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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

How do I move on from this

6 replies

Snapplepie · 22/03/2025 20:50

We had something absolutely awful happen last week. My little girl (2y/o) had a medical event that needed an ambulance and a trip to hospital. It was traumatic to watch, went on forever and when we got to the hospital we were told it might happen again.

We got home in the early hours and I slept with her to make sure she was OK. The next morning my husband drove 3 hours away to meet someone. It could absolutely have been rescheduled. I was left at home, absolutely shattered, trying to figure out if our kid was OK and watching them and our baby.

As the week has gone on, I've felt worse and worse. Suddenty tearful at times, intrusive thoughts about the medical event, insomnia. I've told my husband. He listened and never mentioned it again or asked how I was doing. He actually went and did an extra night of his hobby leaving me alone because he'd missed it on the night when we were in hospital. He's helpfulish, cleans up and helps with bedtime when he's here but then when everything is done, he just plays video games or practices his musical instrument.

Baby is still up to breastfeed throughout the night so even without this new insomnia I haven't been sleeping well for a long time. And this morning it just hit me like a tonne of bricks. I felt absolutely exhausted. I told my husband and he just talked about everything we needed to do today. I said "oh I was hoping I might get a break". He laughed and said there were no breaks for us. I just started to cry and I've been in bed all afternoon. I have never felt like this before.

DH has found family life stressful, and I have supported him as much as I can. I make sure he gets to hobbies twice a week as this seems to help, organise things he'll enjoy, try to help him to recognise and manage his stress. The last time he was looking burned out, I booked him a hotel room for a night and sent him off for a massage. This means I am always picking up the slack. To his credit after a few times of asking he did do a course of therapy because when stressed he was often angry. This is now a lot better.

But, when times are tough he just doesn't support me. He's so thoughtless, its like he doesnt realise that im a person who needs to eat and sleep and have a life of my own. On the rare occasions he cooks, he'll only cook for the kids and he'll eat separately when I would always make him something. I have mentioned this, but he keeps doing it and says he forgets.

He would say that he just doesn't know what I need and would do anything I asked for. But then, I asked for a break today and he laughed. Obviously I'm having some sort of reaction to the situation last week and that's not his fault. But I just feel like a bit of a twat for prioritising his mental health for years, then when I'm struggling he just doesn't care.

I've always said that we don't have to make everything fair and 50/50 and that we should each do what we can and work as a team. Even though it was often me doing more I didn't mind because I could, but now I need him and I feel so let down and resentful. I feel so angry towards him that I want to stop facilitating his hobbies and life in general and make him pull his weight.

I don't like feeling like this, how do I move past it?

OP posts:
hurlyburlywhirly · 22/03/2025 20:55

I think you’re feeling like this because he’s entirely selfish and you’ve realised how bad it is. I’m really sorry.

i’d be telling him he needs to step up for you or prepare to leave him and I’d mean it. He’s not doing anything to care for you. It’s far worse than being alone, I promise, having been there.

I hope your dd is ok now. If they’re in bed then try and get some rest yourself. Do you have any family or friends who you can call on?

Bubblenum · 22/03/2025 20:58

I don’t think you will move past it until things improve. May i add that nobody’s mental health is more important than your own. start to put yourself first. If you can get a babysitter or enrol one of the little ones into nursery for a couple hours a week it will help you mentally. all mums need a break. we take on way too much. stop booking him hotels and massages he should be doing that for you and the fact he isn’t trying to take on any of the mental load off your shoulders speaks volumes. tell him what you need from him if he laughs in your face again time to rethink your relationship

PieCorner · 22/03/2025 21:00

Sometimes, awful situations happen and they shine a very clear light on the way things are in our lives. A bit like when spring arrives and we can see the dust in the air.

He’s a selfish bastard. I’m older and more militant, and I would honestly leave him. Life’s too short to spend your time caring for a man child. I’m also a single mother, and agree with the PP that being in an unsupportive relationship is far, far worse than being alone.

I hope you and your baby get the rest you need.

Muffin777 · 22/03/2025 21:09

Why are you treating him like a child and ‘making sure he gets to his hobby’ and sending the poor wee man off for a massage because he finds ‘family life stressful’?

Snapplepie · 22/03/2025 21:18

Thank you all for taking the time to read and comment. It's really helpful. And actually reading it back through what I wrote is an eye opener.

@Muffin777 I really didn't think I was being such a pushover. I just slipped into trying to keep him well because i love him and it was better for us as a family when he wasn't stressed. You are right of course. It's absolutely nuts to make a massage booking for a man who can't even make you a bowl of porridge.

I've told him I'm having a day off tomorrow and he can cancel his hobby and figure things out with the kids.

OP posts:
Mickeychampionwhatgoodami · 22/03/2025 21:32

Well done on taking back time for you.👍

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