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AIBU?

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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:
Endofyear · 25/08/2025 10:13

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

Honestly? I'd be helping him pack! Does he really think this is a normal way to treat your spouse? Calling you a c* over some water on the bathroom floor?

Tell him to leave and get some peace and happiness in your life again OP. You deserve way better than this.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 25/08/2025 10:12

I'm also anxious reading your posts @Isthisover88

I left an abusive husband many years ago and tbh I should've left him a lot sooner than I did. It's hard to admit you've made a mistake and it's an upheaval to go but........

So I suggest that you get your ducks in a row and leave your husband. He sounds awful, really nasty. You don't have to live up to his bizarre standards. He'll move the goalposts in any case.

Once you've left him, you'll be surprised at how much calmer and happier you feel.

Swiftie1878 · 25/08/2025 10:11

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.

Does he have OCD?

Regardless, his treatment of you and the name-calling is appalling. His lack of contrition and threats to leave you, mean this marriage is over, I’m afraid.
Start planning.

ChocoChocoLatte · 25/08/2025 10:10

If anyone screamed at my young child that would be that - never mind someone who is supposed to live and nurture them unconditionally.

this man is no husband or father.

take him up on his offer to leave, assist his as he goes and make sure it’s the last thing you ever do for him.

Nellephant10 · 25/08/2025 10:05

I hardly ever post to tell people to leave a relationship immediately because nothing is ever black and white, but as a domestic abuse survivor and having worked with lots of women who have been in abusive relationships, your post is ringing all kinds of alarms bells. Please please tell him to go if thats how he feels. This is very, very controlling behaviour that will only escalate further. It is not how reasonable partners behave. He is setting you up to fail at every point so he has (in his mind) more reason to find fault and exercise control. Please find a Freedom Course running near you (or you can do it online) - they are free and a safe space to learn about coercive control and domestic abuse. Your DH has the word Dominator written all over him. I'm so sorry you're going through this, but cut loose from him, you'll feel so much lighter and happier. And there are no obstacles such as finances, joint parenting or anything else cannot be overcome no matter how hard it seems.

Painrelief · 25/08/2025 10:05

As soon as you start doing these “requests” then he will move the goalposts again and something else won’t be right . You don’t want your child growing up thinking that’s what is healthy in a relationship because he isn’t . He will just become his Father and treat a woman like his Dad does .

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.

OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 25/08/2025 10:02

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 riddance! He obviously doesn’t see you as an equal, he sees himself as better than you and that you are somebody who needs to do as he says. Threatening to move out is a power play on his part, take your power back and throw him out!

sesquipedalian · 25/08/2025 09:59

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

Goodbye! I might also spray the shower round the whole bathroom including the ceiling before he goes in there….

Zempy · 25/08/2025 09:59

Good. Off he fucks then.

BankHolidayer · 25/08/2025 09:57

I could really go to town on what’s wrong with him but what’s the point when he’s given you the solution?

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

Don’t change.
Sorted.

arcticpandas · 25/08/2025 09:54

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

Well that's perfect then. Tell him to shut the door when he leaves.

On a serious note, this is really really bad. He's a selfish asshole and I don't know how you can have sex with him at all. He basically wants you to be available 24/7 to cater to his desires. I would take him up on his offer of him moving out. I think it will feel like bliss being rid of him.

NamechangeNightNurse · 25/08/2025 09:51

Hmm it's very common for the wandering eye type to start this behaviour so they can blame you when the relationship ends.

He sounds Narcissistic and controlling and Narcs can never ever take responsibility.
Take him up on his offer

Springtimehere · 25/08/2025 09:48

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

BIWI · 25/08/2025 09:47

I bet he won’t go though, when you tell him you’re not going to change.

I’m sorry it’s come to this for you, but I can’t see any way that you can make it better. He clearly doesn’t love you but just wants a cleaner who will service him every day.

Calamitousness · 25/08/2025 09:45

you are lucky OP. He’s offering to move out. Thank him for that and send him on his way. Life will be so much better on your own. He sounds awful and trust me if you did do as he asks
now about showering etc. it will only
be something else that you are doing wrong next.

Ansjovis · 25/08/2025 09:44

It doesn't sound like he even likes you. I'd put money on him trying to pick a fight with you so that you end it and therefore you look like the "bad guy" for "kicking him out and splitting up the family."

What do you do now? You take a deep breath and start to plan for life without him. And as an aside - keep up the running as it will help you in a multitude of ways as you navigate this situation.

AutumnFroglets · 25/08/2025 09:41

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

Let him move out. He is telling you to jump and you've been asking how high but this is not sustainable, nor should it happen in an equal, loving and supportive relationship. You are worth so much more than this.

Mauvehoodie · 25/08/2025 09:40

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

He sounds horrible. I think at this point you absolutely need to take him up on his offer to move out (although I suspect that might just be a threat to bring you back in line and he will change his tune). I’d also read Lundy Bancroft “why does he do that?” As the situation sounds abusive. You can get a free off online if you search. Or Google “coercive control”.

ETA I’m assuming he has always shown these controlling tendencies but if they’ve come on in the last months or year then I agree with PPs that there could well be an OW waiting in the wings.

tryingtobesogood · 25/08/2025 09:38

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

Best get the cases out of the loft then.

BeeCucumber · 25/08/2025 09:35

Dippythedino · 25/08/2025 09:30

Reading your update, ask him for his key and change the locks after he's left.

I am pretty sure, he's got an ow lined up and he's setting you up to fail deliberately.

This. Sorry.

Jellycatspyjamas · 25/08/2025 09:34

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

It’s really good when the trash offers to take itself out.

SlieveMiskish · 25/08/2025 09:33

Marriage counselling? If you love him and want to work through it? Has he always been like this? Also get a cleaner to help you? Is he having a mental health crisis? I’d be taking some time off work go take a break with family for a week.. and leave him try the greener hills of single life for a few days.. you sound amazing and work so hard.. you don’t deserve what he’s dishing up.. God love you, I hope it gets better for you..

Parksinyork · 25/08/2025 09:33

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

Tell him to move out.

toomuchfaff · 25/08/2025 09:32

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

Fucking good. Im changing fuck all and you can go today. Pack your bags and fuck off would be my response.

What a horrible person, relationship and shit show. Your post gave me serious ick. Not a single thing on earth would make me stay with him.

I don't have sex with him often enough.

I'm surprised you have sex with him at all, a horrible horrible little man, abusive, controlling, manipulative, hes doing you a favour sleeping in the spare room and offering to move out.