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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my dp is using me?

18 replies

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 10:22

Me and dp have been together for 4 and a half yrs now. We have a dc together. However he has never really been invested in our relationship emotionally. He never communicates to me about anything whether its good or bad and I'm constantly the one having to address the issues that he doesn't want to face.

Since dc 3 yrs ago we have stopped having sex. So from point of view our emotional and physical connection is practically non existent and I feel like we are two good friends who co habit/parent. I've expressed this to him numerous times and we have seeked counselling over all of this. Problem is dp will maybe put in effort for this first couple of weeks if an issue is brought to his attention for him to only end up ignoring it again.

Dp constantly tells me he doesn't want a sexless relationship or marriage (if we was to get there) but does nothing to change this. I've told him I'm exasperated by his constant contradictions in his words vs lack of actions. We are still really young and I don't see how we are to have a future together when this has been going on so long with no progression or willingness on his end. When I ask why he doesn't try anything he blames me and says I dislike sexual activities (this was true yrs ago but isn't the same now) and holds it over me to excise him not even trying.

Yesterday i had enough and asked him why he was even with me, what did he get out of this relationship besides my company that made him want to be with me. And he simply replied he gets a sense of "fulfillment and purpose" having me and dc in his life. That he doesn't feel sexual towards me or himself but hopes it will come back in time (with him doing nothing productive to make it happen) so basically he is using me because he likes the feeling of having something to wake up for rather than actually liking our relationship, this would explain the emotional neglect. Dp is great at the practical side of things, doing dishes, cooking, dc.ect. but that is where it ends. He doesn't talk to me, our relationship has no substance. We watch TV together but we hardly go out be it because of childcare or money.

AIBU to think he is simply using this relationship because it makes him feel good. Surely any other woman can do that for him. When I said he only felt that way about me because I'm the mother of his child he went silent. I just feel like he doesn't care although he claims this couldn't be further from the truth. When I tried to kick him out last night all he cared about was that his parents house is cold. Not even that he didn't want to leave me or dc. He said it was the shock talking. But I don't think he quite understands how he comes across.

OP posts:
LaLuz7 · 05/12/2022 10:31

It doesn't sound like much of a relationship. More like a practical arrangement between people who foolishly jumped into having a baby together when they were still strangers and now they realise there's not much else holding them together.

You're not happy and you want more from life. It's understandable. Your best bet is to leave him and try to co-parent in a civil way if possible so that you're free to pursue the type of emotional and sexual bond you want with someone else.

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/12/2022 10:39

Sounds like it’s completely over. What’s the housing situation? You can’t kick him out if his name is on the lease or you have a joint mortgage. You can if none of the above applies.

poefaced · 05/12/2022 10:42

Get out now. If you stay, you will be a shadow of yourself in years to come.

Beautiful3 · 05/12/2022 10:58

It's not a relationship. You could separate and co parent. You both deserve meaningful and intimate relationships.

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 11:01

@Beautiful3 I just get the feeling dp doesn't even want that. He has never cared for communicating or emotional needs. I just foolishly thought as our relationship deepened so would his ability to. He can do it when he applies himself but tending to our emotional welfare of our relationship doesn't come natural to him which means my needs get constantly neglected. Dp would be quite happy with a surface level relationship

OP posts:
Horsesandzebras · 05/12/2022 11:18

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 11:01

@Beautiful3 I just get the feeling dp doesn't even want that. He has never cared for communicating or emotional needs. I just foolishly thought as our relationship deepened so would his ability to. He can do it when he applies himself but tending to our emotional welfare of our relationship doesn't come natural to him which means my needs get constantly neglected. Dp would be quite happy with a surface level relationship

Is he on the spectrum?

Does he work a lot and then you have your DC around all the time. If so he could be just surviving the hard time that have children under 3 is.

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 11:23

@Horsesandzebras I don't know. It does run in his family. He works ft

OP posts:
Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 11:27

I have questioned if he is abit autistic as the way he deals with emotions just seems abit off and where as others may naturally react or feel something he doesn't

OP posts:
Horsesandzebras · 05/12/2022 11:35

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 11:27

I have questioned if he is abit autistic as the way he deals with emotions just seems abit off and where as others may naturally react or feel something he doesn't

I'd perhaps look up autism traits and double check.

It could be trauma, psychopathy etc

But either way. If you want an emotional relationship with someone is he able to give you it?

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 05/12/2022 12:08

Stop trying to figure this man out. Save yourself YEARS of heartache and get out now. You’re not his “great love”. You’re his comfortable “she’ll do right now.”

Go and find the man that wants to be with you for the rest of his life and wants to have sex with you.

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 05/12/2022 12:11

I agree with Horsesandzebras it does sound like he is on the spectrum and isnt actually doing it intentionally and doesnt know how to act appropriately.

BabyOnBoard90 · 05/12/2022 12:16

Besides the reflective conversations, what have you done to sexually entice him?

I.e. is he knocking back your advances?

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 12:33

@BabyOnBoard90 I'd give him head all the time..I've stopped it now because its purely one sided and made me feel used and violated. Since I don't do that we do nothing

OP posts:
BabyOnBoard90 · 05/12/2022 12:38

Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 12:33

@BabyOnBoard90 I'd give him head all the time..I've stopped it now because its purely one sided and made me feel used and violated. Since I don't do that we do nothing

Ahh I see. Yes it's seems there's a profound breakdown here. Perhaps, while you make decent companions & co-parents, you are simply sexually incompatible?

Horsesandzebras · 05/12/2022 12:43

It's your relationship and it is your decision what to do.

However what you have described is

  • not a happy and healthy relationship

You either

  • work on it together
  • if he can't/ won't
  • then it's your choice. Stay in a platonic relationship or tell him you're going to look for another
Twilightamber · 05/12/2022 14:04

I don't know what i want to do. I don't know if I even like dp after all of this. I want us to have a normal healthy relationship but I wonder if its gone past that and will never be on the cards for us. I'm worried this is all a waste of our time and next thing I will be 40 and unhappy and alone in life.

On the alternative side I've been single when we broke up temporarily and I felt completely lost. I just feel like I will not find anyone and I get overwhelmed and struggle being so young and a single mum and also a carer.

OP posts:
Horsesandzebras · 05/12/2022 14:24

Is your child always there?

My partner and I hardly have time alone so we accept the very rare intimacy as part of having a cockblocker DC hanging around.

It might be this. He has said he wants a sex life. Although what you describe does sound on the spectrum.

People with autism deserve a chance at love too, but he maybe needs to learn your love language. ❤️

Horsesandzebras · 05/12/2022 14:30

To be fair I think you are still at the working on it together stage. Find out what makes it difficult for him to communicate emotionally. Go from there.

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