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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

DH problems - perspectives please

61 replies

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 09:31

After a good week, we're back to arguing for the weekend. What do people think of this, I think it needs to be totally over now. Sorry this is long, I don't want to miss anything out.

DH is self employed and his hours are unpredictable. It's a hobby that turned into a job. He could work 6 days a week and in the evening he'll be on the phone/looking for machinery/talking about it non stop. He really enjoys it.

To allow him to concentrate on his growing business, I pay 95% of household bills - mortgage, food, childcare, house loans, we split the electric bill. The business has been viable and highly profitable for the last year and a half. He has a sizeable amount in the company bank account but still doesn't take a salary.

Yesterday, I texted him and said I'd like to take DC to the beach either Saturday or Sunday. He ignored the message which is fine as he was working. At 5pm, I rang him to say I was thinking of getting BBQ food and then we could eat out in the garden. He agreed and I said OK it will take me an hour to get to the shops and 30 minutes to cook so we will eat in 1hr 30 mins. He said OK, see you later etc. We don't eat together often as he is back late so I thought this would be nice.

I also mentioned on the phone about going to the beach and he said he was working at the weekend.

So I went to the shop, got the meat. Got home and sent him a text 'food ready in 30 mins' - no answer. Started to serve up the food when ready and text to see where he was. 'Back in 30 mins' was the reply so disappointed, me and DC went to eat without him.

Anyway, he gets home after we have already eaten and he'd been in the pub for pints with a coworker. I wouldn't care about this usually but in this instance feel like he led me on. Why didn't he just say when I first rang him that he had no intention of being back on time. To me, in this instance he made a fool of me and chose his coworker over us.

When I said this he coldly looked at me and said 'I don't want to be with you'. I slept on the couch after that.

Sometimes he will take 1 DC to work with him on a Saturday, so I said to DC last night to stay off work so we can do something nice. I was going to take them to the beach. This morning DH asked DC (11yo) if he wanted to go to work and he said no.

Dh then came in and woke me up and asked what I was doing today. I said I'm taking DC out for a day out. He started saying I was doing stuff without him and he wanted to go. I said we can't all go as we will argue, I just wanted to take DC to give them a nice day. He says I didn't invite him to the beach and he wants to go. But I did tell him I wanted to go and he said he was working.

So he's now driven off to work with my car keys and house keys so I can't leave the house with DC! I think this is control and he just wants to control us all.

Am I wrong here or is he as bad as I think he is?

OP posts:
Motnight · 16/08/2025 09:33

He's awful, Op. The question is what are you going to do?

BigFatLiar · 16/08/2025 09:35

He's an arse. Also if the business is now profitable its time he was contributing.

Get spare keys for the car and house and keep them in your bag.

MyNeedyLilacBird · 16/08/2025 09:36

You slept on the couch 😮 he should have been sleeping in the couch. Yes yes he is as bad as you think he is and is using you. If hes making money why are you still paying for everything! Taking your car is absolutely control and I'd have his bags packed for him coming back. Honestly I'd be tempted to report my car as stolen.

Why are you still in this marriage, he's basically told you he doesn't like you or want to be with you.

Have my first LTB

askmenothing · 16/08/2025 09:37

Yep, abusive prick.

If my DH took my keys and prevented me from leaving my home, I would be leaving permanently the second he returned them.
What if there was an emergency and you needed to leave the house/go to hospital?

MamaElephantMama · 16/08/2025 09:38

He needs to leave if he wants to be living his own selfish life.

Why are you planning everything around him? From now one I wouldn’t consider him in the plans. If you want a bbq just do it whether he is home or not. If want to go to the beach just pack up and go.

Pinkfreedom · 16/08/2025 09:40

Someone more qualified than myself may verify but I'm pretty sure that locking you in the house is false imprisonment.

If nothing like this has happened before then brace yourself as undoubtedly things are going to get worse.

Think only if yourself and your children, if you are currently paying for everything, organising children and house admin what does this mean actually contribute to the family.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 16/08/2025 09:40

If you know where his work is, get a cab there and get your keys back.

BigFatLiar · 16/08/2025 09:48

Depending on where you are if the doors aren't locked I'd take the kids out for the day somewhere local, cinema, lunch etc and send him a message to say you've left the doors unlocked as he's taken the keys.

MyNeedyLilacBird · 16/08/2025 09:49

There's a good point another poster made- are you actually locked in the house or is it just you now have no keys to lock up if you were to go out. If your actually locked in I'd be texting my husband demanding he comes back and let's me out or in calling the police as you can't lock someone purposefully in a house. If you can get out, ar your kids old enough that you could leave them to get a taxi to his workplace and get your keys and car?

Iloveeverycat · 16/08/2025 09:51

Yes he is as bad as you think he is. I can't believe someone would be so petty to do that. If it was me I would go to the beach. Go on the train. I take it you can leave the house but would have to leave door unlocked. Go and have your day out and enjoy it. If he doesn't want to be with you tell him to leave.

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 09:56

We aren't locked in the house but if we go out then I can't lock the door. And we live rurally so we can't leave and walk/get public transport anywhere.

If I got to him to get the keys, I would have to forcefully try to get them out of his pocket, and he's stronger than me.

I want to kick him out but how is that actually possible when he has keys to get in.. I could leave keys on the inside of the locks meaning he can't get his key in from the outside, but then I wouldn't be surprised if he broke a window to get in...

We are jointly on the mortgage and deeds so I just don't know how I can actually keep him out and I have nowhere I can go and stay.

OP posts:
Pinkfreedom · 16/08/2025 10:35

You really need to speak to a professional family lawyer IMO

MiloMinderbinder925 · 16/08/2025 10:40

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 09:56

We aren't locked in the house but if we go out then I can't lock the door. And we live rurally so we can't leave and walk/get public transport anywhere.

If I got to him to get the keys, I would have to forcefully try to get them out of his pocket, and he's stronger than me.

I want to kick him out but how is that actually possible when he has keys to get in.. I could leave keys on the inside of the locks meaning he can't get his key in from the outside, but then I wouldn't be surprised if he broke a window to get in...

We are jointly on the mortgage and deeds so I just don't know how I can actually keep him out and I have nowhere I can go and stay.

Get a locksmith to change the locks.

Noelshighflyingturds · 16/08/2025 10:50

Call 101 and report this incident it’s coercive control

HenDoNot · 16/08/2025 10:55

He obviously doesn’t want a family life, did he even really want children?

Have you actually seen the “sizeable amount in the company bank account” with your own eyes?

What is he actually contributing to your life, financially or otherwise, apart from being a sperm donor?

Frim your post it seems he’s using you to fund his very expensive and time consuming hobby which he dresses up as a job, and to provide a roof over his head.

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:10

Pinkfreedom · 16/08/2025 10:35

You really need to speak to a professional family lawyer IMO

Thanks I have looked into this now and am going to make an appointment to meet one.

OP posts:
Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:11

Noelshighflyingturds · 16/08/2025 10:50

Call 101 and report this incident it’s coercive control

I just looked into coercive control and you're right, that's what it is.

OP posts:
Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:13

HenDoNot · 16/08/2025 10:55

He obviously doesn’t want a family life, did he even really want children?

Have you actually seen the “sizeable amount in the company bank account” with your own eyes?

What is he actually contributing to your life, financially or otherwise, apart from being a sperm donor?

Frim your post it seems he’s using you to fund his very expensive and time consuming hobby which he dresses up as a job, and to provide a roof over his head.

Edited

He wanted children and actually still wants more!!! But it's a firm no from me.

Yes, I have seen the bank balance. I am just funding him, providing childcare and cooking his dinners.

OP posts:
NoPrivateSpy · 16/08/2025 13:16

Oh no, this is terrible and scary OP. Has he done this before because it kinda sounds like he has from the way you are describing it?

When you took over all the bills, was there a point that you both agreed to revisit depending on how well the business is doing?

cupfinalchaos · 16/08/2025 13:20

If my dh looked at me coldly and said “I don’t want to be with you” I would listen. When my ex dh said those exact words he was having an affair. I’m not saying that’s happening here but be aware.

Noelshighflyingturds · 16/08/2025 13:21

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:11

I just looked into coercive control and you're right, that's what it is.

Please report it. You don’t have to do anything else other than have it logged? Because believe me if it really hits the fan history will be completely rewritten and this will never have happened.

Rasell · 16/08/2025 13:21

I agree that he sounds awful. There doesn't seem to be anything to redeem him and it sounds like the kind of behaviour that would badly affect both you and dc...and that maybe dc would learn is ok and continue the cycle. You on the other hand sound lovely. I have no advice but send you lots of well wishes x

Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:25

NoPrivateSpy · 16/08/2025 13:16

Oh no, this is terrible and scary OP. Has he done this before because it kinda sounds like he has from the way you are describing it?

When you took over all the bills, was there a point that you both agreed to revisit depending on how well the business is doing?

He has stopped me from leaving the house before by taking my keys..

We agreed that when he haw built a shed/garage/workshop for his job that we will then split the bills. He hasn't done this yet because he keeps using the money to buy more and more machinery instead.

OP posts:
Mrscrabbs · 16/08/2025 13:27

Noelshighflyingturds · 16/08/2025 13:21

Please report it. You don’t have to do anything else other than have it logged? Because believe me if it really hits the fan history will be completely rewritten and this will never have happened.

Thank you for the advice. I will do this.

OP posts:
MKDex · 16/08/2025 13:29

He doesn't want to be with you anymore.

Has he done a tax return for his self employment yet?

Smooth things over so you get your keys back and find somewhere to rent.

Then one day when he's at work, move you and your son into your new place.

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