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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not be prepared to make changes

504 replies

AngelThursday · 07/05/2017 16:19

OH and I (really can't call him DH ATM as I'm still reeling from my discovery a few months ago that he'd been having an ongoing affair) are currently working on our marriage as a result of his 4 1/2 year infedilty. Which he blames incidentally on my lack of interest in sex and intimacy (we haven't slept together in ten years). I am really trying to work on my issues with intimacy and to be fair he is being v patient and understanding about this.
However as part of the process of reestablishing our relationship he is putting pressure on me to make some other changes. ATM I am a sahm to our 15 year old DS. I have some help in the house such as a cleaner who also does some ironing, a dog walker once a week while I'm at my hobby/course and a gardener. OH is suggesting that we either reduce the help or I get a parttime job.
I feel the current set up works well for our DS (OH works long and erratic hours) and that he is only asking to make a change because of recent events. Also, we really don't need a second income as he earns very highly.
I have discovered that the OW is a career woman with three DC and can't help feeling he is comparing me to her.
So I'm therefore inclined to dig my heels in and refuse to make the changes he requests - AIBU?

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/05/2017 20:34

This does lead me to believe that it is now that the affair is out in the open he does now intend to leave and is trying to reduce any spousal maintenance,

Why do you assume this? He is happy for her to continue to be a stay at home parent, she does not have to work, he has given her the option. He's said if she stays home she should reduce the amount of help she gets in terms of cleaner, gardener and ironing lady. This isn't about reducing spousal support, that's him to do a bit more now the son is nearly an adult. She is refusing to reduce the home help and she's refusing to work and using the affair as a weapon to maintain her lifestyle.

PoorYorick · 07/05/2017 20:35

She didn't post this thread to be roasted.

Nobody posts to be roasted. Everyone posts to be told they are completely in the right and a wonderful human being. Sometimes the truth isn't what they want to hear, in which case they shouldn't ask the internet at large what it thinks.

She's a wife, not a prostitute getting money for sex.

And her husband is a human being, not a walking cashpoint who remains on call to do daytime childcare when OP - a SAHM to a boy of 15 - demands.

She said herself he had stopped asking about sex, which implies to me he had made efforts to communicate before starting an affair after six frigging sexless years. The sexlessness and emotional neglect in this marriage have still gone on more than twice as long as the affair.

Honestly, I think treating people like services - be that bankrolling, domestic drudgery, sexual servicing or anything else - and ignoring their needs for years on end is far, far worse than developing a romantic and sexual relationship with someone after years and years of being treated like such a service.

Goldfishjane · 07/05/2017 20:36

OP
I can totally see why you are attached to your lifestyle
But your DH is under no obligation to keep it going

How would you respond if he wanted a divorce? That seems quite likely.

MyPatronusIsAUnicorn · 07/05/2017 20:43

I remember your previous threads. I don't know why you bother posting. No one will give you any sympathy for your DH having an affair. There is a lot of presuming on your part in your marriage and not much actual communicating. I feel sorry for your DH. Get your lazy arse out to work fgs. It is only a matter of time before your DH leaves you, then you will be up shit creek.

mathanxiety · 07/05/2017 20:44

You need to piss or get off the pot, OP.

iceonfire · 07/05/2017 20:48

Just to play devil's advocate her for a minute. There are obviously many women who live similar lifestyles to the OP. Half the mums I know are like this - school aged DC, cleaners, dog walkers etc - sometimes a nanny, driver or personal trainer to boot. It happens where money is not the issue.

Some men prefer to have wives at home for all kinds of reasons. Maybe this DH was one of them? We actually know very little about him.

The OP's confidence must be at rock bottom following this 4 YEAR affair. Even in the absence of that, it's hard to get back into the workplace after 15 years. You feel older and your confidence eroded.

Her intimacy problems may be due to childhood trauma. Yes she should have got help and it's not fair on her DH. Perhaps it felt overwhelming to her? We just don't know the circumstances.

OP why do you want to stay in this marriage? Are you sure he's moved on from the OW? Why are you holding onto this? I would divorce him now. Sounds like you'll have enough to tide you over for a few years until you can get back in your feet with some kind of job. Why flog a dead horse? Let him go to the OW. You could meet someone else too and get a whole new lease of life.

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 07/05/2017 20:50

I say this without an ounce of malice, but I would have left you years ago....

newnoo · 07/05/2017 20:55

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

wingingitmostdays · 07/05/2017 20:55

AngelThursday I can't begin to imagine how heartbreaking it must have been to find out about the affair, no matter what shape your relationship is in.

I struggle with lack of intimacy with my partner even if it's been a few weeks, I can't begin to imagine how distant I'd feel after 10 years.

There is a lot of work that both you and your husband need to put in, but I think it could be worth looking at a job or volunteering role; it could be amazing for you and you might really enjoy it. If you don't, you will have tried and that will show your husband you are also willing to work at this.

Sending you love and luck, I really hope everything works out the way you hope Flowers

Babymamamama · 07/05/2017 20:56

OP my mother was a bit like you. All the help in the house and not willing to do anything particularly useful to anyone else. And she didn't even ferry us back and forward to school. As soon as we were off to uni guess where my dad went? Off to marry his mistress who had always worked and guess what she still does. Even though my dad was always a good earner so she wouldn't have had to. But she chose to and they are still together years later. I think there's a lesson in there somewhere.

PoorYorick · 07/05/2017 20:58

It really doesn't matter what anyone else does. It matters what OP and her husband do. He is plainly not happy with the situation and he shouldn't have to pretend he is just because some men like bankrolling a woman who does nothing except make dinner and paint.

Regarding the issues with intimacy (ten years without sex, a no brainer), the problem with people who refuse to have sex with their partners is often not so much the sex. It's the fact that the refusing partner just doesn't give a monkeys about the effect on their spouse.

I think a lot of people could probably get by with little sex if they still got lots of intimacy in other ways, reassurance that they are loved and wanted, and the reluctant partner actively sought help - and worked with the therapist - to try to fix the issue. In other words, acknowledged how unloved, unattractive and unwanted their partner would be feeling, and proving through actions that they cared about their feelings enough to at least be TRYING to resolve the issue.

We don't know OP, true. But there is nothing, in this thread or her other one, that suggests she values her husband as anything more than a cashpoint who should also still parent their teenager during the working week when it doesn't suit her, a SAHM, to do it.

She has not, to my recollection, mentioned the sexlessness before now, which implies that she didn't think it was a problem until she discovered the affair. Actually, she still doesn't think it is a problem because she's still claiming she's done nothing wrong and shouldn't have to make any changes.

How self absorbed can you get? And now she thinks that because her husband took up another relationship because he frankly didn't have one with his wife, she is the permanent victim and should not have to make any changes at all?

Bluntness100 · 07/05/2017 21:01

From what I've been reading though she also demands he works from home if someone has to look after their child if the child being st home clashes with stuff she personally wants to do and she kicks off if he won't.

For me though I'm reading an attitude of entitlement based on "this is what other wives get so why shouldn't I?

Bottom line she wants a marriage of convenience. He doesn't,

shyturnip · 07/05/2017 21:04

I agree with you bluntness. There is a sense of self righteousness and complete unawareness from the OP about her dh's needs.

Whatsforu · 07/05/2017 21:08

I have just read one of your replies and I am shocked by your entitled attitude. I actually feel sorry for your DH. Sounds like you are take take take. I actually don't blame your DH for having an affair and that's something coming from me as I feel strongly about the effects of an affair. Don't you realise a partnership needs work from both. I am gobsmacked.

rollonthesummer · 07/05/2017 21:15

Your poor husband-you seem to be seeing him as a cash cow.

What job did you do before you married him, just out of interest?

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2017 21:18

Sorry 5.5 not 5.6 for the years before affair.

user1493022461 · 07/05/2017 21:18

You again OP. Did you not get enough YABU's last time?

I really hope for his sake your DH is going to leave you. I would if I were him.

PhyllisNights · 07/05/2017 21:23

I really wish we'd stop accusing the OP of being money grabbing.

One of my sister's had a friend that grew up rich and never worked. She'd go to bars around London Liverpool Street, dressed in work attire and tell rich men that she worked in the city as a PA. She eventually did get a very rich husband.

I doubt that OP was going out of her way to end up like this. She has a hobby and a course. Some rich wives who stay at home go out for lunch everyday, go shopping everyday & are constantly renovating their house. She's told us no such thing.

user1493022461 · 07/05/2017 21:26

This is the same OP who expected her husband to stay home from work to mind a 15 year old so she could go to her art class, and was mad at him when he told her no.

No wonder he had an affair. The only surprise is that he hasn't thrown OP over already. Probably waiting till the kid grows up.

PoorYorick · 07/05/2017 21:28

I really wish we'd stop accusing the OP of being money grabbing.

Why? She is. This wouldn't be an issue if her ATM was also happy with the arrangement but he's not.

One of my sister's had a friend that grew up rich and never worked. She'd go to bars around London Liverpool Street, dressed in work attire and tell rich men that she worked in the city as a PA. She eventually did get a very rich husband.

So what?

I doubt that OP was going out of her way to end up like this.

Again, so what?

She has a hobby and a course.

So. What?

Some rich wives who stay at home go out for lunch everyday, go shopping everyday & are constantly renovating their house.

So.....

She's told us no such thing.

What?

LoveDeathPrizes · 07/05/2017 21:30

Bit harsh for the most part.

OP appears to have gone without sex and itimacy far longer than her DH. And yes, maybe that's at her instigation but why is the onus always on the DW to deal with the emotional labour of a relationship? There's every chance she just didn't want the kind of sex and intimacy on offer.

All of which does however point to a life better lived alone. I think it would be such a good move to get a job. You need to feel autonomous in order to deal with how you feel about the affair. It's really hard breaking out of a co-dependent relationship when your own identity is mutable to your husband's.

Good luck OP.

PoorYorick · 07/05/2017 21:32

why is the onus always on the DW to deal with the emotional labour of a relationship?

It isn't and nobody has suggested anything so silly. But if one partner is refusing sex and it is causing a problem, the onus IS on that partner to TRY to do something about it, if they care about hurting their spouse. Of course, if they don't give a shit about their partner's feelings and needs (like OP), then there's no relationship to command any loyalty and I wouldn't judge anyone for finding comfort elsewhere.

There's every chance she just didn't want the kind of sex and intimacy on offer.

You think?

OnionKnight · 07/05/2017 21:35

I hope he divorces you OP and leaves you without a pot to piss in.

BoneyBackJefferson · 07/05/2017 21:36

LoveDeathPrizes
OP appears to have gone without sex and itimacy far longer than her DH. And yes, maybe that's at her instigation but why is the onus always on the DW to deal with the emotional labour of a relationship?

Isn't that (in this case) its a self fulfilling prophecy?
She has made her bed and she can lie in it, springs to mind, and yes I do see the irony of that.

Magpiemagpie · 07/05/2017 21:36

I wonder if the DH got fed up of asking for sex from the OP not that he decided to stop sex totally
If he kept asking and kept getting told no then I'm not surprised that he sought sex elsewhere
I think OP that your cushy lifestyle will end dramatically when your son goes to uni
Or will you be driving your son to uni each day as well

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