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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:
FinallyHere · 27/02/2020 08:03

Well done OP. Get yourself a decent solicitor and take it from there. Be aware that He might be on the look out to consolidate his power base.

Really, really don't get pregnant by him now

Just incase

AvocadoAdvocate · 27/02/2020 08:19

You really need to change your mindset OP. You are an adult woman, you are his equal not his subordinate. He is not your father or your boss. Your comments about how he's told you you can't have a natural childbirth, can't breastfeed, he's forgiven the conversation, he disciplines you over housework, the way you post comes across as you see his behaviour as normal - it's not normal! Get angry, get advice and get out asap.

foodandwine89 · 27/02/2020 09:41

This is so awful to read. You are in an abusive controlling relationship. Please don't waste your life and chance to have children because of an awful awful man. He will break you down bit by bit. See a solicitor, end the relationship, be absolutely ruthless.

foodandwine89 · 27/02/2020 09:42

If the marriage is short, you have a better chance of keeping the house. It does not have to be 50/50 since the assets are in your name, the relationship has been quite short and there are no kids involved. Don't let him convince you he has rights. See a solicitor, don't do it all yourself

messolini9 · 27/02/2020 10:00

Don't let him convince you he has rights

This, OP.

Your last updates seemed to fizzle out with him "forgiving" (aaaaaargggh!) you, & you resigning yourself to wait a few months so you can save up some money.

Please don't.
Every day you stay with this awful controlling man is a day he grinds you down further.
Please see a solicitor ASAP. Do not let him know you are doing this. Get advice, & either get him out, or sell up & start afresh, just for YOU.

messolini9 · 27/02/2020 10:00

freedomprogramme.co.uk/

sunshineANDsweetpeas · 27/02/2020 10:01

Wow what a complete twat

PragmaticWench · 27/02/2020 10:11

It might also be a good idea OP for you to have some counselling by yourself, NOT with him, to try and get your head clear. You've been sucked into an unequal relationship by a very manipulative man and counselling could help you to see why that happened. It would strengthen you for the future so you don't get into another such relationship.

alltakingandnogiving · 27/02/2020 10:18

Exactly what I was thinking TheTeenageYears. Why did you have to rush the marriage? Was it just to make sure that he had a stake in the house?

crimsonlake · 27/02/2020 10:25

Interesting...he may want to stay in the house but you need to remind him that in a short marriage you leave with what you brought in.

TheHagOnTheHill · 27/02/2020 11:06

He won't get half the house as this has been a short marriage and no kids.You go out with what you came in with more or less and you will have a paper trail showing who paid for what.
Good luck OP,do not give in to him.
You could get a restriction on the house in your mum's favour so it can't be sold without her permission so protects her interest,just incase you waver.A solicitor can do this and it costs very little.I did this when divorcing to protect a loan my mum gave me to buy a house so that her contribution did not count as an asset so perfectly legal.

AryaStarkWolf · 27/02/2020 11:09

Get to a solicitor asap

CorianderLord · 27/02/2020 11:21

Well this was a shit show. Why would you rush a wedding so he could get half the house your mum paid for?

Why buy a house that needs renovating if you couldn't even afford a deposit?

Why marry someone who wants to to be a part-time housewife when you have different standards?

Why would you meet someone and decide to cancel your course because of children?

He sounds like an abusive manipulative prick who is 'caring' when you have anxiety because it makes you think you're dependant on him for support and that he's a 'good guy' when he's not.

The age gap is because he wanted a more vulnerable woman who is more easily controlled and so he can use your age as a reason for your faults. I'll bet he'll be calling you childish and unworldly soon if not yet.

He told you he wouldn't let you have a natural birth or breastfeed? WHAT THE FUCK MATE??

Get out now. You've been married less than 2 months and will likely keep the house.

Babybel90 · 27/02/2020 11:38

Well he knows when he’s on to a good thing, doesn’t he?

What are you actually getting out of this marriage?

TheSparklyPussycat · 27/02/2020 14:59

I didn't realise how recently you married. I don't think you can get divorced until you have been married a year. But you can separate I would think. A solicitor can advise.

timeisnotaline · 28/02/2020 11:57

Op, I’d get to a solicitor ASAP and also consider looking for a full time job rather than waiting for a few more hours in a few months. The reason being you need to find out how long a window you have where it being such a short marriage counts in your favour split wise.

MulticolourMophead · 28/02/2020 12:13

OP, there's a lot of good advice here, and it would be much better for you to get the ball rolling now.

If he starts on about the house and his "rights" (he doesn't have much) just remember any pensions are an asset of the marriage too. Bet he won't think you would realise this.

Get onto a solicitor, you need to find out how things are. They'll be able to let you know what to do.

But yes to getting market valuations while he's not there. Don't show your hand.

FizzyWaterMelon · 28/02/2020 14:33

I replied earlier but not sure where it went.

He is off work just now on long term sick with stress (he does have a stressful government job to give him his dies) so it's more difficult to get to a solicitor at present. I'm definitely going to do that though as soon as I can.

I'm also applying for a promotion within my current company which would give me full time hours and a better pay. He is happy for me to do overtime just now as his sick pay is less than his usual wages so we're worse off at the moment.

He seems to have got over the conversation from before so hopefully I can just lie low until he goes back to work and I can get thr ball rolling.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I really appreciate it all even if I've not replied to you directly.

OP posts:
billyt · 28/02/2020 15:35

Hi Fizzy, I'm a bloke who's a few years older than your husband. I can't imagine trying to control someone I married like he is. That attitude of his isn't to do with age, he's just a selfish, controlling bastard. One failed marriage already, wonder what happened there? mmmm?

Everyone else on here has made it clear their thoughts.

Just one thing more...you do realise that as he gets older you'll be expected to look after him as a bloody carer as well.

You'll look back and realise you had no life to call your own that was fun.

Not something to look forward to. Get some good legal advice very, very soon. The longer you leave it the more he'll brainwash you.

MulticolourMophead · 28/02/2020 16:32

Government job? Certainly a pension to share there, isn't there.

He may well come to the realisation that he gives up any claim on the house in return for him keeping all his pension......

Palavah · 28/02/2020 17:11

Why does him being off work make it more difficult to see a solicitor! Is he tracking/controlling what you do outside the house?
If so then seeing a solicitor is even more time critical than it already seems.

hammeringinmyhead · 28/02/2020 17:16

Can you not book a half day off and go to see someone then?

RightOnTheEdge · 28/02/2020 17:18

Yes Fizzy why can't you just say you're going out and then go see a solicitor?

Are you not allowed out?
I hope you are OK.

FizzyWaterMelon · 28/02/2020 18:01

I could just say I was going out, but he would want to know where. Just in a general interest kind of way, and I'd rather not lie about where I'm going as he'll catch me out in the end. I've got a few things on over the next few weeks though so I'll speak to someone soon.

He has some form of OCD about timings. So for example if a job should take on average 30 mins, but it actually takes 45 mins, then he gets really worked up about it and can't just let it go. So one day when I'm out for the whole day doing something with no expected end time I'll see a solicitor.

OP posts:
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