You are here

Should it be 50/50%?

HangingInThere2's picture

DH argues with me that his kids are not happy with his division of time. He mentions in arguments percentages of time, such as he spends about 80- 85% already with me but his ADULT kids and I guess him as well are upset because he doesn’t spend more time with them and they only get about 20% of his time. Also, we live quite a distance apart from them. Do they expect we should share him 50-50? Seems like it. Usually don’t husbands spend more times with their wife’s then adult kids? I am not invited to be included in any of his time spent seperatly with them. His daughter hates me, I think mostly because I exist and likes the arrangement of having Dad to herself, which he accepts. What is a reasonable division of time of a husband spending time with his wife and his adult kids separately?  

Comments

Survivingstephell's picture

WTH???  Custody with the skids over dad?  Adults at that??? 

When you got married to your husband, you both agreed to forsake others and cleave to each other, (one way or another) .  Now, does your husband expect to get his "needs" met by his kids?  This just pisses me off for you.  What a ridiculous arguement to have with another adult.  You have a husband problem.  There is no "reasonable" amount of time to divide.  Life just happens.

Also sounds like you got one of those immature grown mini wife types.  Get over to the adult forum for ideas.  Plenty info  available.  

HangingInThere2's picture

Thank's everyone for the input! Your posts have made me feel less alone and not as crazy! The percentage thing just seemed so odd to me and DH has brought this up a few times like it's a reasonable arqument that SKIDS and him have about his division of time. I agree it his choice how he wants to spend his time but it seems strange that they would all start thinking in percentages and that the adult SKIDS thinks it's unfair that they currenlty only get him for about 15-20% of the time. I just wanted to make sure I was not being the unreasonable and crazy SM for finding this arguement and reasoning kinda odd.

Survivingstephell's picture

Tell him you will accept no less than 69%.  Then bite your lip like Prince Harry did at his wedding.  

advice.only2's picture

DH let me make this simple for you, they can have you 100% of the time...that is until they put you in a home, enjoy that life, I will go find a man who knows what’s more important.”

justmakingthebest's picture

I feel like this is the only response. In your vows, did you not say "foresaking all others"?? Ask him to look up what that means. Our minister gave a full on lesson on that subject during our ceremony. Even called out the kids and telling them that our marriage will come before their desires. 

Orchid1's picture

Game playing, they are making a big statement that you are not accepted in their lives, very abusive, he should cut them off, I guess he is expected to accept their partners, its tug of war, and no one should have to live with the stress.  They need to grow up and get a life.

notasm3's picture

Those skids must be pathetic LOSERS.  What kind of adult needs their mommy or daddy 50% of their time?  I just can't even imagine how disgustingly immature and needy those "adult" children must be.

None of my friends and acquaintances for the past 50 years of my adulthood have ever exhibited such tendencies.  My friends with children (I have none) have left the nest.  Many went out of state to schools like Stanford, Harvard, and Yale and now have great careers.   They love their parents and are very close - but they live their own lives.

Winterglow's picture

One of the main roles of a parent is to ensure that their child grows up to be capable of taking care of themself. If an adult child still needs daddy around for anything other than the pleasure of being with them then the parent has not done their job right. An adult child should be flying with their own wings and not need daddy's presence all the time. They do not get to demand a chunk of daddy's time and they certainly shouldn't be trying to steal his time from his wife. 

What a pathetic bunch of wasters ...

twoviewpoints's picture

Seriously? He spends 15-20% of his time with his late 20s to early 30s adult children who do not even live near-by? 

Yes, I do usually suggest a parent visiting and doing occasional get together with their adult children, minus their spouse . Partly because , why would you want to go and spend time with people who want nothing to do with you. And partly, I do not believe a husband and wife are glued at the hip. That both should be able to have occasional events minus the other. 

However, that doesn't seem to be what these grown *ss kids are requesting. No, they appear to be wanting to have Daddy as if they were all still 10yr old minor kids. Very unrealistic. Biggest problem seems to be that perhaps Dh agrees with them. That your Dh finds nothing inappropriate about dumping his wife and running to his fully grown children and speaks of more equally spilt time division is just crazy.

Does he want a wife and to be married, or does he instead wish a mere GF who just sits around waiting for his call informing her it is finally 'date night'? 

The point is though, if he is indeed 'good' with all this time division and the cash going their way (you wrote about the cash in previous blogs) , I really don't see any of it changing. Especially as it's not just not starting but been going for quite some time. You've got a Dh who is clearly telling you he doesn't give a crap what you want and/or think. 

Is your DH well off financially that he manages to pay all the household expenses that are his share, has his retirement all lined up, lives comfortably and still has plenty of cash to blow? You mentioned some of the cash is his, but that some of it is joint money he just sneaks and lies about. 

Have you talked to a divorce lawyer to see where you'd be if that is a route you may begin to consider? Separated your finances were he can not access your cash? Drawn up a post-nup to assure he doesn't leave you dry.

I don't see this getting 'better' for you as he simply doesn't agree with you nor care about how you feel this situation with with children is wrong. It doesn't matter how many of us tell you this is wrong. This shouldn't be happening. Because until and/or until husband agrees with you and decides to change anything, lay this is your life and future. No one here is going to tell you that your Dh should be forking cash freely over to grown children and lying and sneaking about it. No one is going to tell you it's fine if Dh dumps you 30, 40. 50% of the time and runs off playing Daddy to full grown adult children.... but none of *us* here are who you must come to an agreement with. 

ESMOD's picture

Um... I see my dad for a few hours.. every other week and that is an increase from what I was spending with him before he almost died when he got sick earlier this year.  There is NO WAY that parents usually spend so much time with their kids especially if they aren't super local.  Shoot, most adult kids don't have that much time to spend with their parents.