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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

Are we now just friends with benefits and not husband and wife any more?

20 replies

MrsRossPoldark · 18/05/2015 16:38

Just been away for a couple of days, without the kids, to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. He has been staying in a nice hotel so I travelled up by train to spend a couple of nights with him. He took time off work.

The thing is, for the whole 2 days & nights, we didn't hold hands at all, he didn't even offer me his arm. He didn't like it when I sat close to him on a sofa in the hotel bar. We went for a lovely walk and when I sat down to look at the view, I actually had to shout at him to come and sit with me, as he was standing looking at the view so far away. All this whilst in view of an elderly couple who were sitting next to each other and a younger couple who sat with his head in her lap, being romantic! If you didn't know, you would never have been able to tell we were married at all, let alone for a landmark anniversary. His excuse, when I talked to him about it when we got home was that he doesn't like PDAs at all.

He obviously doesn't like private DAs either, as we didn't even have sex during the whole time away (despite no kids and not having to worry about being interrupted). I dressed up for him on night 1, and he got his end away, but then there was nothing else.

Add to that the fact that he seemed to spend all day farting and belching and being downright horrible to be around and I just wonder what we are doing still together. I mentioned his horrid habits and have suggested he gets to the Dr as there must be something wrong with his digestion?! I don't want to put up with this for the next 20 years. He has developed a horrible habit of farting, belching and I think it's due to him bolting his food - his table manners have gone completely awol! He eats so fast, chomps, then swallows without chewing, so it's no wonder his digestion is so bad? Is it me, or do men seem to think that after 20 years, their wife will tolerate absolutely anything in the manners dept?

When I arrived his first comment was "I don't like your hair up, I hope you're not keeping it like that when we go out". I showered to freshen up which I was going to do anyway and we went out, hair down. Second night, I put my hair up in a french plait and yes, he commented again about how I made more effort to go out with my GFs and he prefers my hair big & fluffy. I stuck to my guns and said it had taken me ages to plait my hair and big n fluffy hair was so 80's! Nothing more said.

He also made a comment when looking at another woman along the lines of "if I'd still been single, that's the kind of woman I'd go for". Err, hello?! I made a catty remark that he'd have to get a lot fitter for her to reciprocate.

We had a chat about it once we'd got home and when I said I felt we'd just become good friends his response was "but we are each other's best friends, aren't we?". AIBU to think we are actually more than that? He did admit that maybe he had forgotten how to just be a couple, since we had the kids, but we have been away together before and it's not been so awkward.

What gone so wrong - I really thought we'd gone through our 'bad patch' (last couple of years have been a real test, with relationship issues and money problems) and had sorted things out but now it feels like we're back to square one.

OP posts:
LovesPeace · 18/05/2015 16:52

Sounds like a lot of hard work on your part, and little reciprocation on his.
As for dressing up for this boor? Fuck that.
And the incredible rudeness of him pointing out another woman! This has all the signs of a relationship in its death throes. Put it out of its misery fast.

Handywoman · 18/05/2015 16:55

Am so sorry to read this, OP. Did you guys discuss where to go from here? What sort of relationship problems were you having recently? There seems a lot of emotional distance and he obviously doesn't seem to pay much attention to you. As for friends 'with benefits' I don't see many benefits for you or even a lot of friendship??

foraret · 18/05/2015 16:59

God, sounds like you're pushing water uphill for an unfit man who has his ''eye out'' elsewhere. You dressed up for him and he pointed out another woman.............. He was not worth a tenth of that effort.

He's not even good company, or a fundamentally decent kind man?

It's OK for marriages to end you know.

tuppenneth · 18/05/2015 17:10

Talk to him. Say it's very important. That should be your first step.

I'll save you the bother of reading any other replies as 9/10 if them will simply be "leave the bastard"

foraret · 18/05/2015 17:56

I'd guess tuppanneth that the op has already thought of communicating with her h. And by the way, you are the only one so far to say the B word.

the point isn't really whether or not he is a bastard, it's whether or not the OP is happy, whether or not she can face another 20 years of the same.... The point seems to be that it's not a real marriage or a real relationship. No friendship and no benefits.

There's always a poster who mocks the suggestion to actually leave a marriage! That's a step too far for some! Oh goodness no, how dramatic!

foraret · 18/05/2015 18:00

ps, I think posters who have the current good fortune to be in relationships with reasonable, communicative men who are prepared to compromise massively over estimate the power of a "talk".

I see it all the time. The suggestion to sit down and talk. I find it very naive. The assumption that the OP hasn't tried to open up the lines of communication. Posting here is what people do when they're already very frustrated with a situation.

Iflyaway · 18/05/2015 18:50

He's checking out of your relationship. And trying to make you feel the one who is in the wrong - You sound wonderful but stop trying to bend over backwards to accommodate him. You deserve so much better! Don't sign up for this for the next 20, or even worse, a lifetime.

Any guy who tells me how to fix my hair can fuck right off. Take it or leave it.

How come you've been together for 20 years and you just cottoned on that he doesn't do PDA? Or was he different before?

As for the belching and farting. Ugh. How respectful is that of him??
Would he be like that at work or in public? Of course not. Tells you all you need to know.

AnyFucker · 18/05/2015 19:12

friends ?

you don't sound like friends to me

and I am struggling to see any "benefits"

Christinayanglah · 18/05/2015 19:24

Do you think there is someone else?

MrsRossPoldark · 19/05/2015 07:42

Haven't really considered a 'someone else'. He'd have to hold in all that wind if he did!

He did say that he realised we needed to work on things "if you still want to" as he says he didn't know I felt so taken for granted. This, despite getting v close to telling him I was filing for divorce (he knows I have researched my rights and I got as far as saying he needed to do some serious thinking or I would suggest he stays in his hotel for the foreseeable) in the last few months.

There have been so many instances over the last few years of him being quite cruel, even if he doesn't mean to, and I have stewed rather than confront. I am now doing more confronting and he doesn't like it. I've kind of got used to being downtrodden and am trying to get stronger as I tend to mull things over and wind myself up, explode, make a fool of myself, and get the "don't be silly, you're just being over emotional" response, which doesn't help.

OP posts:
TopOfTheCliff · 19/05/2015 08:51

When my marriage was crumbling I found my H incredibly irritating to be around. His table manners were appalling, he talked with his mouth full, dribbled food down his trousers and picked his nose in front of me. But it was when I realised I couldn't bear the smell of him (unwashed after running) or listening to him breathing at night that I understood it was dead.

I think you are close to that point now OP. He has stopped bothering to be attractive to you. And you are seeing him without any love goggles on.

What is is this relationship for you now? Stability for the DC? Financial security? Do you still like him?

MistressDeeCee · 19/05/2015 10:39

Sorry to hear this OP. Your husband is an unlikeable boor. I don't think he wants your relationship to end, actually. I think rather, he'd like to stay with you and whittle away at your self-esteem. The belittling of your looks, your dressing up to appeal to him, his deliberate lack of closeness, all spell out the same thing..a man who now feels restless yet inadequate, knows full well he isn't going to leave you and be some big catch for a younger better fitter model of you out there.

You'll get the ignorant boorish side of him. After all he isn't interested in impressing you. I bet he could hold in all that wind if he wanted to...its another way of annoying you.

Its a really tough call but I think you should take some quiet time out, for yourself. Weigh up the pros & cons of this man and your marriage and decide whether you want to continue like this ad infinitum. Its stay, or go. Whilst reflecting try to project into the future years..how it will truly be for you living with this upset in your life.

If you don't want to end your relationship then there will have to be some ground rules. If you do want to end the relationship, well then..life doesn't cease to exist just because you get rid of an ignorant man who doesn't have love or your best interests in his heart.

I bet if you do leave all the wind and silly ignorant ways and comments will stop in his haste to beg and beg you to come back, though....

Jan45 · 19/05/2015 12:19

Oh my what a creep, he got his end away, what about yours?

Sorry but the way he is behaving would be enough for me to say it's best we separate, there's nothing there to save is there....?

foraret · 19/05/2015 13:27

I hate the accusations that you're over emotional.

It costs nothing to attempt not to say hurtful things (imo)

Being hurt or feeling hurt is often the logical, predictable response to hearing something hurtful and cruel, is it not?

foraret · 19/05/2015 13:37

"a man who now feels restless yet inadequate"

oh boy, I know exactly what you mean!

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/05/2015 13:49

That could have been a real turning point but unfortunately your DH isn't heart and soul into this. Lots of people don't go in for PDAs but "getting his end away" doesn't sound like a night of passion.

You did try and chat about it afterwards and he is aware it's not all as it used to be but seems to be opting for the "Good old wifie like a familiar comfy pair of old slippers" routine - to which you may well have thought, gee thanks for sweeping me off my feet!

Trouble is if you have to instigate everything it starts to get wearisome. And then you read here about the allure of the OW who is all about spontaneity and novelty.

MsPepsi · 20/05/2015 14:00

You are putting a lot of effort in for no return. I would suggest talking to him. If he doesn't see where you are coming from or understand, I would think very carefully if you want this for your future. What your relationship will be like when the kids are gone. You are a female and sexual being after all. You deserve to be seen like that, rather than just a mother

IrianofWay · 20/05/2015 16:56

Friends? Doesn't sound much like friends to me Sad

arsenaltilidie · 20/05/2015 17:13

It sounds like there might another woman in the picture.

MrsRossPoldark · 20/05/2015 22:57

I'd agree, but she'd have to put up with a lot of fart gas! Unless she's an OW earning ££ for being OW?

OP posts:
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