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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To leave my lovely DP

344 replies

Shouldistayorshouldi · 01/01/2024 11:17

I have posted about my DP before under a different name about how great he is and all responses were agreeing he sounds like the dream man, any brothers etc etc.

But for some reason I’m just not happy. I haven’t been for a long time if I’m honest. On paper he is perfect…loyal as a dog, very good job, conventionally good looking, extremely hands on dad, does washing cooking cleaning, can turn his hand to anything and do it well, very tall, great body etc, family man, very close to his family but in absolutely no way a mummy’s boy or anything like that just really values his family. Does bath and bed every night. You get the picture.

We have been together for 12 years and I would say for the last 5 I just haven’t been happy. It started with his lack of enthusiasm for socialising etc. he’s very very docile and is happy to just coast through life whereas I am very much a do-er and want to always have plans. We didn’t go out on dates he was happy to just sit at home and it was the crux of most our arguments. This went on for some time and in the end I just gave up trying and started doing things with friends and family. No sooner did I stop badgering than he started making an effort but by this point I was over it and just lost interest.

Over time we’ve had fall outs and I’ve tried to break up with him 3 times and kind of been “guilt tripped” (or so it’s felt) into getting back together. I wouldn’t say this was deliberate on his part but it’s just how I’ve felt and couldn’t bear to see him in the state he was in. I’ve sort of resented the fact we’ve got back together.

Our sex life is now none existent. I am not attracted to him at all. I am closeted bi-sexual but feel I would be much happier with someone of the same sex. The thought of having sex with him makes me sick. I have to psych myself up for it (probably once every 8 months or so) and I feel revolting during and after. If he knew this he’d be heartbroken. I go into the bathroom and cry because I can’t stand him touching me. This isn’t his fault it’s just how I feel.

It’s now the case that every little “ick” he does makes me rage. If we argue I think to myself “well just piss off then I don’t want to be with you” which is awful. I never outwardly express this to him, obviously.

I really don’t want to hurt him as I know I am the love of his life but I just can’t go on like this. He says he would rather have me than have a sex life if it came between the two (I tell him we don’t have sex regularly for health reasons). Writing this down I feel like such a horrible person, I realise there’s 5 years worth (probably more) of facts and examples I can give but have left specifics out for obvious reasons although I am happy to answer any questions.

I am planning to leave him this year, I’ve been quietly getting my ducks in a row but I feel I’m betraying him by not telling him where I’m at. I just don’t want to reveal all without me having a place to go as I know I’ll end up feeling guilty again and be right back at square one. I think this needs to be a clean break.

Terrified of traumatising DC also as well as the financial aspect.

Like I said, tons of examples that I could give that have probably got me to this point. The bottom line is I’m not happy; I haven’t been for a long time and I don’t know why. I love him very much but like a family member, not somebody I’m “in love” with.

OP posts:
VanityDiesHard · 01/01/2024 16:39

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 01/01/2024 16:03

He wont actually be suicidal, men are so dramatic about these things
Must be nice to be so confident (and so dismissive of someone's suicidal ideation because they're male) @Premfove

Plus men are actually four times as likely to commit suicide as women.

VanityDiesHard · 01/01/2024 16:41

CreationNat1on · 01/01/2024 15:59

For all those shouting "Cheat!!!", please cop on. The romantic relationship was terminated/over at that time, she was free to do as she wished and she doesn't have to confess anything to anyone. For all we know he also had sex with someone during that time.

His cheating was while they were in a committed, closed relationship. There is no equivalence and it's also not a competition. The double standards is men's actual cheating can be forgiven, single female consentual casual sex must be revised into something wrong. Please get a grip.

The guy will be snapped up because by all accounts he is handsome, has matured and is now committed and will have learned life lessons. He ll be snapped up if he wants to be.

The OP might not be snapped up, because female baggage of kids is less attractive, less men are open to accepting being a step parent /or to having to share their love interest's time with her children. Also and more importantly the OP might not be "snapped up", because frankly she has lived in that golden cage already, and she didn't enjoy the feeling of the closed relationship. She is bi, and curious to explore her sexuality, she might not want a closed relationship or give off those vibes. She might be happily single for a long time.... Playing the field. She ll be wary of Jack the lads wanting to prioritise the lads and expecting women to float around in the background until the men are ready to slot the women into their schedules. Given her life experience she won't just blindly ramble into another half arsed relationship.

They might both be happier single and there is nothing wrong with that.

All these people forewarning that she ll realise she has lost something solid,.... Why????, she ll still have a solid Co parent and lifelong friend. There are some very mysoginistic views on this thread.

It's sad...... Societal views are still so anti women.

OP : the only warning I have, is being a single independent woman is hard, being financially Independent is relentless, and people try to take advantage of your perceived vulnerability, they think you ll put up with crap at work etc, because you are desperate for the job because you are single with dependents. If you present as independent and financially robust, you ll be resented for that. It's a difficult tightrope.

Edited

This post makes absolutely zero sense. On the one hand you are screaming about societal misogyny, then in the next breath you tell the OP that she is damaged goods because she has kids and that men won't want her.

KimberleyClark · 01/01/2024 16:47

pikkumyy77 · 01/01/2024 16:16

She has not “literally said nothing” she has broken up/separated three times.

But without telling him the real reason which is that she prefers women.

Thegoodbadandugly · 01/01/2024 16:51

Life is to short you both deserve to be happy, you can't live your life being held over a barrel of suicide that's not fair.

pikkumyy77 · 01/01/2024 16:54

KimberleyClark · 01/01/2024 16:47

But without telling him the real reason which is that she prefers women.

The only reason to say THAT is tactical—because it might discourage him from pursuing a lost cause. But she isn’t obligated to expose her private life to him, ir come out to anyone, if she doesn’t want to. And , indeed, it may not be safe to.

porridgeisbae · 01/01/2024 16:55

like pp I also believe that you are a lesbian, not bisexual

People always say that on here though. It's called bi erasure.

Natbro · 01/01/2024 16:56

You sound awful just leave him.

dont be surprised though when the grass isnt greener on the other side 🙂

randombloke15 · 01/01/2024 17:01

Hmm OP tells partner they can't have sex because she has a health condition, (reinforced by the rushing into the bathroom to have a cry the once every 8 months they do have sex)
Partner agrees to give up his sex life because he wants to stay with her,
OP then takes multiple breaks of months from their relationship to have sex with multiple other people.

That is not only cheating but also nasty and manipulative.
OP would be aware that partner would not be expecting her to have sex with anyone else during their break, if nothing else because of her "health" condition.
Partner would then be unlikely to want to find anyone else whilst on this break, (as OP states he is "as loyal as a dog")
When OP is done with her break (couldn't find anyone better) she comes back to him complaining that he is not moving on.
No wonder he is depressed and suicidal.

Faceache45 · 01/01/2024 17:01

@Shouldistayorshouldi have you considered adding a third party to your relationship? Would he re interested in that?

Dibilnik · 01/01/2024 17:03

sososadaboutthis · 01/01/2024 15:34

There are some similarities here to my situation. My DH was also 'suicidal' when I broke it off, and is utterly heartbroken.. I told him a month ago and he's low but no longer talking about wanting to end it all. Yes it will be devastating at first but he will have to accept , like my DH has to, that he can't change your feelings. Seeing my DH in so much pain has been incredibly difficult - I have a brief period of doubt every day but I know I am doing the right thing because it wasn't fair to either of us for me to keep pretending that everything was ok. Be clear about your decision, and stick with it. He will have to accept it and move on. Hang in there and don't let yourself be talked back into a relationship you know is wrong for you. It's incredibly sad but things will turn out ok in the end,.and he will be ok. He really will. I'm starting to see glimpses of acceptance from him now and he is able to start talking about what the future might look like apart. There was no way he could have done that four weeks ago. Take care OP and good luck x

Seeing my DH in so much pain has been incredibly difficult.
I know from experience how distressing this is, and I'm glad you feel things are easing, although it's still early days.

What we tend to overlook, in our hyperfocus on our DP/DH's sadness, is our own pain. And they overlook it too.

Let's face it, if they had been able to register our feelings and empathize with us, we'd probably never have felt the distance from them that we do. Acting on those feelings is not creating a new situation, it is acknowledging a chasm that they have helped to create.

Wintersun1xxx · 01/01/2024 17:06

It's a difficult one. If it wasn't for your sexuality, which is understandably upsetting for you if your not fulfilled, my reply would be along the lines of being unable to understand women who profess to having the perfect family man yet they are unhappy. The 'Why am I more attracted to 'bad boys' scenario. It beats me (pun intended)🤦‍♀️

Anyway, I hope it works out well for you both. You deserve to be in a loving relationship which makes you happy. DP sounds like he will be fighting them off.

Diamonde · 01/01/2024 17:06

Exactly @randombloke15, gut wrenching for anyone, I'm amazed that so many people lack empathy. Somebody has already said 'he's probably cheating anyway'. Fuck me.

chaosmaker · 01/01/2024 17:07

@Shouldistayorshouldi the fact he's using emotional blackmail to leave you is not ok. Neither is the fact that you feel ill when you have sex with him. It's not fair on either of you. If you've made offers to go to couples' therapy and he won't go then he can't blame you for not trying. You have to do what feels right for you but he's not helping by not listening and coming to a compromise on life after you've split.

Abbimae · 01/01/2024 17:09

A nice man doesn’t threaten things when you leave them

KimberleyClark · 01/01/2024 17:09

pikkumyy77 · 01/01/2024 16:54

The only reason to say THAT is tactical—because it might discourage him from pursuing a lost cause. But she isn’t obligated to expose her private life to him, ir come out to anyone, if she doesn’t want to. And , indeed, it may not be safe to.

He had a right to know before he married her.

Thegoodbadandugly · 01/01/2024 17:12

KimberleyClark · 01/01/2024 17:09

He had a right to know before he married her.

Maybe she didn't know before they got married?

Thegoodbadandugly · 01/01/2024 17:16

Just to add to that now knowing she is more attracted to woman must be causing such pain and anguish, she knows what she is doing is wrong she is after all living a false life. I see someone else that lives a life like this and how they all suffer is awful and the poor children suffer dreadfully because of all the screaming coming from the parents.

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 01/01/2024 17:18

LuckySantangelo35 · 01/01/2024 16:33

@Diamonde

she has literally broken up with him 3 x and gone on breaks. I think he knows she isn’t happy in the relationship - he just doesn’t seem to care.

Who moved out during these break ups when op was seeing all these different men and women?

NonPlayerCharacter · 01/01/2024 17:20

KimberleyClark · 01/01/2024 17:09

He had a right to know before he married her.

Definitely, if she knew herself. Sounds like she didn't.

RainyDaysSundays · 01/01/2024 17:25

LuckySantangelo35 · 01/01/2024 15:36

@RainyDaysSundays
@VanityDiesHard

so are you saying that op should stay with a man who she doesn’t love and who she doesn’t fancy because she is a mother?!

I'm saying that nowhere in her posts (other than a passing reference in the first one) does she seem to consider the impact on her children.

I think divorce should be a last resort when kids are involved.

It's not a popular opinion these days where everyone has to 'put their own needs first' .

The OP is very confused. She seems to have always been confused. She ended up with someone (not sure if they are married or not) who was unfaithful to her when they dated, she now thinks she fancies women more than men, she flits in and out of her marriage seeing other people....

somewhere in this are children who see their Mum disappear for months, several times.

What I am saying is that she needs to talk to someone professional, not just anons on MN, and work out what's going on in her head before breaking up the family unit.
Because she doesn't know (hence the thread.)

RainyDaysSundays · 01/01/2024 17:26

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 01/01/2024 17:18

Who moved out during these break ups when op was seeing all these different men and women?

well she did, clearly.

I wonder what she told her children?

AngelinaFibres · 01/01/2024 17:28

5128gap · 01/01/2024 11:26

You do need to leave him for his sake as well as yours. I'm not being nasty to you when I say this, but objectively, his life could be so much better without you. He sounds like the sort of man who could find a woman who wanted him with relative ease, and his life within a relationship where he was truly loved and wanted would be so much more enriching than being tolerated by you out of loyalty and pity. He just doesn't know that yet, as he doesn't know the half of how bad it is, and he's frightened to lose the security of what he knows. Rather than feeling guilty for leaving, you should see it as a favour to him, as you will be unlocking the cage he doesn't know he's in and freeing him for a better life. Be courageous and do the right thing.

This. My ex husband left because the spark had gone. I met someone else eventually who loves everything about me. We have just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. I often say to people that, if I had known the fabulous life that was waiting for me, I would have helped him pack.Be absolutely sure its what you want. You may look back one day and think what an absolute fool you have been. The grass is not always greener for the one who leaves. Its very often very much greener for the one they have left

MyHornCanPierceTheSky · 01/01/2024 17:29

Thegoodbadandugly · 01/01/2024 17:16

Just to add to that now knowing she is more attracted to woman must be causing such pain and anguish, she knows what she is doing is wrong she is after all living a false life. I see someone else that lives a life like this and how they all suffer is awful and the poor children suffer dreadfully because of all the screaming coming from the parents.

Oh yes, the op is the biggest victim in all of this. I remember a bizarre post on a previous similar thread (which may have been one.of ops) "a happy mum=happy children, do what makes you happy" 🤮 absolutely main character syndrome, as if everyone else is there just to support them.

RainyDaysSundays · 01/01/2024 17:30

I’ve tried to get him to do couples therapy in the past. As the pattern goes it’s yes of course let’s do it 100%, a week or two passes and it’s never mentioned again.

This is really unfair @Shouldistayorshouldi

YOU want to do therapy.
He is 100% in agreement.

But you then blame him for not organising it. Why didn't you mention it again? You started the ball rolling.

Did you ASK him to choose a therapist and book it?

Or are you setting tests that you know he will fail?
And it makes it easier for you to criticise him?

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 01/01/2024 17:42

RainyDaysSundays · 01/01/2024 17:30

I’ve tried to get him to do couples therapy in the past. As the pattern goes it’s yes of course let’s do it 100%, a week or two passes and it’s never mentioned again.

This is really unfair @Shouldistayorshouldi

YOU want to do therapy.
He is 100% in agreement.

But you then blame him for not organising it. Why didn't you mention it again? You started the ball rolling.

Did you ASK him to choose a therapist and book it?

Or are you setting tests that you know he will fail?
And it makes it easier for you to criticise him?

100% this, what's the point of the therapy? Not to repair your relationship, that would be horrific to allow him to believe that.

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