Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

What should I do?

5 replies

Kimcat1 · 24/04/2025 04:09

My husband and I have been having problems for some time (only married 3 years). We have no intimate relationship, none. He's on medication which he says is the cause, but refuses to be seen by Dr. This has left my self confidence shattered and our commutation is awful. We have a beautiful little girl (we got pregnant really quickly, and I could tell that even while trying it was only because he had to do it if that makes sense). We've been intimate once in 2 years at this point!

I saved up for mat leave but spent the little I'd managed to save. Was completely blindsided by him while on mat leave as I had to use my credit card and overdraft to stay afloat, while he had thousands in the bank. He knowingly left me struggling. Only after breaking down to him did he step in and pay all of the household bills, but I was already in this debt. He said there was no point in "throwing money at the situation" and did not at the time offer to help me out of debt, even though he had the means. He said all the right things and was then offered a very high paying job in America. I think I hoped this would be the making of us really, and thought what an amazing opportunity for my little girl. Also thought well this will help me out of debt (I went back to work part time after bubs so would have struggled a long time to pay that off). Anyway we're in the US now and I have so much resentment towards him. Resentment that he has completely neglected me physically, financially, emotionally. I should add that I'm basically a single married mother. I can't work here due to visa category so we have a joint account but this makes me so angry because he wasn't there for me financially at the most vulnerable point in my life, but now that it's convenient for him as he wanted us to come here, he's paid off my overdraft and credit card and now we have this money that's 'ours'. He's also hardly ever made effort with my family or friends but again now that we're here I'm expected to make all this effort with all of these new people he works with and I don't find getting to know new people very easy. I have always made a lot of effort with his family and friends though. I think because we're away from home and my support system, and I feel isolated and lonely, it's amplifying all of these thoughts and feelings. I just don't know what to do and I'm aware I've made such a mess in coming here and my poor little baby is stuck in the middle of all of this. I feel like a terrible mother so please go easy on me in the responses. If you got this far, thank you so very much.

OP posts:
wannagoome · 24/04/2025 04:26

My heart goes out to you. How long have you been in the US? What would you like to happen? What do you think he wants?

trailblazer42 · 24/04/2025 08:50

You love you baby and are trying to do the best for her so you are anything but a terrible mother.

'His' money has always been both of yours. That's what marriage is, especially when you have dependents and anyone who denies or restricts this is either poorly informed about the contract they agreed to (after all, marriage is a legal contract not just a fancy wedding!) or intentionally witholding it which is abuse.

You need to be clear what you want as that resentment is only going to grow. If you're not sure what you want then maybe talk with a counsellor before you have that conversation with him because it sounds like you're going to need to have that quite clear in your head so you aren't sidelined by him downplaying any of your concerns.

Kimcat1 · 24/04/2025 13:57

@wannagoome thank you. We've only been in the US 2 months and in my gut I can't help but think what a terrible mistake I've made. I can't work here, I really don't feel comfortable driving here with my baby in the car as I wouldn't be confident, and I miss my family terribly. I just feel with everything that's happened in the past, we're not strong enough to do this just the two of us. Not having my support system here, i just feel so alone and it's made all of our issues come to the forefront. I'm so resentful and angry that I'm here. I'm questioning my love for him and to be honest just want to jump on the 1st plane with my daughter. We're going home at the end of May for a month so that'll give me time to reflect I guess.

OP posts:
Kimcat1 · 24/04/2025 13:59

@trailblazer42 thank you for your reply. I've been thinking about speaking to a counselor as I'm starting to doubt my own instincts and thoughts. It just really helps me to get an outsider perspective as he has a good way of making me feel I've done wrong

OP posts:
ThirdStorm · 24/04/2025 14:16

That sounds so tough. Are there any community/expat groups you can join so at least you won't feel so isolated? I can't help but think now your debt is paid off at least you are back on an even keel, make best use of joint money now and don't take on personal debt again. I think you already know in May you will need to decide if you are returning with him. Maybe treat the next month as a holiday, it might make it feel less hopeless and permanent. Try to assess your real feelings on the matter, as you wouldn't want to make a major decision that's being triggered by short term feelings around being isolated and missing your family.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page