Husband annoyed at taking his injured daughter to urgent care

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


I didn’t say take both kids. Leave DH home with the *toddler” to do bedtime.


If you bothered to read - you would have read that the toddler is still nursing at night and OP thought her DH would have trouble getting him to sleep. This ultimately is not about who does what, but that in an emergency, the DH reacted with aggression instead of trying to solve the problem.


So? It’s time to wean the toddler establish better night time habits. In case of emergencies.


And also DH should stop being an abusive a-hole but I guess both of these things are equally important.


Op can only control OP. Every poster that says DH should do better is not contributing to a solution. Of course he should, but if he was controllable or knew how, he already would have.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


Leave it to DCUM to scream abuse and divorce and then explain why it was totally okay to leave the kid with the so-called abuser.


Found the abusive DH.

Men act like this because they feel that they can. They know that OP is trapped with them and leaving will be very difficult for her.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


I don’t think you are being totally honest in your questions, but I will say that it is not always easy to understand what is happening in the moment in these situations. So yes, maybe the better move would have been to take both kids, and OP knows that now. There is a big gray area of abusive behavior where you don’t think your DH is a monster who will shake the toddler to death but you also know that the behavior is not right. OP is figuring it out now and needs to be supported as she makes her contingency plans.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think you both let your DD down. If he was angry, you should have taken her. Surely you have frozen breast milk for your toddler.


Way to blame the victim


The victim is the child(ren). But aside from that, the fact that dad was wrong doesn't mean mom wasn't also wrong. Lots has caused this dynamic and led up to the reactions in this moment and you can't go back in time to get therapy right then. So you have to do what's possible right then.

In the moment, my priorities would have been getting older child medical care, getting older child emotional care, and then the toddler. That's why I said take the toddler in the car because DH was failing the first two. (Skip school or whatever tomorrow if he's exhausted because that's less important than priorities 1 and 2.) OP was more comfortable blaming him than taking charge.



Wow. OP did take charge and did get the children the care they need. The fact you are trying to twist this around and claim she did not is pretty spectacular. But sure, maybe she should have tiptoed on eggshells around her DH more effectively. So what now, where does that leave OP?
Op has to accept reality that her dh cannot handle the kids in any (but ideal) circumstances. She has to do double duty. In her place, I would've brought the nursing toddler to the urgent care along with the concussed child. No, it's not a great situation, but he probably said some abusive things to a child who was already suffering. You can't erase the harm he most surely did to that child.


Thank you for saying this: "Op has to accept reality that her dh cannot handle the kids in any (but ideal) circumstances." I'm the other poster who is getting jumped all over for saying the toddler should have gone too, but I strongly think that was the best of bad choices in the moment. The other posters are missing OP's contribution to the whole dynamic.


You lose me at “OP’s contribution to this whole dynamic.” OP is not contributing to her DH being a d*ck. She is reacting to it and coping with it. She did not “contribute” to him acting that way. I’m not clear on what your overall take here is - that OP needs to walk on ever more fragile eggshells forever? or what?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


I didn’t say take both kids. Leave DH home with the *toddler” to do bedtime.


If you bothered to read - you would have read that the toddler is still nursing at night and OP thought her DH would have trouble getting him to sleep. This ultimately is not about who does what, but that in an emergency, the DH reacted with aggression instead of trying to solve the problem.


So? It’s time to wean the toddler establish better night time habits. In case of emergencies.


And also DH should stop being an abusive a-hole but I guess both of these things are equally important.


He probably won’t stop so OP should be giving up on the SAHM dream and get a job as the first step to independence. Is she willing to do that?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


Most people with kids know that the way the kid is with one person isn’t the way they are with everyone. Someone like OP who thinks their toddler can only fall asleep one way with this overwrought routine is often surprised to learn that someone else can put him down with no problem. OP has painted herself in a corner here as wanting to be this primary caregiver because nobody else does it right, and then is surprised when it blows up, because emergencies happen. She needs to help her toddler be more resilient and fleixble.


She needs to make sure the toddler is more resilient and flexible in case the toddler’s father throws a tantrum and refuses to take the other child to the hospital. OK then!

There are other reasons to ween and no disagreement here on bedtimes with different parents - but I hope you can see how deranged what you wrote is.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


NP and to be clear I think you're arguing in bad faith, but: yes. Men like this will not curse and scream at an injured child in front of a doctor or nurse. He will play hero dad at urgent care and the older kid will be safe. But since he has zero control over his emotions I would be much more nervous about leaving him with an inconsolable toddler who won't go to sleep since he thinks the whole night was a conspiracy against his comfort and control.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


I didn’t say take both kids. Leave DH home with the *toddler” to do bedtime.


If you bothered to read - you would have read that the toddler is still nursing at night and OP thought her DH would have trouble getting him to sleep. This ultimately is not about who does what, but that in an emergency, the DH reacted with aggression instead of trying to solve the problem.


So? It’s time to wean the toddler establish better night time habits. In case of emergencies.


And also DH should stop being an abusive a-hole but I guess both of these things are equally important.


He probably won’t stop so OP should be giving up on the SAHM dream and get a job as the first step to independence. Is she willing to do that?


Is her DH going to allow her to do that?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


Most people with kids know that the way the kid is with one person isn’t the way they are with everyone. Someone like OP who thinks their toddler can only fall asleep one way with this overwrought routine is often surprised to learn that someone else can put him down with no problem. OP has painted herself in a corner here as wanting to be this primary caregiver because nobody else does it right, and then is surprised when it blows up, because emergencies happen. She needs to help her toddler be more resilient and fleixble.


She needs to make sure the toddler is more resilient and flexible in case the toddler’s father throws a tantrum and refuses to take the other child to the hospital. OK then!

There are other reasons to ween and no disagreement here on bedtimes with different parents - but I hope you can see how deranged what you wrote is.


When did the father say he wouldn’t put the toddler to bed? Control freak OP is the one saying only SHE can do it. She’s painted herself into a corner over a simple job.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


I didn’t say take both kids. Leave DH home with the *toddler” to do bedtime.


If you bothered to read - you would have read that the toddler is still nursing at night and OP thought her DH would have trouble getting him to sleep. This ultimately is not about who does what, but that in an emergency, the DH reacted with aggression instead of trying to solve the problem.


So? It’s time to wean the toddler establish better night time habits. In case of emergencies.


And also DH should stop being an abusive a-hole but I guess both of these things are equally important.


He probably won’t stop so OP should be giving up on the SAHM dream and get a job as the first step to independence. Is she willing to do that?


Is her DH going to allow her to do that?


How is he going to stop her?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


NP and to be clear I think you're arguing in bad faith, but: yes. Men like this will not curse and scream at an injured child in front of a doctor or nurse. He will play hero dad at urgent care and the older kid will be safe. But since he has zero control over his emotions I would be much more nervous about leaving him with an inconsolable toddler who won't go to sleep since he thinks the whole night was a conspiracy against his comfort and control.


Yes, this is not bad advice although I don’t blame OP for not getting it. She needs to internalize that when her DH acts like this he is reacting to the person he identifies as his enemy - which in this case would be her. if they both went to the ER he very well could turn his aggression on her (even risking CPS). But alone with the doctors he will feel like the hero and not attacked. Conversely, alone with a crying toddler that will not sleep, he could also start feeling attacked.

My move probably would have been to take both the kids, because the fight necessary to get him to the hospital with the older kid would be too much. But OP could develop tactics to be more persuasive than I was able to be in emergencies.
Anonymous
Still breastfeeding the toddler is a hint that OP is overdoing it with "motherly" duties and kind of a martyr over that. No need for that, if the situation is combustive. It's just not a wise spending of family time and energy.

OP, get a job and hire a nanny everyone will be happier
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think you both let your DD down. If he was angry, you should have taken her. Surely you have frozen breast milk for your toddler.


Way to blame the victim


The victim is the child(ren). But aside from that, the fact that dad was wrong doesn't mean mom wasn't also wrong. Lots has caused this dynamic and led up to the reactions in this moment and you can't go back in time to get therapy right then. So you have to do what's possible right then.

In the moment, my priorities would have been getting older child medical care, getting older child emotional care, and then the toddler. That's why I said take the toddler in the car because DH was failing the first two. (Skip school or whatever tomorrow if he's exhausted because that's less important than priorities 1 and 2.) OP was more comfortable blaming him than taking charge.



Wow. OP did take charge and did get the children the care they need. The fact you are trying to twist this around and claim she did not is pretty spectacular. But sure, maybe she should have tiptoed on eggshells around her DH more effectively. So what now, where does that leave OP?
Op has to accept reality that her dh cannot handle the kids in any (but ideal) circumstances. She has to do double duty. In her place, I would've brought the nursing toddler to the urgent care along with the concussed child. No, it's not a great situation, but he probably said some abusive things to a child who was already suffering. You can't erase the harm he most surely did to that child.


Thank you for saying this: "Op has to accept reality that her dh cannot handle the kids in any (but ideal) circumstances." I'm the other poster who is getting jumped all over for saying the toddler should have gone too, but I strongly think that was the best of bad choices in the moment. The other posters are missing OP's contribution to the whole dynamic.


You lose me at “OP’s contribution to this whole dynamic.” OP is not contributing to her DH being a d*ck. She is reacting to it and coping with it. She did not “contribute” to him acting that way. I’m not clear on what your overall take here is - that OP needs to walk on ever more fragile eggshells forever? or what?


What I mean is acting like a victim instead of taking action. She needs to walk on fewer eggshells, not more. I'm not understanding why you think I'm implying more. If she'd stood up and not taken it years ago, last night wouldn't have happened. She's more comfortable complaining than making hard decisions.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


So OP’s job is to always give her DH the easier option? OK.

It's not about the easier option. It is about protecting the children from his abuse. If op had left him with the crying toddler, he may have harmed him.


So it was okay to send DH with the injured kid who was openly angry with? You make no sense.


Most people with kids know that the way the kid is with one person isn’t the way they are with everyone. Someone like OP who thinks their toddler can only fall asleep one way with this overwrought routine is often surprised to learn that someone else can put him down with no problem. OP has painted herself in a corner here as wanting to be this primary caregiver because nobody else does it right, and then is surprised when it blows up, because emergencies happen. She needs to help her toddler be more resilient and fleixble.


She needs to make sure the toddler is more resilient and flexible in case the toddler’s father throws a tantrum and refuses to take the other child to the hospital. OK then!

There are other reasons to ween and no disagreement here on bedtimes with different parents - but I hope you can see how deranged what you wrote is.


When did the father say he wouldn’t put the toddler to bed? Control freak OP is the one saying only SHE can do it. She’s painted herself into a corner over a simple job.


Let me ask you this. Why in this scenario do you think it is self evident that OP should go to the hospital and DH should stay home? And why do you think the parents disagreement over how to split up these duties justifies getting angry at the child? How about the nosebleed incident?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why does every DH have to be the main parent. You're the main parent, OP. Just do the parenting and let him do the 1billion other things that also have to get done to run a family.


I know people are bristling at this. But honestly, as a strategy it worked really well in my family. I did nothing but kid stuff and my spouse did everything else except that spouse did childcare drop off and pick up because my commute was longer. We had very little conflict because we each did our part to make the family work. And we were both pretty happy about it. I can't remember the last time I did yard work (besides my garden), took the car for service or an oil change, found a plumber, washed a car, cleaned my house and whatever other billion things it takes to keep a house running successfully. Even though my kids are grown, I still don't do these things. My spouse wasn't a bad parent, but wasn't a good caretaker until they got a lot older. The difference between me and OP is that I could count on my spouse in emergencies.


My mom was a SAHM and was such a martyr about it. Now that she’s gone my long suffering dad has had a few things to say about it. My mom acted like she did everything and he did nothing because she wanted all the credit and sympathy. But he did the yard work or found and paid the people to do it, paid all the bills, did the taxes, worked out all the insurance, performed maintenance around the house or found the people to make repairs, and all the unseen work beyond child care. What does OPs division of labor really look like? Was she renewing the car registration while he was at urgent care?


What does this even mean, DD doesn't get to go to the hospital with headache because dad does the taxes? Dad should have stayed home and breastfed toddler?


DD can go with mom to the hospital. She just didn’t feel like it because nursing a toddler is the easier option.


Leave it to DCUM to demand a mom take a child having a medical emergency and a toddler past their bedtime to the hospital (so 2 upset, young children) so DH can get his beauty rest.


I didn’t say take both kids. Leave DH home with the *toddler” to do bedtime.


If you bothered to read - you would have read that the toddler is still nursing at night and OP thought her DH would have trouble getting him to sleep. This ultimately is not about who does what, but that in an emergency, the DH reacted with aggression instead of trying to solve the problem.


So? It’s time to wean the toddler establish better night time habits. In case of emergencies.


And also DH should stop being an abusive a-hole but I guess both of these things are equally important.


Op can only control OP. Every poster that says DH should do better is not contributing to a solution. Of course he should, but if he was controllable or knew how, he already would have.


Do you have any actual life experience with this? I do. Sometimes, angry abusive men who have struggled to stay calm while parenting young children can get better if they are made to realize their behavior is abusive. The first step is not divorce. The steps are:

1. Talk to DH and be very frank about his behavior and the impact on the children and you

2. If he isn't immediately receptive to that, talk to a therapist for advice for talking to DH/protecting yourself and children

3. Talk to an attorney about legal options, which may include divorce but we all know that's not an ideal solution, it's a last resort when all else fails because it (1) either leaves kids without a dad or with tons of unsupervised time with an abuser and (2) will have serious financial implications for OP which will of course also impact the children.

post reply Forum Index » Relationship Discussion (non-explicit)
Message Quick Reply
Go to: