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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to be married to a man who’s married to his job

159 replies

Widowtoaworkaholic · 24/02/2023 00:28

AIBU to think this is not normal?

Husband and I have been together since we were teens. Married now for almost 14 years, together for 17. 2 kids. He is ALWAYS thinking about work. If he’s not at work, he’s on his phone doing work stuff. The only times he’s not is if he’s asleep. I promise I’m not exaggerating. His phone starts beeping at 5am and stops when he goes to bed. If somebody isn’t messaging, he’s googling random work related stuff and refreshing his WhatsApp/emails. He has zero interest in us. He’s even stopped celebrating birthdays and valentines claiming they’re not important and he didn’t have time to pick up a card/present etc. He asks for sex once every 6 weeks or so and it’s very predictable almost like a biological clock that ticks at regular intervals across the year. He has no desire. He has no hobbies & doesn’t go out with friends. Most of his friends are colleagues or clients.

I feel like a single parent who receives maintenance. I often feel like a widow grieving the hypersonic I married. I’m expected to arrange my career and life around his. If the kids are ill, it’s me that has to drop everything. My career is expected to be subordinate to his. He turns up home when he feels like it. I never know if he’s eating at home or not. He will say he is leaving work in 15 mins and turn up home 3 hours later. There is no routine or stability. He works for his dad and no amount of hours he does is ever enough. He’s not a director or shareholder and gets the same salary irrespective of how many hours he works. He also periodically spends quite a lot of time away from home. His siblings do not work in the same he does yet they are all paid equally. When I say anything about how unhappy I am and how I didn’t sign up to live life this way, I’m made out to be unreasonable. His family are quite well respected and so I never tell anybody how unhappy I am or how dysfunctional our family set up feels. Please tell me if I’m being unreasonable or expecting too much.

OP posts:
Hmm1234 · 24/02/2023 20:10

Sounds like he has another family elsewhere. Leave him

Hertsdad5 · 24/02/2023 20:12

Hi this is a v difficult situation - I’ve been in the same situation and want to give u a husband POV. The dominant narrative in society is work and money are the main route to happiness and mens job is to provide even above their own happiness. If u are working for a business that doesn’t appreciate boundaries this earn money at all costs attitude can blind u to everything and I mean everything in life. I struggled to engage with the day to day because of it and eventually burnt out massively. I was essentially addicted and literally couldn’t find a way to stop …it became my obsession and only focus and work system feed into this TBH. So what would u do if someone had a serious addiction - before ending it or kicking them out have an intervention with friends and family and suggest time away such as sabbatical or even a career change. Put phone away at night and weekends and try to help him get over the addiction with proper professional support - CBT, counselling maybe even medication. Be supportive and loving and try to find a way through. Do not
think of this as selfish act or arrogance - it’s a disease and needs fixing like any other medical issue. Good luck to you and your family x

Jaxxy · 24/02/2023 20:22

YANBU….this is classic misogynistic behaviour ie my job is more important, you are inferior, like it or lump it etc.

You have a first class honours degree, could still have an amazing career even beyond what you are doing and still bring up your children - I wonder if your husband behaves like this as he feels threatened because you could over take him.

in my experience, he won’t change, his upbringing means this set up is ingrained and he is following in his dad footsteps, he just expect you to take second place.

Your description made me feel sad for you, step back and consider your options, think about what you would/could do if you were on your own with kids, you sound amazing and he’s taking you for granted!

Good luck?

LadyEloise1 · 24/02/2023 20:23

Mrsgreen100 · 24/02/2023 19:03

My partner of 25 years was the same , turned out he was also having an affair for 25 years!
I thought he was always at work etc
constantly working when home etc
not saying your husband is the same
but I so wish I had got my life back years before.
life is short and your happiness, is ultimately
better for your kids to .
put you first then them , and put him same place he puts you bottom of your list

Oh my word @Mrsgreen100 that is awful 😮
25 years deceiving you.
How did you cope ?
I'd be devastated.

aeon418 · 24/02/2023 20:36

I basically married your husband, family business and all. I spent 50 years of marriage accepting the fact that he is never going to change. But I figured life is about accepting all those things and people that I cannot change; so from there is a matter self development. I developed gratitude for the things his addiction gave us, especially financial. I am fairly independent myself and life, for the most part, was good.

In the last few years we have moved, giving up the business and planned a semi retirement. I figured that was as much as he would ever do. I was looking forward to it. I didn’t realize I was deep down hoping that we would finally find some degree of emotional intimacy in our golden years. Instead he has become absolutely miserable and very eager to make my life the same.

I now dread the day he can’t work anymore. The daddy issues abound as my father in law is now 90 and becomes more dependent on him. My husband is getting the attention he has craved his entire life. But that is not going to last much longer and I suspect my husband won’t come out of that well either.

Meanwhile any inroads I’ve tried to make with his family are still rejected. Some of his siblings have divorced and I’ve watched that family circle the wagons and take no prisoners. I am sure I would be frozen out of finances and properties his family had control of. I have made sure they do not have that kind of control over me.

If I had been able to accept the complete reality of my husband’s limitations earlier on my marriage I would have left just after the kids. I’m sure of it now. I deserved better.

RosesAndHellebores · 24/02/2023 20:48

To @aeon418 and @Mrsgreen100

I am so sorry. For both Flowers

AnotherEmma · 24/02/2023 20:52

I'm very sorry, OP. It must hurt a lot to feel that you and the children always come last after his job. I very much hope you will get counselling and whatever other support you can get (do you have a close relative or friend you could talk to?) and eventually end the marriage. If it had only been a year or two like this, it could possibly be salvageable, but even if he was capable of change (seems unlikely) I'm not sure how you get past 8 years of being let down to this extent. There may well be all sorts of deep-seated reasons for his workaholism, rooted in a dysfunctional upbringing and the ongoing influence of his father and boss, but if he's not willing to acknowledge it's a problem, let alone try to address it, the reasons are irrelevant. The important thing is the negative impact on you and the children. It's not OK and you would be doing the right thing to leave.

Flowers
AcrossthePond55 · 24/02/2023 21:02

"...I feel a sense of relief when he's away as I'm not expecting or hoping for anything so don't feel any disappointment. E.g I don't expect that he will call to see how we are so if he does, it's a bonus. I know for sure he's not going to be home for dinner so don't have to plan for just in case he does and then be disheartened when he doesn't show up."

@Widowtoaworkaholic

You do realize that if you dump him you'll feel that sense of relief permanently, don't you? You'll lose at least half (if not more) of the mental load you're carrying right now.

You're a solicitor, you have the ability to get a new job that would pay more if you need that to get out.

Even though you are one, I'll still say 'see a solicitor'. If your 'area' is family practice, you already know the particulars you need to know. If you aren't, then see a specialist to learn all the ins and outs.

No one should live in unhappiness if they have the ability to change things. You do have that ability.

ladykale · 24/02/2023 21:03

How much does he get paid? Not that any amount is worth what you describe tbh but trying to understand context

Moira1951 · 24/02/2023 21:16

What a cruel thing to say…what are you going to do about it! Bstrd! Sorry but that’s a disgusting attitude. So he can feel secure in the knowledge that he can do as he likes because you have limited options!!! I’m feeling furious for you! I’d start working on your Exit plan now. You’re doing everything on your own anyway! I wonder how he’ll find time to see his kids when you’ve gone! Sorry but don’t throw your life away, this is not a marriage it’s a life sentence. Best of luck but talk to a solicitor to see what can be done.

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 24/02/2023 21:22

Skodacool · 24/02/2023 17:35

Why don’t you read the OP?

I did, and the OP responded courteously and thoughtfully to my message - as you would have seen, had you taken your own very helpful advice about reading properly.

@Widowtoaworkaholic Having read your updates, I'm still in two minds. His behaviour has clearly changed, and the fact that you are a qualified solicitor does put a slightly different spin on things as it removes one big obstacle to a separation (not that I'm saying that separation is a good solution, as blowing your children's world apart and putting them through the whole, awful 'two houses' business is not something to undertake lightly).

Someone asked whether you still love him. I would probably have asked the same when I was a bit younger; now I would say it doesn't matter much whether you still love him. What matters more is whether the whole package is, on balance, better or worse than the alternative would be. It isn't just about whether you love him or he loves you: it's about what is best for your family unit, and what will be best for it 10, 15, 20 years down the line. Only you can know that, and you may not yet know at all. If there does come a point when you believe rationally that separation is the better of two bad choices, you will know it.

LaDamaDeElche · 24/02/2023 21:23

aeon418 · 24/02/2023 20:36

I basically married your husband, family business and all. I spent 50 years of marriage accepting the fact that he is never going to change. But I figured life is about accepting all those things and people that I cannot change; so from there is a matter self development. I developed gratitude for the things his addiction gave us, especially financial. I am fairly independent myself and life, for the most part, was good.

In the last few years we have moved, giving up the business and planned a semi retirement. I figured that was as much as he would ever do. I was looking forward to it. I didn’t realize I was deep down hoping that we would finally find some degree of emotional intimacy in our golden years. Instead he has become absolutely miserable and very eager to make my life the same.

I now dread the day he can’t work anymore. The daddy issues abound as my father in law is now 90 and becomes more dependent on him. My husband is getting the attention he has craved his entire life. But that is not going to last much longer and I suspect my husband won’t come out of that well either.

Meanwhile any inroads I’ve tried to make with his family are still rejected. Some of his siblings have divorced and I’ve watched that family circle the wagons and take no prisoners. I am sure I would be frozen out of finances and properties his family had control of. I have made sure they do not have that kind of control over me.

If I had been able to accept the complete reality of my husband’s limitations earlier on my marriage I would have left just after the kids. I’m sure of it now. I deserved better.

That is the saddest thing I've ever read and I'm so sorry for you. I really hope you can find sone happiness for yourself. It's makes me furious that you never see these posts from older men. It's always women trapped in this loveless nightmare. I wish you all the best and I hope you leave your "husband" and spend the last season of your life with someone who treats you
how you deserve ❤️

ElonsMusky · 24/02/2023 21:24

CatJumperTwat · 24/02/2023 00:30

This is awful, I'm sorry. What's keeping you with him?

prob all the money he brings home due to the job he selflessly works his but off for.

Sandra1984 · 24/02/2023 21:26

Op, sounds like you had a lot going for you, a thriving career, a high intelligence, bright personality, then one day you had to put that on hold for an emotionally unavailable hippo who bores the hell out of you. On top of that you have to put with FIL sexist crap putting you down for wanting something more from life other than baking cakes and changing nappies. I agree that getting into therapy is a great step. I believe you lost yourself a bit trying to please everyone and now you're finding yourself in a shit place.

Sandra1984 · 24/02/2023 21:28

ElonsMusky · 24/02/2023 21:24

prob all the money he brings home due to the job he selflessly works his but off for.

From reading the OP's original post doesn't seem like the money is worth it...

billy1966 · 24/02/2023 21:31

@aeon418 you have time to find a good solicitor and plan your escape.

Believe me when I say leaving with an excellent financial package does soften the blow.

After 50 years expecting emotional intimacy is highly unlikely to be a reality.

Enjoying a financially comfortable life in your latter years is far preferable to running after some cranky old man, any day.

You need to gather any financial paperwork you can.

Find goo legal advice and support.

Do you really want to be this mans carer when he finally retires and deigns to spend time with you?

Like hell would I do that.

You need to completely focus on a plan that is best for you on every level.

faultylightbulb · 24/02/2023 21:35

As someone up post said . .get your ducks in order and move on. Do it while you are young enough to make a new life and be able to provide financial stability for yourself now and more importantly when you retire. Don't wait until it's too late and live to regret it. You are already more than managing but getting little in return. Good luck.

Springisclose · 24/02/2023 21:49

I read your first Post and wondered what was going on between your DH and his father.
It’s time for some outside help - whether for you or him.
It’s hard. But this is all about him trying to please a father who can never be pleased with him. My DH had a breakdown. Then therapy. There are more boundaries now but he still allows himself to be hurt. But it is a bit better.
I hope you and your DH can find a solution. It’s clear you love him. But he needs to value you too.

Ladyofthesea · 24/02/2023 21:55

My ex was/is like this. I'm much happier in my current relationship. Hus wife is complaining to everyone how left out she's feeling. He'll never change.

What do you want in life?

Timesawastin · 24/02/2023 22:07

ImissLemmings · 24/02/2023 07:59

That’s so untrue and nasty.

I’m married to a workaholic, not as bad as OP’s husband but still 6am - 11pm every day and working every day through ‘holidays’, reading emails whenever I talk to him etc.

We’ve been together 25 years and for the first 15 of those he had a job where he worked 9am-1pm and no email/phone work. Then he had a mid-life crisis, chose a new career path and got sucked in. People change. If you haven’t got anything helpful to say then scroll by but telling OP she chose this when she’s been clear she did not is just stupid and ignorant.

This. God, there's always some snotty posters aching to get the boot in and unable or unwilling to actually read what OP has actually written.

Mrsgreen100 · 24/02/2023 22:13

Rebuilding your life is a slow difficult process,
but so much better than living with someone who doesn’t see you .
reading your post I feel something deeper going on with him, just sounds so horribly familiar.
don’t wast your life I’m dealing with the fall out of the effect these kind of men have also on their children
whilst in it it’s hard to see what a crappy role
model of a father does in the long term.
it’s even harder to deal with the fact that you enabled it.
my daughter is 20 and a mess , she makes choices I now see based on her childhood of being raised by a father who wasn’t present in any real way and a mother who was so desperate to keep everything together
i fucked up I wish I had bailed years ago
op don’t put it off , the scars just get deeper

HaggisBurger · 24/02/2023 22:32

Tarallini · 24/02/2023 19:57

I've been married to a workaholic for over 20 years, and many of the posts on this thread resonate with me.

We started off in the same job along the same career path, and were both quite ambitious. When we had DC (planned), something had to give and that something was my career. H is now a high-flyer, and I've taken a sideways move onto a pathway that is not as well-paid and is harder to progress in without large investments of time, which I don't have.

He works all the time, by which I mean all day and into the night until 3-4am, 7 days a week. The first thing he does every morning is turn on his computer. He insists on working in the middle of the main living area, which means that the DC see him perpetually working. He has no hobbies or friends. I do 99% of domestic and child-related tasks, including the ones which are traditionally masculine like DIY and car maintenance. I work full-time but can't really put in the extra hours needed to progress, so there is now a very large discerpancy in our respective salaries even though we started off at exactly the same point.

Over the years he has refused to go on holiday, refused to do more around the house, refused to share out school runs and refused to take time off when the DC were ill or when I needed to be at work during school holidays. Everything he did around the house was optional and done on his own terms - I was the default, and he only chipped in if and when it suited him. At one point he told me that he was perfectly happy with the way things were, so my dissatisfaction with the imbalance in our roles was not his problem.

About 10 years ago he had an inappropriate relationship/emotional affair at work. That was my wake-up call. We didn't split up, for complicated reasons which meant I genuinely believed the DC would be worse off if we had divorced. But I stopped thinking of us as a partnership - because with hindsight, we never really had been one, I'd just been his support system. I arranged my life so that I didn't need his input. If he refused to go on holiday, the DC and I went without him. I cooked one meal and ate with the DCs rather than hanging around wondering when he'd be home so that I could eat with him. I planned holiday childcare so that his help wasn't needed. I stopped asking for his input about decisions relating to our domestic life and arranged things in a way that worked best for me.

It saved my sanity, and I think (I hope) also taught the DCs that you don't need to pander to a workaholic to your own detriment. The sad thing is that now that the DC are teens, he does try to become more involved in their lives and offers to do more with them, but they aren't that interested because he just hasn't been present in their lives. It's his loss - they're great kids.

@Tarallini - god that sounds so utterly sad. I know life is complex and for whatever reason you felt divorce wasn’t an option. But I doubt your kids are looking at a loveless marriage and thinking - yeah but at least mum isn’t pandering to him or cooking his dinner. It’s never too late to start again.

Codlingmoths · 24/02/2023 23:08

ElonsMusky · 24/02/2023 21:24

prob all the money he brings home due to the job he selflessly works his but off for.

Oh didn’t you read the thread? His siblings work normal hours not all the hours god made and take home the same money for it.

CelestiaNoctis · 25/02/2023 02:02

Why when someone asked if he could be having an affair did you mention the company is all men? He could be having an affair with a man at his workplace. Going away for weeks at a time and never coming home. Sounds like there's definitely more to it. I would seriously ask him of he's gay. He only has sex like clockwork, never wants to be home, living another life without you pretty much., always on the phone or checking it at all hours. Seems like a no brainer to me.

wheelywheelynice · 25/02/2023 02:57

Sounds like he's having an affair...

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