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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

He doesn’t want to marry

610 replies

StandingMirror · 16/01/2021 10:18

Hi
I’ve been with my partner for nearly 18 years and have three children together. In the beginning of our relationship, marriage wasn’t that important to me, however now we have children and we’ve been together this long it’s something that I want.
I’ve mentioned it several times over the years, however nothing ever changed.
I don’t want a big wedding, registry office would be just fine.
Yesterday we were watching Bridgerton and I jokingly said it’s an insult you don’t want to marry me haha. But then I thought about it more and thought actually yes it is kind of an insult we’ve been together this long, we have children and I want to marry but I’m clearly not good enough for you. Partner kind of got in a huff and said oh not this again. This is his standard answer but never gives me a reason why he won’t marry. This morning I’m getting the silent treatment and when I commented on it he’s saying well I’m always getting that treatment.
I’m a SAHM, house ( mortgage free) in his name and all savings in his name (inheritance) . Some financial arrangements made in case of his death.
Am I really this unreasonable to expect better?

OP posts:
RickiTarr · 16/01/2021 15:52

He’s just dumped her. So could everybody catch up and stop being insensitive?

CarpeVitam · 16/01/2021 15:52

@thecatfromjapan

What else is going on in your relationship, OP?

There are posters on here who have never married, have children, and all is fine.

However, they tend to have shared assets and often have sorted out what will happen in the event of death (slightly morbid but important).

The fact that assets are in his name, the fact that you say you keep raising marriage and he says no - both those make me wonder if there is an elephant in the room in your relationship.

The elephant is your perception that there is a power imbalance at the very heart of your relationship. Not just around money and assets but also around care. You care more, you own less.

And, of course, the two go together. If you care about your partner, you won't wish financial insecurity on them. If you care about your partner, you don't let them live in a situation in which they aren't able to assert themselves.

When you ask him about marriage, it's a straight-up conflict: you're asking him to prioritise your wishes above his own.

And he says no.

In fact, he refuses to even discuss or debate it. He minimises what you're telling him (it makes you unhappy and insecure not being married).

That's the opposite of caring for you.

And he's very bluntly prioritising himself and telling you - very bluntly - that he comes first.

No wonder you're worried.

So ...

Going forwards, you are going to have to prioritise yourself and your future. And, yes, that is going to sometimes cause other people some discomfort.

But, come on, you're owed that. At the moment, your whole existence is about providing comfort for others. That's no way to spend your existence.

Getting a job and childcare is something you really should do.

If it means learning to drive, do that. If it means, initially, paying out more for childcare than you earn - that's fine. You've been unpaid childcare, subsidising his assets for a while now.

And if he sees you are serious, he may well take your next attempt to have a discussion about marriage more seriously too.

It's a horrible feature of humans that they are more likely to give credence to someone in a discussion if they think the person they're talking to isn't a doormat. I wish this were not the case, and it's not true of everyone, but it's common enough for it to be worth you to get yourself in a stronger position.

Very well put!
evenBetter · 16/01/2021 15:52

You told him you’ve had enough before you’ve found somewhere to live? Yikes.

VinylDetective · 16/01/2021 15:53

@HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee

No, a man who’s not working is a cocklodger on mn He’s not told being home is same as a job
He is if he’s parenting the children full time.
Tier10 · 16/01/2021 15:54

RickiTarr No he hasn’t . He said is it all over , not it’s is all over.

Boulshired · 16/01/2021 15:54

The problem you have is his assets are important to him. Would you still want to marry him if it was legally arranged for him to keep his assets? If the answer is yes, then his assets are important to you as well. The decision regarding his assets needed to be made before children. If I was to be single in the future I could see myself wanting to spend my life with someone but sharing my assets then no.

BooBahBoo · 16/01/2021 15:55

This is really sad.

I am in a somewhat 'similar' situation. Had two kids before getting married. However, we have discussed marriage at length and the only thing stopping us so far was the cost of buying and furnishing our first home and the cost of two kids under 2. This year things are financially better for us so we can look to engagement and marriage.

I am still working (albeit part time) but it means I still have a pension. We've agreed once the kids are in primary school, I will be going back to work full time and I have his full support. For the next few years, until then, he is to focus on his career and then when it's my turn, I will get the same level of support. This suits me as I prefer spending more time with the kids when they're small, as well as it being cheaper for us in terms of childcare costs.

Our house is on a joint mortgage, 50:50. Our money is joint money.

I understand that getting married first and foremost sometimes doesn't happen but as most PP have said, you do need to prioritise yourself, now. However, I fear that you doing this will disrupt the happy little family set up he has going, and he might not particularly like it. To the point of splitting with you, perhaps.

You need to have a proper, last conversation about it. He needs to tell you why he doesn't want to get married. You need to either decide on marriage (with it being booked in the next few months) or you going back to work. You can't continue as you are. He can't keep shutting you down and then huffing. It isn't as if you're fighting over who gets the last slice of chocolate cake- this is your entire future. Remember that.

MarmiteWine · 16/01/2021 15:55

Well that escalated quickly!

DoubleTweenQueen · 16/01/2021 15:55

@RickiTarr You are misunderstanding and/or misinterpreting what I've said.
It sounds like they will both be re-evaluating. I hope it works out.

RickiTarr · 16/01/2021 15:55

@Tier10

RickiTarr No he hasn’t . He said is it all over , not it’s is all over.
Ah okay. He was asking? I retract that then.
BooBahBoo · 16/01/2021 15:58

I didn't see the update. I am sorry if what I said was insensitive. I genuinely didn't see the update and wouldn't have posted if I had. I am so, so sorry OP.

Tellmetruth4 · 16/01/2021 15:59

Your DC are also at risk financially OP. I know a woman who was with her partner for 40+ years. They never married but had DC now adults. They broke up when they were in their 60s. He married a younger woman who had her own kids. He died a short time after the marriage and the new wife of about 5 mins and her kids inherited his assets.

RickiTarr · 16/01/2021 16:00

OP stop crying, tell him it’s not over, give yourself a shake and get clever. You need a job. What are you qualified in? When did you last work?

RickiTarr · 16/01/2021 16:01

If your youngest is eight and you have been together 18 years but you were together ten years before you had kids, are you DC bunched very close together? Twins? And all primary age now?

WombatChocolate · 16/01/2021 16:01

Oh dear.
I suspect he thinks you are bluffing and won't leave him, because he knows that financially you don t have anything and leaving would therefore be very hard.

When you've spoken to him, have you also addressed the issues of all the assets being in his name? What has he said about this?

I think ideally you need to separate these 2 issues in your mind now. The most urgent and pressing matter is that the assets should be in your name too. Without this, you really lack the ability to make choices and could end up stuck with him when you do t want to be without marriage, or breaking up at some point and having no assets or money.
Ideally, you would sort this out first and then you could address the marriage issue and decide to leave him if that's what you want, if he won't marry you.

However, it sounds like you've addressed the marriage issue and haven't had the answer you want. He's now put the stay or leave Q to you and so you have to face that Q, within the context of having no assets. He knows that and he knows leaving will be very hard. Actually, I think that even if you have decided you can't be with him if unmarried, you probably need to be a bit canny now and say you're disappointed but will be staying. Try then to address the other issues in your relationship and ask if he understands why you feel financially vulnerable and if he will put the house I to both your names. To be honest, if he thinks you might leave, he's less likely to. If he thinks you're staying, he might be willing to do this as. 'Second best' to offeri g marriage.

If you can get to the point t where you've got some assets, you can think again about if you want to be with him.

If he won't consider putting the house into both names, on top of not being willing to marry, you really need to think hard. Long term, it probably is the case that you'll need to leave him and start from scratch financially which will be very hard. But that might be the reality. It might take you a little while to prepare yourself mentally to actually and practically do it.

Not a good position to be in....and I'm sorry you're in it Op. I hope he will be willing to look and the issue of the name the assets are in if you raise it, but to be honest I don't feel hopeful.

Anyone else in this position and perhaps a few years less far down the line? Address the issue if shared assets now. If you're just starting out in a relationship and marriage at some point in your life will be important to you...say it now so they know. Don't get 18 years in and expect to be able to address these issues easily.

WunWun · 16/01/2021 16:03

Try changing tack and ask him if he would be happy to put you on the deeds of the house and the savings into a joint account instead.

Takingontheflab · 16/01/2021 16:04

I’m a SAHM, house ( mortgage free) in his name and all savings in his name (inheritance) .

Fucking hell, not this again.

jeannie46 · 16/01/2021 16:04

Perhaps he's married already.

vanillandhoney · 16/01/2021 16:05

If he can't see a reason not to get married, can you not sit down and book a registry office wedding together?

MaskingForIt · 16/01/2021 16:09

I have always wanted to marry but wasn’t a priority at the beginning. Foolishly I wanted children more and thought he would eventually propose

If any good at all comes from this thread I hope that at least one young woman reads this and plans her life differently.

Get married before having children, or if you really want a baby that badly, give it your surname, make sure you carry on working and have financial parity with your boyfriend.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 16/01/2021 16:09

I’ve clearly been an idiot, reading all the comments and I’ve confronted him today

I want to be sympathetic, but you read page after page of posts, telling you how vulnerable you are, and that you must get legal advice so you are protected in case he decides to leave - and then you ignore the whole lot and confront him anyway? Honestly OP, there's just no helping people like you.

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 16/01/2021 16:11

How’s that work book the registry office for a man who doesn’t want to marry you?
Do you take this woman to be your legally married wife?
No...

StandingMirror · 16/01/2021 16:11

@RickiTarr yes my oldest two are twins as had fertility treatment, third child conceived naturally
They are primary aged and I have wanting to go back to work in the last year. Not the ideal time with homeschooling now. I’m hoping school will restart soon and then I will get myself back to work

I have savings ( not much but enough to rent somewhere for a few months whilst looking for a job)

OP posts:
SnowFields · 16/01/2021 16:12

[quote StandingMirror]@Tellmetruth4 I have always wanted to marry but wasn’t a priority at the beginning. Foolishly I wanted children more and thought he would eventually propose
Over the years, I have mentioned it several times and it’s only in last two years I’ve beginning to feel unwanted etc as clearly if he loved me he would propose. All our friends are married etc and I just think it’s the sign your committed to us each other.
I just want the same name as my children and also I told him after 18 years I hate referring to him as partner/boyfriend
I’ve clearly been an idiot, reading all the comments and I’ve confronted him today. I’ve asked him now he slept on it if he could give me a reason why he doesn’t want to marry me. He couldn’t give one
My youngest is 8 so it’s not like I suddenly have become a gold digger and just will demand half of his
I’ve done a lot of crying already today. He sent me a message saying is it all over then between us as I told him I had enough. He clearly loves his assets more than me ( but we’re not rich just have a mortgage free house which was paid off by an inheritance from his grandparents and he has savings left from that inheritance)[/quote]
You have to either accept you aren’t getting married and be happy to continue in the relationship or end things.

Neither of you are in the wrong with your views on marriage. Whatever happens with your relationship, you need to get a job and safeguard yourself.

thecatfromjapan · 16/01/2021 16:13

He hasn't dumped OP.

He's had a bit of a shock and is trying to find out how serious she is.

I think this is where the serious talking and thinking starts.

You know, OP, the very wisest thing to do might be to say, ' I need to think. At the very minimum, I need things to change.'

And start changing the things you can. And that does mean getting some childcare, re-training or a job.

I reckon you really want this.

It's no bad thing to shift the power a bit. And it will only give heft to your discussion.

I reckon he doesn't want to split up. I really don't. But I think he would very much like things to carry on as they are.

But they can't. Because you're not happy.

So, let him fret. Maybe it's time he comes to you with a solution.

It's a big deal to lose your partner and children just for a bloody house.

In the real world, very, very few people would choose a house over a partner and children.

And, yes, people - his friends, his family - will think he's a total twat to make that choice.

He'll never live it down.

So I'm less certain than other posters on MN that he'll choose his bloody house over you and the children.

But definitely work on making yourself more secure.

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