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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

Floundering - need advice please

24 replies

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 16:47

NC'd for this. Will try to be succinct and am quite prepared to be told I'm being a completely unreasonable cow.
Background..married 17 years, I am 43, DH 45, 1 DD age 13 and 1 DS age 9. Good stable family situation, DH and I never argue, kids doing well. All fine and dandy. Rocky finances for a good few years but getting better now.
However. For the last few years DH and I have slowly been growing apart. I have a highly-paid job in scientific research, he has been made redundant a couple of times and is now in a menial job in a caravan park. Nothing wrong with that, he enjoys it, it's stress-free for him, doesn't pay much but better than nothing. In fact he has quite a lovely wee life which is where we are at odds. I organise everything...childcare for when I'm away travelling a couple of days a week, bills, finances, vet and docs appts....you get the drift. I also do the vast majority of the cleaning and decorating. He works weekends and I therefore have the 3 dogs and kids, leaving very little time for me as I work full time. He covers this while I'm away travelling during the week but I will very often come home to find nothing's been done. He has an outbuilding which he uses as his mancave, he's out there 3-4 evenings a week practising guitar as he's in a band....quite a recent thing. He seems to have no problem organising band practices and sorting out the other members. Drinks a bit and smokes weed which he has cut down to 1 night per week as we had words about it.

I'm in a quandary. I'm not sure that I love him any more. We are worlds apart intellectually. He is the most laid back person in the world which as he has gotten older, I feel has translated into laziness. We don't have a sex life to speak of. He has had ED problems for 8 years due to being made redundant and so now the only time we ever have sex is when a blue pill has been taken. Not even once a month now and I have to keep reminding him. Sometimes it is months. he has been several times to the GP at my instigation, he has had one session of counselling, dismissed after that because he is not depressed or anxious. I feel shit that he can only shag me by taking medication although he is reasonably affectionate otherwise. We have had so many conversations about all of these things, about him taking on more of the burden, about our sex life, all started by me. I am not a sulker and will say how I feel. When I do this, he sits and says nothing. Years ago while pissed he told me that when I start on about this kind of stuff he justs shuts it off and lets it all go over him. Nothing changes. I have tried to give him tasks, he fucks it up.
He swears up and down he loves me beyond all measure and that there is noone else he could ever love. I have mostly told him that I would never split us up because I couldn't do it to the kids, they would never forgive me, but in the last convo we had, a few weeks back, I mentioned that I was beginning to think differently. i told him I can see how people have affairs.

For full disclosure...he had the beginnings of an EA about 1.5 years ago with an old flame through FB, how cliched. I caught him and it was nipped in the bud. Around 2 years ago I was in the same position with a work colleague who was very smitten with me but I shut it down before it went too far. I'm unsure as to whether DH would have done the same if he had not been caught. It really was just a few flirty texts.
I don't know what to do. I don't know if I'm having some kind of midlife crisis. We rub along most of the time but are just like friends who happen to share a house and a couple of kids. Financially, separating would be a disaster. He's not a bad man, he's a really good man in fact, but....I don't know.
Help.

OP posts:
chamonixlover · 14/07/2013 17:01

No mention of the kids' feelings? Hmm. You have a pretty good life compared to many. Thank your blessings.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 17:10

Chamonix, the kids are absolutely fine, healthy and happy. They have no clue that I am unhappy, I have been more than careful to keep it that way. And yes, I do know how lucky I am, I really do. For both those reasons, amongst others, I am really struggling with this.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 14/07/2013 17:16

he's a really good man in fact,

It amazes me how often I see the equivalent of this statement on here.

I'm sure he's very nice, but...
He's pretty much abdicated all responsibility, financial and otherwise to you.
So, I'm not entirely sure why you consider yourself that lucky either. He's not abusive or anything, but he's not really a partner either, is he?

Hassled · 14/07/2013 17:23

So he's very selfish domestically and you are resentful of a) his much easier life and b) his failure to address the ED (although it could well be that the blue pills are the future. Do you know if it's physical or psychological - does he wake up with an erection?). And I absolutely understand that - and of course that resentment is going to make you question whether you love him.

But something's holding you back from just calling it quits - have you thought about marriage guidance counselling? Do you think he would engage with that if he realised the importance?

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/07/2013 17:29

He may love you beyond all measure but the bottom line is that you clearly don't feel loved by this person. People talk about relationships being hard work, which they emphatically shouldn't be, but there has to be an element of effort and growth on all sides or the danger is that, as you're finding, people start getting taken for granted and you increasingly have very little in common.

This is one of those situations where, if you caught him in bed with the milkman, it would be much easier because you'd have some single terrible event that you could point to as justification to end it. As it is, you've got children, history and all kinds of other connections which are keeping you there against your better judgement and making you feel guilty and disloyal for being unhappy with this 'good man'. But as my friend is fond of saying 'life's not a rehearsal'.

I'm glad you've revised your position from 'never split up' to contemplating it. Because you're right, he is lazy. And if he has zero motivation to live any differently, nothing at all will happen.

smallchestofdrawers · 14/07/2013 17:29

Well I can relate to a lot of this. Only you can decide if it's enough for you. Having therapy might help you decide what you want.

My life with dp is pretty pedestrian although he does earn quite a lot of money and is not quite as self involved (lazy?) as your husband. I love my partner but there are plenty of things I'm dissatisfied with (sex life included). However, I have an aversion to "drama", having had quite enough of it over the years especially as a child so I place a high value on stability.

Having said that, should I meet a sexy, interesting man, I don't think I'd have an affair but who knows.

I once read a book called "imperfect harmony", written by an American psychotherapist which is about when you are dissatisfied with you relationship and can't decide whether to stay or go. Its fundamental message is "the grass isn't always greener".

Sorry this isn't much help but just wanted to say I think a lot of long relationships are like this-not too good/not too bad. It might help to know you are not alone.

smallchestofdrawers · 14/07/2013 17:33

I should add that by the sounds of it your husband has, as has been said above, abdicated all responsibility, and that is a rather unattractive characteristic and must make it very difficult to respect him.

Again I would advocate therapy, together or alone.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 17:44

Thank you. Cogito, you have as always, hit the nail on the head. I should add I was being a wee bit unfair in my initial OP. He does most of the cooking and will help out with chores if I specifically ask him to but very rarely under his own steam.
I don't know what I want Sad

OP posts:
Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 17:49

I have to add too, I'm becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my career as I didn't really want this path and wanted - still very much want - to do something creative...a yarn shop in fact. I think in part my resentment is due to not being able to follow my dream, if you like, because I've been propping us all up for almost all of our married life, through a career change for DH as well, as he was so miserable in his last job. It makes me wonder why it's never occurred to him to push himself a bit harder to support me in what I want to do, you know?

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/07/2013 17:51

I think you do know what you want but you're worried that it's out of reach. I suspect what you really want is a more engaged, more motivated, more sexually spontaneous version of your husband. I suspect what you don't want is to start down the divorce route that is going to result in house sales, financial stress, arguments, upset children and find yourself alone at the end of it wondering 'was it really so bad?'.

As I see it, the way you describe him, you are not going to get what you want without threatening the very thing you're trying to avoid. And even then you have to be prepared to follow through.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 17:52

The ED is definitely psychological by the way. As soon as he gets anywhere near me it all goes tits-up Sad

OP posts:
Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 17:54

Cogito, you talk so much sense it is scary.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/07/2013 17:55

" I've been propping us all up for almost all of our married life"

That makes perfect sense. Providing for a family is a big responsibility - I know, I'm a single parent. Carrying someone is hard work and it gets harder the less respect you have for them. You let him follow his dream but he is either unwilling or incapable of returning the favour...

WorrySighWorrySigh · 14/07/2013 17:59

As you say, he has a lovely little life. He has a stress-free job with undoubtedly no responsibilities brought home. The lemon-pickers life. The thing is that most lemon-pickers normally have to live at a lemon-pickers pay level. He doesnt, he gets to share your responsible person's salary.

What is he really bringing to the party?

Have you tried saying to him that enough is enough? It sounds as though he is living without responsibilities. You dont seem to have a life together. From what you describe you would get more from a lodger.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/07/2013 18:04

"As soon as he gets anywhere near me it all goes tits-up "

It's probably highly un-feminist (if that's a word) not to say clicheed to talk about 'emasculation' in this situation, just because you have the successful career. But has he ever gone to see his GP about this, explained the problem and asked to be referred for some psychological help with this? Also, he may have cut down on the weed, but does the man-cave contain much booze?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/07/2013 18:07

What do you get out of this relationship now?. What needs of yours are being met here?.

Do not kid yourself that the children do not see your unhappiness because they certainly do so. They may well even wonder why the two of you are actually still together as you do not spend much time together.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 18:08

It's another bone of contention Worry. I have tried organising things so that we get time together, cinema trip, meals out etc. He will say we need to get out more, and then....nothing. If I don't organise it, it doesn't happen. This applies to everything except the band. He seems to have more time for his bandmates than me, but on the other hand I don't even know if I want to be spending more time with him iyswim.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/07/2013 18:08

Would also think that the weed and booze is also playing a role here in his erectile dysfunction. Its certainly not helping any.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 18:09

We do actually spend a fair bit of time together in the house with the kids, but not necessarily interacting with each other.
Cogito yes, he has ex

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Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 18:10

Whoops. Explained to the GP, was referred for counselling and after one session was dismissed as not depressed or anxious, then prescribed Viagra.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/07/2013 18:12

What do you think you are both teaching your children about relationships here?. That thorny question needs to be considered as well.

Threefurrymonsters · 14/07/2013 18:19

Attila, as I said up thread, we are reasonably affectionate with each other day to day, there is no coldness there and the kids simply see two parents who get on very well. We are really more friends who share a house and kids. There is no animosity. It's just me. My frustration. Which is why I'm questioning whether I'm having a MLC.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/07/2013 18:32

I think you could be kidding yourself actually re the children and are telling yourself that they are not affected by their parents relationship with each other. You'd like to think that they are not affected because the alternative scenario cannot be faced up to. Denial is a powerful force.

You did not answer what you get out of this relationship now. I can see what he gets out of this (an easy ride at your expense so he's more than happy) but you?.

We learn about relationships first and foremost from our parents; what are you both teaching them here?. Better to be apart and happier than to be together and miserable. You sound like housemates more than anything else. You've both been tempted by other people and to your credit you did not act further on it. He may well have done if you had not stopped his emotional affair in its tracks.

This is not just a MLC on your part. The problems within your relationship go far deeper and is representative of the dissatisfaction you feel within your marriage.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 14/07/2013 19:13

Is some of the problem that you are pursuing a career you dont want so that he can do what exactly? Arse around like a superannuated teenager.

You dont sound like you have a lot of respect for your DH and I dont think it sounds like he has a lot of respect for himself.

We are in a similar situation to you however one of the things that I respect DH for (and which gives him self-respect) is that he pretty much runs the household. My contribution in organisational terms is minimal.

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