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Recurring argument

129 replies

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 00:58

Im separated from my partner but were still working through our issues. He's an alcoholic that can't give it up yet, although he says he's trying his best and wants to.

He says I can't blame all of our problems on his drinking. He tells me he's really lonely and never feels heard.

Now, to our current issue, I spent a large sum of money for myself (£2,500) 2 years ago and I feel like he brings it up a lot. We both put money towards it. He wants to save around £5,000 for something he's wanted for years, he talks about it almost every day and mentions it in every argument, how I don't help him save the way I do for the things I want for myself or for the children.

We've been on a big holiday and moved house which cost a lot to renovate In the last few years. All of which I researched, booked and organised paying for, he gives a lot financially towards these things. All the while saying he's still not got what he wants.

My argument is that if he wants something he should organise the saving, tell me what's going in and when the goal will be, like I do with my projects, I also say he could have been saving along side everything all along and the money he spent on vodka could of very much helped (got to be around £100 a week on a tough week spent on drink). He says I don't care about him. I say he doesn't need me to hold his hand to get what he wants and if I saw any effort going in I would feel a lot happier helping financially as well.

He also says that if it's something the children want or need it would be done. Like birthdays, they each get nice presents because i strive to make them feel seen and special and I make an effort with decorations and cakes, which he has always hated. He says I should put as much effort in to him and getting him the thing he wants to buy.

He's saved nothing so far.

I know I sound quite cold, but its been years of him saying I'm not giving him as much as everyone else, while I feel like he's not doing much to help himself so why should I? I don't know, I sound nasty reading it all back!

OP posts:
Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:12

Maray1967 · 15/06/2024 07:08

OP, I’ve been married for 30 years and my DH has never behaved like this. Never. The level of pathetic self pity he is displaying is appalling. He needs to grow up. The DC are your priority - a safe home and garden for them. He should be striving for that too. If he wants something for himself he should save for it from whatever you have decided is your individual spending money. Sounds like he’s spent his on drink.

I would have no patience with this whatsoever. He needs to sort himself out, and, quite frankly, grow up. A firm ultimatum is what he needs, not pandering to.

It might help to say the thing he is saving for is a car as he's always wanted one, we have one, or I have one on finance (which I hate lol) but he wants one for himself. He had ours full time before the separation so he wasn't without or anything, i had to borrow it if i needed to take the children somewhere, but it's always been a big want of his to have his own. We also can't all go out together as we can't all fit in one car anymore, so I've made it seem like a selfish purchase but really it would be beneficial for us all kind of.

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 15/06/2024 07:11

In what ways does he demonstrate that you are his number 1 priority?

Can you list them.

Maray1967 · 15/06/2024 07:11

PS you are not awful - you are doing exactly what you should be doing, putting your DC first. If he spent a few days with me he’d learn just how lucky he was with you because I’d give him hell.

I’d also want to know what his DM ‘s attitude is towards his behaviour because if my DS24 behaved like this I’d be on his case pretty quickly.

Civilservant · 15/06/2024 07:11

The things he is saying just seems like some of the classic addict lines. So it’s part of his addiction, and you’re ‘enmeshed’ too.

It sounds like you are only early into separation and that you are hoping it’ll be OK, which seems unlikely.

It’d be better for you and your DC to progress the separation, to stop engaging with him about potential reconciliation, past arguments, possible joint projects, and seek help for yourself.

EatCrow · 15/06/2024 07:11

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:09

Honestly going through all these things while writing the thread, I think he feels pushed out because he says I'm his number 1 priority but the children are mine and always have been, so he says for him it's me, the kids, himself. And for me it's the kids, me and then him and that hurts his feelings.

Well, I guess he can tell himself this fairytale but you aren’t buying it are you?!

GabriellaMontez · 15/06/2024 07:10

Well done for throwing him out.
I suggest you finalise the split.

Does he bring anything to the relationship?

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:09

EatCrow · 15/06/2024 07:03

You don’t sound awful at all!! You sound very capable and sensible and you’re putting your children first. Has he always been an emotional blackmailer?

Honestly going through all these things while writing the thread, I think he feels pushed out because he says I'm his number 1 priority but the children are mine and always have been, so he says for him it's me, the kids, himself. And for me it's the kids, me and then him and that hurts his feelings.

OP posts:
CalicoPusscat · 15/06/2024 07:08

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:00

He keeps saying how alone he is and he has no one helping him with the drinking, so I asked specifically, what can I do to help, not just be there, listen etc, what can I physically do and he had no answer. Everytime I say something to do with the drinking and how it's messed us up, he says we have other issues it's not just the drinking and brings up the money again and says he's not heard.

Does he not have friends/family he can talk to?

Sounds like it's going around in circles and he's emotionally blackmailing you.

I think you need to tell him you'll talk about money/alcohol in the future but right now your focus is on where the children live. I wish I had your energy!

Maray1967 · 15/06/2024 07:08

OP, I’ve been married for 30 years and my DH has never behaved like this. Never. The level of pathetic self pity he is displaying is appalling. He needs to grow up. The DC are your priority - a safe home and garden for them. He should be striving for that too. If he wants something for himself he should save for it from whatever you have decided is your individual spending money. Sounds like he’s spent his on drink.

I would have no patience with this whatsoever. He needs to sort himself out, and, quite frankly, grow up. A firm ultimatum is what he needs, not pandering to.

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:07

GabriellaMontez · 15/06/2024 06:47

He sounds like a man child.

What a drain.

Of course you're sorting the garden out. You're they're mum, it's your home. My question is why didn't he sort it?

He's not a child, if he wants something, he needs to plan it and make it happen.

I promised the children months ago it would get sorted for the summer holidays, last year was a wash out because I had a baby late July and we moved house mid August and then the garden we inherited was in such a bad state left by the previous people and had no way of sorting it after a c section and a newborn so the children were in doors for almost the whole summer holidays. This year I have booked days out and planned summer clubs (which again is spending a lot of money I don't believe he's too happy with) and finally getting some grass and play equipment for the kids to be outside, hopefully easing my guilt over last year haha

OP posts:
EatCrow · 15/06/2024 07:03

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 01:23

Oh and also, no AA, he doesn't like the group situation. He's attempting cold turkey and not doing well by the looks of it. It's tricky as I can't handle him in the house any more, but it's a different kind of tough that now I can't monitor him and what he's drinking anymore. I sound awful!

You don’t sound awful at all!! You sound very capable and sensible and you’re putting your children first. Has he always been an emotional blackmailer?

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:03

ThinWomansBrain · 15/06/2024 06:48

he is whinging that you spent £2.5k 2 years ago?
in two years he's spent around £5k on alcohol - for himself
twice your spending and coincidentally the amount he'd like to have as savings.

This is my logic too... when he said he was stopping drinking in January I said now you can save everything spare you have because you're not in the corner shop every night and I'll match as much as I can and it'll be done in a few months. Nothing happened because I didn't take the lead and I carried on doing things for the house renovation.

OP posts:
Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 07:00

CalicoPusscat · 15/06/2024 06:57

Oh I didn't realise you weren't living together now. Would it be feasible to ask him for a month's space whilst you sort out the new living environment for the children?

You can't really help him with alcohol, it's something he needs to do himself

He keeps saying how alone he is and he has no one helping him with the drinking, so I asked specifically, what can I do to help, not just be there, listen etc, what can I physically do and he had no answer. Everytime I say something to do with the drinking and how it's messed us up, he says we have other issues it's not just the drinking and brings up the money again and says he's not heard.

OP posts:
Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 06:58

Nottherealslimshady · 15/06/2024 06:49

Sorry this is your EX? Stop doing everything for him. Why on earth would you be saving for things for him?

Please say you don't still live together? Disconnect your finances, dont engage in the conversation.

We're separated, so not fully an ex, he did some messed up stuff in Jan and he was asked to leave, but came back too quickly, and then stayed out all night without word and missing the start of work in April, so again asked to leave (which although it sounds it, I'm not in the habit of asking him to leave, because I don't want to confuse the children) and he's been at his mums since April.

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 15/06/2024 06:57

Nottherealslimshady · 15/06/2024 06:49

Sorry this is your EX? Stop doing everything for him. Why on earth would you be saving for things for him?

Please say you don't still live together? Disconnect your finances, dont engage in the conversation.

Thank you for asking that. I'd thought it said ex and was thinking tell the fucker to jog on. You get your kids stuff because you're their mom, you're not his mom and not even his wife anymore. He's a cheeky fucker!

Nouvellenovel · 15/06/2024 06:57

Alcoholics blame everyone except themselves.
Self pity is their super power.

My dgd was an alcoholic, died when I was 2. However the lasting effects on my dm’s childhood meant my childhood was also affected.
No sympathy from me for alcoholics.

CalicoPusscat · 15/06/2024 06:57

Oh I didn't realise you weren't living together now. Would it be feasible to ask him for a month's space whilst you sort out the new living environment for the children?

You can't really help him with alcohol, it's something he needs to do himself

Nottherealslimshady · 15/06/2024 06:52

Thankfully see your update you don't live together.

Don't make his bloody doctors appointments. He's a full grown man and actually seems to be using his alcoholism as a means to control you. How old are the kids? Are they seeing him unsupervised?

Nottherealslimshady · 15/06/2024 06:49

Sorry this is your EX? Stop doing everything for him. Why on earth would you be saving for things for him?

Please say you don't still live together? Disconnect your finances, dont engage in the conversation.

ThinWomansBrain · 15/06/2024 06:48

he is whinging that you spent £2.5k 2 years ago?
in two years he's spent around £5k on alcohol - for himself
twice your spending and coincidentally the amount he'd like to have as savings.

GabriellaMontez · 15/06/2024 06:47

He sounds like a man child.

What a drain.

Of course you're sorting the garden out. You're they're mum, it's your home. My question is why didn't he sort it?

He's not a child, if he wants something, he needs to plan it and make it happen.

Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 06:45

Nat6999 · 15/06/2024 03:20

If he is drinking £100 of vodka a week, you won't have a problem much longer, he will be dead. My late dp went from looking fully healthy to waking up looking 9 months pregnant with ascites one morning from cirrhosis to dead in 4 months. Look after yourself & dc, you didn't cause it, it is not your fault. Alcoholics blame everyone but themselves, they lie, cheat & steal. Don't give him money, make sure he can't get hold of passwords, bank cards etc, check your credit report in case he obtains credit in your or joint names.

I've asked him so many times to go to the doctors to seek help for depression which is a big factor for drinking and the only time he's come close to doing that he said I need to organise his appointment if I want him to go. I left it a few days and checked if that's actually what he wanted me to do because I didn't want to be seen as meddling and he said not to do it. He does have weeks where he'll drink a lot less, maybe a small bottle or two but now he's out of the house, I have no way of knowing.

OP posts:
Honeymonster2 · 15/06/2024 06:42

CalicoPusscat · 15/06/2024 03:34

£100 a week...? Might be dangerous for him to stop cold turkey, how much has he reduced it by?

So if you are separated do you think it is over for good?

It sounds like you both worked together on the £2.5k on your purchase, so perhaps you could talk about the £5k and goals, although there are other financial priorities at present.

I'm completely unsure, I know he's not stopped though so it won't be fully cold turkey.

I'm more than willing to save together for his money (or I definitely was when we were living together at least) but he never shows any initiative to get things sorted for himself, last time it was a big argument, he saw me searching for the thing he wants online so I could get a guide price and more information and he told me to stop because 'why do I care all of a sudden' it's like I couldn't win unless I just magicked up the lump sum. He sees that I can save very hard when it comes to things for the house or the children and gets upset it's not the same on his turn.

OP posts:
CalicoPusscat · 15/06/2024 03:34

£100 a week...? Might be dangerous for him to stop cold turkey, how much has he reduced it by?

So if you are separated do you think it is over for good?

It sounds like you both worked together on the £2.5k on your purchase, so perhaps you could talk about the £5k and goals, although there are other financial priorities at present.

Nat6999 · 15/06/2024 03:20

If he is drinking £100 of vodka a week, you won't have a problem much longer, he will be dead. My late dp went from looking fully healthy to waking up looking 9 months pregnant with ascites one morning from cirrhosis to dead in 4 months. Look after yourself & dc, you didn't cause it, it is not your fault. Alcoholics blame everyone but themselves, they lie, cheat & steal. Don't give him money, make sure he can't get hold of passwords, bank cards etc, check your credit report in case he obtains credit in your or joint names.

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