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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

Was I wrong?

59 replies

GEK1983 · 20/08/2023 19:13

Driving home today (DH is driver), my son says at the back of the car that my youngest (toddler) car seat is moving. Luckily we were nearly home and when we got out it was tilted and had moved. Clearly the seat hadn't been put back in properly. My husband had put it in. I am annoyed and upset about the fact he could have been driving like this for a few weeks with her in that seat and what could have happened. He refused to take responsibility and kept saying it was tight when he put it in and that my sibling is at fault as my sibling taught him how to do it. I explain its not her responsibility it's ours. He still doesn't agree and I say I don't feel comfortable him driving us to our holiday destination tomorrow as he clearly doesn't know how to put it in properly and we've lost the instructions so neither do I!I go upstairs and he comes up and asks to talk. I agree and say that it's annoyed me he's blamed my sibling for his mistake and I then say 'I'm also concerned', he heard that said he didn't want to talk to me and stormed out. I told him if we couldn't resolve it then he can tell the kids we aren't going because I'm not. At the dinner table, one child mentions being excited about the holiday. I say well I'm not sure if we are going yet as we haven't sorted the car seat situation out and that I'd have liked to discussed it but haven't been able to. Probably shouldn't have said that part but did and then DH proceeds to say we can now talk. I said no because we were with the kids and it's not appropriate and it always goes this way, he shuts me down then when he's ready suddenly we can talk and I have to listen. He then does this thing where he's now the calm one and I'm wrong and when I get irritated and raise my voice because I know and he knows what he's doing, he remains calm and I look like the idiot. I walked out the room as it was winding me up and then my eldest comes upstairs and tells me it's not his dads fault and blames my sibling too! My middle child is now crying because he thinks it's his fault and because we probably won't be going on holiday, I'm upset and meanwhile DH is downstairs calm as anything, not taking any blame and letting this all go on. After over an hour he finally takes responsibility, says he didn't want eldest to defend him and that he apologises but this is a every week thing that he does this and his sorry has lost all meaning as he never changes. I said to him he knows what game he's playing trying to make me look like the bad one despite knowing he was doing things to rile me and he just says he hasn't got time to play games and I'm wrong. I don't feel like going away now but feel obliged to because of the kids and we still haven't sorted the car seat. Is this all my fault or is he?

OP posts:
Justcallmebebes · 20/08/2023 21:16

Beersinshropshire · 20/08/2023 19:30

Jesus, threatening your kids with no holiday to ‘punish’ your DH is utterly disgusting. Making your child think this is his fault?!!

Your behaviour is shameful.

You need to check that right now before you use your children as weapons against your husband in the divorce.

This. Involving your kids and threatening to cancel the holiday was downright cruel

mumofdragons · 20/08/2023 21:17

The whole argument and you dragging it to where it is now, is very pathetic... you can YouTube how to install the car seat.

Swallow your pride, apologise to your family, install the seat and go on holiday. Life's to short and everyone makes mistakes.

pictoosh · 20/08/2023 21:17

Beersinshropshire · 20/08/2023 19:30

Jesus, threatening your kids with no holiday to ‘punish’ your DH is utterly disgusting. Making your child think this is his fault?!!

Your behaviour is shameful.

You need to check that right now before you use your children as weapons against your husband in the divorce.

Yep pretty much this.
Catch yourself on ffs, you don't cancel a much anticipated holiday over this shit. What the hell is wrong with you?

Janieforever · 20/08/2023 21:20

Op, have you apologised to them? You asked and it’s unanimous. I think you also need to assess your comment on your husband playing games and making you look the bad one. In this instance you did it all by yourself.

I do hope you apologise, Google how to fit the seat and go and habe a good holiday. Our children learn from us, and as much as you’ve behaved very badly, apologising shows you understand and are able to do the adult thing.

pictoosh · 20/08/2023 21:22

And to add...the car seat came loose...now that you know that can happen, check it weekly or for each journey or whatever. Google the fitting instructions like anyone who's lost a manual does.
Stop the madness over bloody nothing with your kids being dragged into it and their holiday threatened. You need to calm down.

SpamFrittersYouSay · 20/08/2023 21:23

You sound like very hard work.

I said, so she said, but he said, so I said...

Just calm down, sort the seat out, job done.

Move on.

DumpedByText · 20/08/2023 21:26

You told your kids they can't go on holiday over a car seat, that's just cruel. Get a grip, Google the instructions and get away on your hols!

dreambeavers · 20/08/2023 22:01

You acted like a complete fool here op. You behaved like a child, upset your kids, attempted to pit them against your DH, and sulked.

m00rfarm · 20/08/2023 22:04

And you could have don’t it yourself. If you could have been bothered. Why do you want to cancel a holiday because you cannot be bothered to Google it? I feel sorry for your children. You are playing games with your husband and they get the fall out

K8ate · 20/08/2023 22:04

Another op that won’t be back……

Zanatdy · 20/08/2023 22:04

Why the song and dance, google the instructions, most are similar anyway, just make sure it’s tight. Don’t involve the kids in your petty arguments

DinaFox · 20/08/2023 22:08

I agree with PPs, and please don't involve your child in your arguments in the future.

Oysterbabe · 20/08/2023 22:28

Whoever was responsible for putting the seat in the car, you have caused this situation.

BLT24 · 20/08/2023 22:37

Sorry but I think you were wrong. You seem to focus on what your DH has done to upset you rather than resolving the issue. For example you could have said ‘I’m disappointed the car seat was not fixed in properly. Can we go and put it in together now so I can show you how to do it so I’m comfortable with you taking the toddler out on your own with them going forward’ - problem solved.

With regards to what happened at the dinner table again you’re focusing on the fact that your DH wouldn’t talk earlier rather than on the fact that they are willing to talk now. You could have said ‘don’t worry we will sort it, me and Dad will talk and resolve it after dinner if that’s ok Dad?’ Of course the dinner situation wouldn’t have happened had you acted reasonably in the first place.

I really think it helps to realise that everyone makes mistakes, we are human and not perfect. Focus on resolving issues with your DH and not punishing him for what’s gone wrong. You may need therapy to overcome these issues. Good luck.

Bewildbefree · 20/08/2023 22:43

Yeah I agree with PP!
Making your kids feel like a holiday is potentially ruined over a car seat is below the belt.
Google the instructions and make sure them kids have a good holiday. I hope they didn’t go to sleep gutted. Thats actually upsetting!

Tinkerbyebye · 20/08/2023 22:52

I think you both need to grow up

and stop putting the kids in the middle

LooselyBasedOnAMadeUpStory · 20/08/2023 22:59

You are so, so unbelievably UR.

Those poor kids. And DH After over an hour he finally takes responsibility so he has to admit something because you’ve pecked and pecked, made a horrible atmosphere and made DC cry? Does he often have to admit things to keep the peace whenever you find an issue in things that may or may not be his fault?

Pointynoseowner · 20/08/2023 23:44

You are being very very unreasonable

Sickofchangingmyfuckingusername · 20/08/2023 23:57

For goodness sake! What a load of cobblers about nothing!

Dery · 20/08/2023 23:58

Yes, you were wrong. You have behaved appallingly.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 21/08/2023 00:46

The pair of you want your heads banging together to be honest.

He should own up to mistakes - "oh shit, I didn't realise it was loose, let's sort it"

You shouldn't be goading and using the children to prove your point.

RealisticGuy · 21/08/2023 01:14

It wasn’t your husbands fault, it was an accident. Neither of you had noticed it until pointed out.

You massively over reacted and put blame on him that didn’t need put.

What you should have said is, the seat has become loose we need to tighten that up and check it’s installed correctly.

The pointing the finger of blame on him meant he deflected it. Him staying calm doesn’t sound unreasonable. Neither of you should be bringing your children into it though, totally ridiculous.

lunar1 · 21/08/2023 01:21

None of this sounds like your husband's fault.

SpringIntoChaos · 21/08/2023 11:26

Well I hope you are going on holiday today OP! What a horribly manipulative threat that was! Utterly bizarre way to speak to your DH and children!! 🤦‍♀️

hdbs17 · 21/08/2023 12:33

Ok, it was put in wrong this time. Why does that mean he's now not safe to drive to your holiday destination?

Can you not fit the car seat to ensure for your own peace of mind that it's in and just carry on with the holiday?

You can access any instruction manual for car seats online - and you should also never throw them away.

Just find the manual, fit the seat and get on with your life, no need for such a huge drama over a mistake!