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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

I think my marriage is over

63 replies

ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 07:51

My partner and I have been together for over 17 years, we met when I was quite young which means he is the only person I've ever dated etc. He is a number of years older than me and when we met he dabbled in cannabis. It didn't concern me as I thought it was just a phase, most of my friends had tried it so it was no big deal. As the years went on I forgot about the cannabis and assumed he had grown out of it. However, in year four of our relationship I caught him doing it. I made my thoughts clear on it and said i didn't want to be part of things like that and that if he did he should tell me and I'll walk away. He promised to stop, however, every year I would catch him and we'd go through the same argument. It has been sole destroying. Last year his addiction reached an all time low. He must of been doing stuff in the summerhouse and somehow he unknowingly managed to set it on fire, along with my detached garage and the side of next doors house, setting their Windows on fire etc. I knew he was responsible for it but somehow forgave him. Again be promised to stop and again I begged that if he wanted to do it he should let me go.
After 10 years of marriage I knew we couldn't have children and that something must be wrong. He blamed me and said he knew I didn't want children and that in someway I was stopping it happening. I wasn't. Around three years ago I went to seek medical help. They did all the tests and said that we had unexplained infertility. In order to get treatment I had to lose five stone, in six months! I did this with minimal support from my husband and had to endure him eatng kebabs at weekends etc. I lost the weight and got referred to the clinic. When they told me how much time I had to have of work I freaked out, I didn't want to share my personal life with my boss and was worried as to whether or not I could fit everything in. I did though! I went to the majority of appointments alone and set about injecting myself with the high dose fertility drugs. The drugs had an adverse effect on me and made me feel quite weak. My husband didn't support me at this time and took no notice at all of my symptoms or what I was going through. Not knowing if the treatment would work, I started considering my options. Adoption etc. I spoke to my husband about this and he point blank refused, stating he wanted his own kids. No thought for me out my well-being or indeed how I was juggling things at work. When insemination day was looming, hubby was told to be at the clinic the next day at 10am. It was all a big issue for him, he was saying why can't they change the time etc. No thought for the fact that if been juggling work and treatment for months, daily.
He gave his sperm sample and off he went. A few hours later I was alone in a theatre having my insemination, is all I had for company were my rosary beads. When I got home I didn't feel loved or appreciated it was awful. You see, I'm a strong person so most people take for granted the fact that I'm be ok, I can deal with it/ take it.
During the two week wait for news, I felt ill, the high dosage medication was starting to catch up with me and the toll of the last year was weighing heavy. This was the time I needed my husband to stand up and show me some support but he didn't, instead he started doing drugs again. Again I asked him to stop it or leave. He promised me be Would stop and I believed him. A week later I was told I was pregnant. Great news. However, five weeks ago I thought I was having a miscarriage, I told husband and he wept uncontrollably, no thought for me and and how I was feeling, instead he was breaking down on his own. I wiped away my silent tears and calmly asked him to hold it together. That morning I found myself driving us to the hospital, whilst my husband continued to cry, again no concern for me, all about him. He broke down again when they said my baby was ok but again I felt unsupported as though this was all about him and not me. Again, maybe I am being treated like this because I am seen as a strong person. But being strong is my only option as I've never really had anyone look out for me before. I'm the one doing it for others.
I'm already under a lot of stress with work and family stuff, my dad is mentally ill and puts an immense amount of strain on me, also my mum is a recovering alcoholic and again that causes me stress. And finally my precious grandparent is on deaths door. Last week I caught my husband doing drugs again. I can't take it anymore, I'm at breaking point. I messaged both of his parents asking for help, one ignored my request and the other said it wasn't her problem. Seriously what can I do? I can't tell my family as they are already vulnerable and the fact I may be going it alone will only make them worry and no doubt impact on their health. I can't tell my friends as I don't want them to judge me. I am lonely, I don't know what to do and I can't take it anymore. I feel guilty for letting my miracle baby feel my pain.

OP posts:
Vivacia · 04/04/2015 08:03

Again, maybe I am being treated like this because I am seen as a strong person.

I think he's treating you like this because you let him. You're not sticking to your word. It's not up to him to "let you go" it's up to you to decide how you will be treated.

I'm not at all sure why you want to raise your child with him.

Vivacia · 04/04/2015 08:04

we met when I was quite young which means he is the only person I've ever dated etc. He is a number of years older than me

...and this bit rung alarm bells for me.

Murdermysteryreader · 04/04/2015 08:04

I am sorry you are having a norton le time my question is though; what are you getting out if this marriage ?

Quitelikely · 04/04/2015 08:08

Op

Don't you think it's time you stepped of the merry go round? You have been in it for far too long. Can't you see that? If you do what you always do you will get what you always got - another ride in the merry go round!

The drug issue aside this man doesn't sound like good father material either.

BifsWif · 04/04/2015 08:10

You have repeatedly told him you will leave if he continues to use drugs, you keep catching him out and yet you've stayed with him. He has no reason to stop, he knows how much it bothers you but that hasn't been incentive enough for him. He knows you will never leave, he's heard it so often it must just be empty words to him.

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time OP, but why are you even considering children with this man? You need to make a decision, if you don't leave it is very likely that this will be the reality for the rest of your life.

Squeegle · 04/04/2015 08:10

I'm sorry you're having a hard time too. He sounds very self centred. Have you worked out how you will manage if he goes? I suspect it may not be as bad as you think.

I haven't been through the pain you have with the fertility treatments, but my ex was a big drinker, I couldn't depend on him at all. Bizarrely, life without him was much much easier, despite having two smallish children to look after ( and no family etc). I thought it would be hard, but taking him out of the equation made it all simpler.

Quitelikely · 04/04/2015 08:10

Oh and one other thing if your relationship is bad now believe me once you throw a baby into the mix it's not a good combination.

Sorry for the negativity. I wish there was more I could say to offer you hope but after 17 years I've got strong doubts

Flowers
ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:11

Vivacia, when I say a number of years I mean 8. We're not talking a huge age gap as in decades.and I was almost 18 at the time.

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ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:12

I'm not considering having children I am having his child. I can't change that now.

OP posts:
BifsWif · 04/04/2015 08:14

I apologise, I misread that part.

I'm sorry but the rest of what I say still stands. Is this what you want for your child?

ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:17

I don't want any of this. quite frankly I just want to crawl under a stone and die

OP posts:
Squeegle · 04/04/2015 08:17

You will find it easier to raise your child without the added complication of a man child! Can you do your sums, speak to a solicitor, work out your options, so that you are able to clearly see what you can do. For me, getting back some elements of control out of a situation full of uncontrollable bits was very useful.

Vivacia · 04/04/2015 08:17

You can decide what kind of influences you want for your child, and how baby sees their mother treated.

YoureAMeanGirl · 04/04/2015 08:21

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. He sounds like a selfish man child. I think you need to get out while you still can or you will feel unimportant or forgotten for the rest of your life. Once kids do come along, you will be left to bring them up with minimal help from him and feel even worse.

Does he work? Is that why he had trouble with the appt at ten or because he is lazy?

My DP smoked cannabis when we first met. He's never forced it on me and it's never bothered me. He was always driven regardless of the smoking. Now we are a bit older and wider, he has grown out of it. There is a small proportion of his friends who haven't tho. Your husband is not unusual in his wishes to continue and he must make his own choices rather than being told he must not smoke. However, he sees how upset this makes you and lies about it. This reinstalls the idea that he is indeed, a man child.

BifsWif · 04/04/2015 08:22

Don't say that OP. You have choices, you and your child can be happy without him c

ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:24

Yes he does have a job . We are both self sufficient in that regard

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ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:25

I'm sorry but the pain is unbearable, I feel like a utter failure and I can't cope with it all.

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GoldenBeagle · 04/04/2015 08:27

Have you told him how he makes you feel? How his behaviour during your fertility treatment makes you feel?

He does sound incredibly self absorbed and inconsiderate.

What do you feel you can do
Seek some counsellling support yourself in order to become more assertive? (Strong and assertive are not the same thing), break the patterns which end up with you feeling like this?
Tell him how unhappy you are in the relationship, and say he needs to change or it is over, and get couples counseling to help?
End your relationship?
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Vivacia · 04/04/2015 08:29

You can cope. You can create a wonderful, safe and secure (and drug-free) home for you and your baby.

BifsWif · 04/04/2015 08:30

You aren't a failure, you're carrying so much on your shoulders it's not surprising you're struggling. I know you say you're seen as 'strong', but is there anyone in real life you could speak to and be honest about how hard everything is right now?

This isn't anything you've done, all you're guilty of is giving him more chances than he deserves. If you were to leave, do you think that might shock him enough to make some changes?

How far along are you? This should be such an exciting time for you, I'm sorry that it isn't at the moment.

ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:33

Five months hun. I don't think he cares. I doubt he ever really cared about me, now it will be just about his baby.

OP posts:
CitySnicker · 04/04/2015 08:34

Time to start the ball rolling then. Who moves out?

Jokerstotheright · 04/04/2015 08:35

I don't really understand why it's taken you to conceive your baby before you decide how awful he is. Maybe your desire for a child took over?

Well it is what it is. You have to consider if you can bring your child up alone.

What does he have to say about his drug use now he is due to become a father? Any chance he will pack it in?

ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:40

Clearly I've always known what he was like, is more fun me for wanting to stay. It wasn't just MY desire for a child, it was OURS.
The fact I am halfway through my pregnant and he is still doing drugs speaks for itself in terms of what he thinks.

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ladybird1980 · 04/04/2015 08:43

More fool me*

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