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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

'Relationships' has made me realise what a bad realtionship im in...

53 replies

PeppasNanna · 17/10/2015 20:55

I posted yesterday asking if people celebrate informal anniversaries, if they are not married.

Then some brought up 5 Language's of Love. I had never come across this theory.

I knew our relationship wasn't all that but now I'm really questioning why I'm with dp.

Its like I've suddenly realised what others could see. Its literally like, the scales have fallen from my eyes.

I don't know if anyone will understand what im describing but i almost wish I hadn't posted the thread yesterday & could just carry on as I was...what now?

OP posts:
Lweji · 18/10/2015 08:02

Actually, it sounds like he knows you are financially dependent on him and that he can do what he bloody likes because you won't leave lightly.

He doesn't particularly care about you or your feelings, so it won't change unless you change the power structure. Even so, I'd guess he won't be likely to change unless you do leave or he believes you will.

If you're not in a rush, look for jobs so that you have an income when you leave. Check out benefits and how much he'd have to contribute.

How are your current finances? Who pays for what? What are savings like?

Lightbulbon · 18/10/2015 09:27

How old are your dcs?

How aware are they of your relationship dynamic?

I think a good motivator is to think would I want my dcs to be in a relationship when they're older?

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 10:43

The dc are 18 months. 5, 9 & 14.

Its all a mess.

Oldest dc knows her dad isnt interested. Younger dc aren't aware of the situation

Benefits wise, its depressingly bleak. I kept searching stuff online as i thought the calculations were wrong.

Seriously can't believe what ive been reduced to. Im not young. Mid life, no career, money, friends...single parent or unhappy marriage...great choices!

OP posts:
Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:01

Sadly it's not even a marriage. Because you'd get some protection for now working to take care of the children. As it is, he can just walk away and pay maintenance (if even that).

Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:01

What's the house situation?

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 11:06

We rent.

The not being married has always been an issue. I feel embarrassed by it. Everyone else in the family is married.

OP posts:
Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:08

Have you checked housing benefit? Would you able to afford renting on your own?
Whose name is on the tenancy?

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 11:16

We wouldn't be able to stay here. I doubt i would be able to stay in the borough so then school become an issue. His name is on the tenancy as he pays the rent.

I dont have any savings apart from Christmas & birthday stuff. I now would need thousands as a deposit but wouldnt pass the credit checks. We moved here yests ago before renting went mental. Its one of the cheapest areas to rent but the average 2 bed is £1,200 per month.Sad

OP posts:
Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:20

Have you checked how much housing benefit you could actually get?

I'm letting my house in the UK and I was told at the time that the maximum benefit for a similar house was quite high.

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 11:24

Im depressing myself!

I think in all honesty my situation is miserable but it could be worse. For many of us finances limit your choices.

Im hardly going to drag 4 dc to a grotty flat & living on benefits because I'm unhappy.

Im a middle aged mother of 4 who needs to be responsible instead of whinging about my disappointment in the decisions i ultimately made.

Thanks for all the advice.Flowers

OP posts:
Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:42

But if you are miserable, how do you think your children feel?

You can certainly feel happier how you are now, if you don't expect anything from him other than money, but is this what you want from life?
Is this type of relationship you want to model to your children?

Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:50

Do check your council housing benefit calculator.

A quick calculation in the borough I live in, would pay all your rent for you in a 2 bed (plus box room) house, plus council tax support, assuming you get income support.

Talk to CAB about all your options.

Lweji · 18/10/2015 11:50

(sorry, the borough my house in. I don't live there anymore :) )

HPsauciness · 18/10/2015 12:10

I am going to go against the grain here, and suggest that actually all may not be as bad as you think.

For a start, to be blunt, you have had four children with him. Presumably wanting four children was what you and he wanted, so to that end, you have been very very lucky that you have managed your lifestyle to do this (I would have loved a third but simply not possible as I was main breadwinner and working). He is presumably working shifts as the main breadwinner which are exhausting and messing with your body clock. Him working has enabled you to stay home and have the four children and be their primary carer. Now, this has set up a dynamic where you care for the children, he works long hours, but you could change this dynamic, as he actually sounds like he's quite passive and would do what you said. So, if you wanted a morning out on your own, you could leave him with the children.

You also say you haven't got much in common hobby wise and socially etc- again, do you think this could be because you have four children?! Of course you have to stay in a lot and don't get the fun nights out (especially if you are strapped for cash).

I also think that you are being harsh about his weight, again, I can't see anyone supporting a husband to ditch his wife as she's put on several stone. People age, he's supported you financially for 13 years and four kids, that's what happens as you go into middle age.

He sounds like a very quiet passive man, but these are not necessarily bad qualities, they have allowed you to run the house how you like and have four children as you like. Passivity is annoying, but the flip side is you get to manage stuff the way you like. I had a friend who used to moan about her passive husband til I pointed this out, and she realised she liked being the one to determine where they lived, what they did, where they ate. Not everyone does, but I don't think being a quiet man is a bad thing.

Does he really have no interaction with the children at all? Not even sitting watching a film together? Why not go out and leave them to it?

What about leveling with him and saying you are so unhappy you are thinking of getting out and working out how to fix it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is a satisfactory state of affairs, but realistically, you are not going to get back into a well paid job after 13 years out and four kids including a little one immediately, and I don't think your assessment of going into a grotty flat and being stuck with all four of them on your own is far wrong, at least initially.

I sound very pessimistic sorry, but it is almost as if you haven't had a hand in this state of affairs you find yourself in. He doesn't sound mean or nasty and he hasn't made you have the children- you together did this and I think you may need to seek the solution together, at least initially.

If having had a try, you can't face going on, you can't, and your youngest will be a bit older and perhaps work more realistic. Good luck with it all.

Lweji · 18/10/2015 12:18

I think you may need to seek the solution together, at least initially.

You seem to have missed where the OP mentioned how he reacted to her trying to discuss their relationship

HPsauciness · 18/10/2015 13:16

Not all all, I see he's not one for communicating loads.

But there must have been something about him to get into this situation, their youngest child is only 18 months. He's not suddenly changed overnight, has he? Perhaps whatever they did have could be regained, at least to make life nicer for the children (more engaged) and for the OP to feel she has something valuable here, even if it doesn't conform to the Love Languages model of presents, actions, declarations of love. He's obviously a man of few words, so it's unlikely he's going to suddenly start expressing himself that way. Perhaps he thinks going out to work and supporting four children is enough. If it isn't, then she needs to tell him and tell him what she would like him to do.

Perhaps he doesn't realise how serious he is and how much he has to lose? It can't help to try again with the talking and communicating. You could also seek counselling yourself to work out if there's anything there worth saving.

HPsauciness · 18/10/2015 13:18

Sorry, I see you said you are anti-counselling after a bad experience, so ignore my suggestion.

rollmeover · 18/10/2015 13:28

If it looks like your situation is financially bad in the short term, and you say you dont want to uproot kids and home you could play a long game.

I inow your youngest is only 18mths but could you go back out cleaning for at least a few hours a week and build up over the next few months? Take your time, save a deposit, sell what you can and by the time the youngest is in free 15 hours you might be able to leave? Calculate what maintenance you will get too.

Also try and build up a support network and the children can help you with this- meet some other mums, go to a toddler group, join the PTA

I know it is always best to leave sooner rather than later as it will weigh a heavy emotional toll on you but if you think there is no other option then just take your time!

Sossidge · 18/10/2015 16:30

Is your 14 year old the one who's pregnant?

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 17:31

Just to clear up a few misinterprations.

No my 14 year isnt pregnant. My dil is, i have 2 grown up dc.

Dp wouldnt give up eork to be a sahp when dd14 was born. He works shifts. So meant i was very limited. We were both supposed to go part time. He changed his mind

The poster who mentioned me cleaning...Seriously? I used to clean for very wealthy people 20 years ago. Im hardly going to be able to make a living cleaning. Yongest dc wont go to nursery for 2 years.

Dp knows how i feel. Ive told him very clearly. I've asked him to go to the GP as im very concerned about the amount of weight hes put on in the last year but he cant/wont.

You cant magic up support. Friends are very difficult to make as you get older. I do toddler groups etc but there are very few people my age there. The dc all attend different schools so difficult to get beyond a 'good morning'.

Dd 18 months was a massive surprise & not planned...!

I hope that clears up a few points. Such a lot of presuming on this thread!!Shock

OP posts:
TeapotDictator · 18/10/2015 17:40

I don't think anyone presumed anything really. One person asked outright if it was your 14 year old that was pregnant, since you hadn't mentioned any other children, it's a fair question.

The suggestion re. cleaning I read as proposing that in the space of two years you could save up enough money for a deposit, to get you started. It was a helpful suggestion trying to find a way out of your predicament, if indeed you decide you do want to leave. Sometimes there are other options apart from the extremities "do nothing" and "act straight away". Particularly as in this case you seem to be aghast at the prospect of doing nothing and stating that it would be impossible to act straight away.

Sossidge · 18/10/2015 18:16

Ok, sorry, I just read you have 4 kids, the eldest is 14. I hope you can find a way to free yourself emotionally in time to enjoy your grandbaby!

PeppasNanna · 18/10/2015 18:19

I did say about the older dc when i described my situation when i met dp.

Dd wont go to nursery for another 2 years... so i dont understand the logic in your suggestion Teapot

But your roght in the respect do nothing or act straight away. I need to think in a more objective way to resolve the situation, regardless of my decision.

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 18/10/2015 18:24

People are only trying to offer helpful suggestions. It does seem that you are slightly stuck in a state of inertia. But there are things you can do if you put your mind to them. It just depends of your attitude and what you're willing to put up with. I think you sound resigned to being unhappy, which is very sad. I wonder if you could work on your self esteem. It must be low with such a cold, unsupportive partner and no close family or friends to make up for him.

Lightbulbon · 18/10/2015 22:11

What do your grown up DC think? Do they like dp/think he's good for you? Could they help you out with moving etc? Or even babysitting so you could get a job to save up a deposit.

Living in rental where your name isn't on the lease-you realise he could legally kick you out on a whim with no notice?

Get that fixed if nothing else!

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