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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

Is it too far broken to fix :(

78 replies

Dangerzones · 25/07/2012 14:54

I am a regular but have name changed for this.

Where do I begin.
In April, I moved out of our home with DD. I stayed with my family for 2 and a half months. During this time, there was a very bitter exchange of nasty text messages and a lot of hurt on both sides. We'd been going through so much; house move, job problems, financial problems/ debts, family issues (his), and I was 8 weeks pregnant and very sick. DH was being a complete nob, and I reached breaking point. So I moved out.

I'm back now, and trying to pick up the broken pieces. I had not anticipated the level of resentment and anger DH would be harbouring still. I came back to a huge pile of unopened mail which included two court summons for unpaid fines. He had a speeding offence which he's ignored as well. He talked to my DB during the time I was away, saying how depressed and suicidal he felt and how he would never forgive me for taking DD away from him. (he has a very close bond with dd). During the time I was away, I did allow him to take her at times, but admittedly made it difficult at other times due to his behaviour and nasty attitude towards me.

Anyway, I've dealt with all the paperwork which took days and that aspect is almost back on track. The current issue is that we had a huge row last week and DH took over DD's bedroom. He's taken all his things in there, the extra tv, DVD player, bed, clothes, and he has slept there for the past week. Two days ago, in the morning, he came into my bed and we had a cuddle and made up. I had missed him, and it seemed as though he had felt the same. That night, we made love and he told me how much he had missed me and how lonely he felt in the room alone, and I slept in 'his' room (with dd asleep in
the other room). Last night, he came to our shared bed and dd was there too, and he
started saying how comfortable 'his' room was and how comfy 'his' bed was. I said something along the lines of how he think he could 'use and abuse' and then just sleep in his 'own bed', which got him really angry and it started a whole new row. It ended in him taking dd and going to his own bed and sleeping there for the night.

Now Im five months pregnant and he isn't expressing a real interest in the pregnancy. He talks to dd about having a brother or sister but he doesn't talk to me about it at all. It breaks my heart because he was the one who was pleading for a second baby and now there's this unhappiness between us that is not what I imagined as a new beginning for my baby.
I do understand that he appears to be deliberately distancing himself from the new baby as he probably feels like I can just pick the kids up at any point and dissapear, like I did when I went away. I have done that several times before when I've reached boiling point, so he now expects it, and appears to be preparing himself for it, and protecting himself from further hurt.
I, on the other hand, am exhausted with a three year old all day and with the growing pregnancy. I'm not eating very well and I'm just feeling sad the whole time.
I don't want him to sleep in another room, and I don't want him to be so cold and distant, but I feel as though I don't have the right to say this because I went away for so long.
Thank you for reading if you got this far, I know it's long and fragmented, but fragmented is the way things are right now, and I don't know how to fix them without feeling hurt and sad.

OP posts:
Offred · 26/07/2012 19:30

Could you explain what kind of thing he would say?

Dangerzones · 26/07/2012 19:41

For example, he has just said he would never get married again because he hates women, he can't stand them.

He said I'm a shit cook and I've never bothered asking what kinds of food he liked (this was in the context of the argument over dinner).

He said I could never please anyone but myself and I would never keep a man happy. Sad

OP posts:
Offred · 26/07/2012 19:58

Sad that is awful. Is this the kind of thing he has always said? What did he say that precipitated the leaving?

Dangerzones · 26/07/2012 20:29

Hes started this hating women thing after I left and came back. This is the second time he has made such a comment.

Before I left, he was just never happy with anything, always criticising. That was what tipped me over the edge.

I did say to him first that with the attitude he has, he wouldn't be able to entice a woman to a one-night stand, let alone a second marriage. Which brought on the not being able to please a man, comment.

But he was already being a nob by then.

OP posts:
solidgoldbrass · 26/07/2012 20:35

I thought there would be something like this going on. He's telling you the truth, he does despise women and consider them inferior to men. This is a difficult attitude to shift.

Dangerzones · 26/07/2012 20:44

I have told him that he has a part to play in all of this, and that I would try on my part but if things did not work out between us, I would walk away with my head held high knowing I tried my best to make it work.

I have bought my own car while away, and know exactly what I would be entitled to in benefits while Im not working and the baby is too little.

I'll give it till december (baby is due then) to see if it will work, and do everything I can to prevent us from splitting up. However I am fully aware that I can't make a marriage work by myself, and if that will always be the case, I am better off alone.

OP posts:
Offred · 26/07/2012 20:49

The way I see it it could be that either the hating women thing has appeared as an angry response to the leaving and isn't meant but he still has a temper and a mouth he cannot control or it could be that the hating women has been there all along and is the reason behind the arguing being so bad and the sex (and conceiving of children) still continuing throughout the total withdrawal of affection/the angry rowing. Which is your sense op, if any?

Dahlen · 26/07/2012 21:48

IF he was saying all those sorts of things before you started restricting access, etc., then he's a twat and you're better off without him. I've had my fair share of failed relationships and felt very angry at times, but I've never behaved or talked to someone like that. You either think like that or you don't. You don't change your views just because you're angry, you just cease to rein them in. I'm so sorry, but I really think you'd be better off leaving.

Dangerzones · 26/07/2012 22:17

I don't know to be honest. He has a close relationship with his mum and sisters, and although he has no close female friends, his previous job was an office full of women who loved him and felt really comfortable around him. So I don't know if he actually has started feeling like that temporarily or whether he's just saying it because he knows it will really piss me off.

The sex continuing throughout the rowing is a two-way thing; we both have a high sex drive and do really fancy each other (despite all the bitching).

I don't know.

OP posts:
Dahlen · 26/07/2012 23:17

Well things are clearly not working as they are. IMO you'd be better leaving even if it's just temporary. In fact, why not do so and put a time limit on it, say 6 months, to both work through your problems and feelings, with no restrictions on access any no silly buggers with finances, and see how you feel after that. If you don't feel things have got better after that time frame, then they're never going to, but the distance apart might give you both time to reflect, and the fact that he's taking financial responsibility and you're not restricting his access might go some way to restore your trust in each other.

Offred · 27/07/2012 10:18

But it is not normal to still fancy someone who speaks to you like that is my point, it kind of demonstrates some funny boundaries. Compartmentalisation of sex from love and the relationship from a man who says he hates women is a very worrying thing, I doubt the compartmentalisation is coming from you op because it sounds like you are thinking about loving him, fancying him and trying to make it work - so basically the relationship.

Offred · 27/07/2012 10:19

Men who hate women often are very charismatic and have a large number of fawning female fans btw but I agree it isn't conclusive.

Offred · 27/07/2012 10:21

See what I'm thinking? A man with a high sex drive who hates women but where the sex life doesn't and hasn't changed? A big red flag... Confused

Offred · 27/07/2012 10:23

And the comments about being an inadequate cook etc...

Offred · 27/07/2012 10:29

I mean I've got compartmentalisation of sex from love but it is as a direct result of being sexually abused. I am aware it isn't normal or particularly healthy.

amillionyears · 27/07/2012 11:06

I think he still loves you.
I think you still love him.

I think essentially you have 2 problems.The problems that were there originally,and the added problem now.

The problem now of seperate rooms.I wouldnt worry too much at that.the way I see it ,is,that for him,it is a half way house.I would actually be more concerned if you were not having sex.But you both want it,and you both are.Agreed,it is not ideal that he is in the other room,but I would just make it plain from time to time,that he is still welcome to come back to the joint bedroom.

The other problem is trickier,and made worse by what you did.he must know by now that you are sorry.it is going to take time to heal.And he is going to fly off the handle when you have a row,as he is now feeling deeply insecure,and thinks you are going to run off every time the two of you have a small or large disagreement.

have you talked about the things he regularly critizes you about,or is it he just critizes you over everything?

Dangerzones · 27/07/2012 12:21

Well last night was yet again different!

After a tense evening and arguments, he came to our bed (after lights off, me on MN on my phone in bed, dd asleep next to me). He sheepishly declared that as it was too hot to sleep in the other room, he was sleeping here.

It is absolutely sweltering all over the house. In fact, it is cooler in his room as he has a fan (and dd can't sleep with the fan on so I roast alongside her).

I said ok. He got in on DD's side and lightly touched my feet with his and lay there like that. I got up and went to his room to sleep after a while, partly because it was even hotter with three in the bed (well technically
Four if counting in growing bump), I was physically uncomfortable and also I didn't want to be there with him because I was still fuming.

I'm really confused.

OP posts:
Dangerzones · 27/07/2012 12:31

Amillion - he is Obsessed with food, and the criticism centres around cooking. Now I admit I'm not a Creative or even a good cook, but I get by ok I think. For him, food is paramount. He is always taking us out for dinner at lovely restaurants which we all enjoy as a family. DD must have the most international taste buds a toddler can possibly have! The problem is that at home, my cooking is basic, and although he doesn't complain about it when all is well, his grumbles and groans about my cooking come out when we're arguing because that dissatisfaction is there.

I do the cooking because DH works till
8/9pm and I'm not working at the moment.

OP posts:
amillionyears · 27/07/2012 13:07

Can I pm you briefly about something please?

Offred · 27/07/2012 13:49

It all sounds confusing and I'm still not clear what is going on. Do you think he came in last night because he was being loving or because he wanted a shag?

Dangerzones · 27/07/2012 14:05

No, I don't think he wanted sex at all, that was my point. He came in on DD's side, just made contact with me with his feet, cuddled dd, and fell asleep even before I had gone to the other room.

OP posts:
Offred · 27/07/2012 14:11

It sounds like he could have been reaching out maybe?

Offred · 27/07/2012 14:12

I think at the very least your reaction shows you how over your relationship is. It really is just flogging a dead horse I think.

Dangerzones · 27/07/2012 14:13

Possibly. But by then I was grumpy with lying awkwardly with the bump, and hot and still mad at our argument and I didn't respond to it.

It's usually the pattern of things.

OP posts:
Offred · 27/07/2012 14:20

I don't know if maybe a trial separation and couples counselling would be worth a try? I mean the difficulty is that I'm not sure whether it would be appropriate because it sounds like there may have been/is abuse...

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