Please or to access all these features

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

There We Are Then - part 3

993 replies

mummy917 · 02/08/2026 19:20

And another 🤣

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:47

It really did open my eyes even more to what he thinks is important and what he simply doesn’t give a single shit about. He didn’t care that my shift went the way it did, or how I was following that. I genuinely never saw him behave this bad when we were together. If anything similar ever happened at work, he’d be really concerned/angry. There was only really the time in January/February time when I was assaulted where I looked back and thought he hadn’t reacted like a typical caring husband, however there was still some emotion back then, but today was completely cold and basically not arsed. He even joked saying “I hope they paid you till the time you actually left”. What a prick.

OP posts:
mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:50

Seeing70 · 28/08/2026 18:44

Has he forgotten the agreement, or just thinks it applies to during term time, maybe? To be honest, I’d just assume he’s going to drop them around 8 in the holidays, 9 when he’s doing the school run (or however long it will take him to get from school to yours with the twins). In his head, this is ‘fair’ as you drop them earlier than that on Wednesdays. I totally understand why that is the case, but it was only a matter of time before he bridled at keeping them longer on a Friday. To me, it’s not worth the fight and there might be times when you just want to get on with your day with the twins, rather than hanging about waiting for him until ten. He is a complete and utter arsehole, and now you’re no longer enabling him to opt out of adulting, he’s clearly gone completely stone cold and is not going to do you any favours/be remotely flexible. Personally, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of being able to refuse you/feel like he’s getting one over on you, I’d just message him and say that you assume he’s no longer interested in keeping them until 10 on Fridays, so you’ll expect them back around 8 in the holidays and 9 on school days (assuming he still wants to take the older two to school). Then id just say, you expect him, going forward, to be able to stick to this agreement no matter what.

i hope you’ve recovered from whatever happened on you shift xx

Yes I think this is the approach I will be taking. It doesn’t matter what I say or do, he’s never going to stick to 10am even though it was his idea.

We will see how he fares during term time. I think he will have the twins dropped off here for 8am or just after, before taking the eldest 2 to school.

I am feeling much less shaken up than I was in the early hours and have had good support from my work and my lovely colleagues; from the ones who were on shift with me yesterday and ones who weren’t but have been in today xx

OP posts:
Lizchapman · 28/08/2026 18:53

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:50

Yes I think this is the approach I will be taking. It doesn’t matter what I say or do, he’s never going to stick to 10am even though it was his idea.

We will see how he fares during term time. I think he will have the twins dropped off here for 8am or just after, before taking the eldest 2 to school.

I am feeling much less shaken up than I was in the early hours and have had good support from my work and my lovely colleagues; from the ones who were on shift with me yesterday and ones who weren’t but have been in today xx

A half way decent man would have suggested bringing the kids back for or just after lunch to give you time to recover.

Holdinguphalfthesky · 28/08/2026 19:16

Are you waiting on something happening, before you can make a better settlement? Sorry if that’s basic question

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 28/08/2026 19:30

Lizchapman · 28/08/2026 18:37

So he’s prioritized his wish to go to the gym over your need to have enough sleep to safely look after your children??? Just please make sure it’s recorded like that in your notes.

Agreed.
What a bastardy thing to do.

StandingDeskDisco · 28/08/2026 19:32

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:10

I couldn’t just not answer the door when he brings them home; I can hear them at the front door which is just below my bedroom window. I also couldn’t make out like they’re an inconvenience to him, even though they clearly are. Doing either of those things goes against everything in me.

He knew the reason I was held up at work and how shaken up I was, he even commented on it this morning. He didn’t even have a half decent excuse this morning; he was going to the gym 🙄

He knew the reason I was held up at work and how shaken up I was, he even commented on it this morning.

How come he knows anything at all about your work, the shifts you do, the times, or what happens at your work?
He should know none of this. It is totally not his business.
Who is telling him?

Everything he learns about your life is just more ammunition for him to use against you.

Aiming4Optimistic · 28/08/2026 19:47

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got! He will ruthlessly take advantage of you being soft, so if you want change you have to adjust what you do, to get it. As things stand you are perpetuating the pattern of him doing as he pleases and you adjusting to accommodate it.

Yes, he's a total bastard - gives no fucks about anyone but himself. But your children are not going to suffer if you don't answer the door - you just say 'silly daddy, he must have forgotten that mummy doesn't get home until 10'.
He's like a dog that you need to train. You'll only have to do it a few times to teach him that turning up 2 hours early is pointless. He can take the kids for a McDonalds breakfast, instead of swanning off to the gym.
Honestly, it's time that his life became less convenient.

If you won't do this, then at least put in a claim for child support because he is taking you for a mug.

Lsquiggles · 28/08/2026 19:48

I still can't comprehend why he keeps going against the Friday 10am drop off that HE suggested.

Do your children wake up really early and he feels like he's already put a shift in with them by the time he drops them off?

He doesn't even try to hide how little he cares, it's very sad. They're very lucky to have such a loving mother.

Sendinghugs · 28/08/2026 19:50

NotAtMyAge · 28/08/2026 18:41

I very rarely comment on your thread, @mummy917 but have followed it from the beginning. I just wanted to say that your ex's behaviour this morning shows so clearly why you and your children will be better off without him. This is a man who is barely beyond the self-absorbed sulky teenager stage as he approaches middle-age. To drag you out of bed early after your nightmare shift and horribly late arrival home, just to go to the gym, argues a level of selfishness, indeed callousness, which is unlikely to change in the future. Sending hugs.

This. Just imagine being a friend of someone whose ex did this. You are lovely so you answered the door but you had an agreement and his gym trumps your sleep after a busy nightshift. Make sure it is in writing- send a text stating that you would have appreciated him bringing them back at the agreed time after being so tired, arriving home with little sleep and encourage him to stick to the agreement, in the best interests of the children. Then you have it in writing for court, should you need it. When I started doing this, things changed for the better.
And hope you have a wonderful weekend with your children xx

MsPrufrockk · 28/08/2026 20:05

@mummy917 the more you give in to his boundary pushing, the more he'll take the piss. Take it from someone who knows!

If he wants to change the time of the arrangement and you're happy with that, then change the time.

fuchsteufelswild · 28/08/2026 20:08

Sendinghugs · 28/08/2026 19:50

This. Just imagine being a friend of someone whose ex did this. You are lovely so you answered the door but you had an agreement and his gym trumps your sleep after a busy nightshift. Make sure it is in writing- send a text stating that you would have appreciated him bringing them back at the agreed time after being so tired, arriving home with little sleep and encourage him to stick to the agreement, in the best interests of the children. Then you have it in writing for court, should you need it. When I started doing this, things changed for the better.
And hope you have a wonderful weekend with your children xx

Do this OP, don't let the opportunity to document his selfishness go to waste.

Mix56 · 28/08/2026 20:46

If he is going to the gym every Friday, just get it in writing.:
So bringing the dc back today at 8h (& every Friday) is because you have chosen to be at the (24h ) gym. even though you know I barely had got in from work at 3.30 am
Well Done.

orangehandles · 28/08/2026 20:54

Lsquiggles · 28/08/2026 19:48

I still can't comprehend why he keeps going against the Friday 10am drop off that HE suggested.

Do your children wake up really early and he feels like he's already put a shift in with them by the time he drops them off?

He doesn't even try to hide how little he cares, it's very sad. They're very lucky to have such a loving mother.

I get the impression it might be because he was expecting his mum to have some involvement on Thursday nights/Friday mornings, and she's said no.

anotheruser124 · 28/08/2026 21:18

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:10

I couldn’t just not answer the door when he brings them home; I can hear them at the front door which is just below my bedroom window. I also couldn’t make out like they’re an inconvenience to him, even though they clearly are. Doing either of those things goes against everything in me.

He knew the reason I was held up at work and how shaken up I was, he even commented on it this morning. He didn’t even have a half decent excuse this morning; he was going to the gym 🙄

I think he has made it abundantly clear by now he has no intention of sticking to 10am so I think its for you to decide are you happy for him to keep doing what he likes or are you going to draw a line in the sand and challenge it.

For me, with someone like this, my issue would be its all take and no give with him and he will just keep taking a bit at a time until you are doing 80% of the work, funding 100% of the kids stuff and getting no financial support. And it will keep being little bits, a few hours here, £20 there but it all adds up. So I think you have to decide are you willing to have him keep take the piss or are you willing to be tough for a bit now to show him that he doesnt get away with doing what the hell he likes for the next 16 years or whatever it is. Because this is putting boundaries in place for the long term.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 28/08/2026 21:30

@anotheruser124is spot on, @mummy917. It's your choice. You can't trust him. Put yourself first. The children will catch on quickly, don't cover for him.

leopardandspots · 28/08/2026 21:44

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 18:10

I couldn’t just not answer the door when he brings them home; I can hear them at the front door which is just below my bedroom window. I also couldn’t make out like they’re an inconvenience to him, even though they clearly are. Doing either of those things goes against everything in me.

He knew the reason I was held up at work and how shaken up I was, he even commented on it this morning. He didn’t even have a half decent excuse this morning; he was going to the gym 🙄

I don’t think he’s going to the gym/ getting Friday tatoos / car fixed/ hair cuts. He has regular commitment to something. I know OP said he wasn’t (due to the other Friday) but I still think he is working somewhere, for extra overtime or something and needs to be there for 9 am and doesn’t want to share he has more income.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 28/08/2026 21:48

Whereas I think he's dashing up the motorway to meet a lady at lunchtime, then stays the weekend with her.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 28/08/2026 21:52

I would continue to be out for a walk/coffee/anywhere else and stroll back home around 9:55am.

Every 👏 single 👏 time 👏

Until he realises he can trample your boundaries as it suits him.

he’s a terrible wanker @mummy917

Auspiciousminds · 28/08/2026 22:00

Does him dropping the children off at 10am on a Friday form part of your 50/50 arrangement? If so, he needs reminding (by text of course) that by returning them early every Friday he is failing to stick to his side and therefore this could affect him financially. From what I understand he hates parting with money.

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 22:05

StandingDeskDisco · 28/08/2026 19:32

He knew the reason I was held up at work and how shaken up I was, he even commented on it this morning.

How come he knows anything at all about your work, the shifts you do, the times, or what happens at your work?
He should know none of this. It is totally not his business.
Who is telling him?

Everything he learns about your life is just more ammunition for him to use against you.

I told him the gist of what had happened as I knew he’d make out I was lying or something if I just said I didn’t get home from work till 3:30 in the morning. And I stupidly sent him a message at that time, thinking he’d understand I’d need some rest after the shift I’d had, the total number of hours I’d ended up working and that I’d only have been home for a few hours before he brought the kids home.

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 28/08/2026 22:06

"Please bear in mind that if you continue to break the 50/50 arrangement I will have no choice but to pursue CM"

That will focus the ratweasels mind

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 22:07

Lsquiggles · 28/08/2026 19:48

I still can't comprehend why he keeps going against the Friday 10am drop off that HE suggested.

Do your children wake up really early and he feels like he's already put a shift in with them by the time he drops them off?

He doesn't even try to hide how little he cares, it's very sad. They're very lucky to have such a loving mother.

Yeah, they’re awake anywhere from 5am so yes he probably feels very hard done by, that he’ll have had to wash, dress and feed them before bringing them back home.

OP posts:
BIWI · 28/08/2026 22:10

And I stupidly sent him a message at that time, thinking he’d understand I’d need some rest after the shift I’d had, the total number of hours I’d ended up working and that I’d only have been home for a few hours before he brought the kids home.

@mummy917 of course he understands. What he's choosing to do is to deliberately ignore your upset and need for sleep.

I know you don't want to upset your DC, but you really need to stop allowing him to drop them off earlier than you have both agreed!

Otherwise you're just allowing him to control you again. And it's hardly good for your mental health, is it?

mummy917 · 28/08/2026 22:15

I also think he’s been told no by his mum for help on Thursday nights/Friday mornings and the more times this happens, the more I do think he’s got weekend plans with someone but I have no proof.

I was on a day shift yesterday so should’ve finished work at 8pm but due to the way the shift went, that didn’t happen and I got out of work closer to 3am. I’d been at work for 20 hours by the time I left and had been out of the house 21 hours by the time I got home.

I know he is taking me for a mug and standing up to him is something I know I need to do also, but actually doing it is something I feel like I need more confidence for.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 28/08/2026 22:22

' but actually doing it is something I feel like I need more confidence for.'

you have given birth to 4 children, you are much stronger than you think you are !

besides he has left you, which was his choice ! there is nothing for you to lose by standing up for yourself and the children

Swipe left for the next trending thread