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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

To think having a child is destroying my relationship

6 replies

Huzzahbedlam · 23/10/2023 18:51

NC but long time poster. Posting as genuinely worried about my relationship and feeling really down.
My DS is 2 and quite frankly, hard work. He’s always been a terrible sleeper, had colic as a newborn and now we are into toddler tantrums.
me and DH both work full time (financially can’t go part time) and we are both tired, me more than him as I just get tired easier.

without going into too much detail I had a long time recovering from birth (many months), we don’t have much help so rare chance for date nights and a rest (both sets of parents live far away)
we rarely have sex, which is mainly my fault. With the long recovery and trauma from birth I didn’t feel like it, plus exhaustion from DS. Then adjusting back to work and tired again.
DS has picked up every bug going which I have caught so I’ve been ill on and off for months which hasn’t helped.

DH is upset with me because our sex life is rare, says I don’t appreciate him and that I’m all about our son and I don’t make enough effort with him. Says he doesn’t understand how I’m still tired and getting ill all the time. And now can’t see how we will go back to how we were before kids as it’s been like this for so long. He doesn’t want to talk further with me he said that’s just it.

I feel awful and worried he’s going to leave me because I’m not having sex with him enough. I don’t know how I can make our situation easier as I’m genuinely so exhausted. I’m trying my best but it doesn’t feel good enough. Am I a terrible partner? I don’t know how to do better without pushing through exhaustion.

OP posts:
MrsDaniFilth · 23/10/2023 19:17

Leave him with the baby and go somewhere good for you.

then the stupid oaf might get it.

dont lose sleep over the opinion of some man - EVER.

Catsafterme · 23/10/2023 19:21

No you are not a terrible partner, you are an exhausted mother, children can be hard.

He's being unreasonable by having no consideration for how you feel and putting his own needs above all else.

minipie · 23/10/2023 19:22

Having a partner with no empathy is destroying your relationship.

Cloudburstings · 23/10/2023 19:26

@Huzzahbedlam and what do he do as a father and around the house?

usually these posts have a ‘he’s a great dad’ but and then in discussion it comes out that means taking them to the park once in a blue moon and the OP is doing everything else.

who does the night wakings, childcare planning? Who takes time off when he’s unwell?

who shops and cooks? Cleans?

what is he doing to help you feel less tired?

he needs to focus on that, not blame you and threaten to leave you over it.

Dery · 23/10/2023 19:26

“what is he doing to help you feel less tired?

he needs to focus on that, not blame you and threaten to leave you over it.”

This.

Merryoldgoat · 23/10/2023 19:30

And what exactly is he doing to make life easier?

My DH and I have been through this and it’s hard but we supported each other, didn’t apportion blame, and made sure we had breaks and time to reset.

You sound like you’re doing pretty much everything.

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