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AIBU?

IABTotallyU... Flame away, get me a grip

70 replies

WeAreSix · 14/09/2013 08:36

I've woken up in the vilest of moods. Grumpy, snappy, want to hide from the world and not see or speak to anyone.

DH in particular is winding me up. I just want him to STFU and leave me alone to fester.

My defence is that I'm exhaused. I feel like I'm sitting on the edge of everything, ready to tip over into a breakdown. DD4 is 13mo and doesn't sleep unless I co-sleep and then she will sleep 2 -4 hours.

DH is a sleepwalker which is brought on by over-tiredness and stress. He's been sleeping in the spare room for months, we've slept in the same bed a handful of times in the last year, but since the last night terror when he punched me the move seems permanent. It has to be like this while DD co-sleeps but it also means he's sleeping full nights while I deal with DD and the other DCs who always come to me in the night if they've had bad dream etc.

If I'm honest I'm jealous of the amount he gets to sleep while I'm surviving on bog all, I've been up since 6am with the DCs as he's 'tired from stressful week at work'.

Please give me a good shake, snap me out of this shitty mood, give me a grip etc. I chose to be a mummy, this is what I signed up for...

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gordyslovesheep · 14/09/2013 08:37

i'll give your 'd'h a grip and a wet fish slap - not you - he needs to take a turn in co sleeping and you need a lie in x

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misskatamari · 14/09/2013 08:40

No wonder you're feeling so awful. DH needs to help out with the co-sleeping and give you a break. He should definitely take over on some nights so you get a full nights sleep. Can you get him to take the kids out for a few hours today so you can have some time to yourself and a nice relaxing bath or something? Or just a big nap?

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Trazzletoes · 14/09/2013 08:40

gordy and what if he punches 13mo DD in his sleep? Is that ok because at least he's pulling his weight a bit more?

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MorphandChas · 14/09/2013 08:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 14/09/2013 08:42

Brew Have one of those and then have a bath. My DH has sleepwalking and night terror episodes...frightening they are. Your DH needs to see a doctor...there are things they can do. My DH has stopped alcohol and also caffeine and his has stopped completely!

He also doesn't eat after 7.00pm. Can you do as I say....then go back to bed....then later tell DH he has to see a doctor.

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littlewhitebag · 14/09/2013 08:43

DH obviously cannot co sleep. Too dangerous. However he needs to take charge during the day to allow you to catch up on sleep. Let him lie in now then ask him to take the kids out for a while. Seems reasonable to me.

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missalien · 14/09/2013 08:44

Right enough is enough you need to do shhhhh pat method on lo and get her in own bed . She does not need to be co sleeping . Prepare to stay up for the night doing it but its worth it . In her own bed , get a pillow to lean on edge of cot and when she wakes , gently shhhhh and pat her back . May take two hours first time but stick it out. Next time will be 45 mins, then ten mins , then sleep! Any medical problems ?

Do it. Enough is enough . And can Dh see go re sleep walking ?

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hesterton · 14/09/2013 08:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WeAreSix · 14/09/2013 08:46

Trazzle hits the nail on the head. He can't be trusted with any of the DCs at night. There's no warning for the night terrors, or walking. He's physically attacked me on several occasions, I wouldn't sleep anyway if he had one of the DCs with him in case he did something.

He could take over early mornings, yes. His excuse reason is he doesn't hear the baby in the morning so doesn't wake up in time to take over. I'm obviously awake with her and I take her downstairs so she doesn't wake the other DCs. He does work long hours / lots of stress but this also means I rarely get time away from DCs or out of the house.

But like I said, I chose to have DCs. I just need to get on with it somehow!

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gordyslovesheep · 14/09/2013 08:48

wow Tazzletoes did you mean to be so rude - I missed that bit of the OP so bite me! I still think he can get up and do the mornings if he's had a full nights sleep - he needs to pull his weight - yes - hth

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RoadToTuapeka · 14/09/2013 08:49

Sleep deprivation is dreadful, you have done really well to hold it together as well as you have done.
I'd second the suggestion of DH taking DCs out during the day so you can sleep or do anything you want.

Can he take more responsibility for the morning getting up of children? I sometimes find I am so.shattered and in a foul mood after night feedings but someone else getting the toddler up helps a lot and I can gradually become cheerful again.

Hope things get better.

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ArbitraryUsername · 14/09/2013 08:50

He very obviously needs to spend the morning in hell soft play while you go back to sleep.

And he should have gotten up at 6am to take over from you.

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tripecity · 14/09/2013 08:50

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ArbitraryUsername · 14/09/2013 08:52

He chose to have DCs too. You don't just have to get on with it.

Also, he's doing shorter days than you. Possibly with less stress.

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WeAreSix · 14/09/2013 08:52

Sorry massive x-post.

DH has seen GP and had sleep study. They offered him night sedation and anti-epileptics (no other health problems) which DH declined. He's fairly fit, not overweight, doesn't drink alcohol and minimal caffeine.

I know sleep with DD needs addressing. I just can't face it alone. Tried gradual retreat for a few nights but she just screamed until she was sick.

Yes, he needs to help more in the day. I go back to work next month - starting a new job - and I'll be doing twilight shifts so its going to get worse before it gets any better.

This isn't the flaming I was expecting!

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picniclady · 14/09/2013 08:53

As someone who sleep walks/ talks and has been known to get aggressive during these episodes, I can second the view that your dh must not co sleep! However, the trade off is surely that he should get up early on the weekend to get dc breakfast, dressed and take them to the park or somewhere for a couple of hours so you can have a lie in and sleep and rest!

I can understand him being off duty in the night, but that does mean he should give you a break during g the day (afterall, he's had a full night sleep)!

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picniclady · 14/09/2013 08:56

I don't see a problem with co sleeping unless it's bothering you - I enjoy the snuggles and get more sleep that way :-)

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tripecity · 14/09/2013 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WeAreSix · 14/09/2013 09:01

Co-sleeping is definitely easier for now, I think. I'm still BFing and DD settles much quicker with a feed.

Other DCs cannot go in to him at night. For example - one night he was dreaming about being in a car. DC came into room, he thought he'd run her over. He was shouting and screaming, lifted the bed up trying to 'rescue' DC when actually she was pinned against the wall with the bed. Poor child was terrified. I really struggled to wake him from it, get DC away and cuddled. Absolutely awful. She's now scared of him at night, won't go anywhere near him.

I will talk to him today about helping in the mornings. Maybe he could set his alarm so he's awake and ready to take DD from me so I can sleep.

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Nanny0gg · 14/09/2013 09:02

You must make him see that he has to help more in the day.

He can set an alarm at weekends so that he is ready for the DCs when they wake up. He can then take the baby when she wakes too. He can do some of the morning chores while you lie in for a little.

What does he do to help? Does he realise what he is asking of you when you go back to work?

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BiddyPop · 14/09/2013 09:02

So does your DH have any plan for changes when you are going back to work? Where will he be stepping in to help at that stage?

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Trazzletoes · 14/09/2013 09:07

I meant every word I posted and don't see the need to apologise.

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WeAreSix · 14/09/2013 09:07

I've no idea what will happen while I'm at work. I don't really want to go back, but while DH's wage is excellent we just don't seem to manage on it so he's pretty much told me I need to earn a wage. Twilights and weekends are the only time I can work around the DCs - we have 4. DH's job means that he is never around for school run / after school and the cost of childcare for all 4 is more than I'd earn in a day.

He's a good daddy, adores the DCs. He's got the Hoover out and I'm hiding upstairs so he must know something is wrong.

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TheSkiingGardener · 14/09/2013 09:11

Now he is awake, hand him the DC's and go to bed. Tired from a stressful week at work my arse. You are bloody exhausted and if he can't see that and pull HIS weight with HIS kids (he chose this too) then tell him to fuck off

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missalien · 14/09/2013 09:15

I stand by my advice then ! Shhhh pat method and put her in her own cot and get a night sleep !!

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