Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do i do now

86 replies

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 09:16

Pretty sure my marriage of 20 years has just come tumbling down. Not really a surprise as we've been in a rocky place for a while but its all come to a head last night

Basically DH has been moaning for a while, constantly that everything i do is wrong. In his opinion wrong. Examples include (not not limited to)
The bathroom gets too wet when I shower, despite the fact I then go round and more up any water afterwards (that's not good enough I obviously don't show right in the first place)

I don't tell youngest dc (4) off enough - I do tell him off I just don't believe in shouting in his face to do it

I don't have sex with him often enough - we probably average 2-3 times a week, i'm peri menopausal and we both work full time, he'd have it 7 days a week if he could

I work too much - both have full time jobs and I wfh 3 days, 9-5 tho some flexibility on my hours for school runs and stuff however have a dedicated office space. He finishes at 1pm and gets home about 2, I should come and bring the laptop out and sit with when he finishes to spend time with him

I don't do enough around the house. Apparently my wfh days should be used to catch up on housework. I also don't hoover, but he moans about how I hoover not being up to his standards so I now refuse to

I've started running again as my fitness is struggling with the peri-menopause with thr aim of maybe doing a half marathon later in the year. While it's perfectly acceptable for him to go to football every Saturday and various other activities on a sunday etc, me taking an hour out here and there (usually when the kids are asleep or before they wake up as we have a treadmill) is sacrificing family time - ie time with him

Last night I was called the C word and shouted at as I was trying to work through with him the whole shower situation to try and appease him and because I wasn't listening well enough he flipped out

OP posts:
AnotherDayAnotherDog · 25/08/2025 12:02

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 10:05

Thank you for all the replies

I have left him in the spare room for now.

I can't believe its come to this. I know hes not been happy for a while and neither have I really I guess but we've always worked through it

Not the first time hes called me the C word though. Guess I should have acted the first time he did

Thinking back i actually get nervous and over think whatever he asks me to do in case I get it wrong.

Yesterday he moaned that I put the vegetable peeler back in thr wrong place in the drawer (not the wron mg drawer, 2cm away from where I was meant to go)

He screamed at our youngest the other day for spilling some milk (complete accident) and then screamed at me when I tried to day it was an accident.

Hes abusive OP and you need to get out asap with your DC. Get advice from a domestic abuse helpline to do it the safest way. Don’t wait for him to declare he’s unhappy and is leaving. You’re unhappy and can take charge of what you do about it.

itsachickeninnit · 25/08/2025 11:53

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 09:25

He slept in thr spare room last night so i tried talking to him this morning and his stance is the same. I was hoping yesterday was alcohol fueled as we had some friends round and he had a drink but apparently not

He's basically said i either change and work to his standards or he'll move out

Good, glad he’s offering to move out, it’ll save you chucking him out! What an arsehole of a man.

usedtobeaylis · 25/08/2025 11:35

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 10:05

Thank you for all the replies

I have left him in the spare room for now.

I can't believe its come to this. I know hes not been happy for a while and neither have I really I guess but we've always worked through it

Not the first time hes called me the C word though. Guess I should have acted the first time he did

Thinking back i actually get nervous and over think whatever he asks me to do in case I get it wrong.

Yesterday he moaned that I put the vegetable peeler back in thr wrong place in the drawer (not the wron mg drawer, 2cm away from where I was meant to go)

He screamed at our youngest the other day for spilling some milk (complete accident) and then screamed at me when I tried to day it was an accident.

Let him move out. Actually no - tell him to move it. Make it your decision. Tell him to fuck off, get out and he can think about seeing the kids when he's prepared to talk to them in a reasonable manner.

usedtobeaylis · 25/08/2025 11:33

When you WFH you've to spend the time both doing housework AND sitting with him because he's finished?

He's totally unreasonable - on all of it.

I don't understand why this kind of behaviour in men seems to be increasing where they just resent anything and everything a woman does that's not centred around him, what he wants, what he says, and when he says it.

OP lighten your load and get rid of him, he's dragging you down and it won't improve.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 25/08/2025 11:30

@Isthisover88 oh PLEASE let him move out!!!! he sounds horrendous. your name should really be "isitoveryet88"

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 25/08/2025 11:04

Oh, OP, you will never be able to change enough for him. Even if you greet him at the door every single day in a French Maid outfit begging for sex, you clean the house top to bottom all the time and you only work when he's out of the house - he will find another stick to beat you with.

Let him go and enjoy the peace.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 25/08/2025 11:01

Ask him what he's waiting for. The sooner he moves out the better!

Maray1967 · 25/08/2025 10:59

Leaving aside his behaviour towards you, he is abusive towards your small DC.
Put your DC first and get rid of this vile man. If you don’t, you are tolerating the appalling treatment of your Dc.

Maray1967 · 25/08/2025 10:58

Leaving aside his behaviour towards you, he is abusive towards your small DC.
Put your DC first and get rid of this vile man. If you don’t, you are tolerating the appalling treatment of your Dc.

Kipperandarthur · 25/08/2025 10:55

He sounds utterly awful. Screaming and shouting and calling you awful names.
I would let him move out and forge a new peaceful life for yourself. This is no way to live at all.

tinyspiny · 25/08/2025 10:55

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 09:25

He slept in thr spare room last night so i tried talking to him this morning and his stance is the same. I was hoping yesterday was alcohol fueled as we had some friends round and he had a drink but apparently not

He's basically said i either change and work to his standards or he'll move out

Off he goes then , what a knob .

ERthree · 25/08/2025 10:53

Why why why are you living this shit life? Tell him to go. Your children deserve a better life than they have now.

Daleksatemyshed · 25/08/2025 10:51

Men like your DH get so used to having their own way that they think you're desperate to stay in the marriage, for him saying he'll leave is the ultimate threat that will pull you back in line. Now I think you see he won't change, he'll get worse and it's live in misery or leave. If you tell him to go he'll be furious but it's time Op, you're an adult and he has no right to treat you like a naughty DC.
100% of 95 people think you're not being unreasonable, that's your answer

duckydoo234 · 25/08/2025 10:46

He's decided to leave already, and wants to make it look like it's your fault. He sounds awful. Please let him go and enjoy your new life without this kind of constant grief.

Dominoeffecter · 25/08/2025 10:45

I have OCD and I’m not abusive, it is NOT an excuse for any of the behaviour you have described.

PariahHeep · 25/08/2025 10:35

He has never been diagnosed with OCD ut he does have some tendencies of it.

Odious Controlling Dick. People very often look for labels to explain or excuse behaviours but very often these behaviours are just those of controlling, intolerant people who want their own way all the time. And an excuse (anything you do) to berate and shout at their victim.

Please do not consider couples counselling. It will only benefit him. And pay the counsellor's bills. If you need to speak to someone, please do so for yourself.

I'd be surprised if this is the final 'that's it, I'm off' so, as PPs have said, please take him up on this current offer (he's going to claim victimhood no matter how long it drags out so you might as well rip the plaster off) and do what you need to to start your new (better, calmer, happier) life without him Flowers

Needlenardlenoo · 25/08/2025 10:32

He has confused you with an employee. An employee he also has sex with.

URGH!

Waaydownwego · 25/08/2025 10:29

My partner is very similar, I relate to the shower thing and parking as had similar incidents in the past. You just keep trying to please him but there will always be something and it's very confusing as you feel like it's all your fault and you're not good enough. My self esteem is non existent so wonder if you feel the same. Sorry I don't have much in the way of advice but might help to know you're not the only person feeling this way 💐

BUMCHEESE · 25/08/2025 10:26

He sounds utterly, utterly vile.

I couldn't live with this.

I bet he's cheating too (or wants to).

Evaka · 25/08/2025 10:26

Oh my god, put him out on his horrible arse. Sex pest, bullying tyrant.

GiveTheGoblinsSnacks · 25/08/2025 10:24

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 09:25

He slept in thr spare room last night so i tried talking to him this morning and his stance is the same. I was hoping yesterday was alcohol fueled as we had some friends round and he had a drink but apparently not

He's basically said i either change and work to his standards or he'll move out

Off he goes then.

Parksinyork · 25/08/2025 10:22

He is abusing you and your children. It sounds like he is in a bad place mentally but that isn’t your problem and I doubt he would admit it and seek help. He isn’t being a decent person at the moment. I think you need to get your ducks in a row (collect financial info and speak to a family solcitor) and speak to a domestic abuse charity before ending the relationship so you can do it in a way that keeps you and children safe. In the mean time if he does something which scares you don’t be afraid to called 999.

Tortielady · 25/08/2025 10:21

He's basically said i either change and work to his standards or he'll move out

Is this fellow threatening you with a good time?

Seriously OH. He demands you centre your work-life round him, have sex with him whenever he wants it, expects you to give up your exercise routine for his convenience, and he hurls the C word at you when you try to resolve things. Oh, and he thinks it's appropriate to yell in the face of a tiny four year old. Prepare an exit strategy so that you can take him up on his offer.

Isthisover88 · 25/08/2025 10:19

He has never been diagnosed with OCD ut he does have some tendencies of it. I have tried to work with him over the years but as someone above said then the goalposts change

He is very intolerant of other people or people doing things differently

For example pur drive is quite awkward to park on, I can reverse on it but sometimes I may go forward an extra time to straighten up. Just because he can do it in one it infuriates him that I have to go back and forty an extra time to the point I now refuse to park on the drive if he is in the car with me __

OP posts:
Fullofthejoysofspring · 25/08/2025 10:17

This is absolutely outrageous. He is spoiling for a fight isn’t he, what an unpleasant man. Stay strong - listen to your inner voice telling you that this is unacceptable because it 100% is unacceptable. If he wants to go - let him. I guarantee you will feel so much better in time.

Swipe left for the next trending thread