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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

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11 replies

rainbowstardrops · 11/10/2015 15:02

I honestly don't know where to start.

I'll apologise now for 'drip feeding' if I do but I've known 'D'H for almost 30 yrs. Met when we were about 16 and been together properly since we were about 18. We're now both mid forties.

Anyway. We've lived together for over 20 yrs and married for 19yrs. Have two gorgeous children.
Hand on my heart though, I can't say it's been a particularly great marriage. Bits have been good but loads has been rubbish.
'D'H's parents split when he was small and I honestly wonder if he knows how to actually love someone.

I'm waffling. Basically, we've had problems for ages now but still muddle along for the sake of the kids (15 and 10). We are married with a mortgage. That's where the problems lie.

We clearly both hate each other but try to tolerate each other mostly. He'll often raise his voice to me though in front of the kids even though I ask him not to. I'm not blameless but I do try to shield the kids when I can. They're clearly not stupid though.

He is self employed and supposedly has a super flexible job. When it suits him. (He actually went self-employed when ds was small because he didn't want to miss the important milestones). His super flexible job should mean he can work how much he wants/when he wants. Within reason.

Anyhow. Things have been awful for a long while. I can't possibly go into every detail because not only does it cover years and years but it also might make me quite identifiable.
Suffice to say, ive asked H to look into getting a 'standard' job where he'll get to spend time with us all plus paid holidays but he's point blank refused. Point blank. Says he can't earn the same money Hmm

Anyway, it's got to the point where he generally goes out of the house around 6am before we get up and comes home at around 10pm when we're in bed. He does show up when the kids have activities ect and when he feels like it and we try to tolerate each other as much as we can.

Well, we're married, have a joint account and a mortgage. We are in debt. I've tackled him and asked why he isn't earning more bearing in mind how long he's out of the house 'working'. I asked for weeks and weeks for a run down of his hours worked/money earned. After lots of nagging he'll produce a week of 'figures'. Several weeks later I then need to ask AGAIN!!!!

Today he's presented me with figures from the past 10 days. He rarely works more than 10 out of ghe16 hours that he's away from the house.

I know he comes back when I'm at work to have breakfast/shower which takes about an hour but when I ask what he does in the other countless missing hours he says he can't remember!!!!!!! Really????!!!!

I honestly don't think he's cheating but I just feel such a mug that I'm with working or at home looking after OUR children and he can't even tell me what he's wasting his time on!

He tries to turn everything around and says he'll get me to write down how I spend my day too ...... errr that'll be working and then coming home and sorting everything in the house!

There's so much more but I can't write 20 odd years down in one go. I give up Sad

OP posts:
Kr1stina · 11/10/2015 15:30

Why do you want to go on living with him if you hate him? Why don't you split up ?

rainbowstardrops · 11/10/2015 15:36

I don't. We don't.
We have a mortgage and a house that needs a stupid amount doing to it that we neither have the time or money to sort and two children at very vulnerable times in their school lives.
I have no where to move to. My part time wage certainly wouldn't support us.
It's not so easy.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 11/10/2015 16:07

Have you as yet sought legal advice re where you actually stand in the event of a separation?. This is something I would consider doing if you have not already done so. Knowledge after all is power.

Muddling along for the sake of the children rarely if ever is a good idea. Its a terrible burden to place on a child knowing that you were only together now simply and only because of them.

All you are both showing them now is that a loveless marriage is potentially their "norm" when they are adults too. Its not a legacy you want to be at all leaving them, they also know that things are not good between the two of you at home and probably wonder why you are still with him in any case. They are not going to say "thanks mum" for staying with him. They could well call you daft instead and pour scorn on you for in their eyes at least putting him before them. Your relationship with them going forward into adulthood could well be therefore under a great deal of strain.

Leaving is never easy and there are always reasons for staying but staying within this at all is 1000 times worse for you and by turn your children.

rainbowstardrops · 11/10/2015 17:45

Thank you Attila. I know what you say makes 100% sense and is indeed the advice I would give to a friend in this situation.
It just seems so hard. My children literally have a few minutes walk to school and are in yr 6 & 11 so very important years. I don't drive and literally have a two minute walk to work.
It would all just get so complicated. Meanwhile H would saunter off and lead the life he already does.
How can I run a home and support two children when I work part time???

OP posts:
pallasathena · 11/10/2015 17:56

You're making excuses for living an awful life when you have the means to change things. Yes, you can change things but first you have to decide. Thought precedes action. What you're doing is justifying inaction.

You can learn to drive, look for full time work, check out tax credits for you and the kids, check out renting a property, get all your ducks in a row and then change your life. Its not easy granted, but then nothing worth doing ever is.

I hope you do decide to change things because you sound desperately unhappy and you deserve to feel happy in your life. Everyone does.

QuiteLikely5 · 11/10/2015 18:01

If you don't think your financial position is strong enough then start strengthening it by re training for a different career. Unless you win the lottery you're just going to be in the same position for the rest of your life.

Good luck.

Remember if nothing changes. Nothing changes.

rainbowstardrops · 11/10/2015 18:42

It just seems like a vicious circle! We are in minus figures, there isn't any money to re-train or take driving lessons ect!
I feel like he's got me over a barrel. He'll walk away and get the fun bits with the kids and I'll be the one struggling in some poxy tiny house trying to make ends meet.
It just doesn't seem fair.
I've asked him to move out to his mums for a bit to let everything settle but he refuses. He'd rather the kids see our hostility. Madness

OP posts:
pallasathena · 11/10/2015 18:54

Life isn't fair. All you can do is try and stack the odds in your favour.

summerwinterton · 11/10/2015 20:31

Have you gone to entitledto and seen how much you would qualify for in child and working tax credits, and what about maintenance.

You seem to be finding excuses to say, instead of finding a way to get rid. And if he is vanishing for hours and can't account for money then I would say OW, or gambling, drugs. Regardless, your marriage is miserable and therefore you need to get rid of him.

rainbowstardrops · 12/10/2015 06:59

Thank you everyone. I know I'm making excuses to some degree because it just seems easier to stay put in our nice convenient house especially as H is away from the house so much. I can't carry on living like this though.
I will have a look at entitledto. Thank you.

OP posts:
DrMorbius · 12/10/2015 08:04

So for the last 10 days (as an example) he worked 10 out of the 16 hours that he's away from the house.

I don't wish to be rude but why don't you get a full time job? Working >10 hours a day is not sustainable. But it sounds like he is staying out of the house to "be out of your way" even while he is not working.

That said, the work issue is a red herring (you are projecting). If you are both as unhappy as you describe, for the benefit of all involved (including DC's) it would be better to end the marriage and all move on.

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