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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel lonely when my partner only wants parallel lives?

24 replies

due · 05/09/2026 13:26

Me and DP are both early 30s and in the last year or so I’ve not felt like the relationship is an actual relationship? Basically any time we’re both home together he ends up on his PC or Xbox in the back office whilst I read or watch something. We both have an active life outside the relationship, lots of hobbies and friends. I’d say we’re both out the majority of week days after work, and have maybe one whole day at the weekend when we’re both at home.

I told him over new year that I would like to spend some quality time together because I want to feel connected to him. Just anything really - chatting, doing a hobby together, cooking together. He was really defensive at first saying I was codependent, that I needed to get a life, and that we spend all our time together, we sleep in the same bed (?!) and I’m overthinking things. Eventually he agreed with me (I think to shut me up)

So he continued with his gaming but will say things like “do you want to watch a film?” Or “what’s the plan tonight then?”. I know he’d rather be playing his games so I just say I’m going to chill out tonight and he says ok I’ll go on the game.

He’s started to ask me to sit in the room with him whilst he plays on the game, which in my mind is him trying to “spend time together”. I felt like a hired company at this point so have refused to do it!

I can’t remember the last time we had a date. He’s terrible with money so never has any spare to offer to take me the cinema or anything like that. No flowers, no conversation. He falls asleep on the sofa if we watch a film together but can play for 11 hours straight on his game.

I don’t feel attractive to him. I feel like I’m just someone to live with to him. We do have sex but there’s no build up or flirting, it’s mostly him coming to me with a hard on and saying let’s fuck.

He’s ex military, very emotionally repressed and doesn’t do well in conversations where I bring up feeling lonely. But I am lonely, desperately lonely. I feel like a loser asking to spend time with someone who clearly doesn’t want to! I’d just love him to plan something, do something, that makes me feel special. I see other people going on holidays or concerts together and get a pang of jealousy that we never do that.

The only time we go out together is if he wants me to watch him in a competition for his hobby. And even then he brings a group of his friends so it’s not “us”

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 05/09/2026 13:30

This relationship is over
he’s skint, emotionally disconnected , addicted to gaming and boorish
I’d be leaving him
sohnds like you have a good social life outside of him and assume work and no kids - set yourself free
There’s nothing lonelier than being in a shitty relationship

BoaAlba · 05/09/2026 13:34

It sounds like it’s over OP.

It’s good to know what you don’t want in a relationship so that you can be more selective in the next one.

Best of luck with your future!

FusionChefGeoff · 05/09/2026 13:37

Run a mile this sounds awful

WellThatsNotAGrowthMindset · 05/09/2026 13:41

"What's the plan then?"
Have one.
I know you want him to do the plan and court you, but life is too short.
Go for what you want.
Where do you want to go?
Theatre? Cinema? Restaurant? Gig?
Book it. Share Costs. Get dolled up if you want to
Take it from there.
See what happens.

Lyra87 · 05/09/2026 13:41

You haven't mentioned one good thing about this relationship. I think that says enough really. Don't lose any more time to someone who can't give you what you need.

due · 05/09/2026 13:46

WellThatsNotAGrowthMindset · 05/09/2026 13:41

"What's the plan then?"
Have one.
I know you want him to do the plan and court you, but life is too short.
Go for what you want.
Where do you want to go?
Theatre? Cinema? Restaurant? Gig?
Book it. Share Costs. Get dolled up if you want to
Take it from there.
See what happens.

im not planning stuff because I know he won’t want to do it. I want him to want to spend time with me. Today he’s been on his game for 8 hours… that’s what he wants to do. Last time I planned something he said it wasn’t “romantic” enough

OP posts:
Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 05/09/2026 13:49

I had a period like this with my husband. I was grieving my mum and was very down. He found the change in me was difficult for him to watch. I remember one week i had tea by myself for 5 nights. on the Saturday he rang me to say he was staying out. I remember feel the loneliest i have ever felt. If i was single at least I was free to go dating etc. I gave him an ultimatum. He stayed and I think we were the only couple in the world that having a baby brought us closer although i wouldn't recommend it!

BMW58 · 05/09/2026 13:50

Sorry but I think your marriage has died.

Give it a decent burial and move on

MarthaLovesLaughing · 05/09/2026 13:51

I suggest your plan should be to leave him and start a new life for you. He won't change

Bonkers1966 · 05/09/2026 14:08

This relationship has run its course. Does he even like you?

EverybodyLTB · 05/09/2026 14:09

Easiest LTB ever. Be done, and live!

grinandslothit · 05/09/2026 14:12

He sounds terrible like he doesn't even like you except for an occasional shag and do his housework for him
Nobody wants to be with an overgrown child on video games 8 hours
Very easy LTB

ginasevern · 05/09/2026 14:14

I don't understand what you're getting out of this "non-relationship" and why you think it will improve. He wants completely different things to you and sees life in a totally different way. You aren't even on the same page. And how you can want sex with someone that says "let's fuck" is beyond me. Why are you throwing your life away on a totally unsuitable bloke that doesn't even sound as if he likes you very much?

Littlejellyuk · 05/09/2026 14:20

Do not have children with this man.
He is basically a room mate that you happen to fuck every now and again.
This is not a partnership, nor a marriage.
I would divorce.

You cannot change a lazy man, nor a selfish one.
Get your financial ducks in a row 🦆
You want him to want to spend time with you.
His actions have told you otherwise.
His actions ARE exactly WHO he is.
He has shown his true colours.
LTB. 💯
@due

H00vervlawnmower · 05/09/2026 14:24

His actions speak louder than his words

He would rather game than do anything with you

You are young

End relationship

Find someone who wants to share doing things with you
Camping
Live music
Cinema - It is £4 ticket any film this weekend
Travel
Date

Hearditall01 · 05/09/2026 14:24

What, you never go out anywhere at all? A meal, a family event, a concert or the cinema? And you do your own thing at home as he is always gaming? No, I would not be happy with that and I would definitely end the relationship.

RemindMeIn15Minutes · 05/09/2026 14:39

Don’t waste any more time on this guy. You’ll never be happy.

LittlestBoho · 05/09/2026 15:23

I've had deeper relationships with past housemates than you have with this guy.

There's a very common fallacy about emotionally repressed men, that you just need to show them how to love / say the right combination of words / be a good example and they will suddenly crack open and be the thoughtful, emotionally engaged partner you want. It's not real. The majority of these men have no meaningful inner world. They are living empty, shallow lives of hobbies and gaming, and will never love anybody deeply - they don't have it in them.

If you were also a person who didn't want a deep connection and just wanted surface level fun then this relationship would be perfect for you. But you're not, and it isn't.

Cut your losses and find joy while there's still happiness in the world. You only live once, do you really want to spend your time watching some cardboard cutout guy play video games for 12 hours a day? I'd rather be dead.

arethereanyleftatall · 05/09/2026 15:28

I don’t get why you have stayed in this relationship?

you don’t have to presumably?

so just leave?

how could you force, or even why would you want to, force someone who doesn’t want to be in a proper relationship to be in one?

he just wants someone to split the costs with and shag when he wants.

this must be a billion times lonelier than being single.

I don’t get it.

Bobbybobbins · 05/09/2026 15:33

You cannot make someone change. They have to want to do it and I don’t think he does.

UsernameHoarder · 05/09/2026 15:33

Geez. He sounds really unattractive. Like a teenager really, getting his needs met un every way without a care about who is providing everything. How can you stand him?

PinkyFlamingo · 05/09/2026 15:37

due · 05/09/2026 13:46

im not planning stuff because I know he won’t want to do it. I want him to want to spend time with me. Today he’s been on his game for 8 hours… that’s what he wants to do. Last time I planned something he said it wasn’t “romantic” enough

Well he doesn't want to spend time with you sorry. It's up to you what to do now but this isn't a relationship.

PersephoneParlormaid · 05/09/2026 15:37

So he just wants a hole to stick his dick in. You’re worth more than that.

Millytante · 05/09/2026 15:39

Good grief. You know, being alone is miles easier than being lonely in a relationship. Why carry on?
Wordless blokes glued to online gaming hardly qualify as pub pals, I’d imagine, never mind lovers with whom to live.
If his ‘hobby’ were motocross or cricket, say, then watching him in action might be acceptable, but he is having a laugh if he thinks your presence while he's online and oblivious will warm your cockles.

I’d be looking for the nearest exit from this relationship, as a matter of urgency.

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