Debating With My S.O.: Is It Just Me?
So my partner and I hit a rough patch about a week ago. Background: he had two nights out planned with work on the weekends when his kids are here. We're a blended family with four kids total. He sees his children every other weekend, and these events were back-to-back weekends when his kids were staying with us.
I thought it was fair to suggest he go to both parties but make sure he got home in time to be present the next day for everyone. The second event? Their Christmas party at work that turned into a sleepover.
For the first night out, he came back around midnight but still managed to show up when we needed him the next day. For the second one-two weeks later-I asked how he'd get there and home. He said someone would pick him up and he'd take a cab back in the morning.
I thought I was being reasonable since my son hurt his thumb so couldn't play football, and his dad had cancelled having them that night. So when it all happened on the day of the party, he just dropped me this bombshell at 3:15 PM while I was ready to take my eldest to their Christmas performance.
His kid went out with friends around 9:45 AM, but by late afternoon, I was worried sick because I hadn't heard from him. My partner's response? "He's sleeping it off at a freind's house." It was like a middle finger waved in my faace-especially since he knew how much I worry and have anxiety issues.
The next day, he came home so hungover that he slept straight through. Meanwhile, I had to handle four kids and all the meals on top of everything else. I told him I was angry about this mess, but he said I was overreacting and making drama over a simple night out. He also claimed it''s not just his fault and that he's tired of bending over backwards for me.
In response, in my frustration, I blurted out that I didn't want anything from him anymore. We haven't spoken in a week, but today when I said I couldn't live like this, he called me a martyr. He says it's hard to live with someone who always sees the worst in things.
Now, I'm left second-guessing everything.Am I making mountains out of molehills here? Is it okay for me to be upset about all of this? Or am I just blowing stuff way too big because of my anxiety and mental health struggles? It's a real mind-bender trying to figure out if it's "me" or "him."
2 Replies
I hope it's not too late to respond. It is absolutely not your fault. Expecting your partner to inform you when he will be away overnight and leaving all childcare responsibilities to you is entirely reasonable. His reaction to your understandable concern is completely unacceptable. You need to have an open conversation about this, but make sure he does not shift the blame onto you. Fathers do not deserve a free pass to be absent; consider how it would feel if you were in his position
life is rly about give and take when ur marriage falls apart nd u have new partners u gotta communicate abt what needs to be done esp if there r kids involved. sometimes friction happens but for teh kids' sake, try 2 understand their needs. also, keep in mind that old partnerships can still cause probs. i'd say go out as a fam with ur kids together, that might help with the dynamic u r in rn.past/new rels take time to work out bc u'll be pulled in diff directions. the most important thing is 2 talk and not lose it. give and take, yknow?