Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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:
leggere · 07/05/2018 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

leggere · 07/05/2018 21:21

If you can't relax in your own home, where can you? With another woman, of course.

mamahanji · 07/05/2018 21:38

Excellent post leggere

If you have young children and are at home with them, he will have an affair. And if you nag him for being a dirty minger and understandable resent that he looked after himself for another woman but not you, it's your fault.

Idiot.

ferntwist · 07/05/2018 21:40

@Leggere you’re either joking or the husband

leggere · 07/05/2018 21:44

I repeat, if you can't relax in your own home, where can you relax?

mamahanji · 07/05/2018 21:49

With minging teeth and BO in the bed of another woman while your wife is at home with your children...obviously.

leggere · 07/05/2018 21:52

mamahanji, I've been married for 27 years and never been called a nag. Dh has never had an affair. So who's the idiot/idiots round here, do you think?

mamahanji · 07/05/2018 21:53

Well done for keeping your husband from straying. It's 100% because of your lack of nagging. I commend you on your fantastic marriage skills.

MyOtherUsernameisaPun · 07/05/2018 21:55

@leggere do fuck off. Maybe you have so little self respect that you wouldn't mind your DH being as repulsive and unhygeinic as OP's but that doesn't mean OP ought to put up with it.

I agree that she shouldn't nag him, but only because I think she should walk away from this disrespectful and revolting man who doesn't deserve her.

CoffeeOrSleep · 07/05/2018 21:57

leggere - do you really think having a shower and cleaning your teeth is somehow 'fancy' for work, but not part of a normal relaxing weekend?

He knows he needs to be clean for other people to find him acceptable, so he cleans himself for work and knew for the other woman to find him attractive, he had to be clean and fragrent. He knows the OP doesn't find him attractive when he smells, but doesn't care about her opinion.

OP - you can't make him care. You can nag and force him to make changes, but he won't care about your opinion enough to try without being forced.

This is as good as it gets, unless he finds another woman he views as worth making an effort for. He doesn't see the point of making effort for you.

leggere · 07/05/2018 21:58

And still no answer? If you can't relax in your own home and slob about a bit, then where can you?

mamahanji · 07/05/2018 22:00

I did answer...

With dirty teeth and BO in the bed of another woman while your wife is at home with your children.

Did you not like that answer?

AmericanEskimoDoge · 07/05/2018 22:00

No wonder I'm so tired! Stupid me, I've been stressing myself out with showering and brushing my teeth-- even on weekends! Well, no more of that nonsense. I'll be "relaxing" in a blissful cloud of my own foul fumes, from now on!

leggere · 07/05/2018 22:03

And you call me an idiot? Grin Grin Here, have one of these and slob about a bit, it'll do you good!! Wine

Kettlepotblack · 07/05/2018 22:04

I don't think the 'ugh he's gross' comments are particularly helpful...

It seems there are many layers to this. The fact he is not bothering to look after himself shows very low self esteem and self respect. It sounds like, for whatever reason he is very unhappy. If he hadn't had an affair, it may be that you could see past this and work with him on what the problem is. However, he has betrayed you and you are interpreting this within the context of his betrayal, comparing what he was like with her, rather than objectively looking at what might be wrong (and who could blame you by the way).

No one knows anyone's marriage and therefore I couldn't ever say leave him or don't leave him, that it's all his fault - only you can make this decision. However, it sounds like you are not over this affair and neither of you are happy in the marriage and that it's time to really face up to the root of the problem like adults. It's often not what you say to someone, it's the right time, place and tone you say it. Can you speak to him gently, without making personal digs, when things have settled? Not bringing up the list of resentments you have toward each other but being as respectful as possible? Anything else is bound to end in another row...

Flicksthename · 07/05/2018 22:06

Maybe leggere and her DH are as smelly and grim as each other, hence the 27 year strong relationship.
27 happy smelly years relaxing all weekend...

Maverick66 · 07/05/2018 22:09

Sorry but life is too short. 💐

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 07/05/2018 22:18

The man you thought you married didn't exist - he was on his best behaviour. The stinky, leaky expanding slob is the real him. The person who is happy to stew in his own foul stench and doesn't care for your thoughts is the real him.
Optimism and hope can be their own prison. Life is too short. He is showing you who he is and how little he loves and respects you. You can unilaterally end a marriage but you cannot unilaterally save it. Be warned, only give an ultimatum you can follow through on - he will try and suck you in.

leggere · 07/05/2018 22:19

Nag, nag, nag! Weekends, he brushes his teeth once instead of twice, he has one shower instead of 2 or 3!! Oh, and he eats tubs of clotted cream!! The kids love him, he works hard and tells OP she's beautiful. But never mind all that, LTB!!!! No wonder some people have affairs! Can't even be bothered to argue, only have half an hour left of my lazy weekend before bed and the start of another week. Keep nagging guys and see how long you last!!

NightAndShiningArmour · 07/05/2018 22:22

You know how you say he lacks initiative? It struck me straight away that he wants out of your relationship, but won't, well, take the initiative. So is making himself as unattractive as possible to try to encourage YOU to leave HIM. That, or he's punishing you :/

You deserve what is on the other side of this relationship, which is someone who actually loves and appreciates you.

I would do him this final favour, and LTB. xx

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2018 22:23

@Fedups I am afraid I would see a solicitor and end the marriage but get your ducks in a row first.

Once things are rolling if he makes an effort, sees a GP (because it sounds like has depression maybe) and sorts out his hygene and weight and you decide it is worth staying, then stay. But the way things are now, no I would be looking to end the marriage.

How old are your kids?

Totally agree with BigbreastsBiggerbeard "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?"

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2018 22:26

"And it was only when she started making plans for ‘their future’ together, he realised he’d gone too far." So the affair only ended when he realised it had gone too far!

"As for health & hygiene, he would say I am just being controlling."

He is being controlling by forcing you you to live with his BO and Halitosis.

Monkeypuzzle32 · 07/05/2018 22:29

it sounds like he is punishing you to me.

Oly5 · 07/05/2018 22:29

Ignore Leggere, we’re just adding fuel to his/her fire by responding to that shit.
Repulsive breath, not caring about appearance and not showering.. it’s either depression or they don’t want to stay married. I couldn’t be with somebody who cared so little about themselves and it’s effect on me.
And the fact they polished up well for a younger girl is the nail in the coffin.
I’d ask him if he’s depressed. If he says no then tell him you’re giving him three months to get ahi shit together or he’s leaving.
You can do better OP

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2018 22:32

OP you are worth more than this.

"He can be so kind and caring, the kids adore him and my friends and family love him, and even they seem to have put the affair long behind them, as they all think he is wonderful. "

They do not get to forgive him, he cheated on you, you can forgive or not but quite aside from the affair his behaviour now is punishing you.

Totally agree with @SandyY2K, it;s not for others to forgive him!