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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think 'H' is a twat and I should LTB?

46 replies

ThinkingABoutLTB · 02/03/2016 13:03

Picture these scenarios and tell me if IBU please.

Scenario 1

DH is from another country but we met here in the UK. He speaks English very well and has siblings and cousins here. On the sporadic visits to his family, they all speak his language while I sit in silence most of the time. DH wants to stay for hours aware that I find it difficult. All his family can speak English but they rarely include me in conversation. Most of the time during the visits, I am thinking 'WTF am I sitting here for when I am being ignored'.

When our DD was small, DH's parents come over the UK for a year, they split their time between DH's brother's house and our house. DH and I both worked fulltime, his parents decide they want to look after DD while we are at work. I preferred her to be in nursery as they are quite old but agree so they can build a relationship with her. In the evening, DH sits and talks with his family in their language (parents do not speak English, nor do they try to) when I try to include myself in the conversation, DH gets irritated as he can't be bothered to translate. As DD is spending time with DH's parents, she becomes bilingual very quickly which is fine and quite often speaks to me in DH's language. I can't understand what my own DD is saying and they are all speaking DH's language which I can't understand. I get a bit pissed off at times as I feel isolated in my own home. During this time, I am doing the bulk of household stuff/admin while DH comes home from work and sits with his parents. DH's parents complain that they don't like the atmosphere between in our house. DH blamed me and still brings it up.

As background DH's parents threatened to cut him off when they found out about our relationship as they did not want him to marry outside of his culture. His siblings were also furious and I don't feel that I have ever been 'accepted'. They don't acknowledge DC's birthdays or Christmas as it is not in their culture despite knowing that our DC's are being brought up in UK culture.

His language is very difficult to learn due to the accent on words and how fast they speak. I didn't have time to learn it quite honestly. I have been told that it is one of the hardest languages to learn and even now years later, I have not been able to learn it. We see very little of DH's family so I don't hear it spoken often as DH speaks English at home. We have spent a few weeks over several summers in his country but I have not been there long enough to pick it up. DH thinks because he learnt English, I should have learnt his language but he learnt it because he was living here (and at school in his home country). I imagine I would have learnt it by now if we lived his home country. This is something that was brought up today as he blames me for 'making' him move out of London where his family is as I refused to bring DC up there. Because of this he feels that he has lost contact with his family as they can't be arsed to drive 30 miles to visit us. We used to go down regularly but it was never reciprocated. Also as I cannot speak the language, it is also my fault the DC can't speak it!

Scenario 2

I had what could be described as a nervous breakdown a few years ago due to some very traumatic events in my past that I never dealt with and being under a lot of stress in general. DH has never dealt with anything at home from housing/finance/DCs school stuff/medical stuff/general running of the home. He has left everything to me citing it being easier for me to deal with as I know how this country works better than him Hmm. During the period of my mini breakdown which was not bad enough that the DCs were neglected, clothes were not ironed, the house was a mess, dinner was not cooked or any school event forgotten (so DH was not really affected apart from me needing someone to talk to), he never once offered me support, hugged me, told me he was there for me etc. He basically told me to get over it and pull myself together.

A lot of the issues revolved around my family who DH had been heavily involved for 20 years at that point. They caused me a lot of hurt at how they treated me but DH never got involved, never tried to speak to them to find out what was going on. Eventually they all cut me off (and him and DCs therefore) and he was angry at me for causing the situation but never once did he try to intervene on my behalf knowing I was really struggling with it. He was annoyed that I was seeing a therapist as he resented the fact that we were paying for it. TBH I don't know how I came through it without throwing myself off a bridge. He now quite often tells me I am nuts and mental, would never have married me if he had know that I was 'damaged' and 'no wonder your family don't want to know you'. He saw me at my most vulnerable (in tears, not something he had ever seen before) and now uses it against me.

I feel that he is compounding my mental ill health, rather than helping but not sure I could cope alone and with not having family support. I can't stand the bastard at the moment and the DC are picking up on it. We are not having screaming rows or anything but there is an undercurrent. DD said recently that we never kiss or hug like normal couples. In fact there is no affection between us at all Sad.

OP posts:
wallywobbles · 02/03/2016 14:12

There is never a good time, you can put off facing up to this forever, but you are modelling some bad stuff. Honestly your life will be so much better without this. Little steps, but it's time to go.

VerySlovenly · 02/03/2016 14:18

The kids would get over it if you left, honestly. Your lives could get so much worse if this goes on. Flowers

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 02/03/2016 14:19

If he thinks you are so crazy why is he happy to leave so much of the organising, running the home, admin etc to you. Clearly you are sane enough to do that. I bet he only calls you crazy when you disagree with him or ask him to do more. You are "crazy" but he still trusts you with all the medical stuff, education, housing, finance... Hmm You are clearly sane enough to do all the shitwork he doesn't want to do - funny that!

thelittleredhen · 02/03/2016 14:30

Children are better having two happy parents that are separated than an unhappy mum staying with a man like that "for their sake". Also, if you don't leave him now, when will be a good time? When they finish school? When they finish university? When they leave home? When you retire?

BarricadesBabe · 02/03/2016 14:32

Chazs has got it in a nutshell

novemberchild · 02/03/2016 14:34

As someone else in a multicultural marriage, I have a bit of experience with this stuff. Marriage has certainly not been perfect, but we are doing all right.

DH is from Latin America. Some things, such as visitors from his country, I have learned to live with. His family and friends speak English when I am there, if they can. My mother in law does not speak English, so we rely on a lot of gestures and Google Translate if we are on our own, but, crucially, DH does translate between us if he is present ( I have made efforts to learn the language as well ). He does not complain about translating, and I don't complain about always taking my holiday in the same place!

The point is, mixed cultural marriage needs work, and it can sometimes mean more work than the average marriage. It seems that your husband is not willing to give and take, to put in that work.

The other stuff, that he is calling you crazy etc, is not to do with the normal problems of mixed marriage, and everything to do with abuse. It's hardly surprising that you would not feel affection towards him. Calling you 'damaged' is unacceptable and quite cruel. Not being supportive with your therapy is not the actions of someone who loves you and wants the best for you.

Badders123 · 02/03/2016 14:40

Please don't stay with him "foe the sake of he children"
My aunt did this and she ruined my cousins lives :(

CruCru · 02/03/2016 14:58

This sounds awful. If you are so unhappy then that is important and you should consider leaving.

Out of interest, are you the poster who wrote about terrible holidays to Albania a year or two ago?

redexpat · 02/03/2016 15:00

Did you post about this before? The language thing seems familiar. If not, take heart, there's a MNer out there in exactly the same boat as you.

He hasn't got your back, he puts his needs and his parents' needs above yours. He uses your mental health against you. I dont think this will get any better, so I think you should hope for the best but prepare to leave him. Re not a good time for divorce. There never is.

They are aware their Dad is sometimes derogatory to me (not swearing) and that I am to him. Not the best model for a marriage for them. Do you realise how damaging this can be? They will think it's ok for a man to treat a woman like this. Don't you want better for your kids? You might not be ready today, but some day you will be.

Sunnyshores · 02/03/2016 15:00

The cultural differences or the family disapproval would be enough to break most couples. You would need a rock steady marriage to come through these issues.

On top of this your mental health is fragile, you have no family support with your health or your children, you are treated as a slave and verbally abused.

You say you suffered abuse from your mother as a child - so you know how toxic being in such an environment is or the dangers of your children seeing this as 'normal'.

Im afraid you have to be brave and LTB.

VoldysGoneMouldy · 02/03/2016 15:02

There is never a good time to leave. But any day you leave has to be better than never leaving at all.

Your daughter has already noticed the relationship is dead.

It's not selfish at all to want love and respect!

He sounds hideous, and you deserve better.

TubbyTabby · 02/03/2016 15:19

LTB 100%.
don't show your kids that its ok for women to be treated like this.
maybe get some legal advice too?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 02/03/2016 15:19

CruCru
I did wonder if it was the same person. I remember that thread.

LoveBoursin · 02/03/2016 15:26

Scenario 1:
I have a similar set up but I am not the one not english and yes I do expect Dh to learn my language and no I don't translate for him.
It's a pain in the arse, stop all conversation flowing and is the best way to ensure I'm never seen my friends/family again.
I also had to chose between him not being involved and the dcs learning my language (as a minority language it is harder the keep it up) and I chose what was best for the dcs.
Imo that's what happens when you are in a bilingual family.

Scenario 2:
yes he is a twat. After so long in the country, I'm sure he knows how things work (you learn, I know I did). You can also ussport your DW and the commenst aboout you being a nutter are not on.
I could see my DH finding the idea of a therapist really Hmm and feeling resentful of spending that money on it. That's has been the case when I did something really nusual for him and he couodn't get the reason why I would want to do that. However, again, you learn and listen as to why your DP wants to do xx

Greyponcho · 02/03/2016 15:27

The standard you accept for yourself is the standard you set for your children. Do you really want them to think that it's ok for a couple to live like this?
Removing the negativity from their lives can only be a good thing

WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs · 02/03/2016 15:44

The language stuff... well all very familiar to me, though my in-laws are Chinese. I can speak a few words but have found it very difficult to learn, though to be honest I haven't tried hard. The difference is that my in-laws are all fluently bilingual, and can speak English but sometimes choose not to, and sometimes forget. I don't think they speak in Cantonese deliberately so that I can't understand. It used to annoy me, but now I just ignore it. But I think in households where more than one language is spoken then there need to be some rules, so DH will speak Cantonese to DD when they are together, when we are all together we all speak English as otherwise there will be someone, i.e. me, who doesn't understand, and I do not want that to happen in my own home.

My in-laws also ignore Christmases and Birthdays, which I am cross about, as they don't ignore their grandchildren who live in the same country as them. But all DH and I can do is to make our own household, with its mismatch of cultures, with our own traditions, and let them get on with it.

BUT... you can only do that with a man who respects you, and your culture, and treats you well, and he doesn't. He has been utterly cruel to you at the worst times of your life. Is it worth it anymore? Do you love him? Do you even like him? If the answer to all those things is no, then for your sake, and your children's sake, call it a day - you deserve more than this.

LeaLeander · 02/03/2016 15:59

If it were just Scenario 1 I would say you were at fault - 20 years is plenty of time to become conversant in even the most difficult language.

But reading on to Scenario 2 - horrible. Why stay with someone who is unsupportive and disrespectful? Your kids must see that. Ugh. Sounds like you need some real-life advice and counseling th help you consider your options.

Jux · 02/03/2016 16:53

You will do very well without him. As a result, your dcs, after a short period, will do very well too. It doesn't have to be massively traumatic; as long as you are stable and loving for them when they are with you, they will be fine. Dump him, the sooner the better.

scatteroflight · 02/03/2016 17:53

Scenario 2 means you should LTB. What does marriage mean if not to support eachother through times of difficulty with compassion and empathy? Compounding your problems by calling you "damaged" is a clear sign that this relationship is not working as it should.

Scenario 1 is unfortunately just the predictable outcome of cultural differences in a relationship. Language barriers, overbearing involvement of in-laws, split loyalties of children, cultural clashes etc etc are all just a natural outcome and easily foreseeable. If you intended to split up your family based on just your own cultural alienation I would say you were being unreasonable and unfair to your DH and DCs.

Gabilan · 02/03/2016 19:26

OP you came through a breakdown with no support from him. You kept the household going and looked after the DCs. You are much stronger than you think.

IJustLostTheGame · 02/03/2016 19:30

Leave him.
You will feel better.

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