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

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I'm confused. Is this marriage worth it?

9 replies

madgered · 27/03/2012 11:48

About 7 years ago my husband went abroad for a year to work. He came home every other weekend. Whilst he was away he started having fantasies about me and him and another man in bed. When he came home at weekends he would tell me that he had arranged for a 3rd man to join us. I was terrified and just flat refused. Then he started urging me to have an affair. Again I baulked.

Coincidentally 6 months later I did meet someone and because of my husband's previous behaviour I didn't hesitate. And so an affair began. It continued for 5 years until he moved away. Now we still contact each other, but we've become good friends. My husband never found out and we kept it discrete. I must admit that affair/friendship saved my sanity.

Meanwhile during these past 7 years my husband had always remained detached and passionless towards me. We've had sex, but it's infrequent and passionless. I've tried to improve things for us. I hired a nanny a year ago so that we could go away for a couple of nights alone together. We've been away 3 times, twice with other couples and once alone. We had a fab. time with the other couples. But our solo trip to New York was an eye opener for me.

It was a 3 day trip. Partly business for him and a getaway for the two of us. I booked us into and incredible hotel. I really wanted to go and visit a jazz club. My husband is a musician and he loves Jazz. He met up with his business collegues for a few hours everyday and then we went off and did our own thing. But I soon realised, when we were alone together, he was quiet and incommunicative. He wanted to be out with his work collegues. When this dawned on me, it was like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water at me. It was gutting. We never went to a jazz club. He told me that he hated the New york trip.

His elderly mother recently moved into a village nearby, I helped her move and sorted out electrical goodies etc. A parcel had arrived for her and I went to the post office to collect it. My husband saw it on the dining room table and said : Did you collect this? and I flippantly replied: No it materialised. To which he answered: Twat!

I can't stop crying. I spoke to my husband and told him how that comment felt. I said I couldn't carry on anymore and I want a divorce. He just looked at me and carried on working. He hasn't said anything else to me other than polite conversation.

I can't stand it anymore, it's driving me round the bend. What should I do? he refuses to talk about it, he just walks away.

OP posts:
LiarsWife · 27/03/2012 12:07

Doesn't sound like much of a marriage ...

What do you want? Do you want to separate?

squeakytoy · 27/03/2012 12:23

You dont love each other. You have no respect for each other... why are you even bothering being together?

madgered · 27/03/2012 14:56

Yes squeakytoy perhaps you're right. I feel like I've been trying to flog a dead pony.
Liarswife: I really don't want to separate. We have 4 children and besides all this nonsense, life is good. That is why I don't know how to handle this situation.

Do men do this kind of thing? Is it normal in a relationship? Will it pass?

OP posts:
LucyManga · 27/03/2012 14:59

It sounds like he is barely able to conceal his contempt for you. You sound miserable. I know I couldnt put up with this. I dont think it is in any way 'normal', no.

EasyOnTheChips · 27/03/2012 15:04

Funny sort of marriage really - neither of you are committed to it in any way as far as I can see...

fuzzywuzzy · 27/03/2012 15:07

Why did you tell him you wanted a divorce if you don't?

Go get legal advice to see where you stand legally.

Then have a good long think about it. This has been your life for the past 7 years according to you, it won't change without concerted effort on both sides.

You may also want to look into marriage counselling.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 27/03/2012 15:14

What do you get out of this relationship now?. Think you're really kidding yourself actually that life is actually good despite all this nonsense. Are you scared of being on your own with four children, is that what keeps you within this dysfunctional marriage?.

What are you teaching your children about relationships?. What do you both want to teach them?. This is no role model for them to be emulating or following is it. Is this really the legacy you want to be leaving them?.

garlicbutter · 27/03/2012 15:15

It's over. That's not to say you can't have a good, functional relationship in the future, but it won't be the marriage you have had and may not be a marriage at all.

The only thing that kept you sane was an affair. He can't be arsed to reply when you tell him you want a divorced. It sounds like the pair of you are only together through inertia. Best you set each other free, imo.

I know it's scary and you'll feel resistant, but please see a divorce lawyer as soon as possible. You might want to think about counselling later but, for now, get a fix on where you stand. Your husband checked out of your marriage some years ago - when he started to relate to you more as a funky sex partner than a life partner - and you do NOT know what other provisions he may have made for himself elsewhere. I mean emotionally and financially. Worry about the finance.

Please tell your real-life friends and family members. You need to make this 'real' and line up support for yourself.

All the best.

madgered · 27/03/2012 16:41

Thank you all so much for your replies. You have all given me a lot to think about.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread