Feeling defeated

I am a c section mama. That first week back from the hospital was brutal for me, I could barely move without pain. My husband was amazing. He helped me out a lot and was attentive to our baby. I remember crying tears of joy because I thought in those moments he was going to be an amazing father and I told him this. After a week I felt so much better. Night and day difference. Still had pain of course but I was walking around and able to do a lot more. Once my husband saw I was back on my feet after that first week he stopped caring. Stopped caring for me and for our child. He started acting like it’s a chore any time I ask him to engage with the baby or even watch him while I shower/use the restroom, etc…He also started to be purposefully manhandling. Burps the baby too hard, doesn’t rock the baby when baby is needing sleep or is uncomfortable which resulted in baby getting upset and crying, my husband saying there’s “something wrong with the kid” and me running over from whatever I was doing to take the baby back. He started treating the baby as if he wasn’t a newborn. So in my head I’m thinking well maybe he doesn’t realize what he’s doing. I start telling him you’re burping too hard, watch baby’s neck, rock the baby. Then he started telling me to “call the police”. Really frustrating and made me feel like we can’t have a discussion about how to care for baby. This of course led to an argument where he raised his voice and just didn’t listen to anything I had to say. This has happened twice now. During our argument I asked him why the 180? He was so helpful that first week. His answer was he got tired of pretending. He told me he didn’t want the baby (after agreeing to have children with me)…I’ve tried to move forward but those words really hurt. What hurts more is his lack of involvement. I try not to give him the baby. Out of fear he’ll do something to upset the baby. Honesty I don’t need to try too hard because he never holds the baby anyway. Says he doesn’t want to. My parents come over on the weekends to give me a break. They see his lack of involvement. Baby is 4 months now. Kicker, my husband was 8 years sober. Made the decision to stop drinking when we got together in college. This last year he started drinking again. I really didn’t know about it till a month ago. Now he’s having multiple drinks a week, three drinks if someone takes us to dinner. Almost like he can’t go out somewhere without having a drink. Says he has it under control and it’s normal for people to drink a little every day. I have no issue with people drinking responsibly. But one we are co sleeping with baby and two he doesn’t have control in my opinion. This is just another thing on top of the lack of fathering and honestly husbanding. He recently asked me for photos of baby because he doesn’t have any after the birth photos in the hospital. I sent it to him but I think he wants them to show off to work bros and give an illusion he’s being a father. He’s also started to touch baby’s foot or hand when I’m holding them. Trying to interact a little I guess. But now I’m thinking are your hands washed and have you been drinking? So I’m still not giving him baby. What do I do y’all? There’s so much more to unpack but idk what to do. Right now I’m a married single parent. His family is wanting to see the baby and are asking me how is parenthood, how is my husband as a father? Should I be honest?
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Yes be honest that way his family know exactly what he is like and maybe they can help him

I would be soooo honest, right in front of him.

@Patricia yeah it’s like my fam can’t speak to him about it. Maybe his can get through to him.

@Stacey 🇵🇸 I think it’s coming down to this. I obviously can’t speak to him about it. It only results in arguments and honestly I think he sees me as nagging. Probably any woman as nagging. Think he needs a man in his fam to say something. But how do I come off as honest but not like I’m intentionally bashing him? They are his fam after all.

I would make sure that everyone is comfortable and in the same room. If the topic of how things are going doesn’t come up naturally, I would bring it up. “Hey family, so you guys have been asking me a lot recently about how things are going and I’d like to be really honest about that. My hope is that I’m received with open hearts and that we can find a way to make our family unit stronger, together. Because in all honesty, this is what has been happening—-“ and then get into it. That’s what I would do.

@Stacey 🇵🇸 thank you for the advice! That was very well put, I appreciate it

Sure thing! It’s hard to find a starting place when you’re the one in the thick of it. If people start getting emotional, I find it usually helps to remind them that I love them, that my intention is to fix the problem and not exasperate it. This is an ask for help and intervention because you love your family. 💞

Yes exactly they may be able to help

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