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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

Not happy

39 replies

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:14

Have NC.
Been married for 13 years, together for 17.
Have 2 lovely dc who are wonderful but like all kids, are hard work.
I have been a sahm now for 8 years - by choice - and which worked out very well when ds1 was born as he was a very sick baby.
Ds1 does have some sen but he is making great progress and is doing well. Ds2 is at pre school - he starts school next sept.
I am not sure I love my dh anymore...well...not sure if I feel the same at least.
I feel so lonely...it's not right to be lonely if you are married is it? Or is it? I have no one to turn to. No one. My family are all busy with their own lives (understandably) and we aren't that close tbh.
My pils are nice people but he is their son and - rightly - they would always support him no matter what.
He isn't cruel or violent. I am not abused. He works hard. He loves the kids and me (I think) but I find him such hard work...I used to joke it was like having 3 kids...except it's not a joke anymore :(
I do all ds1s extra work/therapies. I sort out all school stuff and meetings. I do my volunteer work which I enjoy but I would like to do paid work again.
He is useless when the kids are ill or unwell. Ds2 was really ill last week and I had to call an ambulance. Well, I asked dh to do it, but he said he "couldn't" as he was "too upset" so I had to struggle and calm ds2 whilst talking to the operator. He went into another room.
He let me down badly wrt ds1 when he was a baby too...leaving me alone at the hospital with a very sick 6 week old while he went to work. I think part of me will never forgive him for that. I learnt later he hadn't even told his bosses that ds1 was so Ill...
I am always dealing with things alone. I was scared to, but one of us has to be strong, (ds2 is ok btw)
I do all the cooking, cleaning, washing etc I also organise holidays, birthdays, Xmas etc he hasn't had to think about or buy a gift for any of his family since we got married.
I know what you will say...it's my own doing and you are right, but I thought that I was being helpful. Now I realise he just can't be bothered and because he knows in will do it.
It's my 40th this year. Ha! I am probably having a mid life crisis!! All Dhs family keep asking what I am doing. And I answer nothing. And nog thing will happen because I refuse to organise my own 40th birthday. I do everyone else's and thata fine, but I won't do my own.
And no one has offered either...it's just accepted that because I am not organising anything nothing will happen...
I am not difficult to please...a meal and some chocolate would be nice, but I won't even get that.
I seem to come last with everyone. Kids are naturally selfish so that's ok and i am used to it from my own family but I am getting more and more upset with it from dh.
He doesn't listen. I seem to talk to myself. We are supposed to be going on hols (completely organised by me) next week and I am dreading it.
I don't want to sleep with him...have no desire to at all. He is not unattractive, but I just can't seem to feel that way about him when he is so needy all the time.
God, I sound like a real bitch don't I?
I cannot leave. I will not do that to my children.
Is there anything I can do to salvage this? Every now and again we have a "chat" but nothing really changes...how can I move on?
I want to make my marriage work, but atm its a hard slog and I am tired and unhappy.
If you have got this far - thanks for reading my ramblings and I am sorry for the self pity.

OP posts:
ToothbrushThief · 08/07/2012 22:17

You don't sound like a bitch. You sound like someone struggling to respect an adult you are married to (with very good reason)

Sadly he will continue to behave like this unless forced to change, is my view.
Has he changed during the marriage?

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:24

Yes and no.
When we first married we both worked ft. He still carried on with his hobbies/travel etc which I was fine with...after all you don't marry someone to change them do you?
Ds1s arrival was a big shock to both of us...ds1 was very poorly for some time and for a while it was suspected he had cp. it was an awful time. I felt totally numb with shock....I had done everything right after all! Textbook pg, no drink, smoking, I didn't even take a paracetamol!
Dh did not deal with it well...I think he found it hard to bond with ds1 til he knew he was "ok" iyswim?
I think that's the issue...I don't respect him anymore :(
How did it get to this?
I don't know what to do.

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Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:29

I think my experiences with ds1s early years has marked me for life tbh.
I am not who I was when we married...I am far more world weary and cynical than I was....I have been coping alone for so long it seems normal now but I know - in the logical part of my brain - it isn't.
I asked him to use 2 days of annual leave over the summer hols to give me a break and you would think I had asked him to lop an arm off!!
He changed roles at work in January which has meant a lot less stress for him (which is good obv) but more travel. This means of course that I can't look for work til ds2 is much older and also means that sometimes I am alone with the dc for a week at a time which wasn't my idea of family life tbh....
He is supportive in some ways...I am thinking of starting my degree course up again in oct and he is quite supportive of that but only because it requires no effort on his part I am guessing!

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StarryCole · 08/07/2012 22:34

It seems like you have both grown apart. You do need to tell him how you feel and work with him to see what common interests you can build on (I'm not talking about children here). Do you have friends? Close friends? You need to start building a life of your own and it will really help you feel better about yourself and self-worthiness. How about you working professionally (if you don't already?) it might address some balance in your marriage.

Sorry I don't have answers but only suggestions but I think start being open with your husband by having a drink one evening........ hugs

happyAvocado · 08/07/2012 22:36

Dh did not deal with it well...I think he found it hard to bond with ds1 til he knew he was "ok" iyswim?

many men aren't able to deal with their kids disabilities
I guess this is why he never mentioned it to his boss

StarryCole · 08/07/2012 22:36

Just to add, can you get some paid help to help with your children (sorry, it doesn't seem clear to me how old they are) and that way, you can pursue some of your own interests and or a job?

ToothbrushThief · 08/07/2012 22:40

Children change a relationship and often crack open weaknesses.

The irony of my marriage was that possibly DC caused the issues (he changed when we had DC) but I stayed because of them (well until 3 yrs ago!)

I was married for 22 yrs. Most of it unhappy.

I was starting to drift off and talk about my marraiage - have deleted - you either accept this state of affairs or accept you have to change something.

You can ask him to change. You can't make him

If you fail on that front then tbh I would consider just how long you can continue feeling the way you do. I was heaps better off when separated. One less child. One less spending the household money. More honesty ...living with a man like this usually means lying to yourself and others to hide the true relationship?

When you have teens it gets a whole lot more demanding and I found my teens took their lead from their father and showed me no affection/gratitude etc.

Once he'd gone they changed and family life improved.

mcmooncup · 08/07/2012 22:41

He sounds outstandingly selfish.

Definitely go back to college and check out how he reacts when you have to study on a Saturday and Sunday etc. I don't predict it will be pleasant but it will at least demonstrate to you in black and white how he just wants a domestic appliance and in the meantime you will be doing something for yourself.......hurray!

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:42

Sorry my dc are 9 and 3...few mc in between.
I do think we need to talk but nothing ever changes...
Have any of you had experience with relate?
I cant verbalise very well when I am upset and I am conscious that going over old ground is a bit pathetic :(

OP posts:
Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:46

I am not prefect by any means....I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea...I can be difficult to live with too I am sure BUT the big difference is I listen to him. If he asks me to do something I do it (if I can) I do what I can to make his life easier/re pleasant and it's just hard to know he doesn't feel I deserve the same....

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Babylon1 · 08/07/2012 22:47

Have you thought about some couples counselling? If he's not open to that, you can go on your own - research the options open to you.

You cannot make him change, he has to want to do that himself. Does he actually, categorically know how you feel ATM?

ToothbrushThief · 08/07/2012 22:50

I suspect you try very hard to make things right. Please try and borrow Women who love too much from the library :)

Relate wasn't helpful for us but personal counselling helped me enormously

Babylon1 · 08/07/2012 22:51

I have experience of relate. Can't do pm as on phone but basically, October last year, I was where you are now.

Fast forward to now and I can hand on heart state that our relate counsellor has saved our marriage, or rather she has helped us to save our marriage.

Things are not perfect by any means, but they are so much better. We actually talk now and make time for each other.

Please give it a go; it's not nice first few sessions, warts and all are laid bare so counsellor has something to go at, but after that for us, it was great - we actually laughed together in one of our sessions, for the first time in ages.

StarryCole · 08/07/2012 22:51

Bbbbeee....suggest to start small. Men don't like long lists of things to do/change. Just start very small, maybe just focus on one or two things and work to engineer this to happen. Both of you should discuss these one or two points and ask him how he can contribute to making it happen.

mcmooncup · 08/07/2012 22:52

Nobody is perfect yet I do think you have sacrificed a lot for your family (no criticism at all) and your DH neither respects or appreciates that.

Babylon1 · 08/07/2012 22:52

D'oh Blush

Just found PM facility on phone app!!!!

StarryCole · 08/07/2012 22:53

Then write it down, diarise (with reminders) to the both of you...and it will happen!!

mcmooncup · 08/07/2012 22:53

Starry -sorry but he is a grown man not a 5 year old.

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:53

I think so.
I have tried, but I get really upset and start crying/shouting/have to leave the room.
I think I am unfair on him sometimes...people change don't they? I know I have.
Toothbrush - I am not sure I fit that description :(

OP posts:
RandomMess · 08/07/2012 22:56

Bbbee I have been in a similar situation.

I got zero for my 40th birthday and it really really hurt so much.

We are in counselling it is hard but we are finally communicating and finding out what really needs to change.

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:56

It's been a though week...both kids Ill, lack of sleep....do you know he actually fell back asleep when the paramedic was here?? How is that even possible??
I wonder if I expect too much?
I have felt so angry with him today...all day and I don't want to. I don't want this to be my life.

OP posts:
Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 22:58

How do you get in touch with relate?
Is there a long waiting list?
Sigh.
He probably wouldn't go...he got annoyed last year at one of ds1s apps because the doctor (obv) was asking lots of questions about ds.1 and his early years and issues and dh said it was "intrusive" ?
I am so tired.

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RandomMess · 08/07/2012 23:00

We haven't gone through relate, it was a pyschotherapist who does couple and individual therapy.

In the end it became an ultimatum that either we went or there was nothing left because there was no "us" anymore.

AltruisticEnigma · 08/07/2012 23:02

I'm with everyone above on this one.

-Try contact relate and going to one of their sessions or another marriage counselling agency.
-Go to an individual counsellor for yourself and help build your confidence and your ability to step back and let your husband do some things. He'll be left with no choice but to have to do things then.
-Talk to a close friend about this. As they know him, they may have some friendly pointers on how they believe you may be able to approach him.
-Get a part time job. This well help you have a separate life from home, dh and the kids and give yo uthe opportunity to do something you really love.

Again sorry it's only a few suggestions but one - or all of these things - could make a difference. He has to be willing to change himself though. Whether it's for you, for the kids or even better for himself--he needs to get himself to that stage.

Bbbbbee · 08/07/2012 23:02

It's not that I want anything random it's just the total lack of thought (makes me sound like a bloody child!)
For his 40th I did a party at home (he isn't a party animal) and books on travel from me and a pocket watch from the boys (he has always wanted one) got him a fab chocolate cake too (his fave)
If I get anything like that it wil be because my mil gets it for me.
It's not stuff I want. It's some consideration and thought, and I am sure you are the same. I hope things are better for you now s

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