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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

Who's selfish & lazy??

31 replies

Mummymommy · 04/03/2014 15:38

This Year marks 10 years of Marriage. Happy? That's a topic for discussion on another day. Anyway, more than nine years later, we've had two little boys (older one with special needs and praying little one will be ok - still too young to tell). I love my boys, they keep me going and give me a reason to get up and do what I need to do.
My husband? Now him I believe I have come to hate! Years of bitterness gave way to despise and finally I feel I actually hate the man! We started having problems early in our relationship and despite suggestions to see a counsellor, he has repeatedly refused and evaded this or kept saying we can work things out ourselves which never happens. He is quite outspoken and can argue his corner while I am not very good at expressing myself clearly. My biggest problem is keeping things bottled up (to avoid trouble) and then saying things in anger when I can't take it any more.
For years my husband called me lazy and selfish and this always hurt a lot considering that I went back to work full time after my maternity leave following our first child. I would get home from work and have to deal with a baby, and all the cooking cleaning, etc. (He doesn't do housework.)
I am currently on an extended leave taking care of our two boys and my husband works full time. He is very fortunate in that his work is very flexible and he can work from home, go in earlier or late and work for longer etc. The problem is this - my husband is always on the computer! Ever since we started living together as husband and wife he has always been on the computer every waking minute! At first it was study then creating websites, reading the news etc. I would go to bed and leave him sat at the computer and wake up the following morning find him there (if he ever came to bed, it would be the first thing he did in the morning), leave for work and come back to find him still at the computer.
Years later I have had all manner of resolutions and promises to cut back but these never last. It has always been like I (and now the boys, come second). He will leave the computer for a few mins to play with the boys or do something else but there is always an excuse to go back and check something and then he will be off typing and this can go on for an hour before he realises.
Anyway, he says technology is his hobby and well, most people have hobbies we just don't get so involved and leave out everything else (including personal hygiene). There is always something pending that needs to have been done and I have come to a point where I try not to ask, I just do it if I can.
Now, I appreciate he has a demanding job but then who doesn't and I believe a little time management, proper prioritisation and organisation is all that's needed, But no, he chooses to chat with his friends on the web forums, almost all night long, use every excuse to remain at home in the morning so he can do his own stuff then go to work in the afternoon (when I have both boys) and not come home till after 10 at night and the cycle continues. He is forever going on about how busy he is and will go to the office on a Sunday, apparently to catch up.
Every year comes with a new time wasting project and to be honest I am fed up!

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 05/03/2014 07:15

Some people you just can't help/

AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/03/2014 07:18

What did you learn about relationships when growing up?

What do you think the two of you are teaching your children about relationships now?. They are certainly being shown a pretty poor model of a relationship for them to both emulate and copy aren't they?. Is this really how you would want your children when they are adults to treat a woman in their own adult relationships?

Your reasons which you have not cited for staying are frankly not good enough; your children in later years won't thank you for staying with someone like this and they will also not appreciate being told , "oh the sacrifices I may for you" or, "I stayed because of you". They will call you daft for staying and may well furthermore resent you for putting their dad before them. You simply cannot burden a child with a choice that you made.

Your mutual friend may well want to stay out you marital problems or if he does speak to your H his words will have no long term effect at all. Your H gets what he wants out of this relationship (the chance to do as he likes without interference from you) so really has no interest or incentive to change. The trade off for you is less obvious; again you have not actually cited your reasons for not wanting to divorce but I daresay that none of your reasons and or justifications are actually solid enough.

WhateverTrevor83 · 05/03/2014 07:29

I don't necessarily think that the DH is happy/getting his own way. Maybe he has twigged his wife thinks he's annoying etc and is just burying his head in the sand? You both sound stuck in a rut.

The worst bit for me is a third party getting involved to talk to him. Do you not communicate at all any more?

Do you ever spend time just the two of you / away and if do what's he like when the computer isn't there... I think he's using it as a barrier. I doubt it's anything sinister (obviously I could be wrong) but just away of saying 'I'm busy' / 'don't talk to me' etc.

You really seem like you need some time on your own together to suss out if when the kids are asleep and the computer is off if you have anything in common/to say to each other any more?

RE divorce - if the kids have twigged their parents don't talk and resent each other, maybe it's fairer to them if you aren't together. It can't be good for them to think it's normal for a DH to ignore his wife / DW to be stressed and nackered all the time.

Thanks
Lweji · 05/03/2014 07:54

I believe our issues can be resolved if only we get to talk to someone or at least give it a try! The main issue is how to get him to agree to this.

As other said, he doesn't want to.
He wants his computer.

And the fact that you won't contemplate divorce is not helping. He's prepared to walk out on the relationship and his parental obligations. You are not.

For starters, I'd make make him responsible for something at home, and of X time with the children. And tell him that you are not coping, and that the way it's going it can only lead to divorce even if you don't want it at the moment.

Clutterbugsmum · 05/03/2014 10:30

So you are trying to make a mutual friend responsible for your marriage, while you do nothing.

You either just put up with this, and continue as is because there no way he will change - he doesn't need too, he getting every thing he needs and wants.

He working as when he wants, and then playing/using the computer the rest of the time. Both you and him are teaching your children that you can that he can be treated like a nobody and a slave and he is king and can do what he want's.

You are teaching your children (and I'm glad you don't have a daughter), your children that their dad neither loves or cares for them and you are ok with this.

Or you can tell him to leave the home and sort himself out. But he has to do it for himself. You maybe able to get back together when and if he realises he is not a teenager and has responsilblies out side of providing money to his family.

But I'm sure you will still be in this position in another 10 yrs time.

hellsbellsmelons · 05/03/2014 11:43

Good grief - this is really sad!
Tell him to move out!
You can't take it anymore and you need some space.
Only then will he understand loss and what he will miss out on.
And from what you say that is basically having a slave at home and behaving like a man-child.

'He doesn't do housework'!!!!???
Well he should be doing housework. Why are you putting up with that kinda shit!!!
If you can't ask him to move out then sit him down and tell him that domestic chores are both of your responsibilities and you have drawn up a list that is fair and he will start doing his share as of now!
His reaction to that will tell you all you need to know about how much he cares for and loves and respects you.
Unfortunately, I can already tell you that he doesn't at all!!

Do you want another 15 years of this?
Really, you get one life - yes just the one and you will spend the rest of your with misery and loathing and you will be teaching your DC the exact same thing.

Please please consider getting out.
We have no idea why you can't but there is usually a way and we can help you if you let us!

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