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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Relationships

My DH has stood by me through an awful lot

86 replies

NAB09 · 04/02/2009 12:44

Depression.
Family trouble.
Court case preparation.
Miscarriages.
Emotional affair.
Being stroppy.

What can I do to make it up to him? I love him so much and just want him to be happy again?

Still hoping for Friday night and Saturday day alone as kids going to his parents (he asked if we should go out.) but I want to start now.

I owe him everything.

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pagwatch · 04/02/2009 12:45

You can get yourself better.
I suspect that would be what he would wish for.

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Lemontart · 04/02/2009 12:46

do you enjoy cooking? could you make him his favourite meal for tonight and pop on his favourite music etc. Nice romantic meal at home when the kids are in bed would be a lovely mid week suprise

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 12:55

I have dinner planned but I will make him a nice pudding.

I am on new tablets and waiting for a psych appointment.

I need to make sure he knows he doesn't need to worry about me as he has an enormous amount of stress at work atm trying to keep the company going.

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Lemontart · 04/02/2009 12:57

pudding always goes down well!
Just pick something you are confident doing and limit your own stress too
Hope the meal goes well x

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CarGirl · 04/02/2009 12:57

Perhaps you should make a note of all the good things that have happened that day and tell him? Even the small stuff.

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clutteredup · 04/02/2009 12:58

Write him a list starting '10 reasons why I love you.' - and the pudding will work too

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HolyGuacamole · 04/02/2009 13:02

Showing him that you appreciate him and making a visible effort will speak volumes to him. Make this day number one

This is something for you to feel really good about, making the changes and getting back on track - go for it!!

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Lizzylou · 04/02/2009 13:04

Aw Nab, saw the thread title and hoped it would be you!
Agree about the 10 reasons why I love you list (good one Clutteredup, may pinch that myself!) and pudding always works wonders.

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 13:06

Definitely going to do the 10 things

Ideas helpful as feel a bit teary to concentrate.

We got through a really bad time a few years ago and I have to remember that.

Would it be really sad to do the list and laminate it so he can keep it?

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 13:08

just did 7 straight off

thought of another one so just need two!

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 13:10

Got my ten

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Lizzylou · 04/02/2009 13:14

Laminating it is a great idea.
Am going to send my DH a 10 reasons why I love you email, he is pretty stressed.

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HolyGuacamole · 04/02/2009 13:16

Ideas? I'm all for a bit of cheesiness when it comes to romance and such

Dig out a happy photo of you, DH and the kids, put it in a nice frame and wrap it up. Give it to him or sneak it onto his desk when he is not there so that he finds it when he comes back. When he opens it, tell him that picture is how you see your life with him and the kids, together and happy as a family from this minute onwards. Make it a symbol of a new start.

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 13:25

Goes off to look for photo

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ActingNormal · 04/02/2009 14:24

I also feel my DH has put up with a lot from me over the years he has stayed with me and he has done a lot for me.

A while back it seemed he was at the end of his tether of listening to me endlessly go on about my depression (haven't got it anymore) and family issues. People who had done crap things (family) were getting more of my attention (my thoughts and the amount I talked to DH about them) than DH who had done nothing crap! I think he wanted me to spend some time with him where I was just thinking about enjoying being together and nothing else.

I decided to give him a break from my negative issues and use other people to talk to about those things instead of him (it helped when I got a therapist who I could talk to). I also think women are much better at talking/listening about this type of thing than men.

I focussed on making my time with my DH and DCs enjoyable and fun and focussing on them and why I love being with them. Almost immediately I could 'feel' that DH was happier!

Lately I've been ranting on at him a bit because I've got myself stressed over a few things and realised I was taking it out on him (and probably on the kids too). I was thinking about what DH and the kids want from me and realised that doing a hundred household chores wasn't going to make them happy if I was moody with them the whole time. What they really want is for me to make them feel loved. So I had a think about what makes them feel loved.

The kids feel loved if I am willing to stop in the middle of my 'chores' and listen to them properly and help them with what they are doing and spend some time with them where I am focussed on them. It doesn't have to be a mega activity, just talking to them about what they are drawing will do!

DH feels loved if I do a minimum of housework (just the things he notices because if they aren't done the house looks very bad) - dishwasher, enough laundry to have clean clothes ready in the cupboards, a bit of tidying, other stuff only when it is obvious even to a man that it needs doing! Otherwise he feels he does all the money earning but I don't even have the house in a reasonable state for him to come home and relax in. He feels loved if I cook him a proper meal (this is how he feels his mother showed she loved his father so it has stuck with him). He feels loved if I iron him a shirt ready for the next day. He feels loved if I spend time with him without the laptop on my lap doing MN or Facebook! If I spend time with him and don't go on about negative things and I have a bit of a laugh with him it makes him really happy. These things are all it takes for him and I reckon most blokes are pretty 'basic'!

Doing the minimum chores is really important I think, and doing the chores that are going to make DH and DCs feel the most loved first and just leaving things there aren't time to do. If you feel overloaded you haven't got resources left to give to your family. If you aren't thinking "I can't stop to listen to the DCs because I've got to do this, then this, then this etc" then you can relax enough to keep stopping and giving them bits of your time. They will be happier and behave better, you will be happier, and you will be less inclined to rant at your DH when he gets home! I think DHs really appreciate it if you don't give them a rundown on all that has gone wrong that day and how bad the children have been as soon as they walk in rather than showing that you are happy to see them (not just as someone to take over from you with the kids).

Sorry my posts are so long.

NAB I think you are being really strong with some of your positive thoughts at the moment and going to the Dr etc. I know how hard it can be but you definitely seem like you are making beginnings in climbing out from a difficult place! I hope we can encourage you on MN!

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 15:45

I asked my DH what he wanted to do and said he didn't know yet.

He is too busy at work for me to ring and he cna't really talk there anyway.

Hopefully he won't be late home.

I used to think that DH was my reward for all the crap I had had as a child.

If I could just have a mum for a while to show me how to do everything and get myself organised and in a proper routine I am sure a lot of my stresses would go.

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wannabe10 · 04/02/2009 18:28

I also have taken notice ofthe things in this thread. Have ordered a curry for xdh [he is coming round tonight] have written ten the ten things I appreciate about him and prepared a pudding of kinder bueno's. His fav.... Here goes....

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 18:29

{grin]

DH has just phoned.

He is going to be home really late.

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TheInvisibleManDidIt · 04/02/2009 18:59

Nab, if he can see you're happy to be with him, and becoming happier in yourself, this will in turn make him happy.

(awful lot of happy's in that sentance)

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thumbwitch · 04/02/2009 19:35

I also hoped this would be you, NAB!

I think if he knows you are doing your best to get better and giving him whatever you can in the process, that will show him you love him.
Listening to him and respecting his opinions and worries show him you love him.
Coming on here to find out what you can do to show him actually would show him you love him (if he knew about it, not suggesting you tell him though! )

But primarily it is you continually working to get better and rebuild your marriage that shows him how much you value and love him

he will be so late home but in this climate it's not surprising. Hope the pudding is a cold one!

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 19:51

Haven't made the pud as he won't eat this late.

Got no idea when he will be home, he said it will be a late one as other people haven't done their jobs right.

Had a bit of a wobble but trying to hang in there.

I fee nervous when he comes in. Feel I can't pretend that everything is fine as I know I have really hurt him.

I wish I knew if we were going to get any time without the kids this weekend.

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thumbwitch · 04/02/2009 20:16

Ah NAB, bless you - don't pretend everything is fine, you both know it isn't yet. But greet him with a smile and a "how are you, can I get you anything?" And let him tell you what a shit day he has had if he wants to.

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 20:59

He should be home in 15-20mins

I just want to get back to normal.

When he comes in I just want to give him a big cuddle and a snog kiss.

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Lizzylou · 04/02/2009 21:18

Hope you're snogging as I write this

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NAB09 · 04/02/2009 21:20

he isn't home yet

trying not to panic

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