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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

Partner not pulling weight!!

14 replies

LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 12:51

I'm coming to terms with dealing with everything on my own and it's tough! Not because I'm on my own I'm not, I've been with my partner for a very long time, we have a 12 year old & 3 year old.I'd say I've just got on and done everything since my oldest was little as we would argue every time I'd ask him to do stuff, I did all the clubs, pick ups and drop offs, juggle all the responsibility and work full time. He started up his own business which I supported us financially and carried the load of parenting whilst he worked alot.He couldn't support me on mat leave, didn't do night night feeds, my baby didn't sleep for over a year, up every hour and I felt broken very close to a breakdown and he didn't once help, he was moody, angry hated it if I met up with family, arranged a girls night he text me to not come home at 10 o clock. He smashed my wardrobe door off when I went out to my sisters with my 2 children whilst he slept.I come to a point where I set boundaries and try to get him to help me, I must have the conversation every week now since having a 2nd child 3 years ago things have just gotten so much worse, he becomes better and does a little bit more like tea once or washes the pots then just reverts back to saying it's hard and it's because I wanted a big job that's too much for me, even though I needed to go back to work because he got himself into alot of debt when I was on mat leave and now wants to remortgage to pay his debts off.I've said I'm going to separate if things don't change and he says this will be awful for the children and that he does stuff.At the moment my little one has started preschool after being with a childminder, I'm working full time around arranging settles, for a week, no family to help doing drio off and pick ups, I've been upset saying how I am going to do this whilst working and he just says everyone has to do this it's hard. So I'm sat here with a full diary with a toddler bouncing around me whilst I work, it's unmanageable.I'll then, clean, make tea, do food shop, baths, sports club, have full responsibility over both children's school apps, arrange all financial bills, and just take the load. I've been asked to work abroad with my role for a week and my partner has said that's not doable. I'm the breadwinner and pay more for the bills etc, i just don't know what to do other than call it a day, it's either the job or relationship I'm miserable and feel so bad for the children.He does do bits, like read to our 3 year old at night and bring them a drink in morning plus general diy.

OP posts:
Alabas · 21/01/2025 12:59

I think I would have left 11yrs ago! I think you have a chance to get out now before your 3yr old thinks this is what a normal relationship looks like. Unfortunately at 12, your eldest has had to witness a lot even if they didn’t directly see it. You will all have a more positive and healthy life if you get out asap.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/01/2025 13:01

How can you be helped into leaving your abuser?. There are several examples of controlling and abusive behaviour towards you in your post. For those reasons it should be over.

What is the situation re the property?

Keep the job and get rid of your abusive and lazy Disney dad partner. Your children particularly the eldest. need to learn far better lessons about relationships than the ones currently being shown to them. Speak to Women’s Aid for additional support and if your family are helpful enlist them too.

IBlameYourMother · 21/01/2025 13:04

Are you married?
Do you both own the house and how (joint or in common).

Edit to add: you said it’s the job or the relationship. Don’t quit the job!!!! It’s your security and if you choose to leave, it’s your escape route.

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 21/01/2025 13:18

You’ve already told him you want to leave. Don’t let him talk you out of it another time. Just tell him it’s over. It will not be terrible for the kids. You are already doing it all anyway, it will either stay that way or he’ll do a few overnights and you’ll get a bit of a break. And you’ll be away from this awful man who makes your life difficult every way he can.

Do not pay off any of his debts with your or joint money, unless they were incurred to cover your mat leave. Doesn’t sound like that’s the case though.

CeffylCoch · 21/01/2025 13:24

Leave. He has had a chance to improve but hasn't bothered trying. He won't change

LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:26

Alabas · 21/01/2025 12:59

I think I would have left 11yrs ago! I think you have a chance to get out now before your 3yr old thinks this is what a normal relationship looks like. Unfortunately at 12, your eldest has had to witness a lot even if they didn’t directly see it. You will all have a more positive and healthy life if you get out asap.

I agree i should of probably left then too, there were red flags and I suppose at 24 I just didn't realise the implications fast forward to now and it's my fault really, I need to set a better example and get a back bone.

OP posts:
LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:27

CeffylCoch · 21/01/2025 13:24

Leave. He has had a chance to improve but hasn't bothered trying. He won't change

Yes, I think this is right.

OP posts:
LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:29

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 21/01/2025 13:18

You’ve already told him you want to leave. Don’t let him talk you out of it another time. Just tell him it’s over. It will not be terrible for the kids. You are already doing it all anyway, it will either stay that way or he’ll do a few overnights and you’ll get a bit of a break. And you’ll be away from this awful man who makes your life difficult every way he can.

Do not pay off any of his debts with your or joint money, unless they were incurred to cover your mat leave. Doesn’t sound like that’s the case though.

Thanks for this, he says they are ours although I didn't agree to them, which is very annoying now as I specifically told him not to get them, he wanted a new kitchen, I didn't, he wanted a garage building I said no as we didn't have the cash, so he sees it as our debt really as the house is in both our names. Frustrating

OP posts:
LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:31

IBlameYourMother · 21/01/2025 13:04

Are you married?
Do you both own the house and how (joint or in common).

Edit to add: you said it’s the job or the relationship. Don’t quit the job!!!! It’s your security and if you choose to leave, it’s your escape route.

Edited

We are bot married, together 20 years, We bought the house together 17 years ago. My job is in Sales and it feels almost impossible at the moment to perform it well or hit my targets I'm far to stretched and stressed out, but I feel it's need the job more than ever, I really need some sales soon.

OP posts:
LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:32

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/01/2025 13:01

How can you be helped into leaving your abuser?. There are several examples of controlling and abusive behaviour towards you in your post. For those reasons it should be over.

What is the situation re the property?

Keep the job and get rid of your abusive and lazy Disney dad partner. Your children particularly the eldest. need to learn far better lessons about relationships than the ones currently being shown to them. Speak to Women’s Aid for additional support and if your family are helpful enlist them too.

Thank you for this message, to the point and I agree, they both need better role models and that me included in that. It's very difficult to get out once your in these types of positions but I will.

OP posts:
Wordau · 21/01/2025 15:36

You can do it OP. You deserve better than to have him dragging you down.

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 21/01/2025 17:24

LoveChristmas1234 · 21/01/2025 15:29

Thanks for this, he says they are ours although I didn't agree to them, which is very annoying now as I specifically told him not to get them, he wanted a new kitchen, I didn't, he wanted a garage building I said no as we didn't have the cash, so he sees it as our debt really as the house is in both our names. Frustrating

Debt in his name is not your responsibility. I assume they are unsecured debts, he hasn’t borrowed against the house?

You might need legal advice - or from more knowledgeable posters- on whether him paying for things that add value to the house entitles him to a great share of proceeds.

Would you be able to buy him out, or get a place for you and the kids if the house was sold?

He’s dragging you down mentally and financially, I really think you need to end it.

Mumlaplomb · 21/01/2025 17:27

I couldn’t even finish your post OP, clearly you need to leave him.

category12 · 21/01/2025 17:32

I think if it's debt from home improvements, you have benefited from it, so that debt'll probably need to be taken into account when dealing with the financials. I don't think saying you didn't want the work done is going to fly.

But there's always a price to pay in divorce. Still worth it.

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