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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

Should I leave?

15 replies

missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 08:30

My partner and I have been together for 5 years. We have a 2.5 year old daughter.cour relationship has been difficult from the beginning. I became pregnant while we were living abroad. We were both happy with the decision to move back to the uk and start a family. I love my daughter dearly....but my relationship with her father Is worsening. He doesn't support us financially, he is lazy and selfish. He is like a teenager. I can't keep waiting for it to get better. I don't have the energy to keep arguing with him. Our sex life is non existent. He is a good father, but a very high maintenance boyfriend. I don't think I can go on anymore. I need someone I can rely on. What do I do????? If I bring it up with him he gets really defensive and says its just me going nuts and I need to calm down.

OP posts:
Lueji · 21/04/2012 08:48

How exactly is he a good father if he doesn't support her financially, and is selfish?

Lueji · 21/04/2012 08:48

And lazy?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/04/2012 08:53

Such feckless men are never good fathers either; women often write the "good father" comment when they themselves have nothing at all positive to say about their manchild (precisely what you have done in your post). Your relationship as well has been difficult from the beginning; this is another red flag.

None of what you write is any reason to stay within this.

Your DD in particular deserves better. What sort of relationship model do you want her to learn from, this is certainly not it.

sailorsgal · 21/04/2012 08:57

You shouldn't stay with him just because you have a child together. I think its better to leave now whilst your daughter is still little. It doesn't sound like he is going to improve.

You deserve better. Smile. Good luck with your decision. You are not going nuts btw.

sailorsgal · 21/04/2012 08:59

I have to agree with the last post. Not a good role model.

missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 09:39

I don't know where to start. My fear is making the wrong decision because I couldn't handle getting through a bad patch. However, it has been difficult from the start , so maybe it is doomed.

OP posts:
missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 09:39

I'm very confused and tired!

OP posts:
sailorsgal · 21/04/2012 09:41

I think you have put up with it for so long you don't really know what a great relationship can feel like.

It can be fantastic. Honest. Smile

IDontWannaBeAStupidGirl · 21/04/2012 09:46

He doesn't support his child financially.

He is lazy and selfish.

Your sex life is non existant.

He deflects criticism with a patronising "Calm down dear. You're going nuts".

Listen to that inner voice telling you he is a knob. What do you get from this relationship?

missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 10:00

I don't think I get anything from it at the moment. Where do I go from here? I keep telling myself it's going to get better when he sorts his job out or when we move. I'm worried about the stress and worry it will cause our parents if we split. I worry about our dd as she adores her daddy. I worry about his mental state if we s

OP posts:
missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 10:01

If we split. I tried asking him to go to relate With me but he was reluctant and we can't really afford it.

OP posts:
sailorsgal · 21/04/2012 10:13

Can you at least speak to a friend in RL or your parents. Tell them what is going on and how unhappy you are. They may surprise you and be very supportive.

How about thinking of yourself for a change and what would make you happy. Tell him that things have to get better or you will leave. Give him a deadline.

missmouseflaps · 21/04/2012 10:19

I know. There's lots to talk about. It's difficult with him as it turns into an argument. We need help. I think I will look into low cost counselling.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/04/2012 10:52

"I don't think I get anything from it at the moment. Where do I go from here? I keep telling myself it's going to get better when he sorts his job out or when we move. I'm worried about the stress and worry it will cause our parents if we split. I worry about our dd as she adores her daddy. I worry about his mental state if we split.

Missmouseflaps,

re your comment:-

The first part of what you have written tells you all you need to know. There is always a way out; there is help and advice out there to help you. You need to take the first - and hardest step - to get the help you need.

Your DD is already being stressed by her unhappy mother and her uncaring feckless dad who is causing his partner much pain. Being apart from him won't cause her any more unhappiness than currently. Simply put, your man does not give a toss about either you or his child and never has really. He has put on an act. Also children adore any parent no matter how crap they are. She only has you to rely on therefore. Remaining within this will let her down.

I would also read up on codependency (Codependency no more written by Melodie Davies may be helpful to you) as you are not responsible for him at the end of the day.

Joint counselling of any sort is a complete non starter when there is or has been abuse of any kind. He demeans you and does not want to listen to you. If you want to go to Relate go on your own and work on your own self esteem and worth. This man has done a real number on you to get you to such a low point, he is the root cause of your unhappiness.

Why are you together still, this has been bad from the beginning yet you have hung on desparately to the wreakage with predicatable result. You probably thought you could save or rescue such an inherently damaged individual by showing him that you love him - you were wrong on all counts there. Also he was never your project to rescue or save from himself.

This man is dragging both you and will take your child down with him. Such men do not and never change.

Thumbwitch · 21/04/2012 10:58

You will probably find life without him is actually easier. Currently you have a toddler and a teenager to deal with - it's not a good combination when you're not actually the mother of the "teenager", who is supposed to be your life partner, or at the very least a responsible adult parent on a par with you.

If you leave, you will only have to rely on yourself, which you are already doing - but you will have one less person to look after, one less person to clean up after, one less person to change the atmosphere in your house and frankly most people in your situation feel soooo much better once they get rid of the deadweight.

My DH is a teenager in a man's body in many ways and drives me nuts BUT he is a good provider and he would never tell me I was crazy to think that something is wrong. And that's the difference, and why I stay with him - because he IS doing something positive for our family - your bloke isn't, apparently.

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