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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

Do you phone DH at work when you are struggling?

63 replies

roseability · 30/09/2009 13:49

I will quite often phone my DH at work in tears because of some issue with the kids e.g. DS three playing up or DD 15 weeks not sleeping/crying

He is brilliant about it and I just feel I need someone to vent my frustrations at sometimes. I don't feel I am not coping over all but I do wonder if anyone else does this?

OP posts:
lilacclaire · 30/09/2009 13:54

I don't, but then my ds is 4.
He probably understands your sleep deprived etc with your 15 week old and need to talk to someone, don't feel bad about it.

pasturesnew · 30/09/2009 13:57

I am normally a FT WOHM and have done this plenty of times when work was not great, don't see why phoning from home about the work of being at home should be any different - doesn't mean you're not coping, actually it is a sensible coping strategy.

OrmIrian · 30/09/2009 13:59

I think I might have done when on mat leave. But not often. Not much he could do when he was up some scaffolding 70 miles away

morningpaper · 30/09/2009 13:59

Yes when they were tiny I did this rarely but occasionally

My lowest point was when I had to call him back from a meeting because I had a small x week-old with colic and a screaming 3 year old and I honestly thought I would kill one of them

Now they are 3 and 6 and everything's jolly

bigchris · 30/09/2009 13:59

no
i wouldnt want dh worryingabout me at work and ruin his day
put the shoe on the other foot - you are having a bad day at home and he rings you to tell you about his shite day at work, would you like that?

roseability · 30/09/2009 14:00

Thanks! I think my DH worries about me sometimes but it is just my way of coping. Sometimes when it all seems like the end of the world, talking to someone out of the madness brings a fresh perspective

OP posts:
Marne · 30/09/2009 14:01

I try but its not often that he will come home. Dh also phones me to tell me he's having a shit day.

Lilyloo · 30/09/2009 14:02

I sometimes text him and include how the dc's are within it but wouldn't phone him in case i disturbed him , unless it was an emergency.

southeastastra · 30/09/2009 14:02

oh yes, if the kids are giving me a shit time, he can share it too!

roseability · 30/09/2009 14:04

morningpaper - oh yes sounds familiar! My DH worked for a big firm when my DS was born. Once he had to come home and drive us both around the countryside! I have to laugh now at the thought of him driving through the hills of Scotland with a crying wife and 4 month old instead of being in an important meeting

OP posts:
roseability · 30/09/2009 14:05

However it was either that or I did something I regretted to said 4 month old (didn't sleep at all and cried a lot)

OP posts:
comewhinewithme · 30/09/2009 14:06

I begged him to stay at home today he wouldn't .
I also count down to the time he comes home as if everything will magically get better/calmer when he gets home though it never does.

nigglewiggle · 30/09/2009 14:06

At a very low point when DD2 was a few weeks old and waking for a feed several times a night and DD1 was going through a waking at 5am phase, DH arranged to had to work in America for a week. I took to texting him every time I was woken up. I wanted someone to share my misery!

LadyOfTheFlowers · 30/09/2009 14:07

I do this at times, not very often though.

If kids have reduced me to tears I will ring him, and he asks me to if I need.

He doesn't usually say much, as he can't really, just uhms and ahs in the right places then I feel better.

They are his children too. He will tell me about his shit day when he gets home, or if something really shit happen he will call me to tell me/vent.

We support each other if and when needs be. Just because he goes out to work and I stay and look after the kids doesn't mean we can help each other with an ear now and again.

BadPoet · 30/09/2009 14:08

No, he's a teacher so I can't. I do the anguished text thing (or did, when they were smaller) but usually didn't send it.

roseability · 30/09/2009 14:11

BadPoet - that is tough. I am lucky that my DH can usually answer the phone

OP posts:
bagpuss · 30/09/2009 14:11

Not really now that they are older but I did phone in hysterics when I had accidently locked ds2 (19 months at the time) in the car in a supermarket car park .

FimboFortunaFeet · 30/09/2009 14:11

Oh yes, I remember on one occasion both dd and ds were playing up, it was the school holidays and dh had not had time off and was working late every evening. it was about the time of the month too and I was feeling very emotional. I picked up the phone and just ranted at dh for about 1/2hr, lucky he managed to get himself into a meeting room, so no-one he works could hear me, as I was shouting down the phone.

Have only done it once.

spinspinsugar · 30/09/2009 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BonsoirAnna · 30/09/2009 14:12

Absolutely never. I only ring DP at work in emergencies.

becstarlitsea · 30/09/2009 14:13

I once texted DH while he was at work with 'Haven't throttled DS yet today and want props for my restraint' That's about as close as I get to offloading on him during a work day - it has to be something that will make him smile, if ruefully, not something that adds to his stress. DH doesn't really talk if he's at work anyway. And he can't come home early - he's very rarely home before DS is in bed. But now DS is 3 it's not a problem. It's so much harder with little babies.

nigglewiggle · 30/09/2009 14:14

I think Ladyoftheflowers expressed it perfectly. If you have a good relationship they should understand the need to share!

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 30/09/2009 14:15

Yes, and he rings me to moan about his day too, so it's all fair. Being at home with small children is very lonely sometimes, talking to another adult is sometimes all that's needed to help get some perspective.

Pollyanna · 30/09/2009 14:15

at the end of the day I might have phoned him in desperation to see when he was coming home.

Otherwise I don't phone him with issues, but sometimes for a chat/to check to see if he has done things on his list (which he hasn't usually). He is pretty hard to get hold of though.

StealthPolarBear · 30/09/2009 14:17

no but I instant message him during his breaks and on the days where I can't I find it very stressful Text him if I need to, but only ring if something needs an answer immediately - probably only call him at work once every month or so.