Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel repulsed by DH sometimes..

260 replies

Fedups · 07/05/2018 10:58

Feeling so down about this today..and DH has just stormed off refusing to speak, as he always does. I honestly need some perspective on this, so thank you for reading if you do.
DH has always had a problem with initiative, probably due to growing up with an overbearing controlling mother. He can be sweet & kind and loving, but often lacks such basic drive, it’s been like living with a child sometimes. 3 years ago, I discovered he had been having an affair with a young girl at work, and had been lying to me for 18 months. It tore our family apart, but I managed to keep things together, and for the sake of our young family, gave it another chance. For a time things were great, he seemed interested and motivated by us. And being with us. However, since then, his motivation for anything..has simply disappeared. He takes no interest in himself, has developed a huge paunch. Can’t stand up easily, or bend down to pick things up, because he has got that big.
He eats everything & anything, including tubs of clotted cream..’because he can’..and if I comment, he just eats more.
His dental hygiene has become appalling..which really hurts, as he always had a fresh bottle of lusterine on the go, when he was seeing this girl. His breath is sometimes so repulsive, I can smell it from feet away. But he says he doesn’t care.
As well as this, he has taken to not bothering to shower on the weekends..which I just don’t understand. He really cannot be bothered..and seemingly can’t be bothered about me, or what I think. This morning at breakfast, I could smell BO, and he claims he was simply too busy to shower yesterday. At home all day in the garden, on the hottest day of the year..but he was just too busy to shower.
I’ve finally snapped, and commented that he used to shower twice a day for this girl. In fact he used to make more of an effort with everything. Does he not see how it might seem to me? I look after myself. I am 50, and am slim and still considered young & pretty for my age. I feel like I am wasted on this man sometimes. I can’t feel anything towards somebody who has so much apathy towards themselves, or me!
I’ve tried not saying anything for months, to trying to talk about it gently and openly...but he never responds. He just makes some derogatory ‘yes dear’ comment..and walks away. I honestly don’t know what to do. But it is making me feel so lost & low.
Am I being unreasonable in wishing he would look after himself more? Or am I right to think that a man who truly cared what his partner thought, would take some pride in with his hygiene and his appearance.
I know this all might seem ridiculously over sensitive and inane, but thank you for reading Flowers

OP posts:
Aprilmightbemynewname · 07/05/2018 11:01

Sorry to say but it seems he checked out of your marriage when he had an affair.
And you may have given your marriage another try but he didn't.
It's crunch time op.
If I was you I would admit defeat.

JollyGiraffe · 07/05/2018 11:01

God he sounds awful.

You deserve more.

happypoobum · 07/05/2018 11:03

Well, this is tricky as I wouldn't have stayed after the affair, and it's hard to comment on the current situation without that being part of it. You say yourself it's a factor.

I would probably LTB. Why would you stay married to a man who has cheated on you and who you find repulsive?

GreyGardens88 · 07/05/2018 11:03

Leave him?

PickAChew · 07/05/2018 11:04

I think it's over, sadly, and has been for a long time.

calzone · 07/05/2018 11:04

Yuck

I couldn’t stay with someone like this.

He doesn’t care about you at all and you should move on I think.

If it was just about hygiene I might think it was depression but the affair would have finished me.

ferntwist · 07/05/2018 11:04

OP this sounds beyond repair. You shouldn’t have to live like this. You’re youthful and attractive enough to meet a man who you can have fun with and share all sorts of adventures. Make plans to get him out as soon as you can.

maymai · 07/05/2018 11:05

No,wonder you feel repulsed. I think your marriage is over, time to get yourself out and have a life you deserve not this existence.

MrsMozart · 07/05/2018 11:06

He's either depressed or has already checked out of the marriage. Possibly both.

Either way, as you've already tried the supportive route it's time to put you and your children first, as in make a new life.

FadedRed · 07/05/2018 11:06

If I was being very sympathetic, then I would suggest that the self-neglect and excessive eating could be symptoms of depressive illness.
But I would have ended the marriage over the deceit and adultery.

clothcollector · 07/05/2018 11:10

wow, i dont really know what to say. he clearly needs to sort it out for himself though!

you've been massively betrayed by him but putting that aside, i'd still be pissed off if my DH stank, didnt brush his teeth and put on a lot of weight fairly quickly. so no, yanbu.

but what can you do about it if he doesnt want to talk or change anything?

Fedups · 07/05/2018 11:11

Whenever I have commented on his breath or his size, he makes it seem like I am just an endless nag. And that was one of the reasons he had sought solace elsewhere apparently. He’d found a ‘friend’ who didn’t nag all the time...but of course that’s not true. I had a young child..had just had a late miscarriage and he was going out more and more...which of course led to arguments around that. And this 28 year old was showing him a taste of wild abandonment and joy...
I don’t want to hurt his feelings when I point these things out. But to me, looking after yourself is really important, it’s not vanity. It’s self respect..right? Or am I being too harsh?

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 07/05/2018 11:15

Sounds pretty grim. He clearly doesn't have enough respect for you to brush his teeth, a statement which is making me 🤢

BigbreastsBiggerbeard · 07/05/2018 11:15

You "don't want to hurt his feelings" but he clearly isn't concerned about hurting yours. You deserve far more than this. Your continued in the marriage despite his betrayal and you've done your best. Perhaps consider that you'd be better off without him?

LEMtheoriginal · 07/05/2018 11:16

He sounds depressed but tough shit - it's his problem not yours. He either gets help or fucks off the wallow in self pity on his own. Don't let him drag you down.

I say this as someone struggling with depression myself.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/05/2018 11:18

I’d ask him if he was depressed, and say that that’s the only reason it might be understandable that he is not looking after himself.

If he is adamant that he is not, then you know it’s pure apathy and disregard for others.

Ebony69 · 07/05/2018 11:18

I agree that he sounds depressed. If that’s the case, only he can make changes through recognising it and seeking help. Either way, especially given the history of your relationship, you are under no duty to remain in the relationship. Sounds as if you have so much going for you and if nothing changes, you’ll end up resenting him even more. Life is too short for that.

Swizzlegiggle · 07/05/2018 11:21

Exactly what April says.
You deserve better OPThanks

Idontdowindows · 07/05/2018 11:25

He knows he can do what he likes because you won't take action anyway.

That's what his actions are about now. He doesn't care about you or the marriage, but he knows you're not going anywhere, so why would he make an effort?

Sit yourself down and ask yourself if this is what you want.

FinallyHere · 07/05/2018 11:27

I agree that looking after yourself is a part of self respect. Another part is making sure you are only around people who treat you with respect.

Whether consciously, or unconsciously, I think he is trying to get you to throw him out. Sorry, but really, your life, and that of our DC, will be much better when you are no longer pretending to be in a relationship.

StrangeLookingParasite · 07/05/2018 11:27

You deserve much more than this. He sounds awful.

croprotationinthe13thcentury · 07/05/2018 11:28

Well he made more effort for this young girl because he was clearly more into her than you. Harsh as that sounds. If you are happy to hang around and be second best, fine. But seriously, dont expect him to change. Youve made your position quite clear: he can act and behave how he likes and you will stick by him regardless.

Snowysky20009 · 07/05/2018 11:32

I think when he checked out of your marriage he didn't check back in. Even though you believed you tried and it was working.
Sorry OP, but I think it's time to call it a day.

Nothisispatrick · 07/05/2018 11:35

Oh god he sounds so gross, sorry. Reading this made me feel a little ill. Has an affair with someone significantly younger (im assuming that as you are in your 50s so I guess he is too), so fat he can't bend over, eats tubs of cream(!!) and stinks. Honestly! It's vile.

PoorYorick · 07/05/2018 11:35

What's in this for you?

Swipe left for the next trending thread