living alone own if one can. I do, but have a 25 years + relationship with a great man. He's bloody great because he lives in his house and I in mine! Well if it's good enough for Charles and Camilla it's Ab Fab for us!

I realise that few can adopt this lifestyle, but if you can, do it.

And while I feel for OP, we must remember that we only read about the awful men here, rarely about the good uns. And there are many of them too, so OP when you divest yourself of this excuse for a husband, choose wisely, live apart but be together, and you will never look back.

Anxioys · 29/06/2023 21:35

I see the update.

He wants to provoke you into a fight. For whatever reason.

I would also assume he is telling his highly dysfunctional parents about your affair and how mad you are.

Seriously, keep your cool and make plans to separate. This guy wants DRAMA. The reason is not clear but don't play his game.

I predict a series of self important texts when you do not respond further. Or a very long communication detailing all your faults. Ignore it all.

Mix56 · 29/06/2023 21:36

Please take pictures of the mess. He'll tell you it wasn't a mess at some point.
Your Grey Rock reply was perfect.
You could send a selfie of you & the Prosecco !Grin
Actually, You are in control, its perfect.
He was setting you up for a fight, you have popped his balloon!
Do not clear up his shit.
Go about your day, ignore it.
If he comes back accusing you of shagging your yoga teacher.
Just smile & say "I wish"

Joeylove88 · 29/06/2023 21:41

He needs to grow the f up! I couldn't stand being with someone who sulks and tried to punish me for daring to go out and enjoy something for myself. He should be encouraging you to have fun and do things you love!

JeminaSunshine · 29/06/2023 21:43

It appears he can't even keep one woman happy let alone two of you so I wouldn't worry on that count.

I'd text back please stay there.

Caffinefree · 29/06/2023 21:45

OP you sound lovely and I am sorry you haven’t had more support from him in relation to your dad. Really, this is a good thing to come back to because he already needed to be gone because there is no point to someone who doesn’t cherish you and care for you in tough times. This man doesn’t have your back and is actually making your life harder and more unpleasant. I think it’s a shock to see how people can play act like they are normal, can even keep it up superficially with others while becoming less and less kind in their relationship. It’s a dynamic that should be the other way round. We should get the best of our partners, every time. I think the changes you have ahead will help with that confidence return no end.

HellonHeels · 29/06/2023 21:46

Nasty prick. Poor cats :-(

Really sorry your dad is unwell.

billy1966 · 29/06/2023 21:48

Definitely photograph the mess.

His lack of care while your father is so ill is the real him, he's irritated that any interferes with his life.

Your upset is an inconvenience to him.

He has zero empathy, that is why he had to maintain the mask.

He is ugly to his core.

You are a clever woman that you realise sunk cost fallacy will not drag you down with him.

You have a good future ahead of you, remember that.

Tell friends and family the truth, take all the support you can.

pinkthree · 29/06/2023 21:53

That's awful OP, he will of known you have gone away to try and relax and has completely sabotaged it.

He will of known you would be upset about the mess and noticed the Prosecco etc

He clearly cares about himself more than he cares about you or he would want you to have a good time away

Happytohelp2 · 29/06/2023 21:58

This reminds me a bit of how my exH behaved before eventually telling me he was leaving. He kept trying to provoke arguments - with hindsight I think in the hope (subconsciously perhaps) that I would end the marriage. Looking back he didn’t want to take responsibility for ending it, so was trying to get me to.

I didn’t rise to the bait and in the end he had to say he was leaving. For a number of months he appeared to feel guilty about this and said he didn’t want anything financially. I now kick myself that I didn’t move the divorce forward quickly enough. His guilt wore off and then he neither wanted the divorce to be for his behaviour or adultery nor was he willing to stick by his financial agreement and came after my money (I was the higher earner and brought more capital into the marriage). Sadly (for him and them) he wasn’t bothered about taking responsibility for our kids and happily signed over sole responsibility to me.
I share this to encourage you to keep your cool, get your legal and financial ducks lined up. Let him decide to leave and then push to get all legal and financial agreements finalised asap.
Good luck. You will be so much happier without him even though it’s tough at the time. Best wishes for your dad too. 💐

ColdHandsHotHead · 29/06/2023 22:04

I would say it's quite possible that he HAS met someone else, and is trying to provoke you into telling him to move out.

bonzaitree · 29/06/2023 22:07

Hé is 100% trying to ruin your weekend away and your sense of calm.