FC Community

Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: slacomb on January 01, 2016, 04:06:43 pm

Title: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 01, 2016, 04:06:43 pm
I am so freaking mad right now. First instead of spending New year's eve with our daughter, his mother and me he goes to the bar with his friends and comes home at 2:30 in the morning just to pass out. Now today he left at 10 o'clock  this morning to get stuff to make tacos and see about renting a ps3 from rent a center and here it is 6 o'clock and he is yet to come. Called him earlier and he was at a friends house and he'll be home when he gets home. I love him with all my heart but every time he does this it hurts me. Any ideas how I can tell him without seeming whiny or like I don't want him having fun. I mean I do want him to have fun but why can't his fun include us.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 09, 2016, 06:51:32 pm
Please any ideas
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: Penwoir on January 09, 2016, 07:16:02 pm
Oh dear! I am sorry to hear of your story. I'm mainly sorry because I used to live in a situation similar to that. My situation was different in the sense that I didn't have any children, but similar in the sense that my husband would always prefer to be with his friends on important nights of the year, and actually at non-important times too. He would typically go out drinking on Friday nights, most Sundays and sometimes he didn't get back until 2-4am. I found this unforgiveable because I specifically recall on one of those occasions my sister and her husband were visiting with us for the weekend, and he went out drinking with his friends without us! I'm afraid I felt so strongly, even after 9 years of marriage, that this was unacceptable and I deserved better, and so I left him. He would come home smelling badly of booze, was very short tempered, and then the next day when he was more sober, he would be quietly submissive. I felt I deserved to be a priority in his life, and if not in his life, someone else's life! So as I say, I left him. That was 10 years ago and I have since moved on to marry someone else, have two sons and am in a marriage which I deserve. Now I've got to be honest, if I had had children in my first marriage, I would have thought more seriously about my future, I would have taken longer to make my decision. Whatever you decide though, you should know that you and your child deserve to be happy. You deserve to be in a relationship where everyone feels valued. You should start with a serious chat (when he is sober) to discuss each of your priorities. Marriage is a compromise. But when there are kids also there needs to be more sway toward the family than the friends. If you are not worth a compromise to him, then I think you need to reconsider your options.  Be strong. Let me know how it goes on this thread.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: Cbsteffen on January 09, 2016, 09:32:34 pm
That's not the way a husband should behave. Don't mess with him anymore if you can't reason with him.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: elvisdo on January 10, 2016, 08:20:34 am
I have a feeling he's trying to assert his lost independence. While it's good he's spending time with friends, he's not understanding that he needs a balance between that and his family life.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: autumnsparklemom on January 10, 2016, 08:27:47 am
So sorry for this. He needs to get his priorities straight. I am married and my husband is not like this. Maybe some marriage counseling may help. Even maybe his mother needs to speak with him if not all ready.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: sak4kat on January 10, 2016, 09:22:04 am
I stuck out a marriage with 3 kids for 12 years before we split.  My final straw involving our kids is to personal to share in a discussion board.  My scenario was similar.  I remember how scared I was telling me I wanted a divorce.  I was alone regularly, pregnant at the time - and longing for a husband.  A man that meant when he said his vows I and his children would be a priority. 
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 10, 2016, 10:34:48 am
Well see his mom has tried talking to him but it didn't seem to make a difference. Like he said that he thinks he's turning into a alcoholic and I want to try and help him but I don't know how.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: BlackSheepNY on January 10, 2016, 10:50:35 am
Well see his mom has tried talking to him but it didn't seem to make a difference. Like he said that he thinks he's turning into a alcoholic and I want to try and help him but I don't know how.


I have to say that if this is the case, there is no help for him unless HE takes the initiative to fix it.  He's a grown man and there's nothing, besides suggestions, that any family member can do to get him in treatment.  You're either going to live with it and "enable" him to continue, or you're going to put your foot down and tell him point blank you and your child can't live with this and leave.  If he chooses not to recognize that there's a problem, in the end, he'll bring you and your daughter down, too.  It's up to you how much you can take, how long you want your daughter in an unhealthy and sad environment, and how long you'll wait for this to change.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: ricdsm on January 10, 2016, 01:36:31 pm
There is very little that will cure selfishness.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 10, 2016, 07:10:56 pm
I am going to try to talk to him again and tell him how it makes all of us feel and see if it makes any difference will let y'all know if it makes any difference.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: bremer51 on January 10, 2016, 08:08:34 pm
You do all that you can do, and then he has to make the decision and take matters into his own hands. He has to be a grown up.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: kimber62372 on January 10, 2016, 08:22:31 pm
Seems like he's going thru a mid-life crisis or something. How old is he if you don't mind me asking? You should really confront him and be truthful of how you are feeling. He may think it's whiny but tell him it's hurting your feelings and if has no compassion or morals towards your feelings then if he was my husband I would tell to to hit the road and to have his friends cook for him and give him good lovin'! Just what I would do and say, but you have to do what is right in your heart. Good luck and keep us posted. :)
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: Penwoir on January 11, 2016, 04:51:05 am
It's interesting to note here that everybody that has responded feels pretty much the same way. I think a great place to start is therapy. I wouldn't mind betting your partner will be indifferent about the suggestion of therapy, at best, because it takes some of his personal time away. It is very convenient for him to stay away for hours knowing both his child and his mother are cared for - he is really taking advantage of your very good nature. That being said, you do have a child to consider so it is important to think carefully about your options.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: sak4kat on January 11, 2016, 06:07:26 am
Tough Love.  Sometimes when you love someone so much want to do everything and anything to make things right.  You pull in other family members.  You talk until you're blue in the face.  All the while you're miserable because you never feel like a priority.  When I left my first husband (an alcoholic) I told him and his family he had a rough road ahead and I wasn't going to be around to cover up for him any more.  It was probably the toughest decision I ever had to make.  That was 9 years ago... and although he hasn't changed much... I'm so glad I did what I did as I was able to let go and grow personally rather be consumed by his addiction.  Praying for you.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: tgreen20 on January 11, 2016, 07:27:53 am
I suggest focusing on yourself, do everything without including him this way you won't get upset......Pray for him and let God do the rest.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 11, 2016, 02:18:38 pm
You do all that you can do, and then he has to make the decision and take matters into his own hands. He has to be a grown up.
  Well he is 24 and I talked to him last night. Have to wait and see if it makes any difference. Will let y'all know.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: plennis on January 12, 2016, 07:47:14 am
You guys should just go and do what you want and don't bother letting him know, maybe that will make him realize what he is doing.  Probably not.  Let him know that he has a family, they are first, then let him choose.  Make your decision on that....friends then he can go live with them.  They can feed him, do his laundry and you DO NOT HAVE to take care of him.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: ghunter on January 12, 2016, 08:29:05 am
You need to check and see what FRIENDS he is spending time with.  Make sure he is not steping out on you.  A husband would want to spend time with his family and on New Years Eve??  Come on don't be stupid, the wife is never the last to know...she is the first.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: gaylasue on January 12, 2016, 09:00:49 am
It sounds like he needs an attitude adjustment!  My husband tried pulling that on me when we were first married.  It kind of broke him when I started going out with my friends....
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: jenniferhoder on January 12, 2016, 01:53:45 pm
I feel your pain.... I lived that life for many years but finally got out! Good luck!
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: debidoo on January 12, 2016, 03:13:15 pm
This is sad to hear and I agree with those who said this isn't right.  A man or woman's family should be their first priority.  It doesn't mean he can't meet up with friends and have a good time on occasion but it should be that he spends quality time with his family.  I am sorry this is happening to you and I really don't know what to suggest you do.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: Penwoir on January 13, 2016, 01:47:03 pm
I note that you have added that your husband is 24 years old, and admittedly that is young. But once you have children, there is no room for immaturity or selfishness. He needs to grow up and realize he has commitments. You can't force someone to stay in and you can't change someone's personality. But you can't continue to be on the receiving end without speaking out about your feelings. You sound like a strong person so I wish you the best of luck. Even if his parental skills are a little lacking, you owe it to your child to be the grown up and set a good example! Good luck!
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: slacomb on January 13, 2016, 03:02:51 pm
Well I have talked to him about it and he said he is going to work on it and that Sunday we will go to the park and get out doing family stuff but let's wait and see.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: camellia0 on January 24, 2016, 04:55:44 pm
Just come out and talk to him. If you don't it could probably become worse and when he's out with the 'guys' who's to say that he's not cheating? Don't put it off or he can slip farther away.
Title: Re: Husband spends more time with friends than family
Post by: dreamyxo on January 24, 2016, 09:36:29 pm
He's grown and he's going to do what he's going to do.  You can't control or change another person even if you are married to them.  Accept this is who he is and how he chooses to live and do your own thing and do things that are going to make you happy or leave.