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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not know if this marriage will ever work?

261 replies

FizzyWaterMelon · 25/02/2020 23:31

First post so go easy on me please.

Tl:dr. Husband wants me to work part time and look after the house. Super high expectations make it impossible and we both feel like crap.

I've been with my now husband for just under two years. We got married in January, a rushed wedding as we'd just bought a house together. The house has needed a substantial amount of work done inxli9a new kitchen and bathroom, costing a small fortune we borrowed from my mum and came from his savings account. The house is in my name and me (and my mum) paid the deposit.

He is a really loving and caring guy. Always puts me first, looks out for me, makes sure I'm OK in stressful situations etc when my anxiety plays up.

When we met I had returned to uni and was going to pursue becoming a primary teacher, then later it changed to accountancy. I had always had a goal of having a good career that would allow me to live the lifestyle I want. I don't want lots of holidays, I just want to do things with my horse. We decided mutually that there was no point me getting a new career underway to then take so many years off to have children, and so I cancelled my uni course and finished with a BA.

Over the last few months and with me working various shift patterns from part time to full time, we have talked so many times about me only working part time and staying at home to look after the house etc while he works full time. We have discussed it that often I don't remember who's idea it was and feel he has been pushing me to give up my job so I an become a good little housewife.

My part time job pays the mortgage and for my horse. That was the deal, and he pays everything else. In return it's my job to take care of the house, do the washing etc. Except every time I do something he has a problem with it. I stopped doing washing in his day off as I was mixing loads and things weren't getting washed properly. I stopped cleaning as I was either doing it too quickly and therefore incorrectly or too slowly and taking too long.

Basically, everything I do he says is wrong, and it's getting me down. Tonight is the 2ns night in 6 weeks I'm sleeping on the couch. I do things a regular person does but everything is wrong and apparently shows I have no respect for him at all.

He is very considerate in some areas. Always makes sure my mum is OK now she's on her own, takes care of all the bills from his pay, wants me to have the best life I can. And in return I just need to treat him the way he treats me. The problem is I just can't. I always mess it up or over think it or only think about myself.

Am I being unreasonable? Should I just suck it up and work on being a better wife? Not many folk can say they only work part time with no kids and have so much free time.

Kudos if you go this far.

OP posts:
mistermagpie · 26/02/2020 10:26

He sounds terrible. Really, like, officially a bad guy.

You're 27.

That's pretty much it.

Run like the wind, enjoy your youth and your horse and you'll meet someone infinitely better than him in due course, I guarantee it.

messolini9 · 26/02/2020 10:27

We thought that moving from the teeny time flat into a house with a lot more space would really help.

Did "we"?
Or did he see you & your mum coming, & seize the opportunity to have you buy him a house, limit your career, & treat you as a defective housework slave?

Get rid of him before he ruins your self esteem, get back into full time work, & spend a LOT of time with your horse, healing yourself from this horrible abusive bastard.

messolini9 · 26/02/2020 10:31

Also, he had said I couldn't have a natural birth or breast feed

WHAT?
What the actual FUCK did I just read?

My dear OP - what gives this man any right to make decisions about your body? Can you see how frightening it is that he believes it is up to him to dictate to you like this?

messolini9 · 26/02/2020 10:32

He is also very happy to pull his weight with any children we might have, so he says.

Will this be the same weight-pulling he applies to house purchase, paying the mortgage, or doing any housework OP?

GreenLeaf88 · 26/02/2020 10:34

This is so strange. Sell the house and go your separate ways. Also, he's 15-20 years too old to just be starting to have kids!!

messolini9 · 26/02/2020 10:36

The starting point should be that he pays half the mortgage, half the running expenses for your joint home. And he finds a way to pay back/compensate for not contributing to the deposit.

No - the starting point is that OP gets the fuck away from this controlling weirdo.

richteasandcheese · 26/02/2020 10:37

Did you buy the house pre-marriage? Please, please don't waste your life on this man - you'll never be able to please him and he'll break you down till you're a shell of who you were

AryaStarkWolf · 26/02/2020 10:39

Don't give up your job whatever you do, in fact work at getting back to full time, I really don't like the sound of how you describe him. It seems like he's trying to make it so you're dependant on him. As for your housework being up to his standards? Piss off, who the hell does he think he is? Or who does he think you are more like

Hanab · 26/02/2020 10:40

Run OP!

EC22 · 26/02/2020 10:45

For your own self worth you should end the marriage.

AryaStarkWolf · 26/02/2020 10:49

Also, he had said I couldn't have a natural birth or breast feed

Just read this bit......that translates to. "I own your vagina and Breasts and I don't want my play things damaged by a baby" This guy is bad, get the fuck away from him

Brefugee · 26/02/2020 10:49

Don't go part time unless he guaranteed you some of his pension. In fact he sounds like he wants a servant not a wife and you really ought to think very long and hard about bringing children into this.

sunshineANDsweetpeas · 26/02/2020 10:52

I'm sure he does have his good points, abusive people can have good points, otherwise they'd never be in relationships.

He sounds at best very odd and set in his ways, at worst he's controlling, abusive and has scammed you and your mum into paying a deposit he'll be entitled to half and that's why he rushed to marry you

bugbhaer · 26/02/2020 10:52

I haven’t RTFT yet, but this bit stuck out to me,
Am I being unreasonable? Should I just suck it up and work on being a better wife? Not many folk can say they only work part time with no kids and have so much free time.

The thing is, lots of people would love that, would love running a home and be fascinated with housework. But one of the first things you wrote was how you wanted a career and to afford a nice lifestyle for yourself.

I want to understand how this happened. There’s no cultural element? Is there a religious involvement?

messolini9 · 26/02/2020 10:54

You've been together less than 2 years and rushed into the marriage because of a house (but why? You don't need to be married to buy a house, unless he wanted to be entitled to half in the event you split).

Completely this.
Sorry OP - you have been had by a conman.

Please get to a SHL (shit hot lawyer!) in confidence. Tell them exactly what has been going on. You will be able to divorce him for unreasonable behaviour, & your SHL should be able - at this early stage - to help you retain most of the financial asset of the house, if not the house itself.

He married you to get his share of your & your mum's money, to lay claim to the house, & to own & control you.
He is actively undermining you, destroying your confidence, & ruining your life & career chances.
GET RID OF HIM & go & have a lively life.

Also - please see the link by PP above to The Freedom Programme.
You seriously need to get rid of this twat, get on the course, & get happy.

sunshineANDsweetpeas · 26/02/2020 10:54

Oh and ffs if you do just one thing, go back to uni and get your accountancy qualifications

I'm really struggling to get past his comments on you having a natural birth and breastfeeding. Some Mums don't do either as a result if complications or medical issues. It's not something you always have control over .

AryaStarkWolf · 26/02/2020 10:57

It's not something you always have control over .

Yeah, can you even request a C Section for no medical reason? I didn't think you could

bugbhaer · 26/02/2020 11:01

Also, he had said I couldn't have a natural birth or breast feed

What?

Antihop · 26/02/2020 11:05

OP you have your whole life ahead of you. Leave this abuse man and start your new life. I bet you'll make a brilliant teacher.

riotlady · 26/02/2020 11:06

I feel like everyone else has done a good job covering the sheer insanity of him saying what sort of childbirth you can and can’t have, so I just wanted to add this- never in our entire relationship have my partner or I been so mad at each other that one of us has to sleep on the sofa. We would have to majorly fuck up for that to happen- unless you are refusing to lift a finger there is no reason he should be getting so cross with you over the housework that you have to sleep on the sofa twice in one WEEK. I know you say he helps your anxiety but actually I think if you get away from this angry and controlling prick, you’ll find your anxiety improves quite a bit.

BlingLoving · 26/02/2020 11:06

OP, agree with all the PPs. A few things you haven't said but that I suspect may be happening:

  1. You pay the mortgage and he pays everything else. What percentage of your income is the mortgage vs what percentage of his income is "everything else"? In similar vein, I'm guessing he has more disposable income than you every month?
  1. If the above is NOT true, I assume that's because he has some shitty job, has significant debts from previous experiences etc etc? [both could be true, sadly].
  1. Sorry to be blunt, but what's your sex life like? This sounds like the kind of guy who expects you to be available whenever he wants it. Is sex driven by him? Do you accommodate his needs/desires more than he accommodates yours?
  1. Does he have issues with you going out with friends without him? Or comment on your clothes/friendships/appearance/actions in a negative/accusatory way?
Enchiladas · 26/02/2020 11:14

Oh boy OP you're his little play thing he thinks he owns. He won't let you have a natural birth or breast feed? Out of everything else you've said about him this is the most disturbing. Run OP Sad

Forrandomposts · 26/02/2020 11:19

Not necessarily as it hasn't been that long. This is why she needs a good solicitor.

Well yes, that's why I said if you stay married!

billy1966 · 26/02/2020 11:37

OP,

Please seek legal advice to protect yourself, your mothers money, the house.

Awful, awful man who has targeted you as an easy mark.

Get out of this relationship.

Certainly don't consider inflicting this terrible man and your awful relationship on a foster child.

Flowers
TopoftheT0wer · 26/02/2020 11:39

I don't know anyone who works part time who doesn't have children ( unless they are 60+)

I know people who have long term illnesses and they still work !

You have absolutely no reason, not to be working full time

The state retirement age for you will be 68+ and a state pension will not be enough pay for you and your horse !