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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 splitting the only advice people on here are ever capable of?

654 replies

MrsCs · 21/02/2015 23:16

When someone is being abused, or someone is unfaithful, fine I get it, that's good advice.

On the other hand.....I've only been on this website a short time and every blinking thread about relationship problems gets 'why are you together?' 'what are you getting from this?'.

Relationships are hard work, they have good times and bad times, and it might help if people on here had a bit of creativity with their advice! Separations and divorces are very hard on everyone involved, and if it can be avoided it's most likely for the best, unless a couple are genuinely deeply unhappy.

OP posts:
sliceofsoup · 23/02/2015 14:47

Yes I did choose him. That is correct. It wasn't until I was 4 months pregnant that the abuse started. He punched me in the stomach. I did not choose that.

The reason I have now got a marriage that works is because I went through two abusive relationships, and once I got rid for the second time I was determined to never have it happen again. After that I dated a few men who weren't abusive, but we weren't compatible, and I had gone through so much already, I wasn't going to just settle for any man that wasn't abusive.

I can't speak for everyone, and I don't claim to. I am sure other people reach good marriages in many different ways.

Yet posters such as yourself want to give out marriage advice and yet not be accountable when your own negativity and trust in relationships spills over..

I don't want to give out marriage advice. I want to help other women. And I don't have a negative view or lack of trust in relationships, I have a negative view of abusers, male or female.

There is a disclaimer at the top of this board that somewhat negates my accountability for my posts in a legal sense. But morally, I hold myself accountable for every interaction I have with other people.

Twinklestein · 23/02/2015 14:48

Another thing Frank - you rail against the fact that 90% of unmarried couples split, yet advice given here to marry is 'paranoid'... hmm...

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 14:49

Frank is a silly

sassandfaff · 23/02/2015 14:49

If you choose subordination in a relationship, that may work out fine.

But what happens when the role is foisted on you frank?

Genuine question. Interested to know your answer.

frankbough · 23/02/2015 14:57

Thanks for that, yes it's helped a lot.. And lets not talk about issues Twinks, having read some of your posts.. Hohohahaha.. Better go pick the young'uns up..

Just to recap IMO the relationships board is a very poor place for advice on how to successfully resolves problems..

sliceofsoup · 23/02/2015 15:02

MaybeDoctor daunting does not mean impossible, and if you are really staying with your partner because of finances or a fear of being lonely in old age then I feel genuinely sad for you.

sassandfaff · 23/02/2015 15:04

Without meaning to be flippant frank

If your idea of solving relationships is to have a subordinate attitude, then yes, I can see why you would think the relationship board is a bad place to solve marital problems.

I'm extremely grateful that a space for women to help other women does not agree with that.

sliceofsoup · 23/02/2015 15:05

And lets not talk about issues Twinks, having read some of your posts.. Hohohahaha..

WTF?

MaybeDoctor · 23/02/2015 15:14

It is not that I am staying because of those things - I still want to make it work - but those are the thoughts that go through my mind when I see 'LTB' on many threads.

sliceofsoup · 23/02/2015 15:19

As long as your partner is also trying to make it work then I hope it does work out for you.

But we cannot promote the idea that women should stay for the reasons you mention. They are concerns, of course. There are many concerns and things that must be considered when a relationship is ending. But none of us know what the future holds, we can only make our decisions based on what is happening now.

Twinklestein · 23/02/2015 15:20

And lets not talk about issues Twinks, having read some of your posts.. Hohohahaha..

No, lets. I'd love to see what issues you think I have from here. Assuming you haven't confused me with another poster.

Twinklestein · 23/02/2015 15:21

WTF?

Frank's farting in the dark...

Joysmum · 23/02/2015 15:27

It begs the question why are you choosing to post here moaning about people posting, and not posting on the threads that don't attract that much attention?

That's easy DeliciousMonster it's because I post on the threads I have experience of, especially if I'm not in the majority with my experiences. I have experience of what this thread relates to, I'm not in the majority so I'm posting here.

Twinklestein As far as my own previous thread goes, thank you so much as you've summarised that thread for me perfectly. Grin

Here's the update. I didn't bother wasting my time putting it on that thread for the reasons you've summarised. Wink

The advice I was given wasn't right for us despite me repeatedly posting saying so and trying to explain why. People read into it what they wanted to.

He certainly hadn't compromised at that point. He thought he could work ridiculous hours and do enough to tide us over at home. Not possible.

We still needed to go through that period of transition and adjustment. This was something I knew only time could fix hence the rant as time and change can't be rushed and I can be impatient.

I am not pushing myself too much as I am only studying the equivilent of full time hours plus commute. I have school hols off to be with DD if he doesn't have time off. This is not unreasonable. This is no more than if I were at uni full time so how could that be unreasonable?

Getting DH to see he was doing far more than other managers at his level because he didn't have home responsibilies as they do certainly wasn't unreasonable of me. I just needed him to see it and then have time to implement changes. I didn't want to dictate as things go better when the other can see what is fair and change because of it. It has now. Smile

The suggestions made to allow me to continue to do the majority of all things at home (as a cleaner isn't what either of us want) was hardly a push for women's rights and feminism so I ignored these as not relevant.

Having a cleaner is not right for us yet many didn't accept this as not right for either of us and posters were like a dog with a bone. It makes me smile you've bought it up again! I can assure you, neither of us want a cleaner still so that was ignored too! Grin

We all have our lists of jobs, he has all the jobs that can be done when he has time and can be left for a week or two without much impact. Myself and my daughter do all the jobs that can't really be left and ought to be done consistently each day/week.

I did use an ironing service once after being ill which was great as he wont iron. Now DD will do this (but not his work shirts boo hiss as they take so long) for extra pocket money if needed to. That was something I'd never considered and helps.

He discussed things with his peers after me pointing out the continuing Facebook digs from them about the amount of time he worked. He's gradually trimmed back the hours, trained his department to be more self sufficient and is learning to trust them in that and not to micro manage. These things are a work in progress but so much better.

He now also works from home when he can to save on the commute and his phone is switched off after 8pm to let the out of hours team deal with. These are all things the others at his level do. He's worked away a number of times but that is part of his job, can't be changed and has always been the case. Smile

Everything is good, we now have equal responsibility for things at home (and why shouldn't we!) but flexibility so that if he has a long week, or I have exams, we compensate for it.

Things have panned out per my ranty OP when I was impatient to be where we are now. Nobody would know that unless interested enough to remember that thread and then piece together what I've written since on other peoples threads. Wink

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 15:32

I'm glad things worked out for you Joy :)

If nothing else it's a good place to make us certain about what it is we do want.

Twinkle, I think Frank likes you.

Joysmum · 23/02/2015 15:34

There are things DH are better at than me and things I'm better at than him. We accept each other's strengths and weaknesses and one or other's opinion will hold more weight that the other in something we aren't as well versed in. No problem in a loving trusting relationship.

In a marriage that doesn't mean one is subservient to the other in everything.

Twinks I think Frank may have you mixed up with me as you come across really well on MN. She can take her pick from my issues over the years if she wants Grin

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 15:37

Absolutely. It's a partnership. An equal one.

frankbough · 23/02/2015 16:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BathtimeFunkster · 23/02/2015 16:25

I favour dominatrices.

BathtimeFunkster · 23/02/2015 16:43

Ha! Massive x-post Grin

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 16:45

Frank, I've reported your post. That's appalling etiquette.

Lweji · 23/02/2015 16:50

I can't be arsed to read today's section and work got in the way, but here to raise us all up.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 16:50

Bathtime :o I like that that is now completely out of context.

Later on I may quote you on another thread, "you can't trust what bathtime says about how to change a gearbox, here's her talking about dominatrices!"

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 23/02/2015 16:52

Bloody hell, Lweji! I've been trying to get that out of my head all day :o

TheHoneyBadger · 23/02/2015 17:02

i take it someone has already played this gem?

sliceofsoup · 23/02/2015 17:36

I want to know what frank did to get deleted.

The reason I missed it is because I had to pick DH up from work.

Hmm, this isn't good, maybe I should LTB.