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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can't decide what to do about relationship

25 replies

dragonfly12345 · 27/07/2018 13:54

New user profile. I am looking for advice, have nowhere to turn.

There have been problems in my marriage for quite a while. There's love underneath it all (I think) but also I take a lot of very upsetting name-calling from him and it has been much worse since DD was born 6 years ago. I work (currently part time, 28hr/week) and also do all food shopping, all meal prep, DD's bath and night time routine, all laundry, all gardening. I am not perfect at this- the house is not spotless. I do my best though. After DD was born, I did all night feeds, sterilising bottles, etc; I felt awful from the sleep deprivation and felt very depressed. I was told that I am a useless parent and DD will grow up to despise me (among other things).

When OH is on form, things are fine. Otherwise... I spend a lot of time walking on eggshells. He often tells me that I don't do anything or contribute to the relationship. I'm so tired I often fall asleep on the sofa of an evening and so I'm not fun to be with. DD's bedtime isn't the best (she gets to sleep at 9pm on a good day...) but I've tried to bring it forward and that hasn't worked.... I'm therefore told that I'm failing to let DD know who's boss. Bad mother.

A couple of years ago I hit a really bad patch. I felt like I had no life. I was lucky though, I got a new job which really challenges me, makes use of my degree, pays well and lets me have the flexible hours. I also got a car (had to because otherwise I couldn't get to work). During my job search I was told by OH that I will never get a job because my social skills are so rubbish and I look fat and ridiculous (used to be thin; never lost the pregnancy weight, another bone of contention). When I got the job, I felt better for a while. At least things were going well there even when bad at home. The company seems pleased, have hinted at good career progression in the future.

Problem is, OH got offered an executive-track job 3hrs drive away from we are. It's the natural job progression for him and will cement his career. But I don't want to give up my work and move... he wants me to resign and look for another job there. My job is niche, there is no way I will get something half as good, have been looking through the job listings but it makes me feel so depressed to think of applying for these compared to what I have.

OH is furious. He is guilting me about putting work ahead of family; apparently I'm a self-centred bitch and he feels sorry for DD that she has such a mother. I haven't asked him to give up his job offer though! But I want him to commute to work during the week so that I can keep looking for a decent job to come up. It costs a lot of money to rent somewhere to stay during the week though. He would rather I just move. His family are disgusted with me as they say I am not trying hard enough to find something new and that I am just trying to get rid of him. Apparently I am unreasonable not to take a lesser job for the sake of keeping the family together, because his job is so good.

Thing is; if I move, I am going to be isolated and my mental health is going to drop off a cliff. If I end the relationship, DD is going to live 3h away from her father being shuttled between houses (have to add that DD and OH do have a good relationship, she adores daddy). If I insist on staying here, I'm costing us a lot of money and breaking up the family.

What the hell do I do.

OP posts:
missperegrinespeculiar · 27/07/2018 14:06

Leave him, he is vile, your DD is learning all the wrong lessons about relationships, she will grow up to despise you, not because you are a bad mother, you are not, but because she will learn that from him, and she will probably also learn to despise herself, surrounded by his misogynistic abuse

you are independent financially, you can do it! do you have support in RL? leave him and his equally horrendous family!

VeryHangryCaterpillar · 27/07/2018 14:07

You know what you need to do OP. He is an abusive arsehole. Please don’t continue to demonstrate to your daughter that it is acceptable for men to treat their wives this way. You are better than this.

BoomBoomsCousin · 27/07/2018 14:10

From what you’ve written here it seems pretty clear that you definitely shouldn’t give up your job. You aren’t putting your career before family, you’re putting your career on a level with his career, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Can you really imagine the rest of your life with this man? You say there is love underneath but, from what you write, it seems hidden pretty far down.

Readyfortheschoolhols · 27/07/2018 14:10

His job is an ideal opportunity for him to fuck off imo!!
Tell him to go and you can stay and bring up your dd in a healthier environment....

BottleOfJameson · 27/07/2018 14:13

What would you advise your DD in 20 years if she was in a relationship like that? It doesn't sound like he's of any emotional support to you, you have to walk on egg shells he seems to put you down rather than build you up. No bad relationship is bad all the time and even the worse person has good points.

MadMaryBoddington · 27/07/2018 14:15

I would end the marriage. No way would I want to share my life with someone who treated me like that. Do not give up your job.

LovelyBath77 · 27/07/2018 14:28

My DH can say some odd stuff after a drink, but nothing that bad. I really think that what he is saying is not only extremely unsupportive but abusive and will be adding to your mental health problems.

TemptressofWaikiki · 27/07/2018 14:35

He sounds very abusive and I would actually split from him and the equally abusive inlaws.

Shoxfordian · 27/07/2018 14:38

End the marriage
He treats you badly and it doesn't even sound like he likes you

TorviBrightspear · 27/07/2018 14:38

Get rid, he sounds abusive.

I left someone last year, and it was the best thing I did for long time. Your DD shouldn't grow up seeing you denigrated like that.

MrsTommyBanks · 27/07/2018 14:48

He is emotionally abusing you.
I will echo BottleOfJameson.
What would you advise your DD in 20 years if she was in a relationship like that?

A police officer said exactly those words to me and it was the moment I saw the light.
I hope you find a way forward and a happier future Flowers

GabriellaMontez · 27/07/2018 15:04

What a wonderful opportunity to be rid of this vile character. Good Dads don't speak to the Mother of their children like this by the way.

Life is way too short to share with this man.

Have you read the threads on here where women are financially trapped by abusive men. That could be you if you forfeit your job.

His family sound like twats too.

GabriellaMontez · 27/07/2018 15:08

He can stay in an air bnb if he wants to take the new job. Interesting how his new job is deemed good for your family but your job is self centred! I bet he'd love you to be isolated, unemployed and dependent.

Justanothernameonthepage · 27/07/2018 15:18

If you can't face leaving him (although I can't see why you want your DD to think this is normal). Suggest he works away mon-fri rather than disrupting the DC school and losing your job.
Point out that right now you work, do his share of the childcare and housework so if you do move, he needs to step up, do his fair share, while you focus on your mental health and creating a support network unless he wants to be responsible for disrupting his child's education, your mental health and also he should be covering your loss of pension contributions until you get a new job. And so that you know he can do it, he should start now, so he can pick from a list of jobs what he's happy to do and alternative nights for bedtime routine.

Jimjamjong · 27/07/2018 15:24

He is the one putting his job before his family.

Bluelady · 27/07/2018 15:30

Someone who loves you doesn't behave like this. In an employment context this would be constructive dismissal. Let him go to his new job and he can choose between coming back for weekends or not. It would be better for you if he doesn't.

NoLightInTheTunnel · 27/07/2018 15:41

What a wonderful opportunity to be rid of this vile character.

I second and third this. Tell him you're staying and he's welcome to leave. You'll be much better off without him. And you'll live 3 hours away? It'll be up to him to make the effort to see DD - he'd be the one who decided to move away.

Seriously, from someone who escaped an abusive relationship - let him go and be well rid.

Ihatemycar · 27/07/2018 15:55

You are equally important and it sounds like a God send that he has a job offer away from you.
Take the opportunity to say this is god's will to live the life I deserve.
I beg you to consider staying behind. You'll be so happy without that awful man.
My lovely husband works away all week and comes back on Friday. He never tells me off or resents me for staying at home while he works his nuts off.
You sound sweet and capable. You are absolutely enough. Free yourself of such an awful negative presence in your life.
I'm not an advocate for ending marriages but you need a partner not a dictator.

NotBuiltForThisWorld · 27/07/2018 16:02

Off he pops then. This isn't working out and you've been treated very poorly. LTB xxx

MereDintofPandiculation · 27/07/2018 16:13

You've already told us that he considers you a useless parent despite you working and also doing all the work in the house. If you follow him and have no job or less of a job, how good a parent will he consider you?

You also said that the job going well is a positive thing for you to set against when home isn't going well. If you go with him you will lose that - what positive thing will you have to cling on to when home life isn't going well?

dragonfly12345 · 27/07/2018 16:26

Thanks all. If nothing else, it's kind of reassuring to be told that this isn't 'normal'.

At this stage I do wonder if it's better to just split... I am so sick of being called names. I know that sounds petty. And sometimes I think I actually have the strength to leave... but then I don't and I keep soldiering on with it.

But, in the middle of all of this, there is DD. It feels as though there is no good way forward for her future. If we split, she will be caught up in a divorce battle and be shuttled between two households. If we stay together, by the time she is a teenager she will be used to hearing her mum called a useless disgusting zombie.

OP posts:
IceCreamFace · 27/07/2018 16:28

At this stage I do wonder if it's better to just split... I am so sick of being called names. I know that sounds petty.

It doesn't sound petty. I've been with DH since we've been 19 and never have we called each other names. We've had arguments and been short with each other but I would never dream of making him feel like a bad parent and nor would he. My self esteem would be wrecked in that situation. Get out now before your DD starts believing this is what she can expect from a partner.

Readyfortheschoolhols · 27/07/2018 16:30

No better time to use the fab mn phrase I read yesterday :
Off you pop then cunty chops!!
Grin
Just brilliant!!

Allthewaves · 27/07/2018 16:46

She's hearing u all called these nasty things now and your married.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/07/2018 16:56

There is a split in the road in front of you.

One way is isolation, regret, being called horrible things, moving, a shitty husband for ever. And eventually, down the road, watching your DD get into relationships just like yours, because that's what she knows.

The other way is your great job, your own space with no one calling you names. There is a little tough patch at the beginning, with a divorce and having to sort DD's time with her dad. It's rough but temporary. Way down the road there's an assured young woman DD who knows to leave a shitty relationship because her mother taught her to.

Which sounds better?

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