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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Need help from emotionally regulated people

30 replies

wisteriahouse · 25/04/2025 10:00

Okay so first up, let me start by saying that I have unresolved child trauma and know I have an anxious attachment style with my hubs (who by the way has an avoidant attachment style). I don’t trust my own intuition because I always look for the worst in my relationship as I have a deep fear of abandonment after a childhood of neglect from my mother and a physically absent father. So I need some advice from people who have a secure attachment style because I feel like my whole world is crumbling down but I don’t know if I’m overreacting.

So hubs, me and our young child have recently moved country’s to where my hubs and child were born. I am on a visa that expires on X date. As X date is approaching I either need to renew the visa or leave the country. Hubs tells me we can’t afford to renew the visa (he doesn’t want to use our retirement savings) nor does he want to leave with me because he has a really good job here. So I essentially would have to leave either by myself or with our son. He says he will stay to gain more experience so he will be able to get a better job upon returning to my home country (where he is also a citizen). He said it would be a year or so we would be apart. Obviously I’m not going anywhere without my son so he would be coming with me although my husband did say he should stay with him.

I feel rejected and like I’m not important (and my heart also breaks for our son being separated from one parent for so long). I know this kind of situation occurs often in families but it’s usually when they have no other options in which case, I could understand. But in our case we have a lot of money back in my home country (retirement is taken care of with our savings) so we really only need money for day to day living) rent, food, entertainment etc), we don’t need to put money aside for savings any longer. We aim to retire in around 10-15 years. So even without “good” jobs, we can still live a very comfortable life and retire around 10 years before the norm.

AIBU about this? The way I see it is that he is choosing his job over his family. He sees it as not a big deal and that he is doing it for our family and a year (or so) is only a short time in the scheme of things.

Emotionally regulated people, please help xx

OP posts:
Fluffyholeysocks · 25/04/2025 10:22

Gosh, it's all hearts and flowers from him isn't it? Do you feel like a close family unit? Do you feel loved and supported by him? Your OP read like a transactional business arrangement rather than a marriage.

katkintreats · 25/04/2025 10:18

Is there anyone in real life that you trust that you can talk with? and who can help you manage the situation?

Because, after reading your post, I’m imagining a worst case scenario where a vulnerable woman marries a controlling man, the man then takes her to his country and then insists child stays with him while she is forced to leave, and she can do nothing about it.

Now, that’s not a very calming or regulating scenario, I’m not sure my advice will be helpful for you, based on this reading of your post.

Maybe your situation is not like this, more details will be helpful to build an accurate picture:

What cultures and countries are we talking about here?

How long have you lived in your husband’s country together, what is his job / your job?

How old are you and your husband, and how old is your child? Are you equal partners, what is parenting with him like?

What is your husband, and your relationship with him, like?

IslandsAround · 25/04/2025 10:08

Having a minimum year break from you by actively supporting you being removed from the country and his lack of care who the child lives with is ABSOLUTELY BATSHIT CRAZY. You have the resources to stay together and he actually wants you to leave.

There will be no early retirement because the marriage won’t exist.

Where are your assets / money / investments?
Are they in your name?
Are they in the country where you currently live and have to move from?

I would be extremely wary of everything about this exclusion of you from the country & family life.

NeedSomeComfy · 25/04/2025 10:06

I believe I am emotionally regulated so I am qualified to tell you that's an incredibly disfunctional situation. He won't spend retirement money to allow you to stay together as a family? Meaning you would be apart for a whole year?
That is a very fucked up set of values he has. I'm sorry.

Springadorable · 25/04/2025 10:03

What the actual fuck?! He won't spend money, which you do have available, in order for you to have a visa and stay?! This is insane, I'd be hitting the roof. He's basically saying he doesn't value you or your son. I'd be ending that relationship and heading home.